Im ff biking this weekend and fancy somthing different to cannock and the wyre .
we were looking at the FOD but last time we went (well over 10 years ago) the riding was a bit pump!!
has it changed much and if so can someone recommend a good route, ideal place to park etc!
cheers
Steve
Excellent riding so long as you avoid the cheese eating niche whores..... 😉
there is and always has been alot of riding in the FoD, but finding it is a different story.
here is and always has been alot of riding in the FoD, but finding it is a different story.
Touche!
I was down there today for the first time in a few months. And it was my job to find the route!
Anyway, long story short, 4 1/2 hours on the bike, and didn't get lost once... A few moments where I couldn't quite remember where I was, and one incident where I took the wrong turn and we had to backtrack 800 yards. But that was it. Dowies (sp?) rode amazingly today, perhaps the best I've ever ridden it, as it was still firm and quick, not at all slippy, but not dusty either.
AWESOME trails to be had in the FOD, the problem is unless you know them (and I mean REALLY know them, I've been riding there for years and still don't know many of them) you won't find much beyond the FODCA trail. the FOD is a real biking Mecca these days, there's loads and loads and loads of decent riding there, for all types of rider.
Park at the Pedalabikeaway centre for ease, and speak to the guys in the shop about routes perhaps...
Which day were you planning on going?
Nah, it's rubbish.
My mate Sean at John's Bikes in Bath rides there all the time. There's hours of fun to be had there, but most is hidden in the trees north of the cycle centre. I've ridden up there a number of times, but I doubt I'd find the trails without Sean.
Can you still ride in the quarries over on the Cinderford side?
We used to make the trek over from Oxford to ride in the FOD back in the mid 90's, and that spot was where we'd end the day for a laugh (and usually a crash or two!)
Check out some of the routes on bikely, there are three or four routes (long and short) marked on there that cover loads of the FOD. Also ask the guys in pedalaway to point to the 661 mini DH trial, its short but a good blast.
Such as this 37km one http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Club-ride-on-06-01-08
the rest are
http://www.bikely.com/listpaths/srchkey/gloucester/country/253/region/5392/is/MTB
Can you still ride in the quarries over on the Cinderford side?
Lightmore Colliery slag heaps, been fenced off for a few years now with signs up 'no cycling'. A lot of the slag has been removed too. There was some great footage and photoshoots on mtb and mx'er there 'back in the day'.
Head for Pedalabikeaway at Cannop between Cinderford and Coleford for a good base; parking (£3), cafe, bike wash, shower, toilets, bike shop, etc.. The FoDCA route is officially closed off at the moment for felling and some modifications to the trail. Plenty of other trails in the Sallowvallets enclosure behind Pedalabikeaway but they're not waymarked; woodsy singletrack plus some great downhill runs. There are miles of singletrack riding to be had in the area but, as has been said above, you will need a guide. Some of us who have been riding there for a year or two are still finding or showing each other new bits of singletrack. The beauty is, even after you've been shown around a few times, it can be hard to remember how to get to the best bits 😉 You could ride every day for a week and ride a different route each day 🙂
Having said that, it's only fun if you enjoy swoopy, woodsy singletrack or fine downhill runs. It's mostly not rocky or particularly technical (although technical is there if you know where to look!).