My 13 year old son is getting increasingly into downhill. We live in Oxford and have been to the small local trails at Badbury clumps, Aston Hill, and done an uplift at the Forest of Dean, and he’s keen to do more.

The problem is that he doesn’t really have anyone to ride with him. He’s way out of my league, and half the stuff he rides down I’m not even prepared (or able) to walk . He’d like to do some races, but I don’t know where to start, and it would be even better if there were some like-minded kids of roughly his age he could team up with.

Anyone got any suggestions?

Have a look up the Road to Shopshire
http://www.pearcecycles.co.uk/events
Heaps going on up there and the race series is one of the friendliest.
FoD has some mini races I think.

Hooper Hooner at Tidworth freeride 22nd november https://www.facebook.com/tidworthfreeride

Pearce uplifts are great, plenty of younger riders (who are really fast) and no pretentions from anyone, as its The Shire.

Also look at Racers Guild on Facebook, timed practice every month at Stile Cop, Cannock Chase.

Thirded for Pearce.

Also try Chicksands, they use to do 4x for Juniors plus have done a couple of mini-DH’s in the past.

Thanks everyone – really helpful. I’ll take a look at that lot with him when he gets back from school this afternoon.