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Increasingly of late, I fundamentally don't like the technical / difficult bits of mountain biking. Does this mean it's not for me any more?
The enjoyment pretty much solely comes from exercise, being out in the countryside, and whizzing along quite fast. I fail to derive any enjoyment whatsoever from the challenge of 'cleaning' a section, jumps, crashing, seeing mates crash, having to keep stopping, etc.
My ideal day out on the mtb is fast flowing, smooth, singletrack, with no rock gardens, sheer drops off one side, unrideable sections, mud, gates, or any other things that cause me to have to do something other than be riding my bike. But it seems this isn't what most of the natural countryside can offer (e.g. peaks) or even what most mtbers want these days - which is why hardly any trail centres have that (a slight exception being sherwood pines) - consequently I just haven't bothered doing much mtbing recently, always going out on my road bike instead.
The more I don't use it, the more alien it feels when I do with its bounciness and its big wide handlebars and fat noisy tyres.
Is there not anything in the UK that's a nice long ride, doesn't matter how much climbing as long as it's all rideable, but fairly 'easy', i.e. not particularly technical or perilous?
with no mud
now that is funny.
nice sly way to get your advert on the front page though...
Apart from the mud bit, there's a million miles of what you want in Scotland. The trail centres don't tend to do it because it's so well covered by the un-purpose-built (though, I suppose Mabie comes close)
I don't know the peaks at all though so can't commend on that but it's a big country.
sorry, I'll remove it, I suppose it is a bit cheeky. Was thinking of making just one post but couldn't decide which section to put it in.
May I be the first to suggest joining the RSF, or just get a touring bike and do some long back road tours.
try the south?
Natural trail is still like it was Parks People keep trying to make trail for you by smoothing out technical but it always erodes back to "Fun".
Some of the blue trail centre route may be what your looking for.
Is there not anything in the UK that's a nice long ride, doesn't matter how much climbing as long as it's all rideable, but fairly 'easy', i.e. not particularly technical or perilous?
Sounds like you should move to the south east. 😉
I have to say though, having done a fair bit of 'easy' riding in France in gentle rolling hills - I thought I might be bored but I really enjoyed it. It was great for my health/fitness too. There's really not much like that you can do near me.
A lot of the Yorkshire Dales would fit the bill. Mud and gates are something you're going to get just about wherever you are.
Don't let STW, other forums and the magazines delude you into what "most mountain bikers want". There must be plenty of routes you can do that get you out into decent countryside that don't involve you having to jump off things or look like a Star Wars stormtrooper.
Once you find it, you might them think about the type of bike you have. A FS can seem like overkill but might provide some added comfort for longer days in the saddle.
d45yth - yeah that's true actually - there's some lovely easy riding around Clapham/Settle/Austwick area. There's a few relatively stiff bits of climbing but not for very long.
Is there not anything in the UK that's a nice long ride, doesn't matter how much climbing as long as it's all rideable, but fairly 'easy', i.e. not particularly technical or perilous?
Hmm yes, I think you might be in the wrong part of the country though?
Ridgeway/South Downs Way ? Just make sure its a sunny day to avoid the mud.
Load of that sort of stuff in the White Peak.
I was at Llandegla for my first time yesterday morning and although we rode red+black, I thought it was all very smooth and not really technical - there were some jumps and northshore, but all very rollable and I expect none of that is on the blue. It certainly was a lot smoother/less technical than any other Welsh TC I have ridden (Afan,Brechfa,CyB,NyA,Penmach,Cwmcarn,Mach).
Dont dismiss the blue runs either, all the recently built ones I have been on are lovely and smooth+fun
Surrey Hills, North & South Downs, Chilterns, all the stuff round north Notts - Sherwood/Bestwood/Clipstone/Clumber etc. Some of the Yorkshie Dales.
You won't find many places without mud though...
there's a million miles of what you want in Scotland.
💡 Where abouts in scotland 🙂 Anywhere near any train stations?
I could make visiting scotland a habit as long as I didn't have to drive.
I suppose it's a matter of researching but that just reminds me of one of the massive reasons why I always choose my road bike over my mtb. With natural stuff, there's no way of knowing where to go or what's a good route - a bridleway could be anything from an unrideable quagmire to a private farm track to something that peters out or doesn't even exist at all. By contrast, most roads are pretty much guaranteed to be at least ok to ride, and are all included on a variety of *routable* maps.
By contrast, with mtbing, for every hour you spend riding some enjoyable track, you could have spent five discovering it. I don't mean to whinge - but I just wonder how anyone else works out this stuff.
May I be the first to suggest joining the RSF, or just get a touring bike and do some long back road tours.
very interesting, cheers, that's the sort of stuff i'm looking for.
Ever heard of sustrans? we seem to be blessed with miles of traffic free relatively well surfaced, gentle gradient, Railway paths up here. not as many gates as on farm trails either.
Elsewhere there's plenty of forestry fire roads that are available to ride (not necessarilly well mapped though) which are pretty much feature free but not so pancake flat.
After that there's towpaths, and B roads - you know, use your imagination.
Not sure if this is what Northwind was referring to, but there are miles of tracks through the forests of Scotland that fit the bill and the access rules mean that you are pretty much free to ride any of them. The first place that springs to my mind when you mention train stations is Aviemore as there are loads of trails (or various levels of difficulty) within riding distance of the station there. But that's just because I know that area. I'd bet that you can get a decent ride near loads of stations in the Highlands (and plenty of other places besides).
Cheers,
Andy
I fail to derive any enjoyment whatsoever from the challenge of 'cleaning' a section, jumps, crashing, seeing mates crash, having to keep stopping, etc
There's one thing about that that really troubles me about that statement. Surely when a man is tired of seeing his mates crash, he is tired of life itself? Are you really telling me that you could watch one of your mates disappear into a bush, at speed, and not nearly fall off yourself as you're laughing that hard?
Have you considered counseling?
But in answer to your original question - South [s]you big girl[/s] 😀
There's a few long-distance paths which are suitable for cycling.
eg the Great Glen Way is all pretty easy. Mostly decent forest tracks and canal towpaths, so usually not much mud, not too many gates, and pretty well signposted.
Assuming that the OP is serious and not a Postlethwaite-type wind up....
Where do you live/ride? Have you any of the trad Mtb guidebooks to the UK as they seem more focused on the type of rising that you describe?
Apart from a bit of regional ribbing, I am not sure that geography has much to do with it. Plenty of easy rides in Lakes and Scotland and the opposite in the SE if you look for them.
An obvious answer would seem to be, get a few OS maps and simply explore.
You could try Northumberland. Lots of big open spaces.
Are you not describing the midlands/welsh borders, theres riding like that all over the shop Cannock, Wyre Forest, Malverns, Long Mynd, Mortimers Forest, Radnor Forest, Elan Valley and the Clwyds spring to mind. It's more about spending the time to find the best mix of trails you need to get out and explore and it does mean occasionally getting lost or having a grotty ride on some unmaintained overgrown trail, you just need to look beyond the headline trails in some of these areas.
bonj - MemberWhere abouts in scotland Anywhere near any train stations?
Easier to say where not, in scotland, tbh.
But just as a frinstance- train to Edinburgh haymarket, then either train to currie station or just ride out along the water of leith path (canal and old railway line). Then up the hill at bonaly or currie. And... begin!
Thetford? Sherwood? Great fun, but not technical as such.
What you describe is bridleway riding, available throughout the UK.
Jump a train to Blair Atholl, Kingussie or Aviemore and there is tons of the type of riding you're after within easy reach. There's also loads of people on here who can suggest routes that are interesting without being technical.
Plenty of routes in the North Yorks Moors would fit the bill.
EDIT: What Jambalaya said
I would highly recommend the vertebrate series of MTB guidebooks which have routes like you describe in most areas of the UK.
There's no getting away from gates and mud, but they do take you away from the technical trail centre stuff and to the great outdoors.
I've used the volumes covering the South West, Wales, and the Cotswolds and have had some spectacular rides.
+1 for Sustrans. Not sure where you are but, as a for instance, there's a disused railway line that runs between Scarborough and Whitby (edge of North Yorks Moors), a bit of tarmac at the ends but otherwise great scenery, on the coast, off road but smooth. About 25 miles I think?
Towpaths?
Apart from a bit of regional ribbing, I am not sure that geography has much to do with it. Plenty of easy rides in Lakes
What you describe is bridleway riding, available throughout the UK.
Not many bridleways in the Lakes that offer easy non-technical riding. I can think of a couple but it's hard to link them up without anything technical at all.
There's loads of that kind of stuff - absolutely tons of it about.
As above, pick an area, buy a guidebook and just have a pop at the lower graded routes, it's what we did when Mrs Spanner was starting out off-road.
North Wales has a surprising amount of this type of stuff if you have a look in the Bikefax guidebook, and the Dales/Northumberland is pretty much the same.
Don't mind a bit of gnarr, but as a proud mincer, I do enjoy a nice bimble.
Just go for a drive in the car with the windows down.
What you describe is bridleway riding, available throughout [s]the UK.[/s] England and Wales
FTFY - no BWs in Scotlandshire, as the residents are only too fond of pointing out.
Like most of the others, I don't understand why you're struggling so much to find this sort of riding (OK mud is an issue, especially this year, but just go somewhere which doesn't have such a big problem with that - something to be said for my local area, the Malverns). I have to admit I've always preferred flowing singletrack over harcore techy stuff, though I've gradually get better to the point where I now think of something like Y Wal at Afan as being mostly flowing singletrack, and find nothing there to get scared about. Though if you're after something at a trail centre where you're sure of keeping your wheels on the ground, how about Verderers in FoD?
Not many bridleways in the Lakes that offer easy non-technical riding. I can think of a couple but it's hard to link them up without anything technical at all.
I suppose it depends what you call non-technical. I've certainly never been a riding god, but have had plenty of pleasant days out in the Lakes (the only obvious issue is that most routes do tend to involve quite a bit of climbing, so if you're not into that either...)
Think you need to either rethink what your chosen sport is or perhaps learn to read OS maps.
What you've described in the opening post is not mountain biking that many riders would recognise as being. Sounds to me like you'd be happier pottering round forestry roads or canal towpaths.
Or just MTFU
Someone on here coined the phrase "off road roadie".
That's the sort of rider I am. I haven't got much interest in technical stuff, I'd rather actually [i]go somewhere[/i] on my bike.
As others have said, [url= http://www.sustrans.org.uk/map ]Sustrans[/url] and [url= http://www.canaljunction.com/canal/maps.htm ]tow paths[/url] are probably what you're looking for.
Sounds like the new Bristol all-weather trails would be right up your street, as well as the non-DH trails at the Forest of Dean.
I haven't got much interest in technical stuff, I'd rather actually go somewhere on my bike.
Any reason at all why the two should be mutually exclusive?
Er, no, I didn't mean to suggest there was.
Blue route at Kielder is great fast flowing singletrack (after the initial climb) and since it's a maintained trail centre is fairly all weather.
"Off road roadie" I like that. Actually, after 6 months of riding off road (following far more years than I care to mention of road riding) I still can't work out whether I am (or want to be) a mountain biker or whether I'll always be an off road roadie. I don't like man made trails, dont much like falling off and really hate the relentless use of MTFU in response to any question. Why is everybody so keen to turn my leisure activity into a test of manhood?
On the other hand I do get a kick out of getting down (or up) a section of the trail that I couldn't manage the week before and my motivation is actually pretty similar to that of the guys who first started the sport ie I just want to ride my bike up and down some proper mountains.
At the end of the day, while there may not be many Internet forums or magazines catering for the type of riding that the OP is after, I'd wager that it's actually a lot closer to the sort of riding done by the majority of people who own a "mountain bike".
Cheers
Andy
Why class yourself as a 'mountain biker' ?
I'm a [i]cyclist[/i] who rides: A DH bike, a BMX, a road bike, and XC/AM bike.
Why not visit part of the UK which never gets a mention, no mag ever writes about or publishes routes for. A place of short but well surfaced drove roads and BWs which you can link up at leisure. Not too technical but still interesting.
The Hartland Peninsula in North Devon.
Must admit I dont mind a bit of technical riding but seeing that I do most of my riding on my tod I tend to pick routes that flow and are well within my capabilities and no worries of offs. Sundays route was a good example not to much height gain but plenty of miles, ok some on the roads but its great passing all the stationary traffic in the Lakes.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/215309716
Just go to cannock chase.
To follow on, have you tried "The Good Mountain Biking Guide"? Loads of ideas all around the country of different levels (but nothing that gnarrly). Sorry to disagree with grum (again 😉 ) but there is plenty of stuff in the Lakes. I have taken young children for several days there without having technical problems. Some steep-hill induced moans occassionally but nothing too scary or technical. This book has plenty of ideas.
Sounds like you need a 29er
What you need is C_G old skool XC riding! One or two folk from here have enjoyed it, they've been shown places they didn't know existed, they didn't get frightened, nobody got hurt but everybody still got a good work-out in some lovely countryside. 8)
Sorry to disagree with grum (again ) but there is plenty of stuff in the Lakes.
I guess there's lots of forest gravel roads in Grizedale and Whinlatter and the blue at Whinlatter - can't think of that much else apart from the (lovely) old train track out to Threlkeld from Keswick. Loughrigg Fell/Terrace isn't too tricky but has some stiff climbs and a few steepish rocky bits here and there. There's a pleasant BW along the shore of Windermere underneath Claife Heights, and the BW across the top is easy as well. Those are all I can think of though.
I guess you could be right to some extent because I don't usually go looking for that kind of thing - but having had some fairly severe health issues a few years ago, I looked for easy routes in the Lakes (ie ones that don't require that much physical exertion) and couldn't really find much. It's generally pretty hilly, and often it's only roads that follow the valley bottoms.
Having read it again though maybe that's not what the OP was talking about.
The enjoyment pretty much solely comes from exercise, being out in the countryside, and whizzing along quite fast.
Exactly that has kept me very happy for 26 years.
[quote=grum ]
I guess you could be right to some extent because I don't usually go looking for that kind of thing - but having had some fairly severe health issues a few years ago, I looked for easy routes in the Lakes (ie ones that don't require that much physical exertion) and couldn't really find much. [b]Having read it again though maybe that's not what the OP was talking about.[/b]
This. I don't think he was looking for non-strenuous routes, just non-technical. For experienced mountain bikers, I think it's common to conflate the two.
I disagree - and it would seem there are many others on this thread who think likewise.bigyinn - Member
What you've described in the opening post is not mountain biking that many riders would recognise as being.
+1 for the Dales. Stacks of routes there or thereabouts which have little or no 'technical' flavour to them, just miles of good doubletrack on BWs. The price you pay is the occasional flog through marshy stuff, but nothing comes free.
Yes Grum, I now what you mean!! The routes that you mentioned immediately sprung to mind and others in Southern Lakes mentioned in the book. But yes, the hills can still get you - the one up from Arnside to Iron Keld is a case in point for me. The guide books don't even claim that this is steep. Admittedly, I rode it last on a wet day, with tyres slipping all over the place on the grass, but definitely got the HR up right from the start.
Why not visit part of the UK which never gets a mention, no mag ever writes about or publishes routes for
Calderdale was like that before I moved there...
dont much like falling off and really hate the relentless use of MTFU in response to any question.
I [b]HATE[/b] falling off. Despite that I revel in riding more and more gnarly stuff and getting more air time - they're not mutually exclusive! I do wonder if too many riders think feeling out of ther depth is normal and try to progress too fast?
About 99.9% of the trails in the scottish borders fit into what you describe.
[quote=glupton1976 ]About 99.9% of the trails in the scottish borders fit into what you describe.
If only there was a handy railway station 😉
when a man is tired of seeing his mates crash, he is tired of life itself
I concur.
The perfect fast, flowing track without any lumps or bumps is called, drumroll please, a
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I suggest a road bike to match.
My favourite riding is when I'm on my fixed Karate Monkey (or Pugsley). Fire Roads, tow paths and long distance trails. And sod the South, it's France you want..............
which is why hardly any trail centres have that
People on here are constantly moaning about trail centres being only that.
Brechfa, Llandegla etc. Also much of the South East.
Choose your routes for what you like. It's not complicated.
Someone on here coined the phrase "off road roadie".
I my mind this is what MTBing was really when I started.
I just liked to go places on my bike preferably away from traffic. I also did like the skills and stuff but seeing the sights and fitness were just as important.
It was a while before I realised some people do just like the fitness/competition/skills/achievements and where they are and what the view is like isnt that important.
To be honest I dont think the OP is describing a trail centre even an easy one.
He should try doing something like the southdowns way or ridgeway on a sunny day.
Although i am primarily a dh/jumps/bmx rider, if I'm doing a mtb ride where I'll be getting some miles in then i also prefer the smoother and faster/flowier stuff to techier "trail centre black" type stuff. Even at trail centres like cannock and llandegla i find i don't really enjoy the rougher bits as it just seems to slow you down especially on flatter sections. A good example is the rollers at the end of the monkey.. used to be a fun fast section but they've covered them with rocks and its just not as good. Suppose it stops people hurting themselves on that bit though. Don't mind a techy climb though, quite rewarding!
Also, things like the start of the mbr etc at cyb, can't help but feel it'd be better without the rocks that again slow you down. Maybe i just need to mtfu though 😆
The Verderers trail in the Forest of Dean would be RIGHT up your street. Off road, but fast, swoopy, no jumps, no claggy mud and really good fun. For what it's worth I feel pretty much the same as you about mtbing.
mbr etc at cyb, can't help but feel it'd be better without the rocks
I imagine these are just to weed out the riders who arent really up for it right at the start.
Mind if your not warmed up or in the right frame of mind they can be difficult for a good rider.
I imagine these are just to weed out the riders who arent really up for it right at the start.
Dunno cos the rest of the trail (not really sure which one we did, think there were bits of Dragons Back, The Beast and MBR) had a lot of sections that flowed much better, things like Hermons etc were really fun. Guess I just don't like rocks on the flat, they're fine either up or down. Sort of seems like they put them there to "spice up" the flat bits but I'd rather just get some speed up through a bit of normal singletrack!
It;s all in where you look dude 😉
Dunno cos the rest of the trail (not really sure which one we did, think there were bits of Dragons Back, The Beast and MBR) had a lot of sections that flowed much better, things like Hermons etc were really fun. Guess I just don't like rocks on the flat, they're fine either up or down. Sort of seems like they put them there to "spice up" the flat bits but I'd rather just get some speed up through a bit of normal singletrack!
Thats the whole point riding over the rocks is actually more difficult that most of rest of the trail. So anyone who isnt comfortable ends up injuring them selves right at the start not in the middle miles from anywhere.
I was thinking the other day when I was out riding that I was, in essence, a road rider riding off-road. Now it seems I'm not alone.
Soft-roading
Even at trail centres like cannock and llandegla i find i don't really enjoy the rougher bits as it just seems to slow you down especially on flatter sections.
There's really very little that's at all rough at Llandegla.
And sod the South, it's France you want..............
Yup - the area I was in this summer (Limousin) seemed to have masses of lovely off-road tracks on non-technical terrain - we just made up routes from an IGN mapping app as we went along. Great stuff.
druidh - Memberbigyinn - Member
What you've described in the opening post is not mountain biking that many riders would recognise as being.I disagree - and it would seem there are many others on this thread who think likewise.
Well done you. *slow claps*
Different people, different opinions. Neither way is right or wrong.
Hmmmm. So you tell someone they're wrong to think of their riding as mountain biking, then defend that by saying "Different people, different opinions, neither way is right or wrong?"
OK.
[quote=bigyinn ]
Different people, different opinions. Neither way is right or wrong.
That [i]was[/i] rather my point. Mountain biking covers ALL of the variations, not just some narrow definition as decided by you.
Hmmmm. So you tell someone they're wrong to think of their riding as mountain biking, then defend that by saying "Different people, different opinions, neither way is right or wrong?"
TBF, I don't think he said they were wrong to think of their riding as mountain biking, (or that there was anything wrong with that type of riding) just that many people wouldn't recognise it as mountain biking. Subtle but crucial difference IMO.
If you like the gentler side of things, & the possibility of a road sportif take a look at the Evans Cycles "Ride It" events, very friendly, non technical organised rides of about 30miles max with shorter options available, I've ridden in a few and had a very enjoyable & social Saturday morning, followed by a Sunday sportif from the same venue.(usually various options from 30-90 miles). There seems to be something on every couple of weeks, Venues range from the usual MTB areas to Milton Keynes & Dorking (I rode both and was pleasantly surprised).
+1 for Evans Ride It. I did the Callander one this year. Great experience.
Are you really telling me that you could watch one of your mates disappear into a bush, at speed, and not nearly fall off yourself as you're laughing that hard?
well, ok - true.
Think you need to either rethink what your chosen sport is or perhaps learn to read OS maps.
What you've described in the opening post is not mountain biking that many riders would recognise as being. Sounds to me like you'd be happier pottering round forestry roads or canal towpaths.Or just MTFU
my 'chosen' "sport" (if you can call it that) is road riding. I've just got a mtb sitting in the garage so I might as well either find a reason to use it once in a while or admit that I'm not going to and sell the bloody thing.
Someone on here coined the phrase "off road roadie".
That's the sort of rider I am. I haven't got much interest in technical stuff, I'd rather actually go somewhere on my bike.
As others have said, Sustrans and tow paths are probably what you're looking for.
yes, I totally agree with that...
To be honest although a bit of tow path is ok, it's not really my cup of tea for a whole ride to be based on it, as it's a bit straight and flat.
I do like some of the elements of 'stereotypical' mtbing - bends, hills, etc, it's just the excessive rock gardens, jumps and sheer drops I can't stand.
This. I don't think he was looking for non-strenuous routes, just non-technical. For experienced mountain bikers, I think it's common to conflate the two.
Correct, I'd prefer routes that ARE strenuous!
The Verderers trail in the Forest of Dean would be RIGHT up your street. Off road, but fast, swoopy, no jumps, no claggy mud and really good fun. For what it's worth I feel pretty much the same as you about mtbing.
From what i saw of it on youtube - YES. Would be absolutely perfect if it were about 5 - 10 times as long. Could do laps of it i suppose...
Thanks for all the replies so far, I'll probably have a look into what there is in yorkshire dales and scotland a bit as quite a few people have mentioned those. AS well as probably some of the other places others have mentioned.
Cotswolds is full of what you'd love. Just needs to be not to wet...