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How do the blue runs compare at 417 to the blue decent at Forest of Dean?
We did the FOD uplift and came down the Vereders?? trail. Son (6) found it a bit rocky in partts and had to drag his feet quite a few times and was nervous about falling on the rocks.
Is it smoother/ steeper at 417?
Smoother than Fod by miles. I can't remember any tricky bits.
There is only one blue but the pump track is rad.
You can also roll the 4x track.
The blue should be fine for him, as long as he can use brakes to scrub speed (as in..gaining too much speed would be the only 'challenge')
It's smooth, bermy, and non technical.
DrP
I haven't had the chance to get to 417 yet, but I think he might struggle - the Verders trail is a blue graded XC loop that you uplifted, 417 is a DH venue, one place a do know well is BPW - the blues there are very different to Verderes.
^^
Or he could listen to the two people who HAVE been there and commented??!!
DrP
I've been and the blue is very comparable to the Verderers downhill bit but smoother and I think shorter. Not technically difficult and should be fun for your son. Pump track if you get bored.
I'm a total mincer and loved my first visit to Flyup. Blues were great and next time I'll probably take my rigid or fatbike, not the 160 FS.
DrP - Member^^
Or he could listen to the two people who HAVE been there and commented??!!DrP
I'd like it entered into my defence that when I typed that, there hadn't been a single reply and it was looking lonely - then 'life got in the way' and I didn't hit the send button for ages.
Also, as the Verdenersers Trail (or whatever it’s called) is easy, and 417 is a Downhill venue, it wasn’t too much of a leap to think it might be a bit more the average 6 year old might fancy – especially as I have a lot of experience of trying to ride with a 6 year old – they don’t find the same stuff adults find scary.
Seems I was wrong, but I didn’t pretend I’d been there.
Why did he have to drag his feet?
P-Jay... defence story accepted...!!!
😉
DrP
It was featured in mountain bike adventures on the bike channel a couple of weeks ago so that might be worth looking up, there's also some videos on YouTube to give you an idea.
matt_outandabout - Member
Why did he have to drag his feet?
Slowing down, he didn't like being on the pedals with the "massive rocks" in the trail. So where it was steeper and stones he had his feet dragging as well as the brakes.
If 417 is smoother and Bermy he should be fiine. He has been round the famiky trail at FOD, and he was ok on the the steep bit near the end. It's only an hour away from Reading so I think we will give it a visit.
It does sound like mini_supertramp would benefit from some coaching and confidence building for riding. I find the day they learn that feet up and a bit of momentum rolls them over all sorts, is the day they're riding takes off...
I've ridden 417 a few times and it's vaguely comparable to the final descent on the Verderers.
The corners are quite sharp on the blue and it's steeper. It depends on the kid's skill level, but I'd be a little bit scared going down there with my 8yo, just that he'd go too fast.
That said, check out the videos of the 417 owners kid (6yo?) getting some serious air!
Pretty much what others have said: very smooth and easy to end up going fast.
If you were at the FOD did you try or see 'Launchpad'? it's more like that.
I would look at taking him to Redhill Extreme (on the edge of the FOD), I've not been this year, but it was smooth and flowy however the tracks are very short runs BUT less of a trek back to the top and loads of fun sessioning stuff.
-Phill-
I took my 12 year old down there and there were a few bits that caused some concern - the corners are tighter in places. the track is narrower than verderers mostly. There is also one steeper right hand corner towards the last section which caused some concern. We did miss out the top section by walking across the hill from the uplift drop off point to join the trail rather than up the pushup path.
However overall it is very similar to verderers, a load of fun and a great place to get your kids confidence up as it's basically a flowy trail and good to teach them the looking and speed control skills.
It does sound like mini_supertramp would benefit from some coaching and confidence building for riding. I find the day they learn that feet up and a bit of momentum rolls them over all sorts, is the day they're riding takes off...
... this happened to me earlier this year (at 46) !
matt_outandabout - Member
It does sound like mini_supertramp would benefit from some coaching and confidence building for riding. I find the day they learn that feet up and a bit of momentum rolls them over all sorts, is the day they're riding takes off...
Any recommendations for a junior skills course?
Check what they offer at 417, they do all sorts of kids clubs, training etc. Always loads of happy looking kids around when I've been there. Could give you a couple of hours solo fun whilst junior is being coached too...