Haldon Forest Park

bertberr

... more a question of what those of you who regularly ride the ridge trail at Haldon actually ride... not specific models (though that would be interesting too), more whether its usually on a HT or FS?

With it's often extremely narrow / twisty sections, and its lack of drop-offs / jumps etc, is a lightweight HT the preferred way to get round?

I appreciate many of us only have one MTB (and maybe also one set up with slicks for the road) as I do, but if you have both in your garage, what do you normally take to Haldon???

camerauk

I only have the one bike a HT
its a Claude Buttler cape wrath disc with recon race shocks upfront no problems round there on it

jmillen

More than do-able on a HT, I'd imagine some of the sections would be quite nice to be riding a nice lightweight HT actually.

Having said that, I'm getting faster each time I go and there are some sections I wouldn't really want to take too fast on a HT.

Only ever been up there with my Carbon Stumpy FSR though, so havent had first hand experience of a HT at Haldon

bertberr

I've only got a HT, so its that or walk... but so far (I've only been twice) it's been fine, about the only time I've found it a little unforgiving is on the descent down to the large, open 'junction' area - waymark no. 15 I think. I imagine a FS would allow you to really nail that descent without losing your fillings.

However, on the really tight twisty bits, like just after where you cross the road about 2/3 of the way round, my Buckshot Pro is absolutely ideal.

It would be interesting to hear from anybody who has ridden both HT & FS around and what the difference in time was, and more importantly whether one was any more fun than the other?

jmillen

Have you tried going down the "closed" section of the trail at the bottom of that descent which takes you to the open area at the bottom of the big hill?

camerauk

Yes I use that section a bit not that bad on a HT

jmillen

Love that bit The rock garden at the start is great and the speeds towards the bottom are fantastic, just need to figure out how to take the corners without nearly going over the top of them

camerauk

lol yeah know what u mean, first time down there I was not too sure nearly got off and walked down lol now love it

bertberr

Not wishing to sound stupid, but isn't the closed section at 15, errr... closed? Or is simply they'd rather you didn't go down there for whatever reason, but there's nothing actually stopping you from doing it???

kenan

Rode it on my Marin Wolf Ridge Full Sus and my GT Avalanche HT. Some of the rocky sections I take a little slower on the HT but the climb up out the end more than makes up for it.

I would say I'm faster overall on the HT but timed myself on the Marin the other day and did the complete ridge run (no cheating like some) in 31:47.

The trail is good for a little blast but there are much more intersting routes at Halden to be had. I ride there early in the morning (get there before 7) and would not like to ride the ridge route during the day as I'm sure you would get stuck behind lots of novice riders. Hope my ramble helped

camerauk

bertberr wrote:

Not wishing to sound stupid, but isn't the closed section at 15, errr... closed? Or is simply they'd rather you didn't go down there for whatever reason, but there's nothing actually stopping you from doing it???

well its is sometimes open or the sign is missing at the bottom to say its closed

ExeterSimon

I prefer it on my HT...you can really hammer it and get a sub 30 minute starting and finishing at the cafe.

Providing the route is clear.

Haldon is great for a quick hour early in the morning or as a night ride. Anything more than a hour and it gets a bit dull.

bertberr

Haven't quite got to sub 30 yet..., but I agree about an hour / hour & half there would be about right. I've only ridden there twice, both mid week, so tracks have been quiet, but god knows what its like on a weekend in the middle of summer ... i won't be finding out.

Some guy on here last week was planning on doing 10 laps of the ridge trail - now thats committed. Quite apart from the fact that it would probably take me all day to do 10 laps, I think I'd have nodded off by about the third lap...

ExeterSimon

bertberr wrote:

Haven't quite got to sub 30 yet..., but I agree about an hour / hour & half there would be about right. I've only ridden there twice, both mid week, so tracks have been quiet, but god knows what its like on a weekend in the middle of summer ... i won't be finding out.

Some guy on here last week was planning on doing 10 laps of the ridge trail - now thats committed. Quite apart from the fact that it would probably take me all day to do 10 laps, I think I'd have nodded off by about the third lap...

Yeah...don't waste your time unless it's before 8am!

And I'd nod off around lap three as well. Most probably going up the fireroad from the bottom.

Also...any idea why the berm section has been closed?

bertberr

ExeterSimon wrote:

Also...any idea why the berm section has been closed?

Nope, no idea, was closed on Friday, tried to phone FC this morning but no answer, will try to find out when next up there.

camerauk

I dont know either been up there a few times and sometimes its open others its closed maybe someone just takes the sign down every so often when its meant to be closed I will ask when next there

ExeterSimon

I'll ask as well.

Maybe a bit of rider pressue will get them to reopen it.

Unless they have plans.

jmillen

Its been "closed" every time I've been there, but its not strictly enforced and I still do it every time I go there, its great.

I'll time myself next time I'm up there, see how quick it is on the stumpy. Are these 30 min laps including the closed rocky/berm section at the bottom?

ExeterSimon

The sub 30 min lap for me did not include the 'closed' berm section.

Maybe we need two times...inc. berms and not inc. berms!

jonnyc2420

I find i'm faster at Haldon on my HT than susser, (altough the santa cruz does weigh the same as a small tank) for grin factor i would say HT as its all do-able.........

And I can Honestly say that i've never found it to be too busy - even when the car park is rammed full, theres other things on offer there so a full carpark should not put you off......

Sponging-Machine

HT or FS, the official trails there are deadly dull and overly sanitised. Rode the Ridge run on my my cross bike last week though and it was perfect for that.

Titanium Tom

I too ride the new red run and find it ok if a little boring at times. The old one was far more of a challenge. They have really sanitised it and so it has litlle challenge other than trying for a time around the route (34 mins is my best and 38 about the norm)
When it was first built I e mailed Haldon with some comments and never got a reply. They are obviously not interested in rider comment or feedback.
I think that they have really missed a trick here. They could and should open the bottom section as it is probably the most interesting part. They could also put in a loop taking in the old North Shore section (first left up the big fire road drag out)and returning down to the bottom of the now closed red section.

This all takes imagination and an interest in riders which they do not seem to have. A quote from one of the rangers " they do not want to make it a trail centre" Ok but at least make the rides good and interesting. They only seem to be catering for the Raleigh Shopper brigade.
Shame!

kenan

You lot really need to explore. There are some cracking trails up there now. This morning was the first time I made one section without dabbing a foot and was well pleased with myself.

The new "Blue" route looks even more dull than the Ridge trail and is near some of the best up there. Real worried everyone else will find them now

camerauk

kenan wrote:

You lot really need to explore. There are some cracking trails up there now. This morning was the first time I made one section without dabbing a foot and was well pleased with myself.

The new "Blue" route looks even more dull than the Ridge trail and is near some of the best up there. Real worried everyone else will find them now

I would like to find a few more routes up there but never sure where to go a few pointers if you can please :P

Bitemebryn

Hello all
Read this thread last night with some interest as I had planned my monthly visit to Haldon for today. I always try to take some divertions around the set routes but never seem to get to far with them before I come up against fallen trees or dug up sections of fireroad awaiting some work or other. I did stumble across the new blue route under construction though.
On the timing of the red ridgel I managed a 29.20 on my no frills Merida 350 HT.
Haldon is no subtitute for Dartmoor or any of the proper trail centres in Wales, but its the best we have and for a quick blast, is fine in my eyes....couldn't handle the 10 laps that was mentioned though, 2 is enough before it gets a bit dull.
Woodbury common has alot of potential as well.

kenan

Woodbury is my local and again with some local knowledge there is an abundance of great routes.

Took some friends of a friend round there the other night who had been there several times before. They could not believe how close they had got to the "good stuff" while managing to miss it.

A fair bit has been mucked up recently but all the more to re-build 