Trail Centre addict?

pilsburypie

I know this will provoke some, but I can't seem to enjoy just riding nearly as much as Trail Centres. I've not done many, Llandegla, Marin, Coed-y-Brenin, Penmachno but can't seem to beat the thrill of the created features. Done a couple of local "downhills" too.

Sure I've been on some nice rides and there have been some good runs with a few
little jumps, but it's the long sweeping runs, berms and woooohoooo I crave. Planning a trip to Chicksands next week and Cwmcarn for an uplift day soon which for me seems the epitomy of self gratification..... down down down with no ups. Lazy thrills.....

How can I get my mindset right now I feel I've been spoilt.... I can't get away to trail centres regularly and I'm left with what I have locally....

I'm no long time biker, been riding for only a year and worry about my future! Ideas?

Stu 74

Where are you based?

geordiefreerider

I actually have never been to a dedicated trail centre but im all up for them, you have support and facilitys, other riders for advice etc and best of all no ramblers/dog walkers or horse riders to ruin a turbocharged descent as soon ! as i get another car im off to try out kielder forest, hamsterley the altura trail etc, although I do like the feeling of remoteness when your miles away from anything im more than wiiling to start and end my rides at a cafe ha ha

pilsburypie

Based in Birmingham - go to Cannock a fair bit, do follow the dog and the downhills on odd occasion at stile cop..... just been to Hopwas woods the other day Tamworth way and had a blast on the homemade downhill trail there. Short but a good laugh....

Although I'm still a relative novice, I'm wondering if I'm going the downhill way? That seems to be what I seek.... fast, jumps (not too big) and drops.... a ring twitching thrill!

rhysduk

pilsburypie wrote:

I know this will provoke some, but I can't seem to enjoy just riding nearly as much as Trail Centres. I've not done many, Llandegla, Marin, Coed-y-Brenin, Penmachno but can't seem to beat the thrill of the created features.

I was up in Llandegla and CyB last week...
Llandegla is in the middle of a face lift and a lot has changed from when I rode it last, lot of deforestation going on making the trails look different. Taken a lot of fast and flowy sections out, I think.

CyB on the other hand had a new trail from when I last rode there, Cyflym Coch (Red Fox). A very fast and flowing trail with short climbs. One of the best IMO at CyB.

Having said that... nothing beats getting the map out and going exploring 8)

Rhys

P-Jay

My name is P-Jay and I'm a Trail Centre Addict.....

I've got a little local loop I ride now and again, but with Afan, Brecfam Cwmcarn and a few DH tracks all local(ish) to me I ride a different one every weekend. Apart from a few road trips to other centres in North Wales and the annual trip to Morzine the only other place I ride is the local nature reserve/park and that's only to check out the Milfs.

We used to ride out in the wilds, but it's not really my thing anymore, you get lost, static from ramblers and horse riders (and once a Get off moi land farmer) and it's all a bit of a slog on a 6" bike on the climbs and I'm a bit "overbiked" for the downs to make it exciting.

But I do miss it sometimes, I've got a LONG gardening leave break coming up, maybe I'll buy a second-hand short travel hardtail or FS and get back to the essence of MTBing again for a bit.

ratty2k

pilsburypie wrote:

Based in Birmingham - go to Cannock a fair bit, do follow the dog and the downhills on odd occasion at stile cop..... just been to Hopwas woods the other day Tamworth way and had a blast on the homemade downhill trail there. Short but a good laugh....

Although I'm still a relative novice, I'm wondering if I'm going the downhill way? That seems to be what I seek.... fast, jumps (not too big) and drops.... a ring twitching thrill!

Go North for a bit and ride the Peak district.

grumsta

I enjoy trail centres for what they are - concentrated doses of fun - but for me nothing beats some of the byways and bridleways in the Lakes for a memorable day out.

dave_hill

Horses for courses.

I like trail centres but I'm with Grumsta on this one - nothing like a day out in the Lakes or Peaks or Dales.

I think a lot of it has to do with how you approach it - trail centres mean you don't have to think as much about what you're doing or where you are going, which means you can concentrate on the riding.

But to me, they knock half of the challenge out of finding a trail and stringing a loop together, possibly one that no-one else has ridden (or would even consider riding).

I think that a lot of city-based people (and I'm not having a dig here, just an observation) find the open country to be a bit intimidating and don't know how to deal with it, so a nice, safe, packaged experience is just the ticket.

sniper68

Trail centres are like a Mcdonalds,processed for a quick fix.OK every now and then but you wouldn't want one every week

.blitz

Days out in the hills force you to delve into specialist skills that don't get a look-in anywhere else. Map reading becomes an essential tool and any lack of confidence in your mechanical ability can be thrown into sharp focus by a disaster in fading light when you're miles from base. The ability to pace and fuel yourself effectively is important when the only opportunity for food and rest is right at the end of the ride.

Bu mostly it's great to practice the fine art of cruising over rolling hills with nothing but an epic view for company.

cee

agree with all the natural riding stuff....that accounts for about 75% of my riding.....

but i have to say that the top section of the Innerleithen XC is flowier than a flowy thing that has just had a new flow meter installed.

Captain Turok

ibbo68 wrote:

Trail centres are like a Mcdonalds,processed for a quick fix.OK every now and then but you wouldn't want one every week

+1 ;-)
Still wish I had atleast ONE decent "trail centre" near me though.
A similar thing happens in fishing, the pro's and con's of commercial day ticket lakes and fishing "wild waters", you get a slightly different "fix" from each one IMO.

grumsta

Also reminds me of climbing wall vs climbing outdoors.

The Northern Monkey

I do like trail centers, manly because my bike is aimed towards them more.

I'm wanting to get out in the wilderness which is why I want a different bike. That way I can take dave up on some of the nice rides he's been organizing.

pilsburypie

Some good answers chaps - has got me thinking about rides near the lakes....

Dave mentioned that trail centres are your sanitised "safe" fun. Safe in the sense you aint gonna get lost, but there is where I have my spills!

Someone also said they are like McDonalds - you wouldn't want one every day..... hmmmm, a good ride at Coed-y-Brenin, dragons back followed by a Large Big Mac meal with a Quarter pounder on top.....OOOOh Yeeeaaah!

geordiefreerider

Although I have done it the other way round started off riding in the days before trail centres were invented, maybe there a good idea for people starting off in mountain biking, a place where they can learn skills and therefore increasing confidence and ability before heading out in the middle of nowhere, im more than willing to give them a go for a bit of fun but for me nothing will beat looking down at clouds and tornado jets like ya get at the lake district etc I love the feeling of remoteness and isolation as well as a massive feeling of achievement when you have conquered some harsh terrain which I doubt a trail centre can provide.

lovelybones

I've only ever ventured to the purpose built trails and must admit that I've ashamed to say that I've got a little addicted. I did however get a MTB trail book for christmas which covers the lake District..............Hmm me thinks its time to take it off the bookshelf :oops:

grumsta

lovelybones is that the VG gudie to the Lakes? If so there is some awesome routes in there.

shin0r

I think regarding trail centres as a sanitised version of mountain biking is missing the point by a mile. Where in the UK can you find descents like the final 7km of Skyline, or the legendary Wall, The Bitch at Glentress, the final drop at Innerleithen, or DH runs like Mynydd Mojo if not at trail centres?

sniper68

shin0r wrote:

I think regarding trail centres as a sanitised version of mountain biking is missing the point by a mile. Where in the UK can you find descents like the final 7km of Skyline, or the legendary Wall, The ***** at Glentress, the final drop at Innerleithen, or DH runs like Mynydd Mojo if not at trail centres?

Peak/Lake district,Yorks dales etc.Scotland natural stuff.MUCH more technical than ANY trail centre.Cut-gate in the Peak is a quality 7km technical descent.The Beast of Hope Cross is a 800m long twisty rock garden.
Nan bield/garburn pass/walna scar in the lakes are massive descents.
I could go on and on and on.
Trail centres are made to be rideable with little or no effort the natural stuff takes nerve as well as skill.

ratty2k

lovelybones wrote:

I've only ever ventured to the purpose built trails and must admit that I've ashamed to say that I've got a little addicted. I did however get a MTB trail book for christmas which covers the lake District..............Hmm me thinks its time to take it off the bookshelf :oops:

Get the one for the Peak district. Sooo much great riding and so close- just the other side of Manchester is a lot closer to home than the lakes.

miss notax

ibbo68 wrote:

[Trail centres are made to be rideable with little or no effort the natural stuff takes nerve as well as skill.

Hmmm. Not sure I agree with that :?

I agree that there is a marked difference between the centres and natural trails which require some different skills, but I don't agree that the trail centres are rideable with little or no effort. I think you can ATTEMPT a lot of them (ie walking the bits you can't ride).

As someone who started off with no bike skills AT ALL, and is now at a fairly decent standard, it's taken me a good year and a half to ride Cwmcarn / Afan etc well. And you can't tell me that some of the centres don't need balls too?

You may find them easy, but don't forget that not everyone is at your level

likewoah

As someone who started in 94, when we thought a little bermed corner found accidentally in a remote field was the highlight of a ride, I would say trail centres are frickin awesome!

Banned!

never ridden a trail centre and never want too. whats the use in that? its like those carp and trout fisheries you see. if its all laid out for you and you can get a map of the route and watch it on youtube before you ride it, having waited for the 300 other 'riders' to get out of the way first of course, then i cant see any sort of fun in it at all.

having said that, my whole country is a free and natural riding paradise.

likewoah

You're definitely missing out JC

shin0r

ibbo68 wrote:

shin0r wrote:

I think regarding trail centres as a sanitised version of mountain biking is missing the point by a mile. Where in the UK can you find descents like the final 7km of Skyline, or the legendary Wall, The ***** at Glentress, the final drop at Innerleithen, or DH runs like Mynydd Mojo if not at trail centres?

Peak/Lake district,Yorks dales etc.Scotland natural stuff.MUCH more technical than ANY trail centre.Cut-gate in the Peak is a quality 7km technical descent.The Beast of Hope Cross is a 800m long twisty rock garden.
Nan bield/garburn pass/walna scar in the lakes are massive descents.
I could go on and on and on.
Trail centres are made to be rideable with little or no effort the natural stuff takes nerve as well as skill.

You're talking out of your arse. Have you ever been to a trail centre? If you find the riding easy you must be Steve Peat.

shin0r

Jesus_Christ wrote:

never ridden a trail centre and never want too.

Why are you commenting on this thread if you have no experience of the subject?

cee

Jesus_Christ wrote:

never ridden a trail centre and never want too. whats the use in that? its like those carp and trout fisheries you see. if its all laid out for you and you can get a map of the route and watch it on youtube before you ride it, having waited for the 300 other 'riders' to get out of the way first of course, then i cant see any sort of fun in it at all.

having said that, my whole country is a free and natural riding paradise.

are you saying that you have also never ridden any built trails?

Banned!

because i have seen them and i have been to one but never ridden it.

i know too many riders who talk about nailing a prticular section of a trail centre but never go out and look for thier own trails. that just seems like such a waste to me

http://www.momentumscotland.org/graphic ... ichill.JPG

i was riding here last week. one of the fastest and most challenging bits of trail i have ever ridden. you just dont get this sort of thing in a centre. its far too dangerous.

Banned!

cee wrote:

are you saying that you have also never ridden any built trails?

only the bmx style jumps Ive had a hand in building.