I'll shortly be moving down south so will be looking for rides around Surrey and the North Downs. Can anyone recommend a guide book?
I've seen these 3 around:
[url= http://www.bikemaps.co.uk/north_and_south_downs_mtb.htm ]South East Mountain Biking: the North & South Downs[/url]
[url= http://www.roughrideguide.co.uk/book.html ]Rough Ride Guide: North and South Downs[/url]
or this [url= http://trailmaps.biz/products/surrey-hills-map-pack ]Surrey Hills map pack[/url]
Anybody got/used either?
OS Maps 🙂
Rough Ride - has the OS maps in it too.
Nick Cotton books tend not to have very technical riding I found.
Lots of fun singletrack rides in rough ride one tho.
I'd just join some local rides, shop or club/forum based. You'll get to ride nice trails, rather than boring bridleways. The Nick Cotton books are dull as said above - an introduction to a new area, so as much info as you can get together the better, but I'd still go for riding with local folk .
I'll definitely be looking out for some shop/club rides, and I actually looked at that muddymoles site before I even accepted the job. Had to check there was something good nearby 😉
But I quite like maps and guidebooks to read about routes - I've got plenty of Scotland ones - so I'll check out the roughrides one I think.
allyharp - of course i'd go for the vertebrate publishing guides any time 🙂
I have a slight second SE North and South Downs if you want one cheap!
email is in my profile...
sorry got no advance on maps/books as have found stuff just by riding. Not sure how much of the stuff that is around is dodumented anyway.
as mentioned by you and others muddy moles is good also might find some info here:
http://redlandstrails.wordpress.com/2009/12/
map directions here:
http://www.chocolatefoot.co.uk/journal/wa/archives/2003/02/000060-4_lumps_classic.html
info here:
http://www.diaryofamountainbiker.co.uk/routes_north_downs.php
guided rides with these guys both free and solo at cost:
http://www.nirvanacycles.com/guided-rides.htm
(think they do 2 days but one is quite pacey)
theres also these guys here for friendly advice on trails
http://www.head-for-the-hills.co.uk/
both the last two are local shops and will stock maps... both will give you advice on where to ride as both are involved in building...