As a complete novice to MTB riding I made an arse of myself around Totley Moor on Saturday. I need somewhere to learn some skills (can't afford a skills course). A friend suggested Sherwood Pines skills loop. Does anyone know if it's any good and worth the journey?
There's a small wallride thing, which looks terrifying to someone who's never done one - I'll happily ride up earth banks, but the transition on the skills loop one is sharp as.
Beyond that, there's a small bit of wide north shore, a few dips and humps that you can't really pump through, and a bit of ground level narrow north shore to practice your handling on. And a couple of rocks to ride over. It's a loop about 30 seconds to 1 minute long.
I don't know what's on Totley moor (I've probably ridden it without realising), but I doubt that much to be learnt from Sherwood Pines.
Totley Moor is around Hathersage, leaving from Longshaw Estate carpark. The route was in MBRs Ride Guide and classed as easy (I dunno if 'easy' is fitness or technical). I'd say it's nothing difficult as plenty of people were managing it no problem, I was having difficulty/confidence issues with the rocky descents.
Think the key here is that you are new to the sport. Only thing I can suggest is get out more, and try and push yourself.
Sherwood Pines is ok, and would be a nice trip for a rider who is starting out. Nothing techinal really, and if there is you can just not ride it 🙂
Your best sticking it out round totley and blacka as they are superb trails and great to cut your teeth on, start with the bridelways, houndkirk and you'll soon be flying down devils elbow
It's probably worth a go. The skills look does look a bit "big" the first time you try it. It's a very good place to get used to how you have to push the front of the bike down into holes and get a bit of rhythm.
I'd have found the peaks a bit much as a starter! The Red at Pines would be a good start, and the last descent is vaguely similar to a lot of peaks stuff - fairly wide but bumpy as hell. There are no rocks though.
not very local but Lee Quarry is a cracking place to travel to for "skills" day out.
Devil's Elbow? Do you have a streetmap link for that swisstony?
Pook, it is the bridalway that drops from the A625 straight down the hill into Blacka Woods. If your coming up from town it is the first left into the woods from the road.
Oh and I mean bridleway obviously (I blame Swisstony, he did it wrong first)
That's where I went on Saturday. Have I been stupid and picked a ridiculously hard bit to go on my first 'proper' ride?