Cannock Chase - Monkey trail opens this saturday

Alex

npowell28 wrote:

Sounds like good stuff. I've done follow the dog quite a few times but i'd still class myself as a novice. Is the MT going to be suitable for me and my hardtail. Not overly sure about the jumps bit.

The Monkey trail is tougher than FTD both technically and physically. However, it's still within a red grade. There aren't any compulsory jumps or drops. Everything is still rollable. Just be careful and wear a helmet.

Almightydutch

I have to say i quite liked the fire road descent, yes its a waste of a good downhill but floating down there at silly speeds over the loose surface is some rush.

Roll on summer when we have the choice of extra black runs too.

x-isle

I rode it last night for the first time.

It's a vast improvement to the original Follow the Dog, some of the fast single track is very good and some little bits that make you think twice.

It's not fair to try and compare to Wales or Scotland, it just doesn't have the natural terrain that these places are blessed with meaning that almost all the trail has been manufactured to suit. However, it certainly deserves credit for what has been acheived. The awaited Black sections that are still to be opened will add some more spice to it.

I don't tend to fall off very often and the black sectioned rocks on the Upper Cliff got me off last night, although my excuse was it was getting dark and my lights put shadows. Either way, I got it wrong and paid the price. Second attempt saw a clear run though.

All in all, I have to say, it's good to see it open and a grand job the builders have done and it certainly has the traffic at the moment, it was rammed last night! Quite a sight at the bottom of the new link section between Follow the Dog and the railway crossing, looking up watching the many bikers carve their way down the banking.

If you are worried about making a long trip worthwile, then yes, go for it!

.blitz

Any idea what the plan is for the section that joins the bash road going down the hill from Tackeroo (parallel with Penkridge Bank Lane) towards BV?

Is it a special link section for people like me who keep riding the last bit over and over again?

eddyesi

Oldskool_Paul wrote:

I can see a few sections being closed in the near future as they're getting very cut up.

Shame really, must get out and help the guys with the maintenence/building

All in all I think it's great, went yesterday and been out again today, can't wait to get out after work when it's quiet. Work in Rugeley so really easy to nip up there.

Tis a bit cut up, last 3 sections especially were rough by sun eve, amlost lost it a few times on the cut up off camber edges - suppose i ought to actually help re build them rather than moaning though

A massive improvement over what we have had though, even over the dog which was a step up, big thanks to all involved, cant wait for the full finished section s in the summer 8) We measured close to 400m climbing, so in welsh trail territory which is well done for the chase, and had my reservations about loosing 'chainslapper', but the replacements are way more fun, bermtastic

Penylope

:P cant wait to get up an try this out

Hopefully this weekend i'll get the chance, sounds amazing. just hope all the sections are still open when i get there.

Oldskool_Paul wrote:
I can see a few sections being closed in the near future as they're getting very cut up.

Shame really, must get out and help the guys with the maintenence/building

All in all I think it's great, went yesterday and been out again today, can't wait to get out after work when it's quiet. Work in Rugeley so really easy to nip up there.


Tis a bit cut up, last 3 sections especially were rough by sun eve, amlost lost it a few times on the cut up off camber edges - suppose i ought to actually help re build them rather than moaning though

A massive improvement over what we have had though, even over the dog which was a step up, big thanks to all involved, cant wait for the full finished section s in the summer We measured close to 400m climbing, so in welsh trail territory which is well done for the chase, and had my reservations about loosing 'chainslapper', but the replacements are way more fun, bermtastic

coolboarder

Im so looking forward to my first blast on MT on Saturday. Gonna keep to my spuds as well !

I was wondering what the official chase thoughts are on certain sections being cut up. Is it that bad already? Did you experience the same when FTD opened?


Rob

iain1775

vid - http://vimeo.com/11094588

3 sections, the old monkey, and the two main descents towards the end

UK2004

Are there any hotels nearbye and is there enough riding for a weekend trip there?

coolboarder

^....cant speak for hotels but there is camping. And theres more than enough riding for a weekend. You dont just have to stick to the single track. Its a great area all over

.blitz

Been round today and it is getting cut up in places. A combination of heavy use and dry weather is making some parts crumble and a preferred line has already emerged in places. There's already a chicken trail around the Werewolf but it's still good

In contrast, the mature singletrack on Follow The Dog is smooth and solid - best it's been for some time.

Cps

I also rode today and although there are some patches - think the trail equivalent of potholes - I was actually surprised that in the main the new stuff is bedding in really well.

I was running Mud X and although totally innapropriate the ran really well!!

Well done Chasetrails !!!!

s_blanche@hotmial.co.uk

Can you FTD on a sunday ??

s_blanche@hotmial.co.uk

Can you ride FTD on a sunday* ?

coolboarder

Rode the full circuit today for the first time and omg. Its freakin awesome. Managed only two foot dabs out my spuds so spuds it is deffo in future.

Had to laugh at the top of one climb when i asked a group of bikers if they had rode it before and the reply came back "yea, we built it" Doh.......

Managed to catch up with one of them at the end and had a good chat. Guys, youve done a superb job over there. Well done to every one involved.

oh yea, a couple of negatives.....i wonder which bone head has slung an inner tube into the trees and who couldnt be ar$ed to take home their empty water bottle and just slung on the trail. Cant get my around it.

Anyway, had a brill day. See you again really soon.


Rob.

Mrs Toast

s_blanche@hotmial.co.uk wrote:

Can you ride FTD on a sunday* ?

Yep, I think all sections are currently open - if you see the Chase Trails chaps out though, feel free to give them a hand, even if it's only for 10 minutes or so!

Andy

coolboarder wrote:

oh yea, a couple of negatives.....i wonder which bone head has slung an inner tube into the trees and who couldnt be ar$ed to take home their empty water bottle and just slung on the trail. Cant get my around it.

I imagine the water bottle was an accidental drop rather than deliberate but I agree with whichever moron left the inner tube in the tree on one of the climbs needs shooting.


I generally enjoyed the new stuff, I did think all the switchback climbing was a bit boring and tedious before long though

ctrlaltdel

I'd like to chip in and say a big thanks to everyone who worked on the new trail, if it's anything as good as ftd then i'm sure it'll be a blast - i'm going to try and make it up to cannock next weekend - can't wait to try it out

Tel39

Day off tomorrow so going to give it a blast...... Really looking forward to it, and yes a big doff of the cap to all those who worked on it.....

MattJohnson

Did the full route including FTD yesterday and me and my mate both said it was the best experience we have ever had on a bike. The new trail is soooo much fun and also very challenging.

As soon as you get on the Monkey Trail you can feel the speed pickup, its very fast flowing and great to ride. A lot of technical uphills with tight switchbacks which are great and deffinitely worth it as the decents are amazing. Massive berms and great jumps i had a brilliant time.

Also the new ending to FTD is awesome, 15 miles of true excellence.

Well done to all who build this.

Cant wait to go back!!!!

CycloRos

I'm sat here grinning like a cheshire cat having rode MT yesterday. Just wanna echo what others have said really, top marks to the trail builders, a brilliant addition to what was already the best place to ride in the Midlands. The new trail flows really well and combined with FTD is now at a distance and technicality to challenge anyone!

I'll be back very soon...

p.s Big THANKS to the chap who helped me piece my chain back together following a vicious snap on one of those switchback climbs!

npowell28

WOW!, did MT yesterday and its really good even for a novice like me. Really enjoyed how it flowed. The rock gardens caught me out a bit and the bit which i think was called werewolfs drop really caught me out. How are you supposed to do that?

Hat off to all those that created it and keep up the good work. I will get there on a sunday during the summer to help out. I guess it will take a bit of time to get my confidence up on it. Still enjoyed it though.

.blitz

npowell28 wrote:

...the bit which i think was called werewolfs drop really caught me out. How are you supposed to do that?

Get off, jump down, get back on again

npowell28

Yeah that's what i did. Anyone else chicken out like me then?

.blitz

You're not the only one. Personally I think it's a PITA right in the middle of nice, fast flowy section and it doesn't help when there's a crowd of people waiting at the top and someone at the bottom with a camera.

Technically it's no more difficult than the wooden ramp on Follow the Dog but I preferred it when there was a (short-lived) trail around it.

*cluck cluck cluck*

npowell28

So it's just a roll down then. I'll probably give it a go next time then. I thought there were a couple of places that seemed to break up the fast flowing sections. Just little drop off but i thought they got in the way a bit. Like i said though i really am a novice so i don't really have any grounds to talk. Still really good though and a decent length aswell now.

Gazlar

first impressions of the Monkey trail, and I'm a bit disappointed really, there are certainly some nice bits, and I realise the whole trail needs to bed in properly, a good downpour would help, but it just seems confused as to whether its an xc course or a giant pump track and it doesn't seem to flow. I dont want to sound a moaning minnie because there were some excellent bits and some nice touches but it didn't feel right for some reason.

Anyone agree or am I way off the mark?

Also on the new ending, there is a drop off on a sharpish bend between two trees (werewolf drops or something like that), Now I make no bones about my lack of ability, being fairly new to this game, but I think, for a red run, it needs a chicken line to go with it

npowell28

Thats the bit i was on about above. I'm a novice aswell but that just seemed a bit severe to me. Like i said though i'm a real novice. Apart from that though i liked the flow of it. Far better than FTD.

bamba

I was there for the first time on the new stuff on tuesday evening, the monkey trail is worlds apart from ftd,and the faster section of tackeroo blows the old ending of ftd away (was almost in darkness by then with no lights)
I was starting to wonder a bit though on the first half or so of the monkey trail on our way round what all the fuss was about,as it didnt seam to interesting, a lot of climbing, bit of flat ,fire road, etc, but then as soon as you get to the first big down hill , you realise its all worth it.
Hope the trail dosnt get to cut up over summer (if we get one) as does seam a bit soft in places.
werewolf drop, get off , +1

Alex

Just needs a good bit of rain and we can effect some repairs to the bigger braking holes.

The chase is always dreadful when it's really dry. Rubbish subsoil!