Follow the Dog Advice for Beginner

ElliesDad

I've got into cycling again at the age of 43 and recently bought a Boardman Comp HT. Primarily I got the bike to get fit and get out on some rides with the family. However, I am getting bitten by the bug and want to start hitting off road trails. I have done the blue route up at Cannock Chase and quite fancy having a go at Follow the Dog.

Reading previous posts on this forum I get the impression that there shouldnt be anything on FTD that I shouldnt be able to handle (and walk if necessary!) but being 43, unfit and overweight I am still a bit nervous about trying it.

I havent done any off road trails (other than the Cannock blue) before so would it be advisable for me to have a go at the Dog. Also, being a complete novice I am nervous about holding up faster riders. I was possibly planning on going on Monday morning, would it be reasonably quiet then?

milko9000

Just get on it, you'll be fine. Quite soon after the start you break out of the trees to cross a fire road (I think, vague memory here) so if the first five minutes has horrified you, it's easy to bail out there and go for a sedate pootle around the ponds.

Arguably you're better off not going when it's too busy in case you fall off and break yourself, but I wouldn't worry too much. If you hear someone whizzing up behind you, pull off to let them through next time you've got chance. Anyone who gets impatient about it is being a dick and probably should have left you more room before taking off after you anyway.

brindlescoops

ElliesDad wrote:

I've got into cycling again at the age of 43 and recently bought a Boardman Comp HT. Primarily I got the bike to get fit and get out on some rides with the family. However, I am getting bitten by the bug and want to start hitting off road trails. I have done the blue route up at Cannock Chase and quite fancy having a go at Follow the Dog.

Reading previous posts on this forum I get the impression that there shouldnt be anything on FTD that I shouldnt be able to handle (and walk if necessary!) but being 43, unfit and overweight I am still a bit nervous about trying it.

I havent done any off road trails (other than the Cannock blue) before so would it be advisable for me to have a go at the Dog. Also, being a complete novice I am nervous about holding up faster riders. I was possibly planning on going on Monday morning, would it be reasonably quiet then?

You'll be fine, I was in a similar situation when I first did it, just don't try and break any records, and the only thing that might be tricky is the werewolf drop, if you don't do it, don't worry, lots don't, but you will eventually and then wonder what all the fuss was about!!

mcnultycop

The first trail centre loop I tried was the South Loop at Whinlatter, after having a crack at the blue prior to it. I had to get off for a couple of rocky sections I wasn't brave enough for, but other than that was happy I did it. I don't know FTD but from what I've read it sounds OK so just get on it.

ElliesDad

Thanks for all the support, you're right I need to just get on with it! When I was younger I did a lot of climbing and mountaineering and when I think back some of that was quite scary stuff but I just got on with it. Now I'm older and fatter with a more reasoned head on my shoulders which makes you a lot more cautious.

The thing with the Werewolf drop that bothers me isn't so much the drop itself, its the tight turn at the bottom. Any tips for making the turn?

brindlescoops

ElliesDad wrote:

Thanks for all the support, you're right I need to just get on with it! When I was younger I did a lot of climbing and mountaineering and when I think back some of that was quite scary stuff but I just got on with it. Now I'm older and fatter with a more reasoned head on my shoulders which makes you a lot more cautious.

The thing with the Werewolf drop that bothers me isn't so much the drop itself, its the tight turn at the bottom. Any tips for making the turn?

Take your time! If you approach it and it doesnt feel right or you dont have a good line, so long as its clear, go back 15 metres or so and try again.

brindlescoops

BrindleScoops wrote:

ElliesDad wrote:

Thanks for all the support, you're right I need to just get on with it! When I was younger I did a lot of climbing and mountaineering and when I think back some of that was quite scary stuff but I just got on with it. Now I'm older and fatter with a more reasoned head on my shoulders which makes you a lot more cautious.

The thing with the Werewolf drop that bothers me isn't so much the drop itself, its the tight turn at the bottom. Any tips for making the turn?

Take your time! If you approach it and it doesnt feel right or you dont have a good line, so long as its clear, go back 15 metres or so and try again.

Forgot to add, once you do decide to go, lean back, dont brake! look at the trail ahead and enjoy!

Woody80

Follow the Dog will be ideal as a toe in the water. A Monday morning will be pretty quiet so you won't have any pressure. Don't worry about the Werewolf Drop, it's not even a drop it's just a ramp! It just seems like a drop when you're at the top of it the first time round!

Go and enjoy Cannock, you'll be doing the full Monkey Trail in no time!

Too old for this

Monday morning would be fairly quiet mate, as above don't be tempted to go for something that your not confident about, if you had an off it may knock your confidence even more.

ElliesDad

Again, thanks for the replies. You have made me feel a lot more confident. At the end of the day, as you all say, I will take my time and walk any sections that I dont feel confident about. I suppose the main thing bugging me is that i hate the thought of holding people up. Most people are tolerant and sympathetic but I still hate to think that I am spoiling someone elses day just because an old, overweight, unfit has been is pootling cautiously along!

.blitz

As others have said you'll be fine on Monday morning - I used to go quite often and not see anybody. If someone catches you up let them know you're aware of them and move to the side when it's comfortable for you to do so. FtD is an MTB trail not a racetrack.

The trail may seem mellow to people who are used to caning it but there's no shame in walking any of it we all had to start somewhere. Just take it easy and take the opportunity to practice sections that seem difficult there's no rule that says you can only have one attempt per week.

Enjoy!

stanny_uk

i ride it all the time and monkey..after only starting in dec11 myself.. i rode it yesterday am saw 4 people all way round!!! i'm no superstar either if you fancy a guided tour i'm quite often up for a midweek thing if my shifts allow it.. even the monkey is no great shakes if you have the time to start out and try it.. took my mate round last week for first time dog n monkey and yes it took us 3.5hrs and he was pretty ruined,but smiling ear to ear.. monkey much better than dog..nothing to fear..

angry_bird

.blitz wrote:

The trail may seem mellow to people who are used to caning it but there's no shame in walking any of it we all had to start somewhere. Just take it easy and take the opportunity to practice sections that seem difficult there's no rule that says you can only have one attempt per week.

This.

I wouldn't worry about not being able to cope with the trail. Take it easy and give it a go. At the end of the day nobody's judging you out on the trails and it's fairly easy to do a section, go back round and do it again.

Having said that you get lots more people up there at the weekend, so you're more likely to get some fuckwits up there who look down their noses at you and if you're not feeling too confident you might feel better giving it a go when it's quieter. Plus it's generally more pleasant in the week, quieter, more relaxing etc, and most people about are ususally quite chatty.

sandy771

Just looked at three vids on youtube for the werewolf drop at cannock - people everywhere - is it always that busy?

stanny_uk

the weirwolf for some reason always causes grief.. people stopping to have a look etc.. what you dont want to do is stop at bottom!! lots do and it winds the good lads right up as its actually part of a nice little bit if you go straight through.. theres actually a chicken run round the outside in construction as we speak... i would decide whether your gonna try it before you get there and just go for it.. its really not that hard, my teqnique is backside right back and use ONLY REAR brakes to slide down it.. works for me(should say it but havent ever failed there yet) and its a resonable thing to expect a rookie to try... i find some of rock gardens on monkey more tricky if i'm honest??!!

Clank

sandy771 wrote:

Just looked at three vids on youtube for the werewolf drop at cannock - people everywhere - is it always that busy?

Nah, on a Monday you'll have the place to yourself. To be fair, before midday on a weekend you can hit Werewolf completely alone. Which is good, 'cos at weekends it means I can make a complete horlicks of it without an audience!

Take it steady and *have fun*. Can't stress that last bit enough. Don't worry about how long it takes - just go and have a chuckle.

We expect tales of daring-do and heroics if you survive!

lesz42

its not a race, its a ride, do what you can, walk otherwise, its all good!

Geeds

Just wanted to say I too have been worried about the first time I do a trail. I'm pretty unfit, the last thing I want to do is hold anyone up or spoil anyone's fun. Have taken on board all the advice that's been given. Cheers all.

ElliesDad

Will let you all know how i get on tomorrow!

Had a very embarrasing moment up at the Chase today though, I took my 6 year old daughter for a ride around the Fair Oaks (Green) trail, all went well and she is getting better at managing gradients because she only has a single speed and really enjoyed it. But when we got back to the car park, I stopped to wait for her to catch up and went to put my foot down - only to find that I was not paying attention to my footing and there was a hollow just to the side of the bike. The next thing I was on the ground with the bike on top of me - all this from a standstill and on a busy Sunday morning in the Birches Valley car park. One very embarrased dad and one 6 year old who found it highly amusing.

Bodes well for tomorrow!!

leaflite

You will be fine. Follow the dog is the trail that got me in to mountain biking a while ago. Its not too long and theres lots of fireroad shortcuts back to the carpark if you do need to cut it short for some reason and know where you are going!
You get lots of novices going round it, including those on bso's with the forks on backwards-you will probably be faster than these so don't worry about being slow! I have never met a rider who has a problem with slower riders, as long as they are willing to let them past when convenient. It's a public trail after all!

IT66T

That sounded rather funny but tbh i think most of us on here have had embarrassing moments out on our bikes at one time or another so your not on your own and i wouldn't worry about tomorrow as it's not like any one will there waiting for you to slip up again so just enjoy your ride .

.blitz

If ElliesDad doesn't reply we can only assume the werewolf got him

ElliesDad

Back safe and sound.

What can I say, started off very under confident. To be honest i think I was going a little too slow. I stepped it up a bit on the last couple of sections and to be honest it felt a lot better, but being a novice the fear of a wipe out at speed was a bit unnerving to say the least.

To be honest I was a bit of a big girls blouse and walked some of the sections, just couldnt get the grip of some of the drop offs but that will come with time I suppose - and I completely whimped out of the Werewolf drop!

It was very quiet as well, only saw 5 riders on the round (well overtaken by to be more precise) even though the weather was great, and I did it in a smidge under 2 hours!

One question though, I cant remember which number section but one section (mostly switchback up hill) was very muddy, I am not sure whether this was on the route as it could be by passed by a long slog up a fire road. When I emerged from the woods there was a guy slogging up the fire road, he seemed to think the fire road was the route, the signing was a bit poor to be honest and seeing the (muddy) trail dissapearing to the left I assumed that this was it. Can anyone elaborate?

To sum up, i was knackered at the end and found parts of it a bit daunting, but I really enjoyed it and realise now that I have to work on my fitness and confidence levels. I was so buzzing at the end I took the bike off into the woods to explore for about an hour mostly fire roads and rough tracks but still good all the same!

bails87

Glad you enjoyed it. It won't be long til you're looking back at the daunting stuff and wondering what the fuss was all about.

When I started I found the log rollers (at the end of the section where you can choose to join the Monkey) scary, and struggled with them, but now I'd barely notice them.

Just keep riding, keep enjoying it and your confidence and ability will shoot up.

ElliesDad

bails87 wrote:

Glad you enjoyed it. It won't be long til you're looking back at the daunting stuff and wondering what the fuss was all about.

When I started I found the log rollers (at the end of the section where you can choose to join the Monkey) scary, and struggled with them, but now I'd barely notice them.

Just keep riding, keep enjoying it and your confidence and ability will shoot up.

Thanks for the encouragment, I whimped out of the log rollers!

angry_bird

Glad you enjoyed it. Get back up there and have another go at it now.

ElliesDad wrote:

One question though, I cant remember which number section but one section (mostly switchback up hill) was very muddy, I am not sure whether this was on the route as it could be by passed by a long slog up a fire road. When I emerged from the woods there was a guy slogging up the fire road, he seemed to think the fire road was the route, the signing was a bit poor to be honest and seeing the (muddy) trail dissapearing to the left I assumed that this was it. Can anyone elaborate?

How far into the trail are we talking? The big/only climb? Strictly speaking the trail heads up the fireroad... but it's dull as fuck.

ElliesDad

That sounds like the one, it's on the left just a few metres in. You join at the bottom of the fire road and come out near the top. It was very muddy and that combined with the gradient meant I had to push (being not very fit and all)!

Clank

Well done, that man. Sounds like you did well, and enjoyed it.

I'd call that a bit of a 'win'.

Fair play, dude.

appy

glad you enjoyed it Its a good course for the beginner as its not to hard but tricky enough especially when you start getting a bit of speed up.

vala

Glad you enjoyed it mate.
I went up Cannock for the first time on Saturday with a mate (who'd been round a couple of times before). Aside from us getting separated after the first red/black route diversion it was a great day. And like my mate said, the ice cream at the end is well worth it!!

IT66T

It's good to see you've had a crack at it and even though you didn't feel upto doing it all you didn't wimp out and call it a day which is the way to go and as you discovered by going faster that it's a lot more fun and less scary compared to taking it slow and worrying about it so you just need to give it a few more goes and your confidence and ability will improve for sure .