Cannock Chase

Ditch Witch
Ditch Witch Posts: 837
edited June 2009 in Women
Looks like we'll be hitting this for a few days on the way back from our wedding, probably around the 15th of July. Anyone do evening rides there and fancy meeting up if the weather is good?
I ride like a girl
Start: 16.5.x Now: 14.10.8 Goal: 11.7.x
www.ditchwitch.me.uk
www.darksnow.co.uk
Specialized HardRock Pro Disc 04

Comments

  • Mrs Toast
    Mrs Toast Posts: 636
    Ah, my local! Well, sort of, it's over an hour's drive away (or 15 minutes from my mother's...), but we go there every weekend. I don't know if I'd be able to make an evening ride during the week though. :(
  • Ditch Witch
    Ditch Witch Posts: 837
    Ah, :( That's a shame.

    Recommendations for good (read: easy) routes?
    I ride like a girl
    Start: 16.5.x Now: 14.10.8 Goal: 11.7.x
    www.ditchwitch.me.uk
    www.darksnow.co.uk
    Specialized HardRock Pro Disc 04
  • deadliest
    deadliest Posts: 471
    Not sure what you consider as Easy but you really cant go wrong with ''Follow The Dog'' pretty much everything is rideable and easily navigated around if worried.

    There are a couple of other routes . . . A blue if im not mistaken which I am sure Mrs Toast can explain in better detail ( Or check out her blog ).
    Bikes are drugs and Im pedalling

    http://sherwoodpines.yolasite.com/
  • Ditch Witch
    Ditch Witch Posts: 837
    How much is parking? And is Stile Cop really as scary as it sounds? :lol:
    I ride like a girl
    Start: 16.5.x Now: 14.10.8 Goal: 11.7.x
    www.ditchwitch.me.uk
    www.darksnow.co.uk
    Specialized HardRock Pro Disc 04
  • Mrs Toast
    Mrs Toast Posts: 636
    There's not a blue yet, think there might be one in the planning stages though. There's the waymarked green route which is really pretty and a good length (19 miles altogther), which is all fireroads.

    Follow the Dog isn't too hard, there's nothing that isn't rollable, apart from Evil Root Number One and Evil Root Number Two, which are protruding roots on climbs. Everyone seems to be able to tackle them fine, they're just my nemesises....nemesisi?

    Both routes are loops, and can be started from the two visitors centres - Marquis Drive and Birches Valley. Birches Valley has the better cafe, a bike shop and wash, and is the official start of Follow the Dog (and is also home to the Go Ape course). Marquis Drive has a collection of stuffed deer though...
  • Ditch Witch
    Ditch Witch Posts: 837
    Mmmm, stuffed deer, cake, stuffed deer, cake... Not sure which way to jump on this one.



    We'll be staying at a campsite very near Stile Cop so maybe the Marquis Drive centre would be better for us, then we could stop for cake halfway! :D (no cake, no ride, amigo) However, as we'll be camping, the bike wash would really come in handy....

    I've heard that Wonderland at Stile Cop is the easiest, does that sound right?


    I'm going to join chase trails now, just to get the coasters :lol:
    I ride like a girl
    Start: 16.5.x Now: 14.10.8 Goal: 11.7.x
    www.ditchwitch.me.uk
    www.darksnow.co.uk
    Specialized HardRock Pro Disc 04
  • SpinningJenny
    SpinningJenny Posts: 889
    I need to visit my Midlands based part of my family for this one. I have a feeling that Cannock Chase is where I learned to ride my Budgie bike when I was a littlun... :wink:

    0.jpg
    Ned Flanders: “You were bicycling two abreast?”
    Homer Simpson: “I wish. We were bicycling to a lake.”

    Specialized Rockhopper Pro Disc 08
  • Mrs Toast
    Mrs Toast Posts: 636
    Ah, Stile Cop is all the downhill stuff, I'm more of a cross country fairy! I'm not really familiar with the downhill courses, but a brief rundown of the trails can be found here though:

    http://www.chasetrails.co.uk/downhill.php

    http://www.chasetrails.co.uk/xc.php
  • Ditch Witch
    Ditch Witch Posts: 837
    We're hoping to stay at CC for a few days so I expect Mr DW will want to have a bash at Stile Cop at least once. I'll either have the day off or want to do the very very easiest course :lol:
    I ride like a girl
    Start: 16.5.x Now: 14.10.8 Goal: 11.7.x
    www.ditchwitch.me.uk
    www.darksnow.co.uk
    Specialized HardRock Pro Disc 04
  • Ditch Witch
    Ditch Witch Posts: 837
    Look at the back wheel on that bike! :lol: Proper little chopper, that :lol:
    I ride like a girl
    Start: 16.5.x Now: 14.10.8 Goal: 11.7.x
    www.ditchwitch.me.uk
    www.darksnow.co.uk
    Specialized HardRock Pro Disc 04
  • SpinningJenny
    SpinningJenny Posts: 889
    Yep, I think that was the aim... I was so jealous of my cousin's Chopper but wasn't allowed one...

    Nor a BMX...

    *sigh* a deprived childhood....
    Ned Flanders: “You were bicycling two abreast?”
    Homer Simpson: “I wish. We were bicycling to a lake.”

    Specialized Rockhopper Pro Disc 08
  • Ditch Witch
    Ditch Witch Posts: 837
    I always wanted a BMX too, but by the time my parents could afford one, we'd moved to the foothills of LA and everywhere was so steep, I didn't want one anymore :lol:
    I ride like a girl
    Start: 16.5.x Now: 14.10.8 Goal: 11.7.x
    www.ditchwitch.me.uk
    www.darksnow.co.uk
    Specialized HardRock Pro Disc 04
  • SpinningJenny
    SpinningJenny Posts: 889
    Yeah, not so good on them thar hills!
    Ned Flanders: “You were bicycling two abreast?”
    Homer Simpson: “I wish. We were bicycling to a lake.”

    Specialized Rockhopper Pro Disc 08
  • Ditch Witch
    Ditch Witch Posts: 837
    Nor in that heat :lol:
    I ride like a girl
    Start: 16.5.x Now: 14.10.8 Goal: 11.7.x
    www.ditchwitch.me.uk
    www.darksnow.co.uk
    Specialized HardRock Pro Disc 04
  • SpinningJenny
    SpinningJenny Posts: 889
    God no. The tyres would melt :lol:
    Ned Flanders: “You were bicycling two abreast?”
    Homer Simpson: “I wish. We were bicycling to a lake.”

    Specialized Rockhopper Pro Disc 08
  • ChrisMidsUK
    ChrisMidsUK Posts: 76
    How much is parking? And is Stile Cop really as scary as it sounds? :lol:

    This video will give you an idea of typical trail runs. Not ready for it myself, that's for sure. :wink:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtXhxl2LyTc

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_fk3v3UI8o
    Stumpjumper fsr comp £1,600
    Some cycle clobber £357.26
    A load of stuff to clean and lube with £54.56
    Hydration rucksack £9.95

    Watching this clueless buffoon make an ar$e of myself out on the trails. PRICELESS! :D
  • ChrisMidsUK
    ChrisMidsUK Posts: 76
    How good is this lad? 8)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9se0cAelIC0

    This reminds me of me trying some singletrack jumps not long back, without the falling off part. :lol:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVgcq87qVgw

    And just for fun. :D

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU7kGyj1Z20
    Stumpjumper fsr comp £1,600
    Some cycle clobber £357.26
    A load of stuff to clean and lube with £54.56
    Hydration rucksack £9.95

    Watching this clueless buffoon make an ar$e of myself out on the trails. PRICELESS! :D
  • Alex
    Alex Posts: 2,086
    Perhaps too late, but hopefully not.

    Wonderland is not a good "Beginners downhill" route.

    Try the Red (all rollable, even the little drops), Ridge (sans double, all rollable), or Little Bringewood (severely technical but all rollable).
    The grading of Wonderland as a single dot trail is a printing error. The swtichbacks at the start and the jumps in the middle lift out outside of the "easy, rollable beginners trail" catagory.

    The following trails are suitable for intermediate riders:
    Wonderland, CDL, Snakes and Ladders, Ridge Run Double, Ridgewood
    These contain unrollable features and require advanced riding skills, but are not that difficult overall.

    The following tracks are wholly unsuitable for beginners: New Line, Black Line, Walleater, Balboa, All contain unrollable features and present an extreme challenge.



    When riding Stile Cop, please take care, wear a full face helmet and pads and always walk a track before riding it.

    Have fun :wink:
  • Ditch Witch
    Ditch Witch Posts: 837
    That's excellent, thanks! Not too late, no, as we won't be there until July :D
    I ride like a girl
    Start: 16.5.x Now: 14.10.8 Goal: 11.7.x
    www.ditchwitch.me.uk
    www.darksnow.co.uk
    Specialized HardRock Pro Disc 04