Places to ride in / near Milton Keynes

Mattbot2

Hello,

Does anyone know of any good rides near / in Milton Keynes. I'd like to get into MTBing more.

Cheers,

Matt

BorisSpencer

Woburn Sands.

Mattbot2

BorisSpencer wrote:

Woburn Sands.

Wow that place looks great. Will definitely have to go there.

Do you know of any... "Smaller" ones that are more local if you know what I mean?

BorisSpencer

I'm not local to MK so I don't know any really 'local' stuff.
If you can transport your bike the other place you must visit is Chicksands (Rowney Warren), checkout the website.

Mattbot2

BorisSpencer wrote:

I'm not local to MK so I don't know any really 'local' stuff.
If you can transport your bike the other place you must visit is Chicksands (Rowney Warren), checkout the website.

Wow, that place is like 45 mins away, will definitely go there aswell.

Going to be on the Cross country / single trail stuff.

nonnac85

Chicksands, Woburn, Aston Hill (quick blast South on M1), Harlestone Firs (North on M1).

My website has more info: MTB Trail Time

Also MK has a bmx track near Pineham / the Helipad by Willen Lake
http://www.mkbmx.com/track_directions.html

Mattbot2

nonnac85 wrote:

Chicksands, Woburn, Aston Hill (quick blast South on M1), Harlestone Firs (North on M1).

My website has more info: MTB Trail Time

Also MK has a bmx track near Pineham / the Helipad by Willen Lake
http://www.mkbmx.com/track_directions.html

Yup, i'm about a 10 min ride from the Pineham BMX track.

Cheers for that mate.

Mattbot2

I've been to Salcey forest before riding the easy easy trails, family trails. But has anyone tried the harder Singletrack trails?

Cheers

Mattbot2

Okay, going to be going Woburn Sands next weekend. If I can get a helmet by then. The bike doesn't really need to be tuned by then it'll be fine, just minor niggles.

Any tips? Going to be doing the Single trails. I have a mate coming with me and he's a fairly big biker. He'll be coming down on his Specialized 2007 Hardrock Comp. So similar specced bikes so neither should feel left out.

Obviously as i'm doing the single trails there won't be many jumps but i'd just like to know what my bike will be up to doing, without breaking anything.

http://www.beone-bikes.com/EN/products/ ... pire2.html

Cheers,

Matt

nonnac85

looks ok to me - theres nothing too demanding on the singletracks round Woburn. Its about skill as well as the bike - you could break a bike going off a 1 or 2 foot drop if you dont have good technique.

Evans in the snodome sell a decent price range of helmets.

Mattbot2

Just found another place near MK.

http://www.rideastonhill.co.uk/Home.html

Also looks good.

What kind of Technique do you mean for a drop?

nonnac85

dont do big drops that land to flat. things like lift the front wheel a bit as you take off and while you are in the air try to get the bike the same angle as the ground so you land smoothly. Lean back especially if its steep else you will go ar$e over tit!

Mattbot2

Ah, okay, cheers.

supertwisted

My advice - get a bike rack!

I'm in south Northants, just outside MK. There's not much in the local vicinity bar bridleways and Salcey forest, but there's a reasonable number of trail centre type places within an hours commute in the car.

Getting a Saris Bones rack for Xmas, so no more muddy bike in the back of the car for me!

pittpony

Is the XC at Woburn fairly easy to navigate, or even waymarked? I'm planning a visit over Christmas

nonnac85

no - you'll need to get an OS map - some bridleways are marked on a map at the top car park but very little signage and if there is its only really for the main route out to the main road.

guilliano

There are a lot of little paths that don't appear on an OS map around Woburn. The best way to ride there is to simply explore

Around the MK area you have also got Tring (short train ride or drive). The Ridgeway is right by the train station and there is some superb riding round that way (see MBR hard route for an example). A copy of Rough Ride Guide for the Chilterns is worth investing in too.

pemsey

You could always try one of the local clubs such as CycloneMTB - they'll know all the routes and best options depending on the weather - and it's always handy to have some company if you're new to the game. A decent club will take into account people's skill (or lack of them) and help you out. Watching other riders also helps hone your own skills.

Mattbot2

pemsey wrote:

You could always try one of the local clubs such as CycloneMTB - they'll know all the routes and best options depending on the weather - and it's always handy to have some company if you're new to the game. A decent club will take into account people's skill (or lack of them) and help you out. Watching other riders also helps hone your own skills.

"Unfortunately, we cannot accept anyone for membership under the age of 18 years."

Mattbot2

I've been told by someone that's been to Woburn that it's too sandy and can mess will mess up your gears and what have you. Anyone know anything of this?

I reckon it'll be alright because we're going in the winter, when the sand won't be so sandy, it'll just be mud.

What do you guys think?

nonnac85

It is very sandy but if you clean it off at the end then your gears will be ok. If you keep riding with sand in the cogs etc it makes a gritty paste which can wear parts down.

Should be ok to ride there this time of year as any time really.

Mattbot2

Hmm. Maybe I should go Aston Hill instead. I've emailed both to ask about the conditions at present. So yeah.

mcbazza

Aston Hill is only open weekends (and generally for some of mid-week during school hols).
Terrain wise, it's ok. The XC is good. Fair amount of climbing (well, I always feel it's more 'up' than it is 'down'). The DH is ok.
Going can be quite rough/slow/boggy in places.
Lots of roots, which are generally exposed, unless covered by leaves.
Also a fair amount of loose flint/etc.

When I ride there, I tend to ride in an XC lid with leg/arm pads.

Oh, and don't forget the £5 day fee you'll have to pay to use the site for the day.

Bring spares/food/etc. Provisions on site are v.limited.

Mattbot2

mcbazza wrote:

Aston Hill is only open weekends (and generally for some of mid-week during school hols).
Terrain wise, it's ok. The XC is good. Fair amount of climbing (well, I always feel it's more 'up' than it is 'down'). The DH is ok.
Going can be quite rough/slow/boggy in places.
Lots of roots, which are generally exposed, unless covered by leaves.
Also a fair amount of loose flint/etc.

When I ride there, I tend to ride in an XC lid with leg/arm pads.

Oh, and don't forget the £5 day fee you'll have to pay to use the site for the day.

Bring spares/food/etc. Provisions on site are v.limited.

Yeah Aston Hill is open on the day that we're planning to go.

Not sure which one to do. As long as I clean properly. Woburn should be okay?

Mattbot2

Going to go to Woburn regardless. I mean, as long as I clean well, I should be fine, right?