Gravel & Mud - MTB Rides

18/07/2025

Out on the e-treader Frensham bound!

Weather and views were bang on plus discovered a few lesser ridden bridleways 🙌

which was nice

12/07/2025

Specialized Levo demo day at Hurtwood Hostel - an hour and a half on someone else's bike around the best trails in the Surrey Hills.. was looking forward to this!

The bike I demo'd was the Turbo Levo 4 Expert £8499. Size S4 (I'm 6ft)

Few thoughts..

* Motor was punchy in Turbo mode (like my Bosch gen5 Cube)
* Electronic gears - not bothered
* Sram Mavern Silver brakes rather powerful
* Tried an S4 but prob could of done with riding an S5 just for the extra reach
* Felt lighter and more flickable than my Cube one44
* Demo day staff all very helpful and made the session seamless from signing on to bike set-up!
* Coffee at the hostel bang on
* Will I replace the Cube with one?..No
* Would I buy one of it was only 6k... possibly yeah

But these demo days are a perfect way to try out these latest emtbs - especially if you're about to drop 8k on a bike 😬... which when you read it out loud is just silly money on a bike isn't it!

08/07/2025

Freedom on the South Downs Way - just riding and enjoying!

30/06/2025

First person on the trails today

29/06/2025

Does Qecp have a microclimate?.. sure looked & felt like it on this ride! Sunshine for miles on the drive up but the qecp canopy was still in the mist!

Conditions perfect..

Another reason why this place rocks.

Stats 👇👇👇

*14 miles of emtb fun
*2000ft climbing (riding an ebike so means bu**er all 😁)
*30% of battery used while mostly riding in 'emtb' mode
*2 emtbs
*1 sorted ride!

21/06/2025

Riding qecp with a life-long buddy - now that's a good Saturday!

14/06/2025

First ever Emtb 1-2-1 ride today 👆 like a normal ride but with added range anxiety 😬

A healthy dose of the Hampshire countryside did the job - seeking out those quieter bridleways in order to find the perfect vistas (Ladyholt, Oakham Bottom & West Harting Down)

countryside

07/06/2025

Devil's Punch Bowl mtb ride plus that's Haslemere in the distance.

A real diverse place to ride and that's why I love coming back here.

Off-road and vista heaven!!

29/05/2025

Day 2 at the Forest of Dean and solely concentrated on the Downhill trails this morning..Red/Black and a couple of Blue runs & they're bloody ace!

Uplift was courtesy of the 'Turbo mode' on the Cube Stereo 144 and I actually think I was quicker than the genuine 🚚 uplift!

Arms gave up way before the battery did!

Parking £7.50
Pre-ride sausage bap/coffee £8
Post-ride cake & coke £6

That's the life of an emtb rider 🍔☕️🍰🥫

24/05/2025

Butser Hill. It's noted as being the highest point along the South Downs Way... but is it the toughest? I don't think so ‐ I personally feel that the climb from Amberley to Washington is a more brutal experience (done that a few times)

(Aware starting heights prob have a say in this 😁)

However on a clear day the views from Butser are epic!!

Coffee in West Meon...cake below par (aka a bit sh*te), did I complain did I heck 😁

14/05/2025

10/05/2025

West Dean Estate & SDW explore.

Beer .westmarden

Views at Linch Down (sdw) bloody awesome !