Best Rides...
bay73
Posts: 130
I've probably posted this in the wrong section so apologies if I have...
I ride in the Surrey Hills / North Downs taking in Leith, Box and Holmbury Hills.
Being pretty new to MTBing I find that this has plenty to keep me occupied for my weekly ride, but I do like the idea of getting away for a couple of weekends further a field.
I'm not looking for DH based suggestions as I'm not at that level, but areas with good single track and technical climbs/descents to improve my riding would be appreciated.
Let me know you favourites please.
I ride in the Surrey Hills / North Downs taking in Leith, Box and Holmbury Hills.
Being pretty new to MTBing I find that this has plenty to keep me occupied for my weekly ride, but I do like the idea of getting away for a couple of weekends further a field.
I'm not looking for DH based suggestions as I'm not at that level, but areas with good single track and technical climbs/descents to improve my riding would be appreciated.
Let me know you favourites please.
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Might be worth trying out the Welsh trail centres if you're up for a bit of a trip. There's some lovely looooong singletrack descents that are great for honing your skills and bags of fun at the same time
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No too far from you is Swinley Forest in Bracknell, Berkshire
A good day out as the forest is huge if you're looking to cover distance
It also offers a lot of technical sections, climbs, descents, fast flowing singletrack through the trees. It's an awesome place to ride and as I said, not too far from the Camberley end of Surrey0 -
llamafarmer wrote:Might be worth trying out the Welsh trail centres if you're up for a bit of a trip. There's some lovely looooong singletrack descents that are great for honing your skills and bags of fun at the same time
I find the idea of trail centres a bit daunting. Maybe it's something to do with them being purposely made and I won't ride them as the designer intended :oops:
Saying that I've not been to Wales for years so could be tempted. Thanks!0 -
don't be intimidated. they're intended to be ridden, that's all 8)
the trail centres are a good place to start, especially in the UK, where they're popping up all over. The central concept is to have trails that are bike specific and weather hardened. Some of them are going further and further into a more "designed" trail but in the main they're simply supposed to be ridden
Best thing for trails in your area is to find an MTB club that suits you (some are into racing, some not for example) and join them. Even if you don't end up staying for long you'll learn the local trails.Everything in moderation ... except beer
Beer in moderation ... is a waste of beer
If riding an XC race bike is like touching the trail,
then riding a rigid singlespeed is like licking it
... or being punched by it, depending on the day0 -
Raymondavalon wrote:No too far from you is Swinley Forest in Bracknell, Berkshire
A good day out as the forest is huge if you're looking to cover distance
It also offers a lot of technical sections, climbs, descents, fast flowing singletrack through the trees. It's an awesome place to ride and as I said, not too far from the Camberley end of Surrey
the guy i just bought my frame from suggested that once i've built it up that i should go for a spin at swinley with him. it is only about a 25 minute drive from me.
i have just been looking it up on the wed and apparently it won mountain bike uk's trail of the year in 2007.0 -
As Raymondavalon said - Swinley forest isn't too far from you, and there is some really good stuff there for all levels.0
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Swinley is great fun, particularly if you've got someone to show you round... there tons of cheeky singletrack, little of it marked, and you'll miss some very cool bits if there isn't someone to point them out.
I've been going there for years and still find new bits...
That said, if you're heading away for the weekend, I'd head up to the Peak District... in my opinion some of the best riding in England.
Base yourself somewhere in the Hope Valley (we tend to stay either in Hope or Castleton) and hit some of the Ladybower routes, Mam Tor, Cut Gate - they're all classic rides...
Whilst the trail centres have their appeal, for a big weekender you can't beat a bit of map reading and some proper routes, as nature intended!0 -
meesterbond wrote:That said, if you're heading away for the weekend, I'd head up to the Peak District... in my opinion some of the best riding in England.
Base yourself somewhere in the Hope Valley (we tend to stay either in Hope or Castleton) and hit some of the Ladybower routes, Mam Tor, Cut Gate - they're all classic rides..
My brother-in-law has a cottage in Monyash in the Peak District so next time i head up there i'll take my bike and being as it's north of watford some waterproofs... 0 -
bay73 wrote:I find the idea of trail centres a bit daunting. Maybe it's something to do with them being purposely made and I won't ride them as the designer intended :oops:
Saying that I've not been to Wales for years so could be tempted. Thanks!
They're really not that intimidating, but they are fully signed (so you can just get on with riding with no local knowledge) and can be ridden in all weathers, plus they have food, showers, bike shops and bike washes on hand which can be invaluable if you've travelled a long way or are camping.
I love natural riding, but I definitely think my downhill skills in particular have improved a lot from riding trail centres, because the runs are long enough to give you time to find a rhythm and try to work on various skills.0 -
50 miles down the A3 towards Portsmouth is Queen Elizabeth Country Park, which is also part of the South Downs. Well worth a day trip if you're looking to expand your horizons a bit. It's got long climbs, singletrack, fast fireroads, some really rooty downhill stuff, berms, switchbacks etc.0
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meesterbond wrote:Swinley is great fun, particularly if you've got someone to show you round... there tons of cheeky singletrack, little of it marked, and you'll miss some very cool bits if there isn't someone to point them out.
I've been going there for years and still find new bits...
+1 on that, Swinley forever pops up nice little surprises whenever I go there
It's one area I never, ever become bored with....0 -
+1 for Swinley as your local haunt - you can do a fast hour blasting or a 4 hour sessioning of the singletrack there - short DH's longer windier tracks and lots of pedally singletrack. Nice.
+1 for Peaks - definitely THE place for a map reading weekender.
+1 Wales - from you Cwym Carn is doable in a day - drive there, 2 laps, drive back. Same for Afan (I am in Reading and we regularly used to do an early start one route in morning, another after lunch then home for tea!)
-1 QE Park - I went recently and I found it a little tame compared to Swinley - all climbs with not enough fun but maybe I missed the best of it?Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.0 -
cheers folks
it seems as though i really do have some fantastic riding within close proximity to me.
swinley here i come... the peak will have to wait a while though.0 -
Mmmm. My folks live in Yateley (which is where I grew up) so I might have to hit up Swinley as well. Is it by "The Lookout", near where "Coral Reef" used to be, or still is?0
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