I'm old & fat and I can do it (nearly) all on SS, although there are a couple of switchback exits I lose traction on. I'm a relative newbie to flats - if I was clipped in I would probably manage to ride it all.
I think the best sections (the original Monkey) are still being worked on, and are due to be linked in fairly soon.
hmmmmm what ratio are you ss boys on? the gradient isn't the issue really it's the traction on the switchbacks
or I go back to dinky wheels so they fit around the F**kin corners 
Interesting - I watched the vids posted and I thought - that looks flat and dull. I thought I would look up some glentress ones to post in comparison - you know what - they looked flat and dull as well - even bits I know well and know to be good fun.
So I conclude that cannock is more fun than it looks on those vids.
All of the Monkey is doable on a 32:16
34:18 on a 29er, that'll explain it (and the weedy legs...and the fact I'm piss poor at going uphill)
Dunno how you do it on SS, surely the switchbacks kill all your momentum?
i'm running 32:16 0n a 26" chameloen so this sounds doable and fun too! i'm really looking forward to it now lovely stuff!.
Cannock is probably quite average and boring to those who travel far and wide, stick with Afan or Glentress etc... and let us poor suffering locals continue to make do with this tat on our doorstep.
Don't come here I tell ye, don't come.
Tony, if you have spare time to ride then wait till its all open, Chase Trails are still working on a big long nice bit of singletrack, the rest is decent enough, nothing technical but some lovely narrow tree flowy bits, what they've done is nothing less than outstanding given the terrain, local surface materials and topography as apart from some machine made stuff it was all made by countless hours of volunteers Sundays. It would be worth doing it once finished PLUS taking trip up to the DH area, lots of good little trails up there now.
Its nothing at all like Scotland or Wales , no where near, its in the West Midlands FFS. TJ PLEASE STAY NORTH OF THE BORDER. 
Scruff - did you read what I posted?
TandemJeremy - Member..........................
So I conclude that cannock is more fun than it looks on those vids.
I'm in Stoke and like the Chase but I wouldn't drive from Herts or simlar to ride there. Unless... I was making a road trip of it. Maybe if you did the Chase on Sat and a North Wales centre on Sunday IMO it might be worth the time/fuel cost. Or TBH if you could hook up with some locals the Chase really has got enough area to ride 2 days. Maybe FTD/Monkey one day and then a ling ride round the Chases natural stuff.
I've never had a good day at the chase! Nothing to do with the trails, (they're excellent) its just the people i ride with.
mmb - Memberi'm running 32:16 0n a 26" chameloen so this sounds doable and fun too! i'm really looking forward to it now lovely stuff!.
Rode it today on a 32:16 chameleon. Nice choice, bro. Failed on a couple of the tight climbing switchbacks, but other than that rode everything. Never been good at climbing switchbacks, me
Not had chance to watch the vids yet, will do so later, but wouldn't advise anyone to make a special trip. The whole trail seems to have been surfaced in some loose dust that with the lack of rain has lost cohesion and the braking bumps are massive, the trail is really braking up - the monkey just as much as the dog trail. I don't have a problem with trail erosion but to have SO MUCH damage on a built trail doesn't ring true, something's been built wrong I think
Having said that I really enjoyed the trail and would recommend riding it if you're in the area - just not making s special trip
captain_spaulding - Member
I've never had a good day at the chase! Nothing to do with the trails, (they're excellent) its just the people i ride with.
You'd have hated today then mate. Just me, Wes and Jay
scruff, my mate atkins loves it. so does barny so i reckon it will be fun.
i liked our ride there all those years ago too
There's a few of us from MTB-Britain going on Wednesday if you fancy it 
nbt, the trails built with locally sourced material. This allowed the project spend to be kept under £250k and avoids importing foreign material. This helps to maintain a less engineered feel but the disadvantage that sand and gravel does what sand and gravel does when it gets and stays dry.
It's an oddity for us to have this little rain in summer. I think there is lots to offer at cannock, you have to admire what they have done both with the volunteer effort and the lack of altitude. The off piste stuff makes it for me tho.
thanks Stu, I thought it would be something like that. it's obviously very dry down there, it's really dusty. Like I said I really enjoyed the trail, I'd certainly consider another visit if it was in a more solid condition
Yeah some of the off piste stuff is great. The descent known as "pebbles" or something is really good - loose, fast and steep.
stay away on 22 or 23 of july as i will be there......and there will be a long queue waiting behind me on the climbs 
Ive not tried the monkey trail, Done FTD though which was alright. Like someone said before you just have to do it faster and it should be more fun. Can be quite boggy in places after rain. Ill be there 10th and 17th july if anyone fancies meeting up. I would be glad of a bit of local knowledge of the area so i can get some decent riding in. My g/f lives local to cannock so ill be there quite regular.
I found coming off the Monkey trail and doing Follow the Dog made me realise how good the Monkey is when compared to FTD.
there was a lot of folk riding around yesterday with battle scars....reckon the monkey was winning.
snakebite - Memberthere was a lot of folk riding around yesterday with battle scars....reckon the monkey was winning.
Yes, a lot of the trail was just washing out to dust on the downhill side, I had a couple of "moments" where the front wheel was close to washing out. Luckily I know I'm a bit rubbish so I was going slow and managed to save it 
how as the wedding?
Wedding was great ta. 387 photos. At least a dozen worth printing, a 3% hit rate
Yes, a lot of the trail was just washing out to dust on the downhill side, I had a couple of "moments" where the front wheel was close to washing out.
Rode it for first time in 3 weeks yesterday and I,m quite pleased its all cutting up giving it a more natural feel, hope the trail builders leave it to disintergrate further and just shout out from the sidelines with loud hailers CONTROL YOUR BRAKING STOP SKIDDING YOU MUPPETS.
Rich
Rode it for first time in 3 weeks yesterday and I,m quite pleased its all cutting up giving it a more natural feel, hope the trail builders leave it to disintergrate further and just shout out from the sidelines with loud hailers CONTROL YOUR BRAKING STOP SKIDDING YOU MUPPETS.
Bang on with the comments about poor skillz causing the surface to break up, but if you want a more natural feel ride more natural trails - if you ride a built trail, it's a different experience.
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