Your local trail - any good???
Discussion
I know a lot of us travel far and wide to use other trails, but what about the one that's closest to you? Is it any good - what would you recommend it for??
My local, about 3km away, is Manly Dam, in the Northern Beaches area of Sydney. Its a well-known trail, about 9km long, not much singletrack but generally accepted as a technical course and one that, if you can get around it all, then there's not much out there stopping you in XC riding. The mix is sharp climbs, drops and descents, with switchback rocky singletrack, the odd patch of sand to catch you out, a creek crossing and a short lungbuster climb in the middle. Lap time for me is around 40mins, with elite riders taking around 30mins.
Interestingly, its also a mixed use trail, which means its not unusual to find walkers coming the other way...
What's your place like???
My local, about 3km away, is Manly Dam, in the Northern Beaches area of Sydney. Its a well-known trail, about 9km long, not much singletrack but generally accepted as a technical course and one that, if you can get around it all, then there's not much out there stopping you in XC riding. The mix is sharp climbs, drops and descents, with switchback rocky singletrack, the odd patch of sand to catch you out, a creek crossing and a short lungbuster climb in the middle. Lap time for me is around 40mins, with elite riders taking around 30mins.
Interestingly, its also a mixed use trail, which means its not unusual to find walkers coming the other way...
What's your place like???
No local "trail" but lots of bridleways and byways of varying interest. Occasionally meet other riders/runners/walkers/bikers and this being Bath, lots and lots of hills.
I've never really got into the trail-centre style of thing, I prefer to open an OS map and plot a route. I guess that comes from getting into biking before trail centres really existed.
I've never really got into the trail-centre style of thing, I prefer to open an OS map and plot a route. I guess that comes from getting into biking before trail centres really existed.
My local trails are some really good mountains in Tuscany. Mine on my rideouts ranging from 20km-86km (my ability so far) Stupidly on one of my rides 78km in the mountain I forgot to have breakfast as I was in such a hurry to cycle to our meeting point ! At about 50km I thought I was going to pass out (energy sinking fast without breakfast) then I saw some eagles circling high above...well at that point I thought I had has it ! ahahah........lucky about 10 mins later I saw a blackberry bush and I nearly ate the whole lot of it !!!
I have a friend that is going in for the 'La Coppa Toscana'.....5 races in total and ranging from 20km-100km in the mountains around here....I will post some pics of the races as and when they happen.
There are so many different trails around here you are in endless supply !!
Does mountain biking in Australia have a big following ? I was surprised to find just how many people in Italy cycle ! I knew there was a big following over here but not this big !! In the summer you can't drive your car without having to slow down for a road race or two around here.
One of the funniest things (well not so funny at the time!!) was being overtaken by a guy in his 70's or 80's ! (well he was on a road racing bike and I was doing around 35/h!!)
I have a friend that is going in for the 'La Coppa Toscana'.....5 races in total and ranging from 20km-100km in the mountains around here....I will post some pics of the races as and when they happen.
There are so many different trails around here you are in endless supply !!
Does mountain biking in Australia have a big following ? I was surprised to find just how many people in Italy cycle ! I knew there was a big following over here but not this big !! In the summer you can't drive your car without having to slow down for a road race or two around here.
One of the funniest things (well not so funny at the time!!) was being overtaken by a guy in his 70's or 80's ! (well he was on a road racing bike and I was doing around 35/h!!)
Edited by Louis. on Saturday 23 January 16:10
Any bridleways in the immediate vicinity of our house are flat with thick gloopy clay which instantly bind to your entire wheel, and the bit between wheel and frame or bridge of forks, rendering the wheels useless. It has been known to get so bad that you just have to pull the bike with one handlebar to the other side of the field. The clay then sets solid until you get home and wont even come off with a pressure washer. You have to almost chisel it off! Hence we wait till the summer, or go to trail centres. Having said that i would still prefer to ride the mountain bike any day of the week to a the roadie...
Nearest trails are 7Stanes Newcastleton (9 miles away). To be honest, it's the poor relation of the group and it's quite short. However, as a local trail, it's a good venue for a mid-week sprint to keep the legs going between weekends (39 mins is our record for the red run), when we venture further for longer rides.
Would also just like to say that I actually now have a LBS which is local
I was one of Levi's first customers at BikeSeven in Longtown. Great shop! 
Would also just like to say that I actually now have a LBS which is local
I was one of Levi's first customers at BikeSeven in Longtown. Great shop! I live about 10 minutes' ride from Wharncliffe Woods (Steve Peat's playground). Been twice in about 15 years. Absolutely hated it both times. I'd rather load the bike up and drive 30 minutes into the Peak District where there is an abundance of great XC routes. One of my favourites is Cut Gate (From Ladybower to Langsett Reservoirs.
dr_gn said:
I live about 10 minutes' ride from Wharncliffe Woods (Steve Peat's playground). Been twice in about 15 years. Absolutely hated it both times. I'd rather load the bike up and drive 30 minutes into the Peak District where there is an abundance of great XC routes. One of my favourites is Cut Gate (From Ladybower to Langsett Reservoirs.
I travel 35miles to Wharncliffe each way, one of the best places for dh (only inners was better). The xc is always boggy though.My local is Steetley quarry and woods in Doncaster. 4 dh runs about a mile long, quarry has loads of jumps and drop offs and an intermediate xc route that has pubs at both ends.
Quarry
woods
Arty Wharncliffe edits
Edited to add images
Edited by MrTom on Saturday 30th January 00:35
MrTom said:
dr_gn said:
I live about 10 minutes' ride from Wharncliffe Woods (Steve Peat's playground). Been twice in about 15 years. Absolutely hated it both times. I'd rather load the bike up and drive 30 minutes into the Peak District where there is an abundance of great XC routes. One of my favourites is Cut Gate (From Ladybower to Langsett Reservoirs.
I travel 35miles to Wharncliffe each way, one of the best places for dh (only inners was better). The xc is always boggy though.My local is Steetley quarry and woods in Doncaster. 4 dh runs about a mile long, quarry has loads of jumps and drop offs and an intermediate xc route that has pubs at both ends.
Ignoring a couple of very local footpaths which don't even trouble my commuter bike, the closest respectable riding is Broxbourne Woods in Hertfordshire (about 15 minutes drive away). It's very pleasant twisty woodland singletrack, with a couple of bits of pseudo-North-Shore (actually intended for walkers I believe). On the whole it's fast and flowing rather than steep and technical, but still great fun, with enough lumps, bumps and roots to get airbourne occasionally.
dr_gn said:
I live about 10 minutes' ride from Wharncliffe Woods (Steve Peat's playground). Been twice in about 15 years. Absolutely hated it both times. I'd rather load the bike up and drive 30 minutes into the Peak District where there is an abundance of great XC routes. One of my favourites is Cut Gate (From Ladybower to Langsett Reservoirs.
I too live about 10mins ride away from Wharncliffe (Grenoside), it's a great place but if you're riding XC I find it rather limiting and there isn't an awful lot there since much of the XC route got destroyed.It'll be superb once I finally get my Stinky and can hit the DH routes though
Got a nice little loop that's starts at the end of my street, slippery/muddy stair descent, rock garden, muddy/rooty/small-jumpy fast section. Even 2 sections that I can take the DH Bike and let rip to try new bits or just for fun. Despite living in the area on-and-off all my life I haven't explored all the tracks yet.
It's mostly farm tracks, bridleway and historic road stuff. Local farmer's a properly decent chap who lets us roam about as long as we give him plenty of room if he's moving cows about (they stop and stare and cause big burger tailbacks if we stop too close). He doesn't even mind that I come through his yard flat out on my Cove sometimes.
Other than that, Afan's about 45 mins away, CCarn about 30, Brechfa an hour.
It's mostly farm tracks, bridleway and historic road stuff. Local farmer's a properly decent chap who lets us roam about as long as we give him plenty of room if he's moving cows about (they stop and stare and cause big burger tailbacks if we stop too close). He doesn't even mind that I come through his yard flat out on my Cove sometimes.
Other than that, Afan's about 45 mins away, CCarn about 30, Brechfa an hour.
mat205125 said:
Chris71 said:
matt1269 said:
I live 30mins ride from Cwmcarn
Lynch him! 
Does that mean you're west of Cwmcarn and hence in between there and Afan? In which case, we may have to kill you...
I'm certainly still out to murder the theiving jack b
ds who pinched my bike when I lived there. "Well it's yer own fault boyz for brining bikes like this here," the policewoman said, with a straight face. "It's like they said in Twin Town - pretty stty city, isn't et?"
Edited by Chris71 on Monday 25th January 16:40
ewenm said:
Jimbo. said:
I live in Essex, so...no!
Nowhere near Thetford Forest?Anyway, went round my local trail again today - was a bit off my game and even though I've been round countless times in the last 5 years, couldn't get some sections. It gets like that, which is what makes it fun.
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