Beginners trails near London
jimineep
Posts: 6
OK here's the deal..
I've been commuting to work on an old hybrid for 6 months now. I had a couple of operation over the last couple of years on my right knee (meniscus problems, nothing too structurally wrong with it..) and the only sport that seems to help my knee is cycling.
So although I enjoy the commuting I'd really love to get off-road. With that in mind I bought a Dawes 1.6 xc. I've been using it on the road and its great fun, although the front suspension seems quite soft, has taken some getting used to!!!
Anyway, why am I telling you this? I'm looking for some simple trails near london where I can go with a couple of mates, and we can cycle around and I can build up some muscles. Doesnt have to be hardcore jumps or whatever, just a good beginners ride. I've had a look on the route planner, but the majority near me seem to be onroad....
Cheers!
I've been commuting to work on an old hybrid for 6 months now. I had a couple of operation over the last couple of years on my right knee (meniscus problems, nothing too structurally wrong with it..) and the only sport that seems to help my knee is cycling.
So although I enjoy the commuting I'd really love to get off-road. With that in mind I bought a Dawes 1.6 xc. I've been using it on the road and its great fun, although the front suspension seems quite soft, has taken some getting used to!!!
Anyway, why am I telling you this? I'm looking for some simple trails near london where I can go with a couple of mates, and we can cycle around and I can build up some muscles. Doesnt have to be hardcore jumps or whatever, just a good beginners ride. I've had a look on the route planner, but the majority near me seem to be onroad....
Cheers!
0
Posts
Epping is very good and it's also huge, I'm yet to try the North downs.
Just don't go after a downpour; it's a very chalky surface which becomes very sticky and gloopy when wet. My bike was literally twice the weight, completely covered in chalk-gloop. It could hardly move.
Will it not be full of people walking their dogs and saying "mind out, coulda killed me"?
I'd recommend getting a map of the forest and surrounding area if you are not familiar with the area! It's huge and is very easy to get lost in the Forest, especially when overcast and no sun to guide you...
The bridleways and other wide trails will give you a fairly long ride with some lovely scenery and stopping at High Beach for a pint/cuppa and grub can be a pleasure on a sunny (week)day or quiet weekend!
If you get bored of just wide bridleways/fireroads, contact these guys as they do rides from South Woodford (yes, the Forest does go that far South!) every Saturday & Sunday from 10am and occasionally midweek & evening rides too.
Epping Forest Epics
They have a mixed group and will always be happy to wait for any slower riders, social riding being more important that ripping up the trails. If there are a few out, they may split into faster and slower groups but will not leave you to get lost.
I used to ride with them fairly regularly when I lived in that area and can recommend them for Epping 'virgins' as there are probably 50-odd miles of 'hidden' trails through the South section of the Forest that you'd never find on your own, with the added bonus that you can get back without getting lost for the night!
But don't worry, the rides normally vary between 20-25 miles (halfway stop at High Beach cafe!) depending on the conditions, usually returning to South Woodford (Central Line tube) by 2-3pm at weekends.
Hope that this helps.
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on the underground, if you can get a Central Line train from Liverpool Street
and get off at Theydon Bois, or get the same line to Hainault for Hainault Forest.