Grizedale North Face

zedhead

I did the North face trail yesterday - good fun, not quite as radical in downhill aspects as I was expecting, more more technical on the single track. Took a while to get accustomed to the North Shore bits though, foot down on the first one, stepped off the side on the next, and face-planted over the bars on the third, but managed the rest of them without too much trauma.
Don't know if I'll go again though - was expecting more of a Marin Trail expedition, but completed it in a smidge over two hours, and didn't see a skills area or anything else, which I was expecting. maybe 've just been spoilt by other trail centres?
Although, if I was in the area, would probably do it again, but wouldn't make a trip specifically- maybe a two-dayer with Whinlatter could be on the cards?
For now, I'll stay local and try the revamped Llandegla?...

ratty2k

Much better to use NFT to link the fantastic natural stuff in the forest.

JGS

I went a while back and managed to take in some of the singletrack while the missus pottered about on the fireroads. I was told by a woman at the bikeshop "to definitely get in the last section as it had an amazing downhill at the end". So after hitting the last section, whizzing through some alright but flat singletrack, going through a couple of gates and coming to a stepped section I was pretty annoyed to find the steps lead to the car park and not "this amazing downhill" I was promised. Whinlatter looks like a lot more fun but in all honesty I'd say stick to Llandegla and Penmachno.

rural

Agree with ratty2k, there are loads of bridleways in and around Grizedale. My mate, Pete, has mountain biked the globe and reckons the Nibthwaite track is his favourite. Go natural![/code]

ratty2k

Not done the Nibthwaite down for a long time, need to do it before winter sets in methinks!
Granddad, Dad & the Dentist is a cracking descent, and Red Mist is fun, hell- there aint no bad stuff in the forest bar the NFT! Sooo much more to riding in the Lakes than fecking Whinlatter and the NFT! Get out and explore, and tag along with others who know the routes.

chedabob

JGS wrote:

I went a while back and managed to take in some of the singletrack while the missus pottered about on the fireroads. I was told by a woman at the bikeshop "to definitely get in the last section as it had an amazing downhill at the end". So after hitting the last section, whizzing through some alright but flat singletrack, going through a couple of gates and coming to a stepped section I was pretty annoyed to find the steps lead to the car park and not "this amazing downhill" I was promised. Whinlatter looks like a lot more fun but in all honesty I'd say stick to Llandegla and Penmachno.

The final downhill was probably the most memorable bit for me. For a red route, it's pretty tame, but when I did it, I was on an Apollo BSO.

Gonna head back in a week or so, give NFT another go on a good bike, and then try out a route Mancunian Fighting Cat gave me.

JGS

chedabob wrote:

The final downhill was probably the most memorable bit for me. For a red route, it's pretty tame, but when I did it, I was on an Apollo BSO.

I'd imagine it would be more interesting on an Apollo! On a Remedy 8 it was hardly noticeable and ultimately quite disappointing. When I walked round the Silurian way later that day I realised that it would make a much better biking route (and fortunately being mostly bridleway is rideable). Parts of it would be great to ride down, although probably quite harsh in places and not for the feint of heart.

chedabob

JGS wrote:

chedabob wrote:

The final downhill was probably the most memorable bit for me. For a red route, it's pretty tame, but when I did it, I was on an Apollo BSO.

I'd imagine it would be more interesting on an Apollo! On a Remedy 8 it was hardly noticeable and ultimately quite disappointing. When I walked round the Silurian way later that day I realised that it would make a much better biking route (and fortunately being mostly bridleway is rideable). Parts of it would be great to ride down, although probably quite harsh in places and not for the feint of heart.

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/ourw ... CycleTrail

It's a red grade trail. Might have a look at it next week.

The unclassified road opposite the visitors centre is pretty hairy.

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=54.344 ... %20Cumbria

It's the thing marked out by the dots. I wouldn't recommend riding down towards the visitors centre as it comes out straight onto the road, and there's a lot of loose rocks that will probably follow you down :P The other side has some substantial dropoffs, but they're avoidable. Not even sure how I made it down without bailing :P It eeked every last bit of travel and stopping power out of the poor Apollo.

JGS

I've seen pictures of the unclassified road as a colleague went greenlaning there the week after I did NFT. I certainly felt like I'd missed out a bit, and it really annoys me that I live so far away from such great scenery!

JGS

Oh and I was on about the Silurian way walking trail looking good to ride, it's a rocky trail in places and reminded me of Jacobs ladder in the peaks, totally different to the red graded fireroad slog that is the Silurian bike trail (which shadows the NFT and is not even worth a look).

zedhead

ratty2k wrote:

Get out and explore, and tag along with others who know the routes.

And there's the issue - I don't know where to go!
Next time I'm going to be in the lakes, I'll drop by here and ask for some good, alternative routes to the NFT.
Oh, and that last bit of 'downhill' with thr gates, has anyone else ended up tangled in the gates after they've come up too fast on them? i did...

Regrding my earlier comment about North Shore stuff on the NFT, there's always a soft landing if you come off them, due to the bog underneath...

chedabob

zedhead wrote:

Regrding my earlier comment about North Shore stuff on the NFT, there's always a soft landing if you come off them, due to the bog underneath...

Unless you wobble off and smash your helmet on a tree stump :oops:

cammer

I rode the bridleway that comes out directly across the road from the visitors centre, (near a house) yesterday, and it has become in recent months, what I would consider the most technically demanding downhill in the forest.

Good start for anyone looking to see what else Grizedale has to offer, other then the NFT, as it's easy to find.

The 'Dad' part of the "Grandad, Dad and the Dentist" downhill has also dug up quite a lot, and definitely a nice challenge. This downhill ends just before you enter Satterthwaite from the south. You can usually see plenty of gravel on the road from the bikes skidding to a halt.

Matt_

North Face is terrible. Very badly maintained. As said by others the bridleways are a much better option, there is actually some quite good stuff if you stay off the North Face.

Whinlatter is worth a trip for the Altura route, its 10 times better than the North Face.

Seems a shame to come to the Lakes and not be doing any of the natural stuff, there are loads of brilliant bridleways. Can point a few routes out if you want.

Walna Scar, Garburn Pass & Hodge Close are my favourites.

joshtp

Its OK... but had weird flow... and was both uninteresting, but also had occasional, hard to clear tecky sections... that seemed to be the result of bad maintenance more than trail design... my knee still hurts from a crash into a tree stump where the trail seemed to flow in the total opposite way to how it actually goes.