Rutland Water.
Bike Forum
[closed]
Where is the dullest place you've ever been Mountain Biking?
-
Posted 2 years ago #
-
Cripes. Almost all the riding I have ever done is in this list. Several times.
Posted 2 years ago # -
but did you enjoy it? if you did, then you trulay are a zen rider )
Posted 2 years ago # -
Good Lord. What a load of old crap is being spouted on this thread. Personally, I'm with Jedi on this. I don't think I can ever remember having a boring time on a bike, any bike, ever. If you're bored, it's YOU that's doing something wrong I think.
I see exactly where you are coming from. When I was a kid any moment on the bike just felt right. Time is tight now though- too tight. So its almost like a snapshot, a window of opportunity in the week that I managed to get out. So expectations are sometimes too high
Posted 2 years ago # -
I see folks rolling up week after week with big 6" full susers and it makes me smile. Some of the off piste stuff is great. FTD is good for a night ride or a blast after work. Then downhill run is great on a HT.
Good Lord. What a load of old crap is being spouted on this thread. Personally, I'm with Jedi on this. I don't think I can ever remember having a boring time on a bike, any bike, ever. If you're bored, it's YOU that's doing something wrong I think.
I agree, and i actually think Cannock is OK. For some reason it really winds me up when people bash others for being on 6" travel bikes and wearing body armour, so what?
Posted 2 years ago # -
I was going to say the Downs Link, but it got nailed 4 posts in.
Second most boring would have to be the South Downs from Winchester to Chanctonbury Ring. Pretty good from there to Eastbourne though, with big skies, challenging climbs, fast downhills and that.
Posted 2 years ago # -
flamejob - if those 2 photos are typical of the riding you do no wonder you think Swinley is exciting
Posted 2 years ago # -
If Cannock was on my doorstep I'd actually like it. I karted my bike around though into someones flat in Brum the Sat night then to Cannock the next day. For that I found it to be not worth the trip/hassle.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Are you saying you ride Cannock's Red Route with a 6inch travel bike (slight over kill, but if that's all you have, so be it) and full body armour (that really would be over kill!)?
I love the naive sentiment that simply being outdoors and on a bike is all it takes to keep you interested; although it's a rather sweet, charming sentiment; I bet your baby sitters love you!
If you're ever been cycling in the Boston region, I'd defy you to find something of interest! It's so interesting, the whole of that region east of the A1m has no motorways - no one wants to go there!
As has been illustrated, sometimes it's what preceeded the ride that impacts on your opinion of a place. I'm sure the Marin Trail is great, with the right weather, some decent company and less rain (the time I rode it), but it was a time & a place and as such, it felt like I was wasting time not being with my family. Next day, Snowdon was more interesting though!
If you lived here, in Watford, on a one-off visit you too might well find things a little mundane if you lived in the Peaks. However, you make the area you ride enjoyable with what you have. Still say you'd end up insane, in the pub or becoming a roadie if you moved to Boston.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Can't say I've ever been bored riding off road and only on road when I was regularly commuting past a very chavvy area of Southampton.
Gotta defend the New Forest and Thetford, partly because I know where the good bits are and partly because I like pushing my luck in corners and can do that far more happily knowing that if I get it wrong I'm not going to fall 100ft on to pointy rocks. Also, in the New Forest you're never more than 3 miles from a pub.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Sure, there's far better riding that Swinley round here, and I'm not that keen on the place anymore, the trails are mostly ruined. But the last time we went I had a great time in some horrific weather because of some great company....
It not what you ride, it's how you ride it.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Llandegla
Posted 2 years ago # -
It not what you ride, it's how you ride it.
plus 1
(at the risk of sounding naive, sweet and sentimental)
Posted 2 years ago # -
The trans-pennine trail on the Hull side is pretty grim. It's pleasant enough right on the coast but from Hull to the foot of the pennines it's dull, dull, dull. Again though, it's riding bikes and that's all good in my book.
Posted 2 years ago # -
teef- I'm not even going to go there. Email me if you want a challenge - I invite you to come ride my local trails
Hora must be getting sensible in his old age; when time is limited and you need some concentrated good riding you need more than a plank on bricks at the end of your cul-de-sac to keep you entertained for a day, hence the name of this virtual tent we all sit under. What is life without Singletrack?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Deffo Cannock Chase off piste, just don't bother.
Posted 2 years ago # -
the marin is positively mind boggling when compared to the murray monster trails.
my god they're awful.
shite surface, shite design, shite jumps, shite off camber corners straight after the shite jumps so that if you want to enjoy the jump (if you actually manage to find a lip off the jump) you have to brake as hard as you can just before the corner cos there is no way to get round them at any speed.
its just shite.
i also find any kenny wilson induced push through a bog dull (despite what all his fan boys say)
Posted 2 years ago # -
What a bunch of miserable ****'s!!
Riding is riding, enough said.
I lived for a number of years in essex for my sins, thought the mountain biking was sh*te, but then i actually got an OS map out and found that i could cover probably 4 times the normal distance due to there being no hills and with some careful planning put in a ride which took in woodland, farmland, coastal paths and some great little pubs if the mood took me.
Biking is what YOU make of it.
Similar with the likes of Cannock, you don't go there expecting sweet alpine singletrack, but step it up a a gear and a couple of fast laps with a Tea and cake stop in the middle makes a great fun late afternoon ride.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Personally, I like Cannock's Red Route.
There's more to come soon with Phase 2 being opened soon.Just avoid the busy times of the day and seasons for a less congested ride. Love the swoopy section above the lakes!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Plop pants last time I used my Garmin at Thetford on the black I recorded about 300m of climbing for the loop, which isn't too shonky for a flat as a pancake short loop. By comparison the red at Glentress came in at about 700m (not too sure of the exact figures as I lost the records when the laptop HD was changed).
As many others have said above it's all good even a couple of miles into town for coffee can be fun.Posted 2 years ago # -
All these flat forests aren't necessariyl dull, you just have to know where the best riding is and be going quickly to enjoy them.
eg. I liked the crouse for the Gorrick 100 but when I went back by myself I couldn't find anywhere near as much good stuff.Posted 2 years ago # -
Labyrinth at swinley is quite fun, best thing is that it is not too far from home - rest is a bit tamer, but still a nice place to go for a ride especially off peak or to pop across from other spots near tunnel hill etc
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hora must be getting sensible in his old age
I am going to be a Dad soon afteral.
Posted 2 years ago # -
"flamejob - if those 2 photos are typical of the riding you do no wonder you think Swinley is exciting "
But do you know what's on the other side of the climb on the lower picture...? fast, rocky and a lot of fun. the climb's nice too, pic just doesn't show it well.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Grizedale is probably the worst trail centre I've been to.
I always laugh when Grizedale gets slagged off, as it's stuffed with excellent tracks - you just have to ignore any of the markers
Posted 2 years ago # -
simonfbarnes - Member
I always laugh when Grizedale gets slagged off, as it's stuffed with excellent tracks - you just have to ignore any of the markersAgree its great for linking other stuff up and if you finish back at the VC you have some facility.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Riding is riding, enough said.
Bullshit.
Did a loop round Peebles a couple of years back - I'd rather have been at my Nan's bingo club. Granted being out on the bike in nice weather always has a plus side, but that was just gratuitous amounts of boredom.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I thought Swinley was massivley over rated when I first went, I then went with a friend who grew up round there and knew it like the back of his hand and got say I was impressed plenty of flowy single track Ok it's not Whistler but it's 20 miles from me and I always come back content!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Bullshit.
Its what you make of it i guess. If you're not willing to make the most of it then you will always be miserable.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Jimmy, I'll raise you the utter tedium known as the Jedburgh Justice trails.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I may have missed it but..
I'm shocked Mach 1, 2 + 3 hasnt been put on here. Hours of riding (up)through grassy fields to be followed by a 5 min gravel path down billed as 'extreme'. Then a huge decent on a road.
Total dissapointment.
p.s. The Climax is fantastic
Posted 2 years ago # -
CUT GATE
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hora must be getting sensible in his old age; when time is limited and you need some concentrated good riding you need more than a plank on bricks at the end of your cul-de-sac to keep you entertained for a day, hence the name of this virtual tent we all sit under. What is life without Singletrack?
Funnily enough I am thinking of exactly that, some bricks and a plank near my house I can learn to jump my bike on. Good times!!
It's weird cos I love riding any bike anywhere. I did Mach 1 with my wife, PP and Mrs PP and I enjoyed it as a nice loop we could all enjoy in nice scenery. My wife didn't have to panic about any crazy technical bits and it was an ace day out. PP managed to crash into a ditch which was amusing too.
Me and Mrs Robdob went to Norfolk and did 2 rides of 25 and 16 miles on the road. Fantastic scenery, nice and relaxing on empty roads and a grand day out.
It's all good!!And to whoever said bridleways were boring really hasn't travelled much. Some we went on at the weekend in the Yorkshire Dales were compared to the Alps in their type of riding!! Woo-hoo!!!
Posted 2 years ago # -
compositepro - Member
CUT GATE
POSTED 16 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST
Eh?
Even the ride to get to Cut Gate is good, never mind the awesomeness that is the path itself.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Another -1 for Grizedale.
Posted 2 years ago #
Topic Closed
This topic has been closed to new replies.
