I'm gonna ride some of the lesser known trails in Friston forest this saturday from 10am to about 1pm. There's a few newbies turning up, and I reckon it'd be fun if a few more turned up too.

This is a relaxed informal ride, but I will identify plenty of places where you can steam on ahead and wait for the rest of us.

 Let me know if you're interested. Andy 'Gus' Lock.

Seven Sisters car park is the first one that you come to when turning off the Eastbourne road onto Littlington Road.  Parking is £3.50, coins only . 

I'll park my car (Black VW touran) just behind the parking meter.

Good knobbly tires will help a lot in the mud, though it may have dried out a fair bit by Saturday. My favourites for the forest are Panaracer Trailrakers.

There's likely to be a good deal of mud. Bear this in mind if you are transporting your bike in the car. There's no hose point in Friston (that I know of).

 Details of the ride.Opt-out sections in italics. 

First Run Pt I

Starting from the carpark we travel along the relatively flat family route through the floor of the valley.

At the four red 'candy poles' we turn left and start the climb to the top. Well wait for everyone to catch up at the topwhere there's a big turning-circle-type space. So far it's all fire trails, but now we hit the dirtCarry on and bear right onto the 'gallops'Turn right at the grassy gallops and follow the downward-sloping outside of the forest (inside is a bit tricky at the moment - it's cut up by horses and is v.hard work).Slip into the forest where right away we meet an interesting bomb-hole - If you don't fancy it in the wet (and plenty won't) there's an easier way round.Follow the single track to the next bomb hole. If you fancy trying something different then try not to brake or pedal on this section - see if you can carry your speed through the twists and turns. This secondbomb hole is where the more 'enthusiastic' riders can drop in and get air out the other side. Or not. Again, there's no reason to do this. It's purely for the 8yr olds Another stretch of single-track. Again, this can be ridden without pedalling - if you ignore the sensible option of braking.A short, more technical section with some slight off-camber sections and obstacles. This last bit is the most technical, and will give you a good idea of the remainder of the rest of the ride. 

First run Pt II

This bit is an opportunity for the faster riders toride to the bottom of the hill, whilst the less regular riders can get a head-start to the top. Or ride back to the carpark along the family trail. 

Continuing down the slope - We'll miss out the usual bit of off-camber, overgrown route which can be very little fun in the wet (8yr olds ignore what I just said). So we head off down the straight bit of grassy track, picking up some speed.Then a short, sharp climb up a hill the left. Only the super fit will ride this little bit (not me). It's very short and very steep. This is actuallly up the red route the wrong way round.

We then join a very amusing section of track that continually undulates and twists down to the 'candy canes'. It's pretty technical at speed, but you can take it as fast/slow as you like - it takes some practice to do at speed

Second run:

This is the same starting height as the first run, but a far longer (therefore flatter) descent.Back to the top to where the 'turning circle' is.At this point we turn left and head onto the red route. It used to be called the purple route. Either way, my face is normally one of these colours by now.At the very start there's a very tricky technical 'challenge' that my mate Chris and I devised. No clues, but it's not for everyone. Good spectator sport, though as we often crash in the attempt.Follow the red route down then cut back off the main path.A short climb which is pretty hard work by now, but very rewarding later on. Wait at the 'top' for every one to catch up. There'll be regular stops to ensure no-one is lost on this next stretchWe follow a long and winding route down to the second car park, taking in lots of trail that gets steadily steeper after the first third. It's too long and varied for me to be bothered to tell you all about it, but it's great fun in the dry. Hopefully the ground will be tacky enough to give us some grip.There's likely to be a really muddy section that's very hard work. If someone knows an alternative way round I'd be happy to learn about it. Show us when we reach it.The end opens out onto a path, so we need to be careful and considerate to walkers (no sniggering at the back).

Back to the carpark along the family trail (via West Dean) or the road if you're tired.

 I reckon we could find a tree somewhere in the forest