I'd really appreciate some suggestions please. Me and a friend will be taking 4 teenage lads to an uplift day during the next month or so for a birthday event. Our two lads are decent riders, no idea about the other two but let's assume they aren't regular MTB riders.
Need to overnight somewhere before the day and we're thinking within 4 hours of Surrey.
Seems we've got FOD, BPW or Black Mountain to choose from so assuming pissing rain, wind and cold what would you guys go for?
Thanks all.
Bpw, there's something for everyone, beginners to experts. Although if some of them have never been on a bike before you'll need to be careful
I'd go for BPW.
Plenty of variety there and even if the other two aren't regular MTB riders they should be able to get down most of the blues without too much trouble. Even for the more experienced riders the blue runs are great. You just ride them faster.
BPW seems an obvious choice - wide range of all weather trails and bike hire is available, if needed. I have not been to the other two but am keen to try both.
I think the only issue with BPW is the place is booked out so far in advance; I think you might struggle to book uplifts for the next month, if going for a date on a weekend. Perhaps one day during half term?
+1 for BPW for variety.
Flyup 417 Project might be worth consideration too.. wear them out on the pump track if it starts chucking it down and a bit of competition on the dual slalom!
I should add I've been to BPW with our lads before so it's a known quantity and was first choice but it's pretty windswept and it's getting chilly now hence BM and FOD as alternatives.
Jools what about Mark's place here http://www.horner-farm.co.uk for a non trail centre experience?
I reckon FoD uplift would be too limited if they're not very experienced riders.
Gotta be BPW with some decent clothes 🙂
FOD doesn't have much choice for a relative novice but the blue route is great fun and bombing a few runs down that would be a lot of riders' idea of a good time.
But yeah, BPW seems the more sensible option
BPW if you can book it and assuming awful weather.
I wouldn’t take a mountain bike novice to BMCC - we got to the bottom of the first blue and were like ‘that’s a blue’?!
FOD uplift tracks can be very slippery and claggybif wet for a sustained period of time butnid imagine they’re ok at the moment. There are a lot of roots though.
Might be worth looking at Flyup 417 actually as shouldn’t be too muddy yet. The blue is very flowy and a few of the red options taken slowly could be ok. The new red is all rollable and white fun with berms and tabletops. There is also a pump track in the barn that’s all weather should it get really bad weather. Although it’s only October.