Downhill bike England

markhusbands

Hi, ive always wanted to get myself a second hand DH bike, but wanted to do a bit of homework as I've never want to be one of those people who buy one and never use one. ATM I'm enjoying trials centres on my HT, red grades at most,
I'm curious where do ppl go on DH bikes, I did see a chap once on one at my local trail centre, on a very easy blue trail, full face helmet and the whole kit! Each to their own I thought, obviously the first climb he came to he was pushing up hill, so slight overkill with a bike like that I thought. So what places in England would you enjoy such a bike? Do folks use them on black grade trails ? As I know you can do these on HT aswell. I'm not considering getting one in the near future, just more of a curiosity of mine) thx.

rockmonkeysc

There are loads of places to ride a downhill bike. I certainly wouldn't ever take one to a trail centre. On flat or even very slight up hill they suck badly.
Downhill bikes only make sense if you are riding steep and very technical trails as fast as you can and either using an uplift or pushing up.
If you're in Derbyshire there aren't any uplifts in that area that I know of and not much in the way of push up trails.

markhusbands

Thanks for ur reply rock monkey, so what's the nearest to me, BPW? I did see a couple of lads near Matlock so I can imagine their are plenty of off trails centre places to take them. Anyone from my area the Midlands that knows of any places ? I did come a cross a website that showed non trail centre DH spots ie local woods etc, can't remember what the site was called now.

rockmonkeysc

Bike Park Wales black trails are OK on a DH bike but you have to clear some good size gap jumps to get a decent run.
Black Mountain Cycle Centre is loads better for a DH beginner because the red and blue trails suit a DH bike and don't involve do or die features!
There will be so unofficial trails near you somewhere.
Don't forget to budget for a full face helmet and full armour and be prepared for some broken bones when it goes wrong!
I love riding DH, to me it's the purest form of technical mountain biking. You can ride harder than you ever could on a trail bike and get away with some mistakes.

loudog

Isn't there a downhill course at Cannock Chase? Stile cop I think it's called..

markhusbands

So looks like Wales it is near me then, I'm only a 2hour drive away. Thanks for info, my skills are no where near even handling a DH bike yet. I'll stick to red grades on my HT for now cus I still get a buzz on these types of trails)) I'll get my skill level up and build my confidence up and I'll never say never, might get on one eventually))

BloggingFit

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19680670#p19680670]LouDog[/url] wrote:

Isn't there a downhill course at Cannock Chase? Stile cop I think it's called..

There are a few black and one red run but I wouldn't call them DH, more trail centre with some bigger features like drops, gaps and a wall ride. Is fairly steep there though.

rockmonkeysc

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19680670#p19680670]LouDog[/url] wrote:

Isn't there a downhill course at Cannock Chase? Stile cop I think it's called..

There is but it's pretty rubbish. Better suited to a half decent trail bike and very short.

The Rookie

It's only worth using the short DH bits at Cannock if you live very close.....

Majski

Get up to revolution bike park. Still the best 'proper' DH I've ridden in the UK

rockmonkeysc

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19682744#p19682744]Majski[/url] wrote:

Get up to revolution bike park. Still the best 'proper' DH I've ridden in the UK

Have you not ridden Gawton? Revolution is excellent but Gawton is a bit more tech and nasty. Llangollen is awesome as well but only open for racing and a few uplift days

ilovedirt

There are some downhill trails in Ambergate, they're not bad. Also lots at Wharncliffe and Grenoside in Sheffield. They're probably your nearest downhill trails. The trails at Wharncliffe are quality.

Hopton probably isn't too far a drive from you either.

There will be heaps of unofficial stuff on your doorstep I'd imagine, it's just knowing the right people to show you.

Majski

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19683124#p19683124]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19682744#p19682744]Majski[/url] wrote:

Get up to revolution bike park. Still the best 'proper' DH I've ridden in the UK

Have you not ridden Gawton? Revolution is excellent but Gawton is a bit more tech and nasty. Llangollen is awesome as well but only open for racing and a few uplift days

Nope I've not done Gawton. Its a long way from me but definitely on the must-hit list!

rockmonkeysc

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19684301#p19684301]Majski[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19683124#p19683124]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19682744#p19682744]Majski[/url] wrote:

Get up to revolution bike park. Still the best 'proper' DH I've ridden in the UK

Have you not ridden Gawton? Revolution is excellent but Gawton is a bit more tech and nasty. Llangollen is awesome as well but only open for racing and a few uplift days

Nope I've not done Gawton. Its a long way from me but definitely on the must-hit list!

Do it! Take your armour though, Egypt (double black) is the work of a mad man :shock:
Theres also Tavi Woodlands on the opposite side of the valley if you want to make it a weekend riding.
Tavi Woodlands is push up but it's an easy push and the trails are proper old style technical DH.

medicbiker

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19680672#p19680672]markhusbands[/url] wrote:

So looks like Wales it is near me then, I'm only a 2hour drive away. Thanks for info, my skills are no where near even handling a DH bike yet. I'll stick to red grades on my HT for now cus I still get a buzz on these types of trails)) I'll get my skill level up and build my confidence up and I'll never say never, might get on one eventually))

If your heading this way anyway you might want to check out forest of Dean trail centre, there's a fun blue/red xc trail and about 9 DH trails including a smooth but very fast one for off road wheelchairs. The Dh trails are all graded they have stuff for complete newbies and harder stuff for more advanced. You will be able to do the easier dh ones on your hard tail seeing as your riding red trails. There's also a ton of unmarked natural trails but you might want to book a ride with a guide day for that. Cwmcarn also has a dh trail with red and black options, I have done it on a xc hard tail and was fine. There are also two very nice red grade xc trails, I will warn you that the reds at cwmcarn are more like the black bits at cannock chase if you have been there.

rockmonkeysc

All the Forest of Dean DH trails are really easy. There's nothing challenging on any of them but you can get some serious speed!
The trail for off road quads is lethal on a mountain bike, the tables are about half the length they need to be for mountain bikes. The day the trail opened six ambulances were called out. Best leave this one for it's intended purpose.
There is a really good race series at FoD in the winter. Really friendly and not too competitive.

markhusbands

Thanks for all your advice and feedback guys, would 100mm travel be ok for the novice/beginner DH route? I don't want to bottom out!.

rockmonkeysc

You would get down the trail but you will be very, very slow compared to some of the locals on DH bikes.
Sheepskull would be the one to ride on an xc hardtail, it's nice and open with good visibility for anyone catching you and no difficult features. The braking bumps might give you a hard time on Ski Run and Corkscrew. The other trails are quite tech and rooty.

Thewaylander

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19691788#p19691788]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

You would get down the trail but you will be very, very slow compared to some of the locals on DH bikes.
Sheepskull would be the one to ride on an xc hardtail, it's nice and open with good visibility for anyone catching you and no difficult features. The braking bumps might give you a hard time on Ski Run and Corkscrew. The other trails are quite tech and rooty.

Have you ridden this pair recently? they have all the roots these days compared to the other runs wet summer has exposed a fair few I think.

Good fun place to ride though, nothing ridiculous and choose between jumpy type runs and more classic rooty steeper type runs.