First go at this place and went to the black route first, was 10 miles and I was pooped;) used my Specialized HardRock pro front sus and it didn't seem to absorb any small bumps and holes??
Can't wait for my orange 5... Hopefully I'll notice a big difference!
Anyone else been there? What's there experience?
Fast, flowing and fun. A great mornings blast when mixed up with some laps of the red loop.
You really don't need an orange 5 to ride round Thetford. Stick it on the big ring, get out of the saddle and pump through the bumps.
Upgrade your body not the bike 😉
Would agree. Keep trying the black, then extend the black to add in some of the red. Before you know it you will be round both black and red in one sitting. Then try taking on some of the hillier trail centres to mix it up a bit.
Overall Red is better than Black at Thetford now I reckon. Black is a bit too rutted and lumpy to be fun all the way round, but does have the bombholes to play in and the great sections of trail just after Howes Run Pit (everyone knows The Beast, but the two that run parallel to it (Double Shocker and the other I don't know the name of) are arguably better.
Spend a couple of mornings there with a trail map trying stuff out and piecing together your own route from a mix of Red, Black and off-piste to get the best out of the place.
Those in the know head over the road to the BCP side of the forest for the best off-piste riding, but if you do this please observe any no riding signed areas as the TIMBER riding group are trying to keep things as sweet as possible with the landowners there.
If you become a Thetford regular it might be worth joining TIMBER to help support the trail maintenance there (either in person on a build day or with your (very reasonable) membership fee).
slainte 🙂 rob
Thetford is my 'local' and pretty much agree with the above sentiments.
Went out sat morning early and it was nice and dry - so was fast and can really push.
Would like to see what you're views are once there's been an extended wet period and basically turns into a bog.
Still great fun but don't be too precious about your components as you will so learn to love the grinding of sand and grit destroying everything it comes into contact with. 😉