Not a troll or a rant more a question.
My mate just posted a compilation video of several trail centres he's been riding (I haven't ridden them so can't really comment apart from what I saw).
The thing is they looked, well, errrrr dull. It was just featureless, smooth singletrack apart from inners which looked rocky and fun.
What's the appeal with them to "seasoned" mountain bikers?? Surely the rocks of the peaks etc are more of a challenge??
As I say not trolling, just genuinely interested.
Bike Forum
Trail Centres
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Posted 12 months ago #
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You don't need to think about riding them. Makes a days riding when you can't be arsed...achievable.
Posted 12 months ago # -
Best thing about trailcentres, you can go there with mates, have a laugh and finish off with a hot coffee at the end of it with somewhere dry right in the carpark.
If you want to have a good ride, that's more tech, then go to the trails that aren't 'trailcentres'.
Trailcentres also cater for all kinds of riders, other places with single trails aren't so.
Posted 12 months ago # -
It's the same difference between real free climbing and indoor walls in my view. Trail centres have their place , but for Me I like open trails , each to their own though.
Posted 12 months ago # -
Well for one thing you can usually go as fast as you like without bumping into walkers/horses/dogs.....usually.
Posted 12 months ago # -
yeah. trail centres are a bit motorway IMO, but, if you're going to drive a long way, with a mixed ability group, it sucks when weather kills a ride, while trail centres are usually all weather, also no risk of getting lost, less risk of good downhills ruined by people coming up singletrack.
Posted 12 months ago # -
The warm smug glow that only comes from passing people on 'big' bikes on ss/cx/road/pennyfarthing/unicycle (delete as appropriate).
Posted 12 months ago # -
The warm smug glow that only comes from passing people on 'big' bikes on ss/cx/road/pennyfarthing/unicycle (delete as appropriate).
Ah come on! No trolling!!!
Posted 12 months ago # -
One thing you have missed - they are good FUN!
Posted 12 months ago # -
They have changed a lot, its all berms and tabletops, where as it used to be about Singletrack. This was OK when the likes of Mabie and AE were the only ones in the country, but now every centre seems to be going that way and its just dull. Also I am getting old and lost all my skills...
Posted 12 months ago # -
Ah come on! No trolling!!!
He's not trolling. Just telling it like it is.
Posted 12 months ago # -
I think trail centres have there place. As said, to go with a group of mates & have a nice ride then food & drinks.
They're prescribed fun, go here & have x amount of fun etc.
They're a bit like out of town shopping malls, not much soul but offer something for most people.
I'll do one every 2-3 months, much prefer natural stuff.Posted 12 months ago # -
There's no gates to constantly have to open and close, no requirement for map/compass/guidebook, good as a bad weather option. I can't understand people who only ride trail centres tho.
Posted 12 months ago # -
I quite like a couple of camping trips a year to afan or cyb with "the lads". Bike, beer and camp fires, what's not to like. As said they have their place.
Posted 12 months ago # -
I do not troll
Actually I've ridden the same trail centre 5 days on the trot this week (no car)....admittedly the riding to and from there was the best bit and I did'nt actually ride much of the built trails in the order or direction they were intended but thats not the point.Posted 12 months ago # -
Trail centres are great, as is riding natural terrain, feel a little sorry for anyone who cannot appreciate them to the extent they avoid them.
Posted 12 months ago # -
Rorschach - Member
The warm smug glow that only comes from passing people on 'big' bikes on ss/cx/road/pennyfarthing/unicycle (delete as appropriate).
Rorschach - Member
and I did'nt actually ride much of the built trails in the direction they were intended but thats not the point.
Ah.....I seePosted 12 months ago # -
Trail centres are great, as is riding natural terrain, feel a little sorry for anyone who cannot appreciate them to the extent they avoid them.
I don't avoid them completely, I am off to the monkey trail on Weds. But I don't solely ride them I much prefer natural riding. I just don't get riding trail centres all the time.
Posted 12 months ago # -
They have their place but can in my opinion be a bit monotonous. They are only boring if you make them boring-ride them as fast as you and your bike can and I am sure you would still get an adrenaline rush. pootle and there is no reward.
For me I too would rather ride natural trails- preferably that I have not ridden before so you dont know whats coming. Having said that one of my favorite 'trail centre' rides is Llandegla's best bits with The Masts Loop thrown in, ridden with mates and some back wheel buzzing.Posted 12 months ago # -
They tend to be in good places to ride overall - in most cases they've grown out of spots that were popular for mountain biking going back years. So going there and just sticking to a red route or something wouldn't be my cup of tea, but if you mix up a selection of trails, probably including stuff that's not waymarked, you're normally looking at a good ride. They're also great if it's lashing down with rain all day.
It's not so much that they lack challenge - you can usually find that if you want to go looking for it off the marked trails a wee bit, it's the feeling of wildness / remoteness you get out in the hills proper that you'll never replicate at a centre. That's just the way it is.
Posted 12 months ago # -
Best bits tbh, are the trail centres that you find extra additions that are natural that go outside of the trail centre.
Good example is the masts loop at llandegla, gives you a good mix of trail centre riding, and techy/more natural riding
Posted 12 months ago # -
Usually find people who are pretty cack at riding avoid them,ime anyway....
Oh & this post pops up about every 3-4 months or so & has done for the past 10 years that I know to..........
Posted 12 months ago # -
emac65 +1.
They are what they are, great fun and if you have a few hours to spare, you are guaranteed a decent ride.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Posted 12 months ago # -
Most riding looks a bit shite on helmetcam
Posted 12 months ago # -
The thing is they looked, well, errrrr dull. It was just featureless, smooth singletrack apart from inners which looked rocky and fun.
What's the appeal with them to "seasoned" mountain bikers?? Surely the rocks of the peaks etc are more of a challenge??Here's a crazy idea, why not try actually riding a few and decide for yourself? Videos tend to flatten/smooth stuff out - sometimes they are actually dull, but then so are bridleways.
As above - I generally go to them when I'm with a mixed ability group, sometimes people need to hire bikes, and it's good for people to be able to hang around and get a coffee etc.
That said, I'd ride the last bit of the Climachx trail over most bridleways.
Posted 12 months ago # -
B.A Nana.....I see what you did there
Obviously those two statements should be taken in isolation
I do actually quite like hammering around 'after hours' knowing I'm the only one in the forest....being 'naughty'.Posted 12 months ago # -
Most riding looks a bit shite on helmetcam
So true..
For example, Fort William WC DH track which looks fairly tame in this vid..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfVJ0ybx1RM
Rode it last weekend and it takes some balls to ride some of those rock gardens. And also there are plenty of suprise 4/5ft drops to flat. Looks LOTS more calm and sedate on film than it does when you're the rider.
Posted 12 months ago # -
since kimbers jr came along ive realised how great trail centres are;
my opportunities to ride are few and far between i need something i can ride whatever the weather, i know exactly how long itll take me
and to liven them up just pedal faster
i also like the fact that at places like landegla there is a freeride area a pump track as well as trails
trail centres go through cycles after a surfacing they are bmx track bermtastic a few years and braking bumps and erosion make them more technical and demandingPosted 12 months ago # -
Usually find people who are pretty cack at riding avoid them
I usualy find a lot of people who ride them are pretty cack at riding.
Posted 12 months ago # -
Some people are desperate to somehow 'define' the riding they do....others just ride what they like, when they like.
I find it hard to believe that the haters out there have finished a lap of a trail centre and don't recall smiling or enjoying it once along the way!
Posted 12 months ago # -
I usualy find a lot of people who ride them are pretty cack at riding.
I usually find people who like to brag on the internet about their superiority are pretty cack at riding.
Posted 12 months ago # -
I can't see any bragging myself.
Just observations from a few people.
I usualy find people that don't ride much are pretty cack at riding and lacking in humour though.
Posted 12 months ago # -
I usually find people who argue on the internet over semantics are pretty dull.
sstu's got a point tho.Posted 12 months ago # -
"Just obserations."
I find people who brag about riding on the Internet are pretty rubbish at writing.
Posted 12 months ago # -
Tj's gonna be along in a minute so make hay before he pwns the lot of us.
Posted 12 months ago #
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