[Closed] Top 10 best descents you have ever done

Ha! Newlands! Top bit of flow there.

Vertigo is always good value too.

Good to see Ullock Pike is getting lots of mentions. Rode it again in April. It was outstanding as usual.

Mealle a Buchaille is great for the views when you head down to Ryvoan Bothy.

So why have I not ridden Careless Whisper, Phil? Need to sort that next year!

I reckon the descent off the Ring of Steall will be on the list when I ride it. The video that singletrackbikes posted on You Tube is a cracker!

the Ring of Steall

Had this in mind the other week on your Munros thread! A few times now I've planned it but not done it for one reason or another. Clockwise looks the way to do it, but the steep climb and cable bridge/wade across suggest this is one that needs the height of summertime.

col de balme - Trient is a real cracker
Love the Dorenaz DH course as well

Sanny - sounds like Careless whisper is not for punters!!

Chakaping - sorry, Lungbuster isnt meant as a "gnar" description of a descent, it got it's name as it is a steep climb (but happens to be very good in the opposite direction). Sorry about the confusion :wink:!

Grizedale Tarn - I reckon the techie singletrack down to Grisedale from the tarn itself is about as good as it gets in England. Shame the higher section to the tarn itself has drainage ditch issues (or maybe I do, I really need to practice manuals and wheelies for next time).

I heard that Lawnmower has gone too, shame.

Going to the Lakes again this New Year and hoping the weather will be good enough to ride Ullock Pike when the crowds disappear. Interested in the Newlands route too, any more info?

No one's mentioned anything of High Street...?

I was only teasing you dagnamit.

Agree entirely about Grisedale Tarn descent BTW, did it for the first time a couple of weeks ago and I don't think I've ever enjoyed riding ANYTHING as much. Just sublime.

Newlands.

Start at Buttermere. Follow the footpath up the valley. Descend back to the road where the purple house used to be. Head north for a short raod blast then return via Whiteless Pike. Great winter ride. Not too long (budget 5 - 6 hours) and great fun.

Angle Tarn from the top of High Street on a hard frozen or a summer's day....oh yes!

Aye, Careless Whisper sounds like a special trail. Still Phil said the same about 200 switchbacks and Magic Roundabout. Both are brilliant!

got a map agent? Don't know the area well and there's no rows to follow by the looks of memory map just fireroads

Angle Tarn from the top of High Street

Grisedale Tarn eh? What route? Down from Fairfield Horseshoe or St Sunday Crag? Looks promising!

Deepdale looks like an option too on the map but I've never ridden it. Anyone done it?

You know we mean Grisedale Tarn on Helvellyn DOnk? Not at Grizedale.

I think there's just one BW down from the tarn to the hamlet of Grisedale, near Glenridding.

high street figure of 8

Haweswater - gatesgarth - harter fell - nan bield - kentmere - garburn - ill bell - mardale - high street - nan bield - haweswater

a mans size day out!

woah hang on, griZedale tarn into grizedale or griSedale tarn into grasmere?

You know we mean Grisedale Tarn on Helvellyn DOnk? Not at Grizedale

Grizedale Tarn - I reckon the techie singletrack down to Grisedale from the tarn itself is about as good as it gets in England

Yeah, sorry, I'm causing a lot of confusion on this thread.... 😉

Excuse my American Z's, I meant Grisedale Tarn (Helvellyn area) and Grisedale (valley) to Grisedale / Patterdale on Ullswater.

Whatever the spellings, it needs to be ridden. Did Ullswater singletrack the day before, that's pretty good too.

But, you wont go far wrong in Grizedale forest either, esp if you head of TNF trail occassionally.

thanks Sanny, will try that later in the year.

Cha****ng

Ignoring the BW, what are the footpaths like? Geograph is coming up with some lovely lines down from St Sunday Crag.....

Bourgeois to Samoens is certainly in my top 3. Not sure on the other two.

Well, you wont be riding Pinacle Ridge off St Sundays Crag for sure (I can rarely even find it, but that's another story....)

yeah [url= http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/scrambling/scramble-route---pinnacle-ridge-st-sunday-crag/3718.html ]pinnacle[/url] tricky, I'm guessing that's not the main FP of sunday crag tho. Deepdale hause does look interesting, prob out of my depth tho.

How's about:

Ben Lora DH (has to be #1 for me!)

Then in no particular order (and sorry for the names, I don't have my maps with me)

Rocky Rooty, Mugdock park Glasgow (best in dark & followed by the riverside trail)
Innerliethen Golf course track
Ciarian trail Kinlochleven
Short DH trails above Perth off the Braemar Road
The Peebles forest DH
Ben Macdui to Loch Avon (helicopter removal please!)
Alvie Estate DH (Aviemore way)
The Whangie, Glasgow
Hydro singletrack to the back of Rockfield Primary, Oban

Got me in the mood to back out on the bike now...

Quite tough when you think about it to actually get down to 10, but here goes

Double header into secret garden (les arc)
La varda
Egypt at Gawton
Smallacombe rocks into dingley dell (Dartmoor)
Combedown
The trail down from verbier we rode that I can't remember the name of...
The masts DH in afan
high voltage (above bourg sm)
Rooty DH trail around the far side at Triscombe
And although it isn't a patch on the above in many ways and I ride it once a week at least, it still manages to make me smile everytime, up the wrong'un into Dereks back door at Haldon.

Freeridenick

Gun bucket - its the last trail in Winterfold as you move away from Pitch and is just before flytipper. They both end up at pretty much the same place. What name do you know it as?

Ah yes - we call that roller coaster!

Double header into secret garden (les arc)

Double Header doesn't go into Secret Garden (without getting back on the lift)... although it would be one heck of a sweet run if it did 🙂

A Scottish selection for me cause that's all I've really done.

Drochaid Coire lair to Achnashellach.
Ben Ledi.
Morrone.
The ridge (Glenshee).
Devils Staircase.
North Third, 3rd cliff.
Carn Ban Mor.
Laggan Black.
Dumyat.
Ben Lomond.

Garbanzo to Whistler Village
it's a popular choice, but that's probably for a reason
.
I last rode it over 3 years ago but it still makes me grin out loud just thinking about it

Whistler:
In deep
Joyride.
North shore:
CBC.
Sqarmish:
Grin n hollar

Europe:
Dh through Bubion Sierra Nevada
+1 faceplant molini.
French border back to Molini.
Molini trails in general
Mega.
+1 pila.
Sierra Nevada to the med. Not all dh and not all brilliant but riding into the sea is ace 🙂

UK
Snowdon rangers
Styhead tarn to seatoller
Blacksail to wasdale.
All the cheaky stuff I ride at home week in week out.

T

Freeridenick,

I heard today it is called Charlie Bronson

[url]

This one could be my personal favourite, France to Switzerland

ash - Member

Double header into secret garden (les arc)

Double Header doesn't go into Secret Garden (without getting back on the lift)... although it would be one heck of a sweet run if it did

I wasn't quite sure when I typed that! I'll just have both then! 😉

hunters tor and nutcracker - dartmoor
plague - dartmoor

I don't suppose you could tell me where I might find this?

A few faves this year....

Tour of Great Gable four big descents - Black sail being the best imho.
Ben Macdui - Ethachan via hutchinson bothy, techy shenanigans in the tundra.
Whiteside Pike - the edge, cheeky fun...followed by the endless flow of Rigg Beck.
Somerton comb - Quantocks, pure bliss.
Nutcracker - fun moors offering.
Gypsy Glen - Peebles, in no way technical but incredible swoopy fun.
Eiger sanction - The County, my local favourite.

These all stand out as being exceptional in some way, for the UK.

Nutcracker - Dartmoor
Coldwell clough and the campsite descent - Hayfield
Toboggan Run - Edale
Coombs rocks + the Salt Road - Glossop
Gypsy Glen - Peebles
Cademuir Plantation descent - Peebles
Lockerbrook - Ladybower
Far Phoside - Hayfield
The descent down into Lustleigh Cleave from the Bowermans Nose side
Hobsons Moor singletrack - Stalybridge

Best in the world is Morzine High Street (or whatever its called)from the Pleney to Robinsons when the lift closes...

LD, what's the ridge in Glenshee? Been thinking of exploring that way a bit next year. Could you post up a quick route description, or email me off the forum if you prefer - mail in profile

Will be in the lakes early next year. The Grisedale descent sounds interesting but looking at the OS there's actually two BW leading from Grisedale Tarn towards Ullswater. One heads NE down Grisedale itself and runs into Patterdale, the other heads N then swings E into Glenridding. Looking at the map I think I'm right in saying the fun descent is the former? as the other heads up over Helvellyn?

slainte ❓ rob

Sanny:

[i]So why have I not ridden Careless Whisper, Phil? Need to sort that next year![/i]

You have to spend time working on it before you can ride it. No dig, No Ride! 😉 I think its taken almost 20 man days. Its more than a little good.

Verbier - a couple of Bike Verbier's new ones that somehow manage to eclipse even Nuthouse and Toboggan. Oh, and the Brazilian is pretty unbeatable too, also near Verbier.
BC's Lick Creek, Wild Bill and Cinnabar are great, plus Doz Slabs and the one that leads down to it near Nelson.

Freeridenick - is that figure 8 possible in a day? How long in hours, roughly, in good conditions? Sounds good.

RHS,
After the rake incident, a couple of clown hours also + 12 litres of berm piss. 😀

wl - yes possible in a day. maybe 6-7 hours. 8)

cupids berm piss - 😯

It was so dry, it was the only way to bind the soil

must come out for a return verbier visit soon..

Endless amount of new stuff
😀

I shall try and rally the troops...but won't be the same without Mr Cathcart and his lycra (RIP)

I pissed on so many berms i have been dry for a week.
Upset i didn't see the rake incident although i don't think i would ever stop laughing!

Frnick. Mr C would look down and shake his head at your low seat but be proud of your return. I try and mash my gears like only he could!

GR5 in the alps about 12 years ago, clocked over 60 mph on the upper sections 😯

RHS - a true braveheart...made us southern softies look like right shandy drinkers.

Well said nick.