Got a couple of days at Dalby coming up. Wondering if I'd be better with the gravel bike (50mm tyres and dropper post) or a 120mm hardtail? Or am I missing something and should take the Enduro bike?
You're missing something
Off piste is good on an enduro bike or reasonably chunky trail bike.
But yeah, loads of gravel and xc to go after also
I'd go 120mm HT.
If it's just the red/black, then the HT will be fine.
Some of it'll be fine on the gravel bike, but it's quite rough/hard going in places, so less fun in my view.
However, lots and lots of easy gravel tracks in and around the forest, or up and over the North Yorks Moors.
There's some excellent off-piste stuff at the southern end of the forest (there's probably other stuff elsewhere, but that's where I know), and the Enduro bike would be better suited to that, but a bit overkill on the official trails.
So ... the answer is to bring all 3 bikes!
PM me, or @el_boufador if you want some Strava options.
Thanks for the info. It's only two days so no need to take 3 bikes and with the wife and dog in the car, there's only really room for 1 bike, hence the question.
The techy off piste sounds interesting but what are the chances of finding it in my own on a week day? Especially considering I don't use Strava.
@el_boufador was kind enough to send me a GPS and I found the off piste no probs - but I already know the forest reasonably well. I also bumped into some guys who knew their way around which helped!
Loop of the red is definitely the straightforward option, for which the HT would be ideal. Or you could take the enduro bike, slog round the red one day and have a look for the off piste another...
Red is probably mostly doable on the gravel but would beat you up. I wouldn't fancy it.
I've done most of it on a gravel bike, there are bits (even on the Blue) that are quite hard work and you won't get the most out of it.
Otherwise it's HT territory, I've done Blue / Red / Black on my 100mm Chisel with no issues.
I'm aware there's supposed to be some good off-piste but I've never really gone looking for it and nothing has ever leapt out at me as being the start of some amazing unmarked trail so all that remains a complete mystery to me!
I'd take the hardtail. The mtb trails will be more fun with bigger tyres and a bit of suspension. I find they are quite pedally compared to other places so you have to put some effort in to get the most out of them. You don't simply climb up a big hill to roll back down. They aren't particularly difficult so you don't need a trail bike. There is some harder off piste stuff but even then I'd go exploring on a hardtail happily enough.
There are loads of gravel options to explore but you could do that on a hardtail mixing in some singletrack etc.
My favourite bike for riding there is my XC bike. The man made stuff rides best when ridden hard.
Following the signs - hardtail will be fine or short travel full sus. Going looking for the off piste - bit more travel/tyre might be useful depending on which trails you're riding.
If you want a proper XC stylee ride out I can point you in the direction of something that'd take in some red/blue/tamer off-piste to make up something more interesting than just following the red... Or if you want death tech I can point you in the direction of that too 😉
I would be interested in seeing a mix of trailcentre stuff and tamer off-piste @DaveyBoyWonder - I've only really explored the stuff down in the south end. Does that count as death tech?
I would be interested in seeing a mix of trailcentre stuff and tamer off-piste @DaveyBoyWonder - I've only really explored the stuff down in the south end. Does that count as death tech?
vs some of the other stuff, no 😀
I'll see if I can scribble a route and create a gpx or something
Thought as much! I only had to slide down bits on my arse 🤣