Routes in Newcastle / Gateshead

MTB-NCL

Hi all, i'm new to the whole mountain biking thing even though i've been riding a couple of years.

Got myself GT aggressor XC2 from 2009 for XC and trails, obviously being new to it all, i don't want to do anything to extreme, maybe green trails or the start of blue trails, I was just wondering, where about in Newcastle or Gateshead is good to ride, either XC or trail riding which seems more applicable to me

Thanks guys.

PS - i know about chopwell which i will be going to with my Uncle, i'm only 17 so i have time to learn..

Adam..

Royal Dragoon

Why not have a look here:

http://www.mtbe.co.uk/


There's quite a few guys from your area, or very nearby, and are often found riding Hamsterley, Chopwell, Kielder, Dalby, Beamish, etc., etc.

Post an introduction up and see how you get on.

MTB-NCL

Cheers mate, i already had a small intro on the begginners section, i'll take a look

Airienteer

Take a look at Chopwell. There's isnt that much there but I was up for the day and afterwards just rode back into Newcastle along the cycle trails.

bluehelmet

Also check out mtbnortheast.ning.com who are regularly organising rides around the area (Durham, Northumberland, etc).

Chopwell is a good intro to MTB riding and somewhere to get your technique sorted, to find the best bits get a local to show you round (ask on MTBNE) when you've got the confidence levels up.

Other than that get yourself a couple of OS maps and get planning. There's good stuff all over the place and disused railways a plenty for mile munching.

MTB-NCL

bluehelmet thanks, my Uncle lives right next to Chopwell and rides the trails often, he said he will take me. Also, the disused railway line is Derwent walk which i'll also be riding

tdougan

Hey MTB-NCL.

Chopwell is your best bet, the red route is a lot of fun, I'm pretty new at all of this but I have some good friends that have done it for years and got me into it.

The red route at Chopwell has some complex bits in it for a beginner BUT you can either ride around it OR so it really slowly and build up! It's not very long but many people (including me and my friends) do laps of the red route and then hit the long blue route to for a work out!

We drive up to Kielder too, its about an 1 hour 20 from Newcastle but worth it, a lot of good trails up there!

I've been looking at Hamsterley, same kind of distance as Kielder I think, I've not yet been but I like the sound of it.

Glentress is on my list of places to go - again a bit of a drive but you can get up there on a sunday in a short while!

Hope this has been helpfull

Tony!

MTB-NCL

Cheers mate, i'll look on the chopwell woods website

Maybe when i get better we can ride together too