Current FTD & Monkey trail conditions?

tom_fun
tom_fun Posts: 124
edited July 2010 in Routes
Hi there, any body ridden at Cannock recently? going up next week and just wondered what the trails were like before changing over my tyres.

Thanks

Comments

  • .blitz
    .blitz Posts: 6,197
    Cut up in places, dry, dusty, rubbly although some sections are solid and very smooth.

    Best to ride through/over the braking bumps, crumbling apexes and pot holes. Avoiding them just makes it worse.
  • Red Route
    Red Route Posts: 59
    Did FTD & the MT on Sunday. Very dry & dusty & rutted, wish I had changed my Mud tyres for my Rock ones beforehand it was that bad!
  • .blitz
    .blitz Posts: 6,197
    Forgot to say that there are a few unexploded bombs lying around as well UXBs on the Chase :shock: :)
  • tom_fun
    tom_fun Posts: 124
    Superb! I will keep an eye out for the bombs!
  • Red Route
    Red Route Posts: 59
    I rode over the bombs on my Mums shopping Bike, a few went off, lost a couple of Limbs........ Going back next week on a shoppong Trolley, Knarly or what?
  • borntobemild
    borntobemild Posts: 73
    I was up there last week on FTD. Dry as a Frenchman's towel. Difficult getting grip on uphill stretches.
  • The Northern Monkey
    The Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
    was there yesterday... very dusty. Just finished cleaning the bike, it was a mess!

    The trails however are superb. Heard a few guys after one of the long decents nearer the end moaning about it being cut up and crap but it was perfect IMO.

    Just ride the rocks/rubble fast and you won't notice them :)
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • borntobemild
    borntobemild Posts: 73
    watch out for this though. Still burning apparently

    http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2010 ... ock-chase/
  • Chronicbint
    Chronicbint Posts: 172
    Just been today and it was awesome. 8) Some bits a little cut up but overall pretty good. Unbelievably better than Thetford(my first off road experience)

    Gotta get my fitness up some of the climbs killed me and they are not that huge :lol: also some new tyres!
  • Kiblams
    Kiblams Posts: 2,423
    Rode it today after work, very slippery with the fresh rainfall, first time for a long while Ive gotten muddy on a ride. Was great :D

    The braking bumps are getting crazy over there, especially since the monkey trail opened, alot of the swoopy berms are now pitted and are alot slower than they were in May :(

    Went on Sunday when it was dusty and the braking bumps were just as bad in the dry.
    HandsomeDog - OrangeCommuter
  • .blitz
    .blitz Posts: 6,197
    +1 it was very greasy last night.

    Have given up on Tacks Blast for the time being and gone back to the...alternative routes.
  • bamba
    bamba Posts: 856
    think some old war time bombs have been going off in the braking zones up to the berms, shame really, not a patch on how it was.
    My Trance
  • .blitz
    .blitz Posts: 6,197
    And lo, the Prophet descended from Lower Cliff with a new commandment for the Multitude.

    "Behold! Thou shalt use Tacks Blast and enjoy it, even though it is but a cratered cut-up shadow of its former self. If thou despise Tacks Blast, man up or thou shalt be cast down unto the Blue Trails, which are actually not that bad if you just want to take it easy."

    And the Multitude did look at one another and laugh.
  • John Moore
    John Moore Posts: 580
    Yep it was bad in the braking bumps last night, you've just got to learn to glide over them.

    Not that easy on my rigid bike, best bet is take a good full susser
  • Kiblams
    Kiblams Posts: 2,423
    John Moore wrote:
    Not that easy on my rigid bike, best bet is take a good full susser

    They are infact the reason I have recently fitted Tora 318s to my previously rigid bike, Still struggling to adjust. Bloody braking bumps! :x
    HandsomeDog - OrangeCommuter
  • Almightydutch
    Almightydutch Posts: 264
    I dont find the braking bumps a massive problem, what gets me is the off camber corners that are just falling away from themselves, just cant seem to nail em.
    Still, all good and i'll keep riding 3 times a week. :D
    4 wheels bad
    2 wheels good
    1 wheel for fun
  • Chronicbint
    Chronicbint Posts: 172
    Are "braking bumps" the large holes/a bit like steps that lead upto the corners?
  • .blitz
    .blitz Posts: 6,197
    Them's it. They appear because pretty much everyone brakes at the same place and inevitably some people lock up, taking a bit of the top surface with them. There was a suggestion that people who skid should be fed into a mulcher and all the little bits used to fill the craters.

    The Chase is particularly vulnerable because it is a fine example of a Triassic bunter, basically a vast area of rounded pebbles and sandstone :wink:
  • poppit
    poppit Posts: 926
    Did anyone ride it at the weekend, could do with an update, thinking of going this Friday as it seems a good use of a day off work!
    Eddy Merckx EMX-3
    Dolan L'Etape
    Cougar Zero Uno
    Genesis Core 50
    Planet X TOR
  • .blitz
    .blitz Posts: 6,197
    poppit wrote:
    Did anyone ride it at the weekend
    Hello :)

    Tacks Blast has more craters than the Moon it is a victim of its own popularity. The rest of FtD is in fine form & The Monkey is also in pretty good shape. Lower Cliff is pretty cut up but the rest is not too bad at all considering.

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