Follow the dog Cannock

Mrs Toast

npowell28 wrote:

The other bit i chicken out on was a really steep slope/drop off about 5 foot high right at the end of one of the sections. It had wooden slats going horizontally across it. It followed 4 or 5 smaller drop off(which i didn't ride particularly well either).

Ah, section 8. The little log jumps are easy enough to roll over if you get your weight back - they're most awkward if you take them too slowly! The log slop on the exit of the section isn't as bad as it looks - it just looks a bit intimidating as you approach it as you can't really see what it is.

Main thing I struggle with are the two roots on hills - I'm never quite sure where to put my weight!

.blitz

npowell28 wrote:

The other bit i chicken out on was a really steep slope/drop off about 5 foot high right at the end of one of the sections. It had wooden slats going horizontally across it. It followed 4 or 5 smaller drop off(which i didn't ride particularly well either).

First time I went over there I was on my Proflex :shock:

But it's quite enoyable once you get the hang of it and it can be entertaining to see how people tackle it. The kids on DJ bikes get air but most people ride up-and-over it. I've never seen anyone fall off. Yet.

ChrisMidsUK

Hi all, newcomer here and just wanted to give my thoughts on the FTD trail centre and give a small(ish ) intro about me at the same time.

I'm new to the world of MTB, got talking with my older bro last Xmas and told him I had been thinking of buying my first MTB, he's been a keen cyclist for a few years now and does both road and off road, he told me he's buying his first full susser which he's having made by his LBS down in Dorset, it's going to be something pretty smart from what I gather though specially made starting from carbon frame and all that jazz.

He offered to give me his HT for free, which is a Kona Explosif, only the orginal frame exists as he's changed everything else.
I hadn't been on bikes for years and am currently 37 years old, I bought myself a Dahon Jack around 3 months ago from now and have been using it for commuting to work and enjoying long country lane rides on days off. been wanting to get fit for years and gyms don't suit me at all.

At this point, I'm thinking about getting into cycling more seriously but finding the traffic volumes pretty off putting, it's certainly no fun having cars drive past doing 60 or 70 MPH and around 2 feet away,(feel the wind in my hair :!: ) breathing in exhaust fumes while climbing hills was proving to be annoying too, not to mention that feeling I'm in their way as much as they are in mine, here was me trying to keep away from roads I think may be busy, only to find the majority of 'quiet' lanes are used as rat runs for mothers driving kids to school, white vans, lorries, and white vans again. I was often riding around the roads that run adjacecent with Cannock Chase and the final straw came when some ignorant bloke in a posh Audi almost clipped me at high speed, It was like I suddenly developed tourettes momentarily, I actually shouted W***er at the top of my voice and thought 'what the hell am I doing?' :oops:

I started flirting with areas of the chase I had no rights being on considering this 'folding bike' is not meant for bumpy trails, sure, the Schwalbe big apple tyres soaked up plenty of bumps on light terrain but the more I rode the chase, the more this bike made an unusual display of interesting noises, the rear wheel sounded like there was an angry bee trapped somewhere for example, which I think was made by the V Brakes rubbing on the tyre. In any case, the bike was rightly telling me it don't belong here.

'I'm an urban commuter, get me out of here!'

I'd thought about MTB riding in my younger days, an old friend did it and always raved on about what a laugh it was, I just wasn't in a position to shell out the cash back then, or didn't think so at the time. It all seemed a lot of money and I knew I would not have been serious enough back then to justify the inital and ongoing costs.

My bike history from the younger days, all Xmas pressies from the LBS, courtesy of Santa.
Raleigh Chopper (such a retro classic nowadays)
Raleigh Bomber (the 1st ever MTB type bike? I loved this heavy black beast and felt I could probably climb Everest on it 8) )
Raleigh Equipe (cheap racing bike that lasted 10 years without any cleaning or lubing whatsoever) :shock:
Kalkhoff summatorother, don't know what model but it was green and like something me grandad might ride, I bought it for 50 pence from a jumble sale and loved the 'coaster brake'. I'd ride as fast as I could then back pedal hard as poss to leave a nice black skid trail.

I never had a BMX but always wanted one, luckily my mates had them and let me play on theirs, did the usual stuff, little bit of bomb hole'ing, quarter pipe and bunny hops, wheelies, cherry pickers, nothing too technical like the pro's that could fly through the air, juggling the bike, but it was an exciting time for biking. Who remembers the movie 'BMX Bandits'?

Even with the possibilty of a 'free HT' on the horizon, I was getting restless. I didn't know if or when it would happen, but a kind offer all the same so I didn't want to push the issue. I'd already found this site very useful but now started visiting this MTB forum section. After reading opinions and reviews, I became interested in a few full sussers, I felt with a HT on the way, maybe I should get a full suss for the best of both worlds, incidentally, I may not get the HT now as my bro knows I bought a bike, but it don't matter, I do fully appreciate the relevance of learning on a HT though, far less forgiving that a FS and a good way to build up riding skill, so with any luck, he might give or let me borrow it after all at some point.

The bike I became interested in more than any other was the Spesh Pitch Pro, not realising that this bike would prove more elusive than Osama Bin Laden due to it's popularity, it seemed a damn good buy for the price, even as a newbie, I was taking in a lot of opinions on this, that and the other.

I also thought about the Pitch Comp or some of the XC range, but it did seem that many people buying the £1000 price range FS bikes, seemed to be changing stuff like the forks as they were not happy with Rockshox Toras etc..
It was getting hard to decide, a bit like the mobile phone market, so many bikes and makes to choose from :?: The Felt Compulsion looked ok, Giant, Orange, Kona, Boardman and on and on.
Confused.com? You will be!

I loved the look of Enduro FSR Comp 09 but I knew it would be perhaps ridiculous for a complete noob like me to spend 2k on a bike like that,especially without earning my stripes on a HT for at least a year, I'd really got my heart set on that Pitch Pro though and was frustrated all sites stated 'out of stock', I decided to email a few of the smaller looking online stored on the off chance they might have one hidden in a cellar and one reply came back from leisurewheels.co.uk based in Hampshire, they apologised for not having any Pitch Pro's in stock, or any plans to re-stock anytime soon but as a goodwill gesture, would offer me 10% off any other bike providing I paid on a card.

This opened a new door for me, my thoughts of spending around £1200 max suddenly changed, I had noticed the Stumpjumper FSR Comp 09 (and liked the look of the bike and specs) on their site for £1565 and with a 10% discount, this would make it just over the £1400 mark, I emailed with the proposal of calling it £1400 exactly and the deal was done, have to say, I'm really happy with everything regarding the bike and had it now for 4 weeks this friday, I can;t compare to other bikes of course but once I got the sag and rebound right, I feel like I can almost float through the air and walk on water.

I've suffered a setback this week because of cold and flu, it's so frustrating as I've been riding a minimum of 5 days a week prior to getting ill. There's so much for a noob to learn, I was reading about many of the bike skills aspects a while before getting the bike, as well as watching youtube vids etc...but you still have to go out there and 'feel the terrain' for yourself, then can come the shock of how hard it can be to edge your way down and over a steep drop, and all the rest of it

There's quite a lot of good XC trails on the chase though, I ride up into the highest areas and think I'm progressing 'ok', find little log jumps and so on, and am able to tackle this stuff without falling off, always keeping the fundamentals of what I've read about in my mind, it is a lot of work for a noob to get used to changing position and shifting weight continuously, but I hope to become good at this sport over the years to come. It is difficult though, to know how far you can take it, so much practise to do with track stands, bunny hopping, drop offs and everyting else, I watch a video of Fort William and just know, that being realistic, I'll probably never get to that level, doing fast and dangerous downhill.

This MTB is the best thing I've even owned and I love riding away from the roads, just me and the scenery and the world around can bog off. For now, I'm happy riding all over the Chase, keep fiding new areas to ride and feel like I'm starting to know the place very well, found some nice singletrack last friday that I hadn't noticed before, it;s nicely done too with a couple of jumps along the way, I love finding stuff like that, someone made a ramp out of logs and mud/clay which is a nice thing to blast up to then fire over, it inpires me to have a go at making stuff like that myself and adding to the trails I find.

I notice people talk about the essence of Mountain Biking and what that is, for me it''s simply enjoying what you do, whatever level of ablility you reach, and appreciating the countryside/nature around you, I'm already finding that I can't look at landscape without thinking about how I would ride it, that means I'm getting the bug right? I saw a car ad on TV a few days ago and was admiring the landscape behind it, rather than the foreground of the picture. And when I ride near woods I just can't ignore any trails I spot that might lead somewhere through it, feel like a rabbit wanting to bolt down a hole.

If you are still awake and reading this rather long winded intro, (I fibbed at the start) I just want to say Hi and thanks to the makers of this site, it's really good for all types of cyclists, and the members in these forums are very helpful so thanks for imparting your knowledge in so many threads I've read.

Oh yeah, I was going to give thoughts on FTD trail at Birches Valley - Cannock Chase

I've only been there once so far, I actually enjoy doing the 'finding my own trails' to ride thing and having so much fun on certain very good trails I know of on the chase, there's some good twisty singletrack leading from the higher points and I like that feeling of freedom. Hoping to expand my horizons further, peak district and lake district both appeal for starters.

I can see how those purpose built trails are also good fun and tick a different kind of box, there was an interesting debate I noted recently but I like the idea of both types and feel there is a place and need for both. The FTD trail is providing everything from a bike shop (complete with workshop) to a bacon sandwich, bike wash, safe parking, and guaranteed trail, something which you have to find for yourself and make the best of if you don't use the trail centre.

Unfortunately though, my first experience wasn't exactly great to say the least, probably my own fault and perhaps people with knowledge of FTD can enlighten me as to wether I'm just unlucky or a complete numpty. :oops:

I turned up after only owning the bike for 1 week, too soon really to be attempting it if I'm honest, even though many say it's an easy course. I didn;t find it that hard although I got it badly wrong on the famous boardwalk S7, as I approached the split, I saw that the ''easy'' left route twisted up like a roller coaster slightly and just had visions of coming off, so I decided on the skinny stepped plank straight ahead, I sat down for some strange reason and slowed down which was the wrong thing to do, lost momentum and knew I had to bail after starting to pedal, kicking myself after jumping as I knew I should have kept a good steady speed going, stay standing on the pedals and just focus on the area I'm heading to, rather that allowing my eyes to be drawn to the sides and water at the end.

After watching videos of FTD on youtube, I was surprised at how deep some holes in the trails were, shortly before the S7 boardwalk was an area like that, don't remember seeing that in the vids before but it was a proper bucking bronco moment.

Now, when I turned up to Birches Valley, I didn't know or spot where Swinnerton Cycles was, so I spent a few moments riding round trying to find the trail starting point, then a guy kindlly pointed the way and finally I rode past the cycle centre and started seeing those red cycle signs, but was confused as to why I could not find that huge banner that hangs from trees, signalling the start of FTD.

This threw me out, I noticed a sign with 'diversion' on it on a fire road, those red signs seemed to be suggesting I should keep going left rather than straight up onto this wide fire road, so it was all starting to look a bit vague.
I followed this track down, saw another diversion sign pointing right, then stopped and asked this woman walking a dog (ooh the irony :roll: ) if I was going thw right way for the FTD course, she of course was dead posh, rode horses and probably hated bikers, 'follow the dog?' she said, never heard of it! 'Have you got a map?' :evil:

I went back toward the cycle shop and was going to ask where the start was but saw (finally) some other riders going to where I'd just come, ''follow them'' I thought. Sure enough they turned right from one fire road to another, where mrs plum in her mouth had just been, finally it started looking good.

But the first thing I see on of the the trees Im passing it 'section 13' :? :? :? , then a few minuted ride later I'm on that famous boardwalk at section 7. :? :? :?
So, how the hell have I gone from ''the start'', to S13 to S7 ? I knew they had closed a couple of sections from the chasetrails site (S2 was one) but where the hell was the sections before 7 ? This was quite confusing, after the boardwalk I remember the trail leading along side a small road then after turning right I seem to be in some kinda 'fire road central hub' area. And I can;t see or find how to get to section 8 and onward, sadly with no other bikers around to ask, so I just gave up and found my was back to the main centre and left feeling rather dissapointed, wondering whether I'd bother coming back. Never got to ride the chain slapper.

In conclusion, the start seemed to be missing, although I saw a few more of those little red trail signs along the way, I seem to reach a point where they stopped, there didn;t seem to be a natural flow of progression, linking the sections together like I expected after looking at the map online.

Did I miss a turn or was a spiked with LSD?

Regards...Chris

.blitz

Epic first post. Welcome to the forum.

I used to ride FtD before it had a name and one of the things I like most about it is that I can bail out at any time and/or use parts of it to make up different routes. The maps in Swinno's bike shop can help to get a handle on the terrain and although the network of trails can seem a little confusing at first it soon falls into place.

ChrisMidsUK

.blitz wrote:

Epic first post. Welcome to the forum.

I used to ride FtD before it had a name and one of the things I like most about it is that I can bail out at any time and/or use parts of it to make up different routes. The maps in Swinno's bike shop can help to get a handle on the terrain and although the network of trails can seem a little confusing at first it soon falls into place.

I really don't know how to make posts shorter sometimes. :oops:

Thanks for the reply and the welcome. I intend on going back at some point and think it may all be clearer next time but I guess it was not seeing that large red banner as the start point which threw me.
As a beginner, I was thrown into slightly rougher XC terrain than expected, there was no gentle intro as I seemed to miss everything prior to section 7 area, so I left feeling I'm not quite ready for it.

It's amazing the difference a few more weeks of riding can make though, my ability to ride through large dips in the surface and handle descents has improved dramatically (or so I feel) since that day, now I'd feel far more confident of getting past most of it.

I'm not a car owner though and ride to the Chase from stafford and cut through Sherbrook valley to get to Penkridge bank, so I have to make a bit more effort to get there, which is why I'm happier with my usual chase area trails. That hill back up penkridge bank toward the forestry commision building is a bit of a drag too when you got some nobbly tyres on.

But I will make the effort to try it again a few more times.

Cheers. (beer clinking smilie)

.blitz

I live in Brocton so your route to FtD is pretty much the same as mine. At the top of Sherbrook Valley I go left, ride up to the Tackeroo campsite and then go around the left side of the campsite and head towards Fairoak Lodge. There are a number of right turns along there that will bring you to section 13-16 of the Dog or you could just follow the trail down to the start at Birches Valley. There's some good riding on the other side of the A460 around Beaudesert/Castle Ring/Rawnsley Hills.

Chase Trails map

AndyBike

.blitz wrote:

I live in Brocton so
Chase Trails map

Ive seen you mention Brocton a couple of times and I'm afraid curiosity has got the better of me.

respecting anonimity are you G ?

.blitz

AndyBike wrote:

respecting anonimity are you G ?

Nope. I'm M.

Mrs Toast

Well, the good news is that all the sections are open now (section 2 was opened two weeks ago), so it should be easier to find your way around. There's also a few more signs that have gone up recently, but it can be a bit confusing if you don't know the area, especially if there's diversions! It can also be a bit confusing with the section numbers, due to sections being removed from the trail. They also bear no relation to the numbers on the posts!

Section One: This is the track that starts in front of Swinnertons, and goes under the Go-Ape course. Main obstacles on this are people observing the Go Ape course, looking directly up! Follow it to the end, and you'll see a Green route marker off to the left, and the red marker a little further up on the right. This leads to section two.

Section Two: First 'proper' bit of FtD, nice singletrack through the trees which gently descends, some berms and some shallow log steps at the exit. Watch your speed here as it goes onto a busy bit of shared fireroad, and smashing into little Timmy and his happy canine pal doesn't do anyone any favours. You can see the start of the next section from the end of the first - you'll see a wide wooden bridge.

Section Six: This section is a bit timber-tastic, starting with bridge that leads onto this section. It has quite a steep ramp at the end, but it's easily rollable (well, I have a 1/1 success rate \o/). Follow the trail around - there's the black-graded log skinny off to the left, and the regular red route weaves around the right. Go over the bridge, follow the trail around to the right, over the mini-stile thing over the brook, up the hill, and across the crater riddled remainder of the section. At the end, turn left, go through the barrier, and the next section is off to the right.

Section Seven: The section with the board walk! There's the blue graded chicken run off to the right which has recently been resurfaced, and the boardwalk to the left. As you've already noticed, it branches into two - the wider easier path, and the more direct but also more difficult skinny. Follow the trail, and exit onto the fireroad. This is where you went wrong as far as I can see - you needed to take the fireroad hill that's ahead and just to the left of the section exit.

Section Eight: At the top of the fireroad hill, there's actually two section 8s. The original section 8 is a short downhill bermy section, which leads back onto the fireroad - you have to go up another fireroad hill to get the next section, which is at the top of the hill then right.

The new section 8 is longer, and more entertaining and flowing. It's got a few jumps, a steady switchback climb at the end, and a short but steep log hill at the exit, but nothing that can't be rolled if you keep your weight back. After exiting the trail, go right up a small hill, left at the top, then I think there's another right, then the next section is to the left. The signs are fairly good round that area, so you should be able to stay on track.

Sections Nine, Ten, Eleven and Twelve: These are all pretty straight forward, and lead onto each other fairly obviously. They do have shared fireroads, so again, be careful near the entrances and exits, not only for the previous reasoning, but because these seem to be the areas that suffer most from people (particularly families with small children) walking onto the track. At the end of Twelve, follow the red markers on the fireroads. You'll eventually come to a point where there's a fireroad crossroad - straight ahead is a steep downhill path, and there are green markers pointing left and right (the left one pointing to a trail across the road). Running parallel to the road is section 13.

Section Thirteen: My favourite section. Very fast, pretty much constant descent, some nice twists and turns. It's a bit battered with braking bumps, but it all adds to the charm. Exit it, go left (or right and up the hill if you want to do it again).

Section Fourteen: After going left from the exit of 13, go down the hill. Eventually there will be another crossroads, and you need to go left up a steep loose path. Section 14 is near the top, off to the right. Again, it's fairly well signed, so if you've got to this point you should be fine. Section 14 is also a lot of fun, a bit like a rollercoaster. It's quite different from the rest of the trail, pretty sandy. There's a climb to the top which has nice views, then a nice descent. Exit the trail, climb up the fireroad, and the start of 15 is to the right.

Section Fifteen: Another nice fast and flowing section. Watch out for the tree on the corner. You'll know it when you see (or crash into) it! The entrance to 16 is pretty much directly in front of the exit to 15.

Section Sixteen: I'm rubbish at this section. It starts off very tightly winding through trees, but widens off and is a bit more flowing about halfway through. It also suffers from braking bumps quite badly near the end as it descends. At the exit of the section, go right, and then left at the red marker - this will take you on quite a sandy path that runs underneath the other half of Go Ape, and back to where section 6 starts. You may now eat cake!

Hope that helps! I've got no idea how you saw section 13 between Swinnertons and section 7 though.

ChrisMidsUK

Thanks for taking the time to write that out Mrs Toast, that is far more useful than that little map of the place.

I'll have to print that off and stuff it in a pocket next time I come.

Cheers.

wemac

Thanks Mrs Toast - that's very useful. I only go there occasionally from Telford and with all the work that has been going on was finding it difficult to avoid losing the way.

I love your blog as well

AndyBike

.blitz wrote:

AndyBike wrote:

respecting anonimity are you G ?

Nope. I'm M.

Ah. I used to know a G who lives in Brocton also a longtime MTBer.

Alex

Follow the Dog is currently fully open with no diversions in place.
However, being a working forest, this is of course subject to change at fairly short notice.

We are currently waiting on three sections to be rebuilt/repaired on FTD and there may be some closures in the very near future related to that.


Meanwhile, we are building a seven mile "Redder" loop that leaves Follow the Dog half way through. We're a fair way through it, but there's still a huge amount of work to be done before we can give you guys some more trail. If you're a local and can spare some time on a Sunday morning, please come and give us a hand. Every little helps!

Trailbuiding:
Every Sunday
10am
Meet at Birches Valley Forestry Centre, outside Swinnertons Cycles.

(Also an opportunity to put names to faces, Hi Mrs Toast!)

Mrs Toast

Did you manage to dry out and cheer up eventually, Alex?

Alex

Eventually, although dryness/warmness was postponed by there being no hot water when I got home. The dog got there first!

Course as soon as I'd taken my sodden self and my miserable disposition home, it dried up. Enjoy your trail-poking?