There have been many posts on Singletrack asking for routes round the Forest of Dean and many replies saying “Get a local guide”.

Well, I know a local guide, Dave, who is looking at the idea of running guided rides for “enthusiastic/ fit riders” throughout the year. These will be between three and six hours riding time (depending on the time of year) including the occasional stop at a pub.

Dave has lived in the forest for the last 32 years, has been riding MTBs for the last 16 years and knows some epic routes across FOD and the Wye Valley.
The whole area can be navigationally challenging if you’re not familiar with it, but this man knows the area like the back of his hand and can join the best bits up for a good days ride.

To try and work out what people actually want from a days guided ride we are looking for volunteers to come along on Sunday 6th March for a 30 miler, free of charge, just looking for honest feedback and advice.

Dave’s debut guided ride is in the Wye Valley in an area of outstanding beauty. He will be using byways and quiet roads to make a testing loop.

This will not be a steady cruise, it will not be a beginner’s ride, it will include some tough climbs, it will include some big downhill’s and it will be fun.

If you are up for this, post below or e-mail me and I’ll be in touch with more info.

Sounds interesting 🙂

edit…rats, missed the date, can’t make that one.

I’ve always wandered if people who know something ‘like the back of their hand’ are specialist doctors or pathologists or the like. 😉

Sounds too fast for me but good luck with it anyway 8)

no email address…

I’m potentially up for this. Please email me some details. 🙂

I’m up for it but not sure whether I’ll be fit enough to not be an annoyance for everyone else!

I’d be up for it but i’m away that date, if theres another event i’d come.

My neck of the woods . . . But I’m away then. If you have an alternative date then please mail me.
Ta
Marko

I would be very interested – please email me. Cheers.

Interested for defo…

i’d love to come but this is the same day as the wentwood 50 which i think a lot of FOD regulars are doing. i’d definately come if there was another ride on a different day.

suggest he contacts Simon at flyup who always gets asked about trails when he is waiting in the carpark, maybe get some promos for him to leave on the van?

will “Dave” be getting public liability insurance and permission from the FC?

there are lots of groups who ride out in the forest and they are happy to allow anyone to come with them, you shouldn’t have to pay,

thats a fair point, and hopefully he’ll be paying his dues to the trail builders who build all the stuff for free?

It’s not the best paying business to be in somewhere like the Forest of Dean/Wye Valley. There was a guy at Monmouth tried a similar venture a short while ago but his website is dead now, don’t know if he’s still doing it. Pedalabikeaway have qualified guides for hire and do a fair bit of work but there are also a lot of local groups and riders that are willing to show people around the area for the lurve of it 🙂
Indeed, I think I may have shown a few people who frequent this forum around the area in the past myself, including some of the current group of willing guides. Having said that, most of them were probably too inebriated to remember 😯 😆

the FC won’t allow him to ride on anything apart from stone paths outside of Sallow Vallets anyway, if he asks them,

Tis true. Mind you “Dave’s debut guided ride is in the Wye Valley in an area of outstanding beauty. He will be using byways and quiet roads to make a testing loop.” and it’s fair to say that in the Wye Valley there are a lot of ‘interesting’ byways and unsurfaced roads that can make for a good ride.

ps who is Dave?

I would do it in the future but my fitness is shocking at the moment so wouldnt do it this time around

Its a good idea but i think you wont get to many takers if the pace is high.Alot of MTbikers these days are leisure riders not ex-racers,so generally there fitness is not that great.People are not use to riding 2 hours not stop then going on for a couple more.They like stopping having a chat and maybe some crackers and cheese etc :lol:.Fast guys and gals with ride in small groups or on there own.Plus why pay when someone will show you for free?.Best of luck with it.Sounds good to me but i am an ex-racer.

Firstly, thanks for the various comments.

The whole point of doing this is to get feedback from people who know what they are talking about and whether that’s pointing out the potential pitfalls or coming along next week all are valid, thank you.

I’ve emailed everyone who has said they are up for the ride next week except trimix – can’t find can e-mail address. So trimix if you can email me I’ll reply with more details.

mokl – emails are bouncing back from the address I have for you so if you can email me or update the address I’ll reply with more details.

Weather conditions last weekend were “sticky” however the forecast for the next week is pretty dry with the best of the weather coming in Thursday, Friday, Saturday ( can’t get a forecast for Sunday 6th yet ). If that pans out the trails will be in good shape.

Anyone else interested please let me know.

I would be interested in this too. Email in profile. 🙂

+1, have to check the fitness level, can do a good pace but not up to a full on lung burster of a ride.

Email me please.

Mounty – You have mail.

itsup – can’t see an email address for you but if you mail me I’ll reply with more details.

Re: fitness level, there is a short cut designed in to the route and also I’ll have a car and will be meeting up along the route.

Peter – YHM

Thanks for the email.

What kind of distance/time are you looking at doing for the ride next week?

Mounty,

Nominally 30 miles, probably 4 hours trail riding time depending on conditions and stoppage time.

That’s about 12km/h average then ? Sounds about right for me.
I’ve never really liked the idea of paying someone to show me around. We’ve always just invited anyone to join in on our Wyre Forest rides and usually improvised a route on the day.
If I wanted to ride a new area, I’d probably look for a local group who did the same.
If you don’t mind me tagging along for the free trial when it’s highly unlikely that I will ever use the pay service in the future, I’m interested.

Rearrange the following.
tiscali
aecmilitant
uk
co
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just come from the forest this morning was not to bad despite the rain. very muddy on the low parts but the upper bits were fine so if the weather holds out you should all have fun

MTG, I’ve rearranged your anagram, hopefully correctly and sent mail.

Sounds good to me, cheers.

OK, thanks, got it.
I used to live in Mitcheldean and head out to Goodrich Castle and Symonds Yat rather than stay in the forest all the time.
It’ll be interesting to see where you take us.

Email away…

Could you email me too please… It’s in my profile…

itsup – e-mail sent with more details

mboy – email also sent with more details

Weather forecast looking good at the moment a few dry days predicted before the weekend.

Ed – email just sent with more details.

Evening all.

I’ve just sent an e-mail out to everyone that has expressed an interest or said they are coming along Sunday, if you don’t receive anything please let me know and I’ll re-send.

Conditions have improved in the Wye Valley over the week and Sunday (according to Metcheck) is looking dry, sunny and not too hot, ideal conditions.

Look forward to seeing everyone Sunday morning.

Well it had better bloody well warm up. It was 1 degree here in Bream at 8pm.

Like Matt says, cloudy and bl00dy cold here at the moment but ground is drying out nicely. Should be a dry day for you guys and you’ll quickly warm up 😉 Might ride along to meet you all at the start, just to say ‘Hi’ but can’t make the full ride.

PSK – ygm

Martin, just picked up your e-mail and replied.