Boggy Badgers

When did badger rides become badger rides rather than Epping rides?

when I learned the secret badger handshake

Fairly sure I'll be joining you on my new pomp this weekend

when I learned the secret badger scream

shh, first rule of the badger club is....

Rules, you say..

I don't ask much, but these are some guidelines that I'd like to set out:

Please try to sort your bike out before the ride. Don't decide that your brakes need bleeding while we're all standing about in the car park. Fettling is fine ( pumping up of tyres/forks/shocks ), but do your best to have a fully functioning bike when you arrive.

Try to carry the basics – Something to drink, some food, at least one spare inner tube & some patches. I will have a pump and basic tools with me, so those things are optional. I'd recommend wearing gloves, but helmet use is entirely up to you. I won't lead you into doing anything silly or dangerous, but you are responsible for your own well being out there.

Epping Forest is not a racetrack. If you want to race, go and enter a race. Obviously some element of competitiveness will rear it's head. This is fine, but please limit it to racing uphill, where you've less chance of hurting yourself or anybody else.

Please don't scare horses, run over dogs or generally endanger anyone else using the trail. It's not Whistler bike park. The trails are open and shared and sometimes busy, so don't act like a twat towards people out enjoying themselves for the day. LFGSS forum members are well known for their polite and deferential manner, so I know this won't be an issue.

There will be a mixed range of abilities on the rides. Several back markers or 'sweepers' will be required. This won't be a day long job and nobody likes to be stuck at the back, so people can take it in turns. As long as I know who's going to be the last rider through at each point. I really don't want to have to go looking for anyone. We'll stop to regroup at the top of any climbs, the bottom of descents and at any road crossing ( some of which can be a bit dodgy ).

If you're uncertain of your ability to ride an obstacle please tell me. There are no razor sharp rocks, or deep ravines to go crashing into, but even flying off into a small bombhole the wrong way could land you in hospital. It's advisable to give some vocal warning to the rider behind you, if anything dodgy is up ahead.

Please do take lots of photos. I want plenty of happy memories to look back on :-)

Perfect! See you there, somewhere obvious.

Mick should be fairly easy to spot...

Proper chucked it down last night. RIP Badgers.

1-BN
2-Howard
3-mmccarthy
4-platypus
5-7Üp
6-LHL
7-EIIis47

Hub-deep mud yet?

Just making sure you all know the ride now starts at 11am tomorrow.

Please let me know if you're running late :-)

According to my ancient information, the tea hut is still open every day except Monday, so we should be ok for bread pudding!

*other cakes are available

@mmccarthy - make sure you have plenty of money ;-)

I'll bring an extra large backpack and stock up!

Every day except Christmas.

Can't join you (again!) due to work, but have a good un!

And you need to try the sausage sarnies at the lower tea hut....don't be scared of the bikers!

And you need to try the sausage sarnies

Do they have a veggie one?

There's a hint of sunshine up here at the moment

I'm sure there are veggie options.....it's good fuel, whatever!

Strong badgering today

Good ride today! Great to see lots of new faces :-)

https://www.strava.com/activities/1448055333

Yeah was a good one. Plenty of decent stacking action.

Sorry you had to bail with the mechanical, @LHL . Hope you made it back ok!

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/21240953