Hi,

I am going on hols close to the New Forest in August and want to hire a bike for a couple of days (too much hassle getting mine down there with the kids etc). I ride regularly 20-40 miles off road, normally XC sort of stuff, (not a big downhiller or anything like that). I was hoping to get a bit of advice on what area(s) are good and which I should avoid.

Don’t want to miss out on the New Forest while I am in the area and the GF would probably get rather pissed if I am out all week so don’t have lots of time to find the best / enjoyable routes.

Need to keep up the exercise and riding as training for charity event for BHF: http://original.justgiving.com/jon_london_southcoast_2011

Thanks for any and all advice.

Unfortunately the New Forest isn’t the best for XC, you’re not actually allowed to ride in the forest, all the way marked trails are either fire tracks or roads.

http://www.new-forest-national-park.com/new-forest-cycling.html

Some of the fire tracks are pretty good though, and you can find the occasional cheeky off road section.

There’s a single track trails and a bike park in Ringwood forest though.