Cannock chase Trails

mtbjunkie08

Hi guys,
I live in stoke on Trent and although I enjoy my local haunts around Hanchurch and Apedale I'm looking for some new routes. I used to do some weekend races at Cannock Chase approx. 15 yrs ago so I'm hoping to revisit the chase once I'm fit enough in the next couple of months. I can't drive so I will be cycling there and plan to do a 7-10mile circuit around the forest.
So my question is, which trail/route should I take around the forest, are they well marked or shud I check the map first before I get there?
Also, as an alternative I thought about travelling some of the way by train, I have never taken my bike on a train so has anyone had experience of taking a train from stoke station with their bike?
I'll be riding a Scott Scale 80 hardtail.

Cheers

buddy_club

Cannock Chase is very well marked out, Follow the Dog is easier than the monkey, less technical and less climbing. With the train thing, it varies depending on what Train company, but I find the London Midland trains to be the best, take your bike into the disabled carriage and you can sit with it. Arrival trains wales (don't know if this applies) have a specific bike storage carriage but only with space for two bikes, you can also lock your bike to the train there, so no-one can get of the train with it. It's all good getting the train but I have no idea how far away the nearest station is to the trails. If you can't remember the route, for the satnav I would put in the postcode for Swinnerton Cycles to get to the main start of the trails, although almost all of the car parks are near enough to the trails to make it easy to access them.

mtbjunkie08

Many thanks for the helpful reply. After looking into it a bit more, there is a London Midland Train that goes from stoke to Rugeley Trent Valley station which is only 3-5miles from the start of 'Follow the dog' trail!!.

I'm surprised the London Midland trains dont have dedicated carriages for bikes as most other trains do. Do you have to wait for a train official to let you onboard?.

buddy_club

Nope, just look for the carriage wit the disabled badge on and get on when the doors open