Mountain Biking trails - south of London, with bike hire
Discussion
I quite fancy getting a mountain bike and getting muddy - not crazy downhill stuff, but more trails.
Are there many trails within an hour or some of SE London?
Before I go and buy bikes and a roof rack I'd like to try it a few times (I used to MTB years ago when I was in my late teens but my Mrs never has) - are there any decent trails where you can hire bikes?
Are there many trails within an hour or some of SE London?
Before I go and buy bikes and a roof rack I'd like to try it a few times (I used to MTB years ago when I was in my late teens but my Mrs never has) - are there any decent trails where you can hire bikes?
West of London - Swinley Forest (Bracknell), just off Junc 3 of the M3. Great selection of Whyte & Marin bikes for hire (from basic hardtails up to 1x11 full-sussers)
Blue & Red trails are awesome - nothing impossible for a beginner, but plenty fun enough for a more experienced rider that wants to hit them harder/faster.
Blue & Red trails are awesome - nothing impossible for a beginner, but plenty fun enough for a more experienced rider that wants to hit them harder/faster.
daddy cool said:
West of London - Swinley Forest (Bracknell), just off Junc 3 of the M3. Great selection of Whyte & Marin bikes for hire (from basic hardtails up to 1x11 full-sussers)
Blue & Red trails are awesome - nothing impossible for a beginner, but plenty fun enough for a more experienced rider that wants to hit them harder/faster.
Cheers! I think an afternoon down there might be just the ticket!Blue & Red trails are awesome - nothing impossible for a beginner, but plenty fun enough for a more experienced rider that wants to hit them harder/faster.
Bedgebury has hire (but expensive parking) and a good little blue/red loop. Saves M25 traffic issues.
Cyclopark over by Gravesend has a shortish loop but good for building skills/confidence.
Surrey Hills are great but nothing waymarked so you'd need to find someone to show you around or work out a route and put it on a GPS (the popular stuff is all on opencyclemap or strava now). Swinley good too (and is waymarked) but more of a trek.
Cyclopark over by Gravesend has a shortish loop but good for building skills/confidence.
Surrey Hills are great but nothing waymarked so you'd need to find someone to show you around or work out a route and put it on a GPS (the popular stuff is all on opencyclemap or strava now). Swinley good too (and is waymarked) but more of a trek.
Maxf said:
Cheers! I think an afternoon down there might be just the ticket!
I live just across the road, so am there all the time. If you're going one weekend and want a tour guide hit me up (generally the trails are well marked but pretty much every ride someone flags me down to ask directions!)Slightly further afield and you have the South Downs in Sussex; miles of trails running west to east and a little north/south. There are trails in Stanmer Park (just north of Brighton) and up at Whiteways (near Amberley).
There are also some trails near Crawley, just off the M23 but I haven't been there in a couple of years so don't know what they are like. These might be more for then you have the bike and are happy with it. I think there is a company called Marmalade which does coaching in the Downs.
There are also some trails near Crawley, just off the M23 but I haven't been there in a couple of years so don't know what they are like. These might be more for then you have the bike and are happy with it. I think there is a company called Marmalade which does coaching in the Downs.
Another vote for trying Swinley before the Surrey Hills for a couple of reasons...
1. The main trail loops are all signposted, so it's almost impossible to get lost.
2. Swinley drains very well, so whilst there might be standing water/mud on some of the linking fire trails, as a rule the fun stuff will still be fun, even at this time of year. The Surrey Hills will be a swamp at the moment after the last few days of rain!
3. Although there are plenty of PHers who'll be happy to meet up and ride, if you do go out alone, in the event of an off or a mechanical, you won't be on your own for long, even in winter.
4. My boys (8 & 11) can happily ride both the red and blue, but both provide plenty of fun for more accomplished riders on the same trails. Most of the time, they could also ride most of the Surrey Hills, but being natural trails there, they can be rather more unpredictable, especially after bad weather.
1. The main trail loops are all signposted, so it's almost impossible to get lost.
2. Swinley drains very well, so whilst there might be standing water/mud on some of the linking fire trails, as a rule the fun stuff will still be fun, even at this time of year. The Surrey Hills will be a swamp at the moment after the last few days of rain!
3. Although there are plenty of PHers who'll be happy to meet up and ride, if you do go out alone, in the event of an off or a mechanical, you won't be on your own for long, even in winter.
4. My boys (8 & 11) can happily ride both the red and blue, but both provide plenty of fun for more accomplished riders on the same trails. Most of the time, they could also ride most of the Surrey Hills, but being natural trails there, they can be rather more unpredictable, especially after bad weather.
Kermit power said:
missing the VR6 said:
Swinley is better than Bedgebury, although Bedgebury is probably better for less experienced riders.
Although at this time of the year, Bedgebury will get a lot muddier than Swinley, which won't add to the pleasure!Maxf said:
daddy cool said:
West of London - Swinley Forest (Bracknell), just off Junc 3 of the M3. Great selection of Whyte & Marin bikes for hire (from basic hardtails up to 1x11 full-sussers)
Blue & Red trails are awesome - nothing impossible for a beginner, but plenty fun enough for a more experienced rider that wants to hit them harder/faster.
Cheers! I think an afternoon down there might be just the ticket!Blue & Red trails are awesome - nothing impossible for a beginner, but plenty fun enough for a more experienced rider that wants to hit them harder/faster.
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