I'll give you a clue, it might have been me...
Can anyone beat 1976?
1975
1907
I tried in 1903 but I forgot my permit so got chased off (I heard the braking bumps were so bad it wasn't worth it anyway).
I was of course on a rigid singlespeed, which I can assure you was very niche at the time.
I wasn't born in 76, however when I started going up there in 2001 ish there wasn't half the stuff there is now. I'm guessing locals have ridden in the woods for donkeys years tho.
and on what bike ChunkyMTB? (we probably went to the same school, I had left Western Springs and was about to go to Fair Oak)
No braking bumps in 1976 (no bloody brakes or so it seemed!)
For a relatively small area it does have tons of tracks , and a mighty Bacon and sausage sarny too 🙂
I lived in Milford from 1972-85 and my paper round included many of the secluded houses around Brocton up the tracks towards the German Cutting so I think pedalling around here probably counts. Used to regularly get around the Sherbrook valley etc. Then I got into motorcycle trials, used to go all over until the big fires in '76 when the restrictions started.
Early sixties, we used to jump 'trackers' in a small quarry near seven springs. I think the lads from the Haywoods were there before us.
I was there in 1803, cutting straight through all the switchbacks.
found a tune called "Cannock Chase" by Labi Siffre the other day!
If fireroads were on the Chase in the 70's then i'd expect singlespeeders to have been around then, too.
slowoldgit how's the health old bean?
grum - MemberI was of course on a rigid singlespeed, which I can assure you wasn't very niche at the time.
FTFY.

