[Closed] Epping Forest

I wouldn't, if I were you.

For it is Muntjac feeding season. They will be hungry, and take anything they can. Evil, vicious creatures.

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Speshly the little ones.....

Most of Epping is London Clay, which is no fun to ride in at this time of year. The trails cut up really badly too. TBH it's best avoiding really.

I ride in Herts...clay is pretty much what i'm used to

Park at high beach. There's a tea hut there which is a known meeting point for one or 2 riders at the weekends.

+1
Park at High Beach car park near the green tea hut about 9am on a Sunday and tag along with someone. You'll never find the rideable trails this time of year without local knowledge.

what Elfin said. It's a claggy nightmare this time of year. When It is dry n dusty it's brilliant! You're best off going riding with a local that knows all the hidden singletrack, it's easy to get lost, or think it's rubbish, cos you dunno where the good stuff is.

rideable trails this time of year

There's Duntmatter! What are you doing there?

I avoid Epping during the Winter, as the trails just get churned up and unrideable, then the tyre ruts cause too much water to be channeled down them, making things even worse. It's not as bad up near High [u]Beech[/u], but tbh Epping's best avoided by mtbers this time of year. There's a lot of damage being caused in some parts, and walkers then get all arsey and start putting obstacles across the trails in sometimes dangerous places, and it doesn't send out the message that mtbers care responsible and considerate, when they're out causing significant trail damage which can lead to erosion. If it were just one or two mtbers, it wouldn't be such a problem, but Epping is very popular, speshly at weekends.

MTBing's relationship with managed forests etc is fragile enough. All mtbers need to act responsibly, or we're just messing things up for the future.

Horse riders of course seem to think themselves immune to such concerns however, and will blame everyone but themselves.

Not saying you shouldn't go and enjoy yourself, but please have a think about things.

I live in North Wales now with all that it offers, but I do miss Epping on a nice day. The sort of cycling that I love/can do!

epping, right now, your bike is gonna be a total bstard to pedal, loaded with lbs of thick claggy mud. If you don't know where you're going, to make up a decent loop, it's gonna be a pain. but y'know, I've had some fun up there in that shithole on a random ride, so just go exploring anyways. better that telly/stw eh?

don't go too fast on the fireroads though as you WILL get covered head to toe in horsepoo, as elfin says.

I din't say he'd get covered in in horsepoo. I just said the horsey lot seem to be a law unto themselves. Most of them in Epping are ok really, but they will ignore stuff about hoof damage to trails.

I do like seeing some of the young ladies in their tight jodhpurs though....

I'm with elfinsafety & kevevs - I haven't been since the snow thawed.
I never park at High Beech , but I always ride through it.

If i drive to epping I park here
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

Head into the woods and head north to High Beech, and then come all the way back "downhill".
There is a bridleway that will take you north all the way to Chingford,
crossing a couple(more like 4) of minor roads.
There is singletrack all over the shop,
you just need to now your north from south.
You will get lost and very muddy.
I don't have any gps maps to send as i'm a bit of a luddite and only have a compass.
When you get to High Beech go to the visitor centre , they have maps.
Have fun.