Chicksands and Woburn Trails

[Mr Bishi]

I'm planning a trip to the above two places in the next couple of weeks and was wondering if there is any useful info I should know before going?

As someone who is not really into big jumps etc (more into the xc stuff) is there plenty of novice stuff to practice on?

If we suck at the jumpy stuff are the xc trails any good? Are the routes mapped out?

Should we go to one before the other? Is one much better than the other and if so why?

Any info appreciated.

[alfaman]

Mr Bishi said:

I'm planning a trip to the above two places in the next couple of weeks and was wondering if there is any useful info I should know before going?

As someone who is not really into big jumps etc (more into the xc stuff) is there plenty of novice stuff to practice on?

If we suck at the jumpy stuff are the xc trails any good? Are the routes mapped out?

Should we go to one before the other? Is one much better than the other and if so why?

Any info appreciated.

I used to live in Bedfordshire - have been to chicksands twice. I am mainly in XC riding and single track. I found it rather boring - would rather do a long ride through the countryside on bridleways. It is nowhere near as good as the mtn bike centres in Wales for example.

[Celtic Dragon]

XC's at chicksands are in poor condition and badly signed at the moment. Because they are outside the park, they are under Forestry commission control and not the parks. Also a lot of the banks have collapsed so you can be blatting along and suddenly be facing a 20 foot drop.

They will charge you £1 for car parking too.

This is my experience from last month, http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Mr Bishi]

After reading that thread I'm not sure Chicksands is going to be great. I'm planning on taking my full sus XC bike (Speacialized Epic) so not sure how that will cope as it's not really what is meant for.

The talk about all the full sus, body armour etc is what hives me doubts, don't want to look like an idiot on my XC bike!

In addition to this the others that are coming with me are realative noobs to the MTB scene.

Might have to get the old hardtail trials bike built up as a jump bike as best as possible and take both and see how we get on.

Edited by Mr Bishi on Thursday 18th July 12:31

[anonymous-user]

Go to Woburn, and just explore the woods. Plenty of trails to be had! (if you stray off the public rights of way, which you will, technically you need to buy a permit. However, for "one off" useage, this is really only necessary when/if you see the ranger. Make sure you have some change to buy a day pass in the highly unlikely event you bump into him).

If you park in the nice new layby off the A5130 south of Woburn:

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=52.000002,-0....

then you have immediate access to both sides of the woods / heathland area. The Backwoods on the Bow Brickhill side probably have the best trails in, but i wouldn't recommend them for beginners (drops, jumps, techy etc)