Mountain Biking

nick5466 · 15 Sep 2015 at 10:19

PinkFloyd said:
*big post to add some reading material*

Ended up having a cracking day at Forest of Dean on Saturday, would love it to be more local to me! Sadly the end of the Verderers was closed, but I did the freeminers for the first time. Didn't enjoy those climbs but the rooty sections were huge fun with how muddy and slippery it was. Sheepskull and Corkscrew were both hugely rewarding, plus always enjoy the airtime on Launchpad.
Couldn't believe how grimy the bike got, the water splashing up over the bike was like paste, by the end of the ride my gears felt like they were completely rusty and the brakes sounded ruined. Happily all came off with a good clean when I got home

I've booked in this Sunday with the uplift, visiting family in the Midlands so it only 1.5 hours drive. How come the end of Verderers was closed?

My first proper ride out since coming back from Morzine in August.

merlin · 15 Sep 2015 at 11:21

My first visit to Cannock Chase Friday - took the day off work.

Gonna be a soggy one by the looks of the weather though!

MrKnifey · 15 Sep 2015 at 13:03

Booked in for Black Mountain Cycle centre.. Meh rain :/

Also entered FOD Enduro race in October!

Juggy1985 · 15 Sep 2015 at 13:07

merlin said:
My first visit to Cannock Chase Friday - took the day off work.

Gonna be a soggy one by the looks of the weather though!

The ground at cannock is mostly stone so shouldnt be too bad though it will be super slippy.

I havent done the whole red this year yet, too fat n lazy at the mo!

Juggy1985 · 15 Sep 2015 at 13:13

MrKnifey said:
Booked in for Black Mountain Cycle centre.. Meh rain :/

Also entered FOD Enduro race in October!

I'd love a try at that mini enduro. How much it cost ya?

PinkFloyd · 15 Sep 2015 at 13:21

nick5466 said:
I've booked in this Sunday with the uplift, visiting family in the Midlands so it only 1.5 hours drive. How come the end of Verderers was closed?

It was closed for resurfacing, however I think the rain has delayed things/washed some of the ground away, it was meant to have been reopened on the 11th, so fingers crossed it's open for you. It's a fun bit of track that you can keep some big speed along

[TFU] Thegoon84 · 15 Sep 2015 at 13:23

Couple from bike park, only being doing it like 10 months, got the jumping up to an ok standard, starting to do some whips now tho.

MrKnifey · 15 Sep 2015 at 13:35

Juggy1985 said:
I'd love a try at that mini enduro. How much it cost ya?

£45 :/

thewanted · 15 Sep 2015 at 13:53

merlin said:
My first visit to Cannock Chase Friday - took the day off work.

Gonna be a soggy one by the looks of the weather though!

Definitely one of my favourite trail centres! Jealous.

Supercow · 15 Sep 2015 at 14:34

thewanted said:
Definitely one of my favourite trail centres! Jealous.

Not been many places then have ya?

MrKnifey said:
£45 :/

I was kinda keen... until I read that bit. WTFprices?!

gettothechopper said:
ok

I went to Aston hill on sunday - it was fun

I should have joined you, went for a crappy ride elsewhere and regretted the decision.

thewanted · 15 Sep 2015 at 14:38

Supercow said:
Not been many places then have ya?

Not a huge amount, but enough to know that Cannock Chase offers something a little bit different and challenging.

Supercow · 15 Sep 2015 at 14:41

Dunno man, think the place sucks ... nearly as much as Swinley does.
Big old scalextric tracks in the woods does not appeal at all.

merlin · 15 Sep 2015 at 15:00

I've only been MTB'n since last winter (BMX'er in my youth) - so having it all on plastic plate at Cannock appeals to me right now - just roll up and it's all there, trails don't look particularly scary so chances are I'll not have to go home via A&E.

I just want a fun day out without having to see a nurse.

Plenty of time for more challenging rides once I've learnt a bit more about mine and my bikes limits.

thewanted · 15 Sep 2015 at 15:06

Supercow said:
Dunno man, think the place sucks ... nearly as much as Swinley does.
Big old scalextric tracks in the woods does not appeal at all.

I've only done it once almost a year ago, so I don't remember it too well. I did like the rocky-ness of it though.

Besides Aston

P), what's your favourite trail in the UK?

Juggy1985 · 15 Sep 2015 at 15:12

MrKnifey said:
£45 :/

Dayum! Thats abit of a rip off aye. If it were £20 i might of gave it a go, £45 is big dough.

MrKnifey · 15 Sep 2015 at 17:01

Enduro bandwagon y0! Sucks but meh what can I do

SpudMaster · 15 Sep 2015 at 17:21

Is there any decent dh at Cannock? The wife has family near by so was thinking of dragging the bike down next time we visit, dh bike mind.
Or would i just be wasting my time?

Juggy1985 · 15 Sep 2015 at 18:55

Stile cop is decent downhill but having to push up gets boring

Supercow · 15 Sep 2015 at 19:37

thewanted said:
I've only done it once almost a year ago, so I don't remember it too well. I did like the rocky-ness of it though.

Besides Aston P), what's your favourite trail in the UK?

Don't have a favourite really, anything that's not near-tarmac... the more loam and / or moar rocks the better.
FOD's fantastic, Hopton castle, Bringewood, Hindhead, Surrey Hills, BPW, Cwmcarn's off-piste dragon DH stuff, Woburn sands (for winter fun)... the list goes on.

Been to a fair few Welsh stuff that I cant recall the names of / spell / pronounce, al pretty bloody awesome, but not been there in a long time.

Not saying there's no fun to be had at Cannock or Swinley, but that's only really when there's no other option left (i.e: it's a mud bath anywhere else)

SpudMaster said:
Is there any decent dh at Cannock? The wife has family near by so was thinking of dragging the bike down next time we visit, dh bike mind.
Or would i just be wasting my time?

Done stile cop a few times, but never really liked it much.

thewanted · 15 Sep 2015 at 19:42

Presumably you mean the DH stuff at FOD and not the blue & red trails? I like the trails there, but they're not as good/interesting as the stuff you find at Afan.

I don't even know what my bike looks like anymore

Won't be able to ride it for many more weeks due to travelling *sigh*