Where are all the trail centres?

[vwsurfbum]

if your into aggresive XC then chicksands is out but its still worth a visit for those play days!
thetford is definatly worth a blat if you just fancy XC miles, not really got any challinging hils or jumps but like i said earlier there is now some more interesting bits.
its a long way to go though from where you are.

[Chris71]

B52er said:

The XC 'red route' at chicksands would probably be right up your street. i haven't ridden it personally but i see guys going round it all padded up etc so i'm guessing it'll be fairly aggressive. You would definately enjoy the 2X, no big doubles or anything but nice bermed corners etc. prob worth a trip just to check it out really....

Sounds worth a look.

I do quite enjoy the bike park type stuff, I'm just not very good at it. I can count the number of doubles I've ever had the guts to attempt on the fingers of one hand and one of those ended rather spectacularly. Is the XC route free at all times? I know they charge for the north shore stuff at peak times.

To be honest the very local stuff (local parks) is so limited that even basic XC is worth travelling for.

Definitely going to investigate Epping Forest at some point (it's virtually on the way back from work for me) and a few other people have shown an interest, so if anyone wants to join us drop me a PM.

[Parrot of Doom]

Chris me and my mate are off to seven stanes for a week, camping and mtb'ing. Its a good way of exploring Glentress without the tiring drive before/after. You might want to consider similar, you could go have a look at Grizedale (which is aceness) and then camp overnight

[Chris71]

Took my newly aquired bike transport (and not-so new bike) out to Broxbourne Woods last night. They've got boardwalks all over the place! With a healthy dose of immagination it's like a minature North Shore - only 4" high! Still, in places they're twisty enough to be fun and there's some bike-friendly mesh on the top.

The amusing thing is whilst they're presumably intended for basic mobility, the undulated ground and huge number of streams criss-crossing the woods means that you occasionally get something like a gully with a set of rideable steps down to a boardwalk, which becomes a bridge, which then turns into a short technical climb up the other side. Actually quite fun.

[mk1fan]

Chris71 said:

I've heard rumours of a fairly substantial North Shore section near me somewhere on the edge of London, but haven't found any evidence.

Bedgebury has a load of North Shore now.