Trail grades at Swinley
Discussion
Hi Guys and Girls,
I've only ever been to Swinley. I'm looking to go to a different center with a guide in a few weeks but he's asking what grade we want to play on.
Thing is, I've no idea what grades the runs at Swinley are. I've got bored of googling for the answer so can a local give me a rough idea for the main runs like labyrinth, seagull, tank traps etc please?
Cheers.
I've only ever been to Swinley. I'm looking to go to a different center with a guide in a few weeks but he's asking what grade we want to play on.
Thing is, I've no idea what grades the runs at Swinley are. I've got bored of googling for the answer so can a local give me a rough idea for the main runs like labyrinth, seagull, tank traps etc please?
Cheers.
IMHO most of the trails at Swinley would be considered red or blue, with some of the short downhills in the expert area being black.
The flat runs through the Crowthorne woods area of Swinley are comparable with blue runs I have ridden in the past, flat with little in the way of technical drops or climbs but still require your attention.
Whole nine yds, Seagul, Stickler etc are similar to red runs, the Deerstalker and the quick descent through the forest at the expert area ending in the 3/4ft drop off the fallen tree is probably as close to black as you will find in Swinley.
Don’t forget, black runs are graded so you need to make sure you are happy with the grade of run you choose. The first time I rode a black run was in the Forest of Dean (solo), not too scary but the main difference I found to Swinley was once you commit you can’t bail – you are committed! There were a few small gap jumps and drops that didn’t have chicken runs, and generally speaking when you come across them you are carrying too much speed to scrub it, so you have to commit and make the jump, or drop – if you grab the brakes it will end in tears.
I would suggest going somewhere with a mix of red and black. Start with red, then if you are happy/confident go for a couple of black runs. It really is all about your level of confidence and experience, if you find yourself using the brakes a lot on the trails at Swinley then start with Red!!
Remember, stay loose and have fun!
Reasonably good guide to grading here; http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6MRMEU
The flat runs through the Crowthorne woods area of Swinley are comparable with blue runs I have ridden in the past, flat with little in the way of technical drops or climbs but still require your attention.
Whole nine yds, Seagul, Stickler etc are similar to red runs, the Deerstalker and the quick descent through the forest at the expert area ending in the 3/4ft drop off the fallen tree is probably as close to black as you will find in Swinley.
Don’t forget, black runs are graded so you need to make sure you are happy with the grade of run you choose. The first time I rode a black run was in the Forest of Dean (solo), not too scary but the main difference I found to Swinley was once you commit you can’t bail – you are committed! There were a few small gap jumps and drops that didn’t have chicken runs, and generally speaking when you come across them you are carrying too much speed to scrub it, so you have to commit and make the jump, or drop – if you grab the brakes it will end in tears.
I would suggest going somewhere with a mix of red and black. Start with red, then if you are happy/confident go for a couple of black runs. It really is all about your level of confidence and experience, if you find yourself using the brakes a lot on the trails at Swinley then start with Red!!
Remember, stay loose and have fun!
Reasonably good guide to grading here; http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6MRMEU
I'd say even the most severe of the downhill runs at Swinley would barely be red graded. Jumps aren't huge, not too technical and all rollable. Not that that's all bad though, I love it there.
Also, no need for full sus. Did the enduro there a few weeks ago and there was someone on a rigid single speed, and the route included stickler/tank traps (only route names I know) and one of the 4 DH runs in the 'expert' area.
Also, no need for full sus. Did the enduro there a few weeks ago and there was someone on a rigid single speed, and the route included stickler/tank traps (only route names I know) and one of the 4 DH runs in the 'expert' area.
BerksJack said:
Are any of the runs suitable for a hardtail?
None that I've ridden there have ever needed more than a hardtail. Just as well, because that's all I have. For most of them a hardtail is probably more appropriate. Stickler's a bit bumpy if you sit down on a hardtail but only because much of it is still new any built out of rubble.Edited by Gren on Sunday 10th June 13:05
Hardtail is fine, I use a Ragley Blue Pig around Swinley and there are no trails that I avoid! Bit of a crappy ride yesterday as I had a mother of hangovers but here is my ride from yesterday (admittedly I stayed away from the expert area, but that was more down to the way I was feeling!);
http://app.strava.com/rides/10433769
http://app.strava.com/rides/10433769
Nyphur said:
Rollable?
As in, you can just roll (ride) over the jumps where there isn't a line around them without having to actually get air to clear a gap or something, and no huge drop offs that you have to commit to and jump off at speed. None that I can remember coming across anyway - there might be some somewhere as it's such a maze of trails at Swinley there'll be a few I've not ridden.james239 said:
Nyphur said:
Rollable?
As in, you can just roll (ride) over the jumps where there isn't a line around them without having to actually get air to clear a gap or something, and no huge drop offs that you have to commit to and jump off at speed. None that I can remember coming across anyway - there might be some somewhere as it's such a maze of trails at Swinley there'll be a few I've not ridden.Jimbo. said:
BerksJack said:
Are any of the runs suitable for a hardtail?
Any UK "black" or "red" run will be suitable for a hard tail, yes. UK trail grading is a joke: the "red" at Thetford vs. any of the "reds" in the Alps? Hmmmm, OK...
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