Just had a ride around Hamsterly today,The new red route decent looks exellent,very simelar to the laggan last red decent,although its not officialy open yet, its a great peice of trail building.
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Hamsterley Forest....Oh YES!
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Posted 2 years ago #
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can it be ridden?? taking my brother there this friday haven't been up there for at least two years.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Not offically open but it's been finished for a while and yes it can be ridden. Think the official opening is next sunday with a BBQ and stuff going on.
Posted 2 years ago # -
can the new section be easily found??
Posted 2 years ago # -
Just head up to the 4X track, the new trail section, 'district 13' goes off right at the 4X head. Quite a few other new sections at Hamsterley as well.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Was shown it by some of the Trailblazers on a STW ride. Fantastic piece of trail.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Just head up to the 4X track, the new trail section, 'district 13' goes off right at the 4X head. Quite a few other new sections at Hamsterley as well.
It's Section 13. Includes the Horns of Doom and the Bowl Of Mince
Posted 2 years ago # -
where did the horns of doom and the bowl of mince come from? Not another committee meeting?
Posted 2 years ago # -
where did the horns of doom and the bowl of mince come from? Not another committee meeting?
No idea, just what I was told on the last group ride. I don't think the features have official names.
The Bowl of Mince is also known as the Toilet Bowl and the Bowl of Baked Beans
Posted 2 years ago # -
I know it's section 13 but a few of us NE lot prefer to call it district 13
(after the film)
Posted 2 years ago # -
Mmm, that'll be Distict 9 then
I'm undecided about Section 13 but probably coz its covered in loose gravel and cinder. The last couple of times I've binned it has been on similar surface and it makes me nervous
Posted 2 years ago # -
Not district 9, district 13!
A nice section of trail though, once bed in properly it should ride real nice
Hats off to the lads and lasses doing the building at Hamsterley, there are some really nice sections developing to go with the older stuff already there.
Posted 2 years ago # -
if it makes you nervous (those of you who are familiar with middlesbrough), maybe should call it TS1!
Posted 2 years ago # -
TS1 is just the town centre. Pally Park is where the aliens live.
I live TS6 Posted 2 years ago # -
is this the new section with the teensy-weensy wall ride and the Utah canyon style stuff? Starts round the back of the 4X track? If so, I rode it about a month ago and it seemed to be officially open then.
Heading back up on Thursday so hope it's not barriered off - it was a blast.
EDIT: Oh, and this time, I'm gonna conquer my fear and ride that big bomb-hole!!
Posted 2 years ago # -
What an awesome new section to Hamsterley this is, I love it. We rode it over and over on Monday so good. There is loose gravel off line, which can easily be avoided if you can stay online. All the jumps and drops are perfect, not huge so can easily be rolled but if you hit them fast enough you can get plenty of air without even trying, the berms are really good too so you don't loose any speed at all.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'm gonna conquer my fear and ride that big bomb-hole!!
That bomb hole is mint
I personally am not a fan of the little rock drop off before it though. Thing that made me laugh with that was a guy on a full sus wearing a full face helmet and armour chickened out of riding it??
Posted 2 years ago # -
Is this a new DH track or is it an XC trail?
I've only ever done the DH at Hamsterley. Is the XC any good?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Did anyone fill in that hole after the bowl of mince? (is that mince as in meat or as in oooh?). Need to come on another one of your rides at some point, been meaning to come down a do some digging as well but keepp getting side tracked.
Posted 2 years ago # -
The black route is a joy now imho. There are some fire road slogs but the descents are well worth it now
Posted 2 years ago # -
Is this a new DH track or is it an XC trail?
It's a downhill run on an XC trail.
Did anyone fill in that hole after the bowl of mince? (is that mince as in meat or as in oooh?). Need to come on another one of your rides at some point, been meaning to come down a do some digging as well but keepp getting side tracked.
There's been a rock positioned so that the hole is no longer on the line taken entering the 'canyon'. It also forces you up onto the side 'wall' which keeps you out of the debris at the bottom.
Posted 2 years ago # -
The black route is a joy now imho. There are some fire road slogs but the descents are well worth it now
It's definitely much improved, isn't it? I even like the evil Root 666 climb! The last few times I've been, the bike has come away relatively clean, despite very heavy rain in the week before both visits, which is not like it was a few years ago.
Posted 2 years ago # -
The difference from the first time I rode Hamsterley to how it is now is like night and day.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Went up today to check this out. Was a few people milling about looking lost probably for the same reason. Followed a couple of guys on 'stweet bikes' wearing piss pots throught the car park. They stopped looked me up and down a bit and told me I'd missed the XC trail turn off a mile back
Could have been the semi-slicks, or the commuter dayglo, certanly not the cutting edge positioned barends I'm sure. What it is to be ahead of your time, sigh.
Anyway, after the it's not suitable and 'it has berms' warnings gave it a go. Glad to say I can take back some of what I've said before about where's all the money going at Hamsterley. Very bouncy, very Glentress & good fun.
Went off and did some of the new black bits after too. Some of that still feels like riding a dried up stream, but bits are starting to feel like a proper trail centre at long last.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think its going to put Hamsterly on the map regarding that peice of trail alone!
If there was just a bit more work on some of the black run decents it would make it spot on,Its just a shame theres so many front wheel swallowing holes between the roots!
I was much cleaner and dryer that previous visits, and I look forward to going back soon.
Posted 2 years ago # -
oooh, my parents live just the other side of durham; gonna have to take a bike with me next time i pay them a visit, i reckon... been over 15 years since i've ridden in hamsterley...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Used to ride there every weekend, but hadn't been for a couple of years 'till I went on the STW Northern Hard Lads(
)ride with Miketully, Jonb, White101, and a few trailblazers- it really is becoming a 'trail-centre', I might go tomorrow if its not pi$$ing down!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hmmm.
Was up there for the first time this sunday, blindly following the red route signs round fire road after fire road(not at all local, although the lad showing me round was). Shall have to return after all...
(That said - I want to come back with the big bike for the DH runs - they looked great fun)
Posted 2 years ago # -
Zokes- the trails discussed above are not really obvious, a bit of local knowledge is needed
Posted 2 years ago # -
That'll be why then! Doubt I'll be up there for a while, but next time I may ask for a 'guide'
Posted 2 years ago # -
Probably be better signed when the new stuff is officially open I guess. I didnt go today as it was pi$$ing down
Posted 2 years ago # -
colnagokid - Member - I didnt go today as it was pi$$ing down
Aye, same here - was due to head there with a few stout fellows, but rain stopped play (we are mincers). Going tomorrow instead though
Posted 2 years ago # -
Rain stopping play??? I thought we rode mountain bikes and got muddy??? I am now confused??
Posted 2 years ago #
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