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@Workstand - It's a shame you can't make it along as your trail knowledge is clearly more up to date than mine.

You know how quickly the tracks can change after a tree has fallen across them.

If only trail knowledge could be so accurate - you're right of course! There really can't be much more rain up there to fall. I'm hoping that these exchanges about mud/trees etc will all be forgotten on the enjoyable warm dry days that the rides will be on.

Your mention of trees only reminds me of the great storms we had in the late 80s, where the forest became an assault course with trees/huge branches down like dominos, and all the local golf courses closed due to trees across the fairways.

Anyway, that's me done and looking forward to riding next year.

I expected as much, though under the right conditions* it can dry out incredibly quickly ( in places ) once everything starts to grow.

*yeah, I know.

Some of the sections up from Wood Street to Chingford can also get really bad, but we won't be doing those.

That sounds like exactly the right approach to these rides. If everyone lived locally and was up for bath loads of mud, nowhere is really off limits, although there are a few stretches where forward momentum would come rapidly to a halt – particularly in the parts you’ve chosen to avoid.

As you are well aware, lots of forest around High Beech dries out very rapidly regardless. Even if the weather turns really nasty on the days the rides take place, there are still miles and miles of single track and bridleways which will still be rideable – more than enough for five or six hours out and about - and leave folk in a reasonably clean state to ride back or take the train without concern.

The bits of the forest I like the best are both hilly and marsh like. These areas are kindly building my case at home to get one of the fat tired Surly bikes.

As Cake says, it's muddy. It's pretty much down to the fact that in 2012 the forest never really dried out and we went straight in to a wet Winter; it's May now and all I see is dark clouds and more rain in the forecast. Most of the areas I would happily walk about in an old pair of trainers is still firmly walking boot territory.

The worst is the east side of the forest, behind the golf course closest to the station in Bury Road, including Pole Hill, Hawkwood Hill & Yardley Hill, as these are always the last places to dry out in good warm weather. The rest of the forest reminds me of conditions you would expect underfoot (wheels) in late October. Bottom line is it is still very rideable, just use tyres for muddy conditions and frames with a bit of clearance. I usually went across the forest on a cyclocross bike with disc brakes and if my back was up to it, I'd be happy to do so as it is now.

Have fun!

1. The current plan is to remove, to make space, and re-stock.

2. Mrs JJ is a very understanding woman - but what she spends on shoes and handbags puts by bike addiction to shame.

3. My Flying Gate is surprisingly practical - in fact it is my main ride for the daily commute.

Cheers

I can see removing and making space. Re-stocking is going to be tough given the quality of the list you already have.

Mrs JJ believes in a level playing field. I once got caught in the crossfire of an argument between a friend and his wife over his desire to increase his collection to two bikes; she felt this excessive as he only had one rear end, therefore one bike. I pointed out she had dozens of shoes but only had two feet. As my friend then made an unusual gurgling noise and went a funny colour, I'm not sure my observation helped.

The Flying Gate sounds better and better!

Great post Jingle Jangle. Three points:

1. You need to find an analyst who understands the need to retain them all.

2. I can point my wife to your posting and say 'See, I have an incredibly small number of bikes, hardly worth mentioning'.

3. I like your Trevor Jarvis Flying Gate in the line up. I'm looking for one with a 62/64cm frame, preferably coming with a justifiable reason to own one as I have no real need to have one, I'd just like to have one - this, apparently, isn't good enough.

My local shop has started using this: http://www.collectplus.co.uk/

Try the postcode finder to see if there is a shop near you. If the post becomes much more expensive, it will be cheaper to just take it to the destination yourself.

I really like Reynolds framed bikes from the 60s & 70s. My budget allows me to find examples only fit for the road again after an extensive period on my workstand - hence the user name.

I find the ones that someone last rode over a decade ago, put into the back of a garage and forgotten in a hissy fit - usually caused by something breaking whilst out on the last ride the owner had, and making him push it home. Eventually buried in the dross that builds up in garages over the years, the garage is eventually cleared out when there is no more space to squeeze things into, and the bulk of the stuff put up for sale. The advert usually goes something like this:

Cycle, good quality not used since I gave up cycling some years ago, very little use, carefully garage stored but a few cosmetic scratches. Will need a little work and a service. £xxx Ring etc...

Great game, we both really know what the score is and that it will need a complete rebuild!

Sorry to hear that mate. There will be other rides though.

Hope your back gets better soon!

Many thanks.

[
The list[/U]

1. BareNecessities
   
2. mmccarthy ( potential deputy ride guide and holder of the "ugly bike but nicer in real life" award )
   
3. Howard
   
4. Andrew
   
5. dicki
   
6. cake
   
7. mdizzle
   
8. Mikey5000
   
9. weazlepopper
   
10. zeez
    
11. Shoosh
    
12. IndraRipper ( potential sacrifice to the forest gods? carrying all tools, food, drinks and changes of clothes)
    
13. Alkali
    
14. Texas ?
    
15. 
    
16. dimi3
    
17. Mirius
    
18. J.Dennis
    
19. Alfie
    
20. Tenners
    
21. Ramaye
    
22. Zebra cyclist
    
23. malandro (+1 possibly)
    
24. Sparkles
    
25. Stedlocks (shift pattern allowing)[/QUOTE]
    
    

I'm dropping myself off the list (number 15 spot). I had a stupid accident some weeks ago where I jolted my back (missed my footing at a kerb of all the ridiculous things to do) and I still can't cycle more than about 50 yards or walk more than about a mile at present. It will be a while until I'm up to riding - off road or otherwise. Have fun!

I confess thread, please gentlemen.

*Keep at it Workstand; you'll be fixed in no time ;-)

Damn! I'm torn between improving my cycling or just pitching this as a plot to a film studio.

Went today, spur of the moment decision. I had the intention of looking at three bikes I was interested in, and narrowing it down to one. Luckily for me, all three were on display at various stands. I've not been to this sort of cycle show before, so I had nothing to compare it too. Everyone I spoke to on the stands were great. I'd go again but hopefully without the bad weather, which reduced the amount of time I could spend there.

Fixed? At this point I must admit I do this route geared.

Single speed, can't manage fixed as I've done my right knee and back in. After the clocks change again I'll have a geared bike out (in which time I hope my knee trouble will be resolved and gears will get me up without the walk of shame), but at the moment I love having less bike to move around and less to go wrong and get covered in mud/snow/general crap on the road.

There are 2 very big Rottweilers on Mott street leading up to High Beach in Epping. It's one of the slowest, steepest bits of that hill. They absolutely fucking hate cyclists and remind us time and time again how much they would like nothing more than to shred our legs and crush our faces with their massive, terrible jaws.

One day the gate on that garden will be open. That will be an almighty 'oh shit moment'.

On the rare occasions I attempt to ride the full length of Mott Street, the dogs have given no trouble. That, I suspect, is simply because the noise of a bike being ridden and pushed are quite different, and at that stage of the hill I'm alongside the bike rather than on it.

That's put me off using this hill for practice, particularly as we have a cat at home, and if they got loose I'm not taken on the idea of being their new squeaky toy.

Good description of the trails though.

School summer holidays, long long ago. I spent nearly every day up there with friends and we realised it might be an idea to learn what the different woods, clearings and paths were called, and the history behind them. In recent years I wanted to get fit again and I got bored with not being able to cover enough ground on foot - hence the bike.

Incidentally, for those who don't want to come by train and have easy access to the River Lee navigation tow path, coming off (or meeting up) at Ponders End Lock is also a good choice. If you leave the tow path there and follow the road between the reservoirs, keep straight ahead and turn left at the third set of traffic lights and Chingford Station is a few hundred yards down on the right.

Sorry Workstand, that was probably me ;-)

You cost me a fortune in dry cleaning ;-)

Most of the forest from Chingford Station - even in today's snowy conditions - from Bury Wood, Pear Tree Plain through to North Long Hills and High Beach are fine on a single speed CX bike. Even I can manage that and I'm seriously unfit, something that a few months riding here will hopefully sort out. If you meet up at either Wood Street or Highams Park (both are good choices as you can be in the forest in minutes) be aware that in the sheltered parts of Hatch Forest some parts never dry out, and even in a heat wave you can find yourself riding through axle deep soup. Below Pole Hill in Chingford is some good but hilly riding that you will need gears for - most of Hawk Wood & Yardley Hill - and again some parts here drain very slowly and can be muddy long after everywhere else has long been dry. The only hills in the forest I use regularly which always cause me trouble are on the Loughton side; the sudden climb out of the bottom of Great Monk Wood (known as Bellringer's Corner) and the climb to the car park through and up Furze Ground on the Debden side. This is a chilling and spooky ride done in the small hours, with all sorts of weird and unexplainable noises - or so it seems at the time and the temperature always noticeably drops at Bellringer's Corner!

From next week, I hope to put in a couple of hours cycling, five days a week. No idea how that works out mileage wise, as I hope a good proportion will be in the forest if it ever dries out. If I keep this up until March I will be ahead of my time cycling in 2012. Might also help me lose the weight gained in December by attempting to reduce the world stock of mince pies.

It was certainly available in 1974 in this colour - Champion Blue - I believe. I'd just learnt to ride; simply so I could cycle to school. I had a Viscount Aerospace SE with a rack for all the stuff I had to carry. Someone in my year had an identical Gitane and cycled to school with everything in a bag, as he wouldn't put a rack on a 'proper racing bike' with tubular tyres. The reason I remember it so well, is that he treated it appallingly and it was forever being pushed due to some mistreatment.

Anyway, it's a great frame and I always liked the thought of having one. Very annoying to see one of the right size. I'm very tempted!

Depends where:

In London/Essex: Mixing cyclists with a few kilos of cycle with up to 40 tonnes of machine, is as mismatched as eating a plate of sausages and jelly. General awe and respect of folk who ride miles in this every day. How can authorities get away with mixing raised iron grates, manholes, blocked and overflowing drains, potholes, slippery lines, poor surface repairs from utility companies, litter and other junk - then add a splash of tarmac to bind them all together and call it a road? All this as well as the weather and other road users!

Off road away from traffic: General sense of calm and sorting out of thoughts and enjoying the moment.

Rural Perthshire (sadly rare these days): What is that odd smell (?) - oh yes, clean air! Who jacked the hills up yet again? Astonishment at riding some back roads for miles without seeing a car, and remembering why I like cycling.

I can't see where you did anything wrong. Slow down and pass them wide. Horses get spooked for a variety of reasons, something they see that moves quickly suddenly in their view or any manner of noises. I've not ridden for some years now, but one horse I rode had a thing about cats and get very jittery around them.

I regularly ride a mountain bike through Epping Forest and most encounters with horses are fine, but the odd occasion when it isn't is generally rider related; too much horse for their ability. Such riders are often seen riding in pairs with a general air of superiority over any other user and are a real pain.

I think it should be fair sport to joust against such riders with a tandem mountain bike, with the stoker in charge of the lance.

Ho Ho Ho. What a miserable bunch. Wiggle vouchers from my sister in law and a belly full of booze already. Make it a good one whatever you do. It's brightening up out there - get a cross bike out and go find a holly bush to crash into. x

Did have a go at the cross bike, but I got to the forest and couldn't find anywhere on my normal route which didn't resemble swamp. Thought I'd come back and walk the route instead, to find it wasn't suitable at all in walking boots either. Gave up and attacked the chocolate and mince pies today instead. Happy Christmas folks.

i'm surprised you didn't deck him after this.

seriously though what a nutter. he asked if you were alright then starts having a go? might see him on the local news i suspect as being a bit of a nut job.

I did wonder if he was genuinely ill because of the abrupt change in behaviour. I couldn't help finding it funny. Apart from the swearing, it was the behaviour of a toddler having a temper tantrum. I didn't want to thump him; I go down that route as a last resort and especially with him being so small. I had four or five stone on him as well as the better part of a foot in height. He would really have had to wind me up for that to happen, as I can imagine how me taking physical action would have looked to a third party. If he does this on a regular basis to people, it can only be a matter of time until someone does deck him.

I had a bizarre occurrence with another cyclist earlier this week. To put a bit of context to this, I'm getting over a chest infection and I twisted my knee last weekend, so I thought a bit of gentle cycling on a local towpath away from traffic would help recovery. After a short while on an empty towpath I realised that if I went any slower I'd be static, plus it wasn't helping me at all. So I turned round to go back and as I turned, I got a puncture in the front tyre. Great. I had a spare tube on me and was in the process of checking the inside of the casing for anything sharp, when I noticed a small well dressed man about 35ish on a hybrid with a briefcase attached to his rear carrier pull up by me.

This is what happened:

Him: Hello mate, you alright, can I help?

Me: Thanks, I'm fine, just had a puncture and I'm putting in a new...

Him: Shouts over me in a swearing rant which starts..Good, I'm glad you've got a f***ing puncture...rant continues for a few seconds about hating other people on the towpath and abruptly stops. He then throws a kick - still sitting on his bike - with his left leg at me. Misses by some way. He then kicks out at my bike. Misses again.

Me: (Trying hard not to laugh too much) Does you mum know you shout abuse at strangers?

At which point he rides away without another word or a backward glance.

Well i've been told by someone who should know that this is a track frame. So time to decide

a) full 50s track rebuild
b) ride as is

That is a really nice bike. It sounds like a usage question. If you restored it to a period track bike, would it end up hardly being taken out? If you like it as it is and you use it regularly, why not enjoy it and just keep riding it - just making a few changes appropriate for everyday use.

1. A fast road bike with disc brakes. I haven't seen anything out yet that ticks all the boxes for me, but as road riding isn't my main thing, I'd prefer to get something mass produced ( undecided on frame material )
   
   

.

Exactly what I want. Having come back to cycling via mountain biking, I definitely want hydraulic brakes. I'd like it with a large Reynolds 753 frame, high performance tubeless tyres/rim combination, matched to high end 1980s Campag group set & hubs, Cinelli stem and bars and topped off with my old Brooks Pro saddle.

I have no idea if an old 753 frame could be modified by a frame builder to accommodate the above. I'm probably the only cyclist on the planet who would want such a creation!