Trail Centre addict?

cee

what about all your comments about pollock park? is that just bmx style jumps you had a hand in building?

not trying to be smart or funny, just that from what you said in that thread about rant at glasgow council sounded very much like you were riding trails built by the council....

i may have misread

ratty2k

shin0r wrote:

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 ars*. Have you ever been to a trail centre? If you find the riding easy you must be Steve Peat.

Yes he has, hes been to them with me- Marin and Penmachno- (he's done more in Scotland than me)I've done Llandegla and Glentress red.
As for what he says I have to agree, every trail centre has climbs that are ridable with enough fitness, not come across any that are that technical I cant get up. Peak district? Plenty of stuff I cant ride up as I end up stalling due to the fact its techy climbing. As for the descents, all trail centres I've been to are smooth trails maybe a little rough where worn out. Peak district? Rough as you like Beast is very rocky, Rushup edge? rocks and steps, jacobs ladder? rough rocky and steps, Cavedale? very rocky, very steep, very narrow and lots of nettles as well- to boot its all limestone so fecking slippy when wet. And thats just a few of what we've got round there. Trail centres have their place- bad weather as they are all weather trails, and if you want to have a blast for 2-3 hrs or so. But as said above, like muccyD's, allright now and then, but not every week.

Banned!

cee wrote:

what about all your comments about pollock park? is that just bmx style jumps you had a hand in building?

not trying to be smart or funny, just that from what you said in that thread about rant at glasgow council sounded very much like you were riding trails built by the council....

i may have misread

i had nothing to do with pollok park trails, I was just making suggestions on how they could be improved. there was an opportunity missed by the council to do something positive but they have made things worse since then by placing several markers, in the shape of 4ft tall wooden posts, along the black trail, one on each side like a gate.

i will not be riding this trail.

shin0r

Jesus_Christ wrote:

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.

So dangerous that the octogenarian in the picture has bailed and completely lost his bike. Radical

Banned!

he had a totally tricked out yeti too.

seriously though, that track doesnt have a smooth inch on it , its made entirely of jagged rocks and there is absolutely nowhere to brake safely. ive hit it at about 40mph in the past, only to realise that i have no way of slowing down barring a crash, riding off it onto the grass ( another crash) or hiolding on for dear life until it levels out at the bottom and screaming at walers to get the hell out of my way.


cant wait to get back out on it.

shin0r

Jesus_Christ wrote:

he had a totally tricked out yeti too.

Hah that's funny, the old guy who delivers leaflets for the local takeaway round here rides an enormous Kona with triple crowns

sniper68

shin0r wrote:

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

You really shouldn't make stupid statements like that when you've obviously no idea where i've ridden.
Marin(loads),Penmachno,Dalby Whinlatter,Grizedale,all old and new CYB(6 or 7 times),Ae, Dalbeattie and Kirroughtree.ALL of them are ridable,the only thing i'm not comfortable on is NS stuff/boardwalks.
I'm not Steve Peat and i'm not some young DH god.I'm 40 and my brain kicks in and tells me when something is beyond my skill level.The only Trail centre (of sorts) that has stuff i won't attempt is Wharnecliffe Woods,where Peaty trains funnily enough
Trail centres are a good bit of fun with sections to get you buzzing.Like i said earlier the McDonalds of MTBing.

supertwisted

I'm still a bit of a newb and haven't done any trail centres yet, but I can see the appeal.

My part of the country is generally flat and unremarkable. While I like to get out and explore as much as possible, I'm often yearning for something with a bit more bite.

A condensed dose of trail centre excitement is pretty appealing.

pilsburypie

I knew this would provoke debate! I'm sure trail centres are sanitised fun, but I stick with my original thoughts. My fitness levels are alright, enough to take me round the longest trails where I know I will be rewarded many times for my long slog climbs. I go up, then come down a swooping bermed track, up and over jumps to be grinning at the bottom before another climb followed by more cheap thrills.....

On the other hand, unless I was going with someone who knew the area well and the very best bits, I can see myself puffing up hill after hill to only be rewarded with some crap down used by walkers - where are my berms and "just the right sized" drops? :?

Banned!

there are very few natural berms and whats the point of a drop being 'just right'?

how will that in any way advance your skills as a rider?

realnumber 1

You should give some trail centre's a go Jesus. Everything your saying about natural is correct. But to dismiss centre's is crazy! :? You have places from Stainburn to Coed y Brenin, a world apart!
The thing is they work well (not always though!) for the less advanced rider and they also work well for the advanced rider. Try taking a few mid week days off out of season and go somewhere good. I will paypal you a tenner if you don't enjoy nailing round it tbh.

likewoah

Jeeeeezus christ.....just go and have some fun. You remember that, right?

cee

well i had a superb ride in the pentlands last night.....

balmy weather.....bats.....owls......p***ture on the pinch flat descent....

superb

but i like trail centres too.

ratty2k

pilsburypie wrote:

best bits, I can see myself puffing up hill after hill to only be rewarded with some crap down used by walkers - where are my berms and "just the right sized" drops? :?

Told you, Peak district!
So go with someone who knows the area, where you live, it is vastly different type of riding... But to dismiss it seems strange to me- I'd only ridden trail centres till last year (Feb 08) and met up with some folks as I was getting bored of the same thing all the time- very few of my mates like riding, and those that do have been converted by me...
Met some great folks, and have never looked back- there is stuff you just couldnt have at a trail centre. I remember the log step down on the new black run at Llandegla- removed because people kept hurting themselves on it, IIRC the local hospital put complaints in due to the amount of injuries they were getting?

Daz555

Jesus_Christ wrote:

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

How did you see the trail if you didn't actually ride it? Did you walk around? :?

pilsburypie

Jesus_Christ wrote:

there are very few natural berms and whats the point of a drop being 'just right'?

how will that in any way advance your skills as a rider?

"just the right sized drop" is one that is bigger than the last one I did, but smaller than one I wouldn't do. This in turn improves my skills, or more to the point my bottle.

Jesus, how can you say you'd never want to ride a trail centre? Why not try a supposed good one like Coed-y-Brenin's the Dragon's back then be able to say with far more confidence and substance that it was shit? Or do you believe that by riding a trail centre will make you loose your hardcore natural "free riding" status?!

Re: dismissing natural XC rides, perhaps I laboured that too much to emphasise my point about enjoying trail centres. I'm sure I'd love burning round with someone who knew where best to ride.....

Banned!

no, its got nothing to do with my ego or anything, I just dont like the idea of riding on a man made purpose built course where obstacles have been built for me to ride over or across, having waited my turn.

i would much prefer to ride natural trails that are never the same two days in a row and are constantly changing, with nobody to fix any of the bits that have been damaged or smooth out the bumps for me.

the reason i go out on my bike is to get away from people and be out on my own, challenging myself and taking trails at my own speed and not have to worry about somebody trying to get past me so he can beat his time from the last visit.


i compared trail centres to those carp fisheries you see on the way into london from the north. people there have spent hundreds of pounds on gear to go to what is essentially a fish pond and where they have a much better chance of success. thats how i view trail centres. everything is laid out nice and neat for you. you know exactly what youre going to find and you can plan the ride. i just dont see any point in that, going round and round in a loop time after time, the only real challenge is trying to beat your PB.

to me trail centres represent utter tedium and the taming of what should be a mentalists sport, somewhere for nutters to risk everything for a buzz, not a comfy seat and slippers where you can stop and have a nice cup of tea before shuffling off to bed.

F**k That.

miss notax

If people are having fun on their bike that's the important thing to me - I couldn't give a stuff whether they are riding at a trail centre, around the Peak District or in their back garden. I have my own preferences (obviously different from yours!) but I wouldn't slate anyone for theirs.....

Surely it's just good to be out on your bike *anywhere*

sniper68

sarah75 wrote:

If people are having fun on their bike that's the important thing to me - I couldn't give a stuff whether they are riding at a trail centre, around the Peak District or in their back garden. I have my own preferences (obviously different from yours!) but I wouldn't slate anyone for theirs.....

Surely it's just good to be out on your bike *anywhere*

Thats right,but you shouldn't knock either Natural or Trail centres if you've not actually ridden them.I have ridden both extensively and personally prefer Natural but i still go to TCs 6 or 7 times a year.One of the main problems with TCs is they sometimes sanitise them,especially if there's been accidents :roll: They've done it at Llandegla,CYB,NF and even at the relatively new Altura(Whinlatter).
With natural the only changes are due to the Weather/Erosion and sometimes unsympathetic repairs etc 8)

This arguement will go on and on and on.

P-Jay

Jesus_Christ wrote:

no, its got nothing to do with my ego or anything, I just dont like the idea of riding on a man made purpose built course where obstacles have been built for me to ride over or across, having waited my turn.

i would much prefer to ride a natural trail that are never the same two days in a row and are constantly changing, with nobody to fix any of the bits that have been damaged or smooth out the bumps for me.

the reason i go out on my bike is to get away from people and be out on my own, challenging myself and taking trails at my own speed and not have to worry about somebody trying to get past me so he can beat his time from the last visit.


i compared trail centres to those carp fisheries you see on the way into london from the north. people there have spent hundreds of pounds on gear to go to what is essentially a fish pond and where they have a much better chance of success. thats how i view trail centres. everything is laid out nice and neat for you. you know exactly what youre going to find and you can plan the ride. i just dont see any point in that, going round and round in a loop time after time, the only real challenge is trying to beat your PB.

to me trail centres represent utter tedium and the taming of what should be a mentalists sport, somewhere for nutters to risk everything for a buzz, not a comfy seat and slippers where you can stop and have a nice cup of tea before shuffling off to bed.

F**k That.

Can I ask how much time you've spent at Trail Centres? Your post reads like they're nice little meandering trials through the woods that familes use to spot wildlife and have picnics.

Where are these "places for nutter to risk everything" you speak of? I'd love to find some nautrual stuff to really challange me. Take a look at the video on the front page of the final descent of Cwmcarm, tbh it's not the fastest descent I've seen there,, but it's pretty far from a "comfy seat and slippers".

topsey_turvey

Jesus_Christ wrote:

no, its got nothing to do with my ego or anything, I just dont like the idea of riding on a man made purpose built course where obstacles have been built for me to ride over or across, having waited my turn.

i would much prefer to ride natural trails that are never the same two days in a row and are constantly changing, with nobody to fix any of the bits that have been damaged or smooth out the bumps for me.

the reason i go out on my bike is to get away from people and be out on my own, challenging myself and taking trails at my own speed and not have to worry about somebody trying to get past me so he can beat his time from the last visit.


i compared trail centres to those carp fisheries you see on the way into london from the north. people there have spent hundreds of pounds on gear to go to what is essentially a fish pond and where they have a much better chance of success. thats how i view trail centres. everything is laid out nice and neat for you. you know exactly what youre going to find and you can plan the ride. i just dont see any point in that, going round and round in a loop time after time, the only real challenge is trying to beat your PB.

to me trail centres represent utter tedium and the taming of what should be a mentalists sport, somewhere for nutters to risk everything for a buzz, not a comfy seat and slippers where you can stop and have a nice cup of tea before shuffling off to bed.

F**k That.

Seconded.

Banned!

P-Jay wrote:

Where are these "places for nutter to risk everything" you speak of?

I'd love to find some nautrual stuff to really challange me. Take a look at the video on the front page of the final descent of Cwmcarm, tbh it's not the fastest descent I've seen there,, but it's pretty far from a "comfy seat and slippers".

its called Scotland.

you will find natural challenges. maybe not a screaming DH section, but i will bet there are a few trails near you that you havent ridden yet, or even spotted. over the years ive become adept at recognising lines in what most other people would see as unpassable wilderness. you just have to have the right kind of eyes on.

as for the cwmcarm thing, ok, its looks like it might be fun once or twice, but once youve ridden it theres no real point in riding it again and again and again. youve done it, move on.

sniper68

I'd love to find some natural stuff to really challange me

That could be said about TCs
Depends where you live but Any of the Mountainous/Hilly areas of the UK have 1st Class natural stuff.

ratty2k

Jesus_Christ wrote:

I' over the years ive become adept at recognising lines in what most other people would see as unpassable wilderness. you just have to have the right kind of eyes on.

Feck me its Ray Mears!

topsey_turvey

Suppose it all depends on wheteher you are a mountain-bike rider, or a mountain bike-rider. There's a big difference.

P-Jay

Jesus_Christ wrote:

P-Jay wrote:

Where are these "places for nutter to risk everything" you speak of?

I'd love to find some nautrual stuff to really challange me. Take a look at the video on the front page of the final descent of Cwmcarm, tbh it's not the fastest descent I've seen there,, but it's pretty far from a "comfy seat and slippers".

its called Scotland.

you will find natural challenges. maybe not a screaming DH section, but i will bet there are a few trails near you that you havent ridden yet, or even spotted. over the years ive become adept at recognising lines in what most other people would see as unpassable wilderness. you just have to have the right kind of eyes on.

as for the cwmcarm thing, ok, its looks like it might be fun once or twice, but once youve ridden it theres no real point in riding it again and again and again. youve done it, move on.

"It's called Scotland" eh? I was really looking for something specific. Where do you ride all this super-gnar you speak of? Honestly, I'm not just trying to make a point, I've got most of summer as paid gardening leave, two bikes that between them can tackle anything (just as long as ths lumpy organic thing on top can hold on) and a big lump of redundancy money. I was going to ride some man-made stuff but a road trip to Scotland would be cool.

There are loads of little trails, bridleways, sheep trails and the like near me, I live in South Wales, you can't move for Woods and Forrests and it's all far from flat. I've just never been lucky enough to find anything and fast and thrilling as say Brecfa, White's Level.

likewoah

Exactly. Does Mother Nature make trails as fun as trail centres? Not often.

Banned!

i live on the west coast of scotland, at the foot hills of the campsies, and there are miles and miles of natural trails all around me. there are hundreds of xc long slog tracks, plenty of fireroads for bombing down, millions of acres of woodland criss crossed with deer paths and, of course, a ring of mountains within a few miles of me. some of the descents are terrifying and have the benefit of not being rode every day by anything like the amount of people who ride trail centres

an hour on a train and im on the east coast, a far more rugged place, and it has all that the west does only rockier and more remote.

about 90% of scotland is barren waste and its almost all clinging to a long dead volcano or a mountain. i can spend a whole day riding a mixture of dh, xc and jups without seeing another person.

anybody who lives anywhere near arrochar should have a go at riding there. its a hard slog up, but coming down is the second best feeling in the world.

Gwaredd

Ha ha, you gotta laugh at some of the comments above! I grew up riding mountain bikes in the middle of rural Wiltshire & as an adult, still enjoy it - especially riding out linking routes together, stumbling across a gem of a track etc. Brilliant, but...

I went to Afan for the 1st time last month & can honestly say it's a different type of riding all together. The very fact they are well put together & 'man made' is the reason they are so much fun. They just flow so well. I'm only too aware that they won't have a sodding great rut at the bottom of a fast, chalky descent like we get out here on the plains, a real skill honer those, but they offer fast, continuous technical riding instead. An Espresso hit of all the good trails you'll find out in the open in one place if you will.

Of course, there is no reason at all why you can't ride & enjoy both. Having a fast lazy executive type of car doesn't mean you can't enjoy a Caterham at the weekends does it?

If you've never ridden at a trail centre before, your opinion counts for zero & makes you jump out as a keyboard warrior, hell bent on declaring how great you are & trail centres are beneath you. How can you slate something so much if you have never experienced it first hand? Yes, I'm looking at you JC!

Real shame, as if you lost your unfounded judgement, you really could have your cake & eat it.

As for trail centres becoming addictive, yes, I can easily see why.

sniper68

likewoah wrote:

Exactly. Does Mother Nature make trails as fun as trail centres? Not often.

No,man does by walking and riding what mother nature put here.
Pointless carrying on this discussion TC lovers won't budge and niether will those who favour natural.
As said in my previous posts i've ridden 7 or 8 TCs and have found nothing that comes anywhere near the fun or technicality of a good old natural climb/descent.