Staying at Centre Parcs at the moment and popped into sherwood forest for an hours escape from the family and picked up the red route this evening
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What a ride, absolutely loved it, fantastic, twisty, swoopy trail, perfect for a evening blast.
Glad I took the lights as I would have been caught out without them. So good, I'm getting up early and going round again tomorrow morning.
Well done to the trail builders there, awesome job!
I too like Sherwood Pines, I think it's a great XC single-track trail centre. It's got plenty of off-piste stuff too.
I bet it has, for now I'm happy with the way marked stuff.
Looking forward to another lap or two tomorrow!
Don't mind Pines. It's way better than its reputation suggests. As long as you don't mind a pedal...
Everyone moans about it but for a bit of brain out pedalling I really like it. Last time I went, about a year ago, they'd added a nice little rocky roll/drop which was nice. May have to pop back soon.
My thoughts exactly! I stayed a few miles away for a course in the Summer with work and almost didn't take the bike after reading a few bad reviews, but loved it and I'm trying to get on another course.
It's not fashionable, because you have to pedal to get the best out of it (you can't just dawdle to the top of the next exciting bit).
I reckon its bloody great, very rewarding towards a bit of good old fashioned effort.
It's because the game plan was always to develop it over time. We're a long way ahead of where it all started now.
Running pretty dry currently.
My inlaws live a mile or so from it.
I've always liked it, but yes it's a flat out do it as hard as you can type trail centre, but I like that!
You just have to be careful though because there isn't much separation between the red and the green runs etc. I have met many a family biking or walking in the wrong direction, and it can be pretty frightening for all involved when your going quick around some of the bends. People don't appear too keen either when you point out they are at fault....
Great centre given the topography they have to work with, just gets criticised a lot by the overbiked downhill crowd. The East Midlands isn't Scotland in terms of hills and rocks.
Agreed it's a great xc course, the harder you peddle the more exciting it is, been a few times with the missus,
A hardtail is plenty to get going too
Dont mind the 50 min drive for a couple of laps,had some good days out there,always pleased to see the new bits of trail appear between visits.Hats off to the trail elfes!A real hoot on a rigid SS,and the cafe not too shabby either.
If anyone in the East Midlands area fancies a pedally bermy ride, try the blue route at Hicks Lodge - only 4 miles round as it's intended to be a family centre - but holds up Ok in wet weather and has a decent café as well.
Yeah, myself and the OH like it....so much so that we've moved from the edge of the Eastern Moors of the Peak District into one of the villages overlooking the forest. It might be more XC than 'enduro', but its good fun isn't it?! (So much drier and brighter than the Peak D too)
agreed great for a blast round, dull as if you pootle, needs to be hammered
It's my local (15 miles away) and though not challenging it's a good laugh if you pedal like everyone says. There's lots of off piste, plus cycle routes leading to Southwell to the east (11 miles) and Clumber Park to the north (13 miles) all off road.
[url= http://sherwoodforestvisitor.com/2013/05/11/sherwood-forest-major-new-cycle-route-open/ ]sherwoodforestvisitor.com/2013/05/11/sherwood-forest-major-new-cycle-route-open/[/url]
What's it like for night riding?
Staying at CP in a couple of weeks and got the potential for a late evening escape.
Never done night MTB before but got a new light to play with and got plenty of night country road experience.
Yeah they do a regular night ride once a week from the bike shop. Can't remember the day but it's on Interweb/Facebook. As the majority of the route is singeltrack with some swoopy stuff I'd recommend a helmet mounted light so you can see where you need to go.
Night riding is good there, Wednesday night is the main night for it, usually a few larger groups out then, check out Sherwood Pines Cycle club on facebook, head out from the shop around 6.30ish and generally head off piste and out of the forest.
On a few occasions I have come across deer at night, always feels special!
The parks makes a good base for the area actually. Lots and lots of connection routes and B/was now. Ride out with the Wednesday night crew and you may discover new stuff.