Where We Gather

Fab Rides doesn’t have a headquarters. It has a geography — a loose, moving landscape of car parks, crags, trail heads, mountain huts, and the occasional exceptional pub.

Winchester — Home Base

Winchester is where most of us start. The city sits at the edge of good terrain — 40 minutes from Queen Elizabeth Country Park, an hour and a half from the Surrey Hills and from Portland. For rides, we typically meet at the QECP car park or at Fab’s cave for local loops in West Wood. For climbing, the Southampton wall on Friday mornings is the default.

After most sessions: either the pub nearest the trailhead, or coffee somewhere on the way back. The debrief is non-negotiable.

South East England

Queen Elizabeth Country Park MTB · Hampshire

Our local anchor. Flow trails, pump track, and enduro descents. The Friday morning default and regular Sunday venue. Car park meetup — confirmed per ride via WhatsApp.

Surrey Hills MTB · Surrey

Saturday destination rides. Box Hill, Leith Hill, Holmbury — serious singletrack in beautiful woodland. Carpools arranged from Winchester. One of our most-visited spots.

Portland Bill Climbing · Dorset

World-class sport climbing on Dorset limestone. Sea cliffs, hard routes, extraordinary setting. Day trips when conditions are good.

Swanage Climbing · Dorset

Coastal limestone with something for every grade. Beautiful setting, varied climbing. A community favourite for outdoor days.

Swanage Crags Climbing · Local

Our local outdoor crags are one hour from Winchester. Short approach through farmland — bring proper boots, not low shoes. Cattle fields and tractor ruts will punish trainers.

Southampton Climbing Wall Indoor · Year-round

The Monday evening and Friday morning in bad weather default for climbing sessions. Covered, graded for all abilities. Where most new climbers start with us before moving outside.

The Alps — Valtellina Base

The Alps aren’t a destination we visit occasionally. They’re part of how Fab Rides thinks and moves. We have a base in Valtellina — near Lake Como, and in the Dolomites, which anchors our seasonal community trips.

Valtellina / Lake Como / Val di MelloMTB + Climbing

Over 50 MTB routes in the valley and surrounding peaks. Multi-pitch climbing on proper Alpine limestone. The summer hub for community trips.

Valgerola / Val Tartano / Spluga / Maloja Skiing

World-class skiing without the overcrowded resorts. January and May community trips. Ski touring terrain that rivals anywhere in the Alps.

Dolomites Climbing + MTB + skiing

Pale di San Martino. Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Iconic terrain for multi-day climbing and enduro riding. Where the adventures scale up.

Lake Como Cycling + Hiking + Climbing

Road and gravel riding on legendary terrain. The Piani di Bobbio. The Muro di Sormano. Extraordinary riding, extraordinary views. The Wayfarer Walk and the superb crags of Lecco

Beyond Europe

Fab Riders go further when the right opportunity comes together. In 2025, a group of us raced Wines2Whales in South Africa — three days of MTB through the Winelands. The organisers, the culture, the people were all exceptional. We’re building the foundation to return stronger, this time with a bigger Winchester and Dolomites contingent.

International trips happen when the right group and the right event align. If you’re interested in future adventures, get in touch.

After the Ride

Half the relationship-building happens after the ride. The trail is the opening; the rest is the conversation.

The pub stop, the coffee, the glass of wine at the end of a long day in the mountains — these aren’t afterthoughts. They’re part of what makes Fab Rides what it is.

Curious about Fab Wines — the parallel community built around the same ethos, just with bottles rather than bikes? Visit fab-wines.co.uk.