Any route, anywhere.

Where and why?

Thanks.

Either Day 3 of the BC Bike Race in 2009 – a day of racing endless forest singletrack..

Or…

The IMBA Epic in Davos in 2017….38 out of 42ks of Alpine singletrack all to myself..

Oregon, hard to choose which though. In the words of our local friend and host “keep climbing til you can’t climb any more”. The descents were the same – always had that feeling of UK descents that I’d see the road / car park round the next corner. Half an hour later I’d still be having that feeling, still descending.

McKenzie River trail to name one. Oakridge another. Every day a belter for 2 weeks.

Probably a dead simple one along the Wear a couple of years ago to a pub in Durham (me Greek salad, OH prawn cocktail) and back again. It’s certainly stuck in my mind as ‘a good one’.

I think ‘trail ride’ covers such a wide variety of stuff there will be all sorts in here.

I loved Brechfa a couple of years ago – beautiful sunny day for joining the Raven and Gorlech loops together. As well as the great riding there was a section where everything was covered in moss deep within the trees and it felt really natural. Also a winding descent down a rocky bermed sort of descent with the sound of a waterfall / water running nearby.

Not sure if it counts as a trail ride but going up and down Snowdon this year was fantastic (well, coming down more so really). As we went down the Ranger path we dropped out of the clouds into sunshine with the view across the lake below. Had to stop and take that view in.

Discussions like this i always end up with what is IMO a lovely day out, which is the Ridgeway in summer, getting the train to Chippenham and then riding down to Goring… just lovely.

Also a winding descent down a rocky bermed sort of descent with the sound of a waterfall / water running nearby.

I know a few of those in Exmoor – yet always too short IME.

I remember an MBUK (or MBR?)cut-out/card(?) trail/route from back in the mid-90s. Matey and me got on our Dawes ATBs one summers day and did the whole 35miles, with some killer climbs, a moorland RUPP, small river crossing, past some spooky mines and shafts and finished on a big descent.

Have long since lost the map. It began near the golf course up above Machynlleth. It’s not ClimachX cos I had a look. Anyone else remember it?

I know a few of those in Exmoor – yet always too short IME.

I remember the one in Brechfa being a reasonable length – got to the bottom properly grinning. My mate on his shorter travel bike enjoyed it too, but a little less than I did!

I’ve got an old MBUK or MBR route in my mind near me that I used to ride in the late 90’s but I can’t find any trace or the instructions anymore either. I can remember the first bit but none of the rest. Which is a shame as I could ride it straight from my house. I need to get an OS map and see if I can work it out joining bridleways up.

First time I rode The Whole Enchilada – the way the trail changes from high alpine at Burro Pass down through various ‘layers’ until the final sections of techy singletrack with the Colorado river below. I just grinned from top to bottom and still do when thinking about it.

Had a ride earlier this year which I thought to myself was one of the most enjoyable days out I’ve had in a long time.

Nothing special as such, a pretty standard route heading out from Ambleside, some familiar trails and a few new ones, a good percentage of singletrack, it was a beautiful day, the trails as dry as they get, stopped for a pint before finishing with Loughrigg terrace. Enough time to walk into ambleside for a coffee and a cake before driving home. Everything just fell into place nicely!

https://www.strava.com/activities/2724923329

Syfydrin at Nant y Arian, proper old skool loop lots of natural stuff,double track over the moors, then some trail centery bits back to cafe… time your return with kite feeding time and you drop down with them circling all around…pretty special 😊

CORNWALL
Helman Tor down to St.Austell along the Luxulyan Valley is pretty nice.

Three rides immediately sprang to mind one recent, one not so and one ancient!

The earliest one was probably when I was about 15 and I went on a YHA guided MTB weekend at Edale. I had a rented Muddy Fox with a Girvin Flexstem. We did two days amazing (to my 15 year old self’s) riding around that area. My first introduction to real hills from growing up in East Anglia. There was another lad there the same age and it was just a brilliant experience big views, big climbs and descents.

The next one was in the Brecon Beacons with three Southampton University friends in summer 98 or possibly 99. I fell off on the first climb down a bank into a stream via about 10 feet of head height nettles. Got back on and rode the rest of the day which was just a glorious all day ride in uncharted territory big scenery, big old slabs of rock (hardly the usual loamy stuff of our home territories of East Anglia and Surrey). Itched like hell for days after though with nettle rash.

More recently a ride in the Quantocks about 3 years ago with my now riding group. Badly unfit, biggest ride I had probably done in a decade and really really hard for me (easy for many of you I’m sure). Cold but dry, saw stags on the way round and was just a massive challenge for where I was at that time. The last 3 miles or so I just remember turning pedals in a daze and practically falling off my bike in the car park at the end before someone shoved a mars bar in my hand.

The stuff that always sticks in mind for me being in the relatively easy riding South Central where you’re never far from a village or tea shop is the stuff that’s not like that. The stuff where the only option is being self sufficient and keeping going. The South Downs generates some stunning views but it often feels a little too cosy.

Anything whilst riding through bluebells.

Not wilderness, not sweet, not epic and certainly not endless, ropey weather etc but in October I rode whinlatter with my son (I didn’t even seem to far behind – he humoured me I think!) …..the South loop seemed perfect to me, the North loop not so good but it all just clicked. Less than 2 hours including a coffee. Loved it.
Edit in fact, most of my most memorable, nicest days on the bike have been with my lad – aye and some of the most painful!

Behind the NatWest at Swindon 🙂

I’ll add in a loop of Kielder last summer- nowt exciting in the slightest, just 30-odd miles around the reservoir with a stop at the slipway half way round for chips and beer.

Pacific Coast Highway from San Diego (Coronado Island) out to Carlsbad, inland to Palomar and down past Miramar finishing in the city centre for a beer (Cider in my case) and some Tacos.

Absolutely flippin excellent, but road only.

Cathkin braes.

One of the basic Ladybower loops in bright sunshine add really hard grippy snow. With friends….

A couple stand out. In the UK, the Beinn Faddha loop if just for the last descent which has pretty much everything I’d want in a trail ride downhill. Abroad I did a ride down from the top of the Col du Petit st Bernard into La Thuile, a few runs there then climbed back out of La Thuile to the CdPSB before descending down dream forest then veni, vidi, vici into Bourg, cracking day out with a mix of alpine riding with meadows, high mountains, bike park and forest trails.

One of the basic Ladybower loops in bright sunshine add really hard grippy snow. With friends….

Oh aye

Flying out of Tyax BC in a float plane with great friends,to some lake and then descending nearly all day in The Chilcotin Mtns, a mix of awesome single-track, bears and even a mountain lion..

Two stand out for me. First time at Torridon about 15 years ago. At the time there wasn’t much info on Torridon but we had Kenny Wilson’s book. There was about 8 off us, a really good mix of people and the weather was perfect, must have been around Easter time. Two of us hid beer and chocolate at Achnashellach the night before so we finished the last descent with a drink and a toast and then along the road to the Lochcarron for fish and chips and Belgian waffles. We managed a few Easter trips like that before kids got in the way. One was in the Lakes and after a tough day on the Saturday we had a nice gentle spin round Blawith. Not too taxing but some sweet single-track and lots of cake stops basking in the sun. Nowadays I tend to ride more Enduro stuff with different friends and whilst it’s still good I miss those weekends away in some amazing locations with good friends eating and drinking well.

In May this year, this stands out Around the Berwyns for quality, ideal distance, solitude and downright ‘old-skool-ness’. As my description says, one part of it would be even better done in an anticlockwise direction, but then most of the other descents would be on the road. Maybe doing the Clochnant valley descent is something I need to keep in hand for 2020, and combine it with an alternative route to the north

It’s South Downs way for me. I know it’s dull and not technically challenging etc but I grew up at the foot of the Downs so it’s always been a special place to visit. And I like that you can bat along all day on a traffic free route with awesome views the whole time.

I look forward to the Forest of Dean. We go every year for a week. I’ve got Cannock Chase pretty local but I always love The Forest of Dean as it seems quieter. I can head off for a few hours ambling around on the Fattty. I’ve even ridden in pouring rain, I’d never do that at Cannock.

The last 3 Jen rides have been amazing

Lord of the squirrels in whistler this summer will last a long time in my memory 😀

Fort platte to bourg. Fast flowy switchbacks, nothing technical but just so fun, and a bar at the bottom to finish off. Super nice.

Lord of the squirrels in whistler this summer will last a long time in my memory

LOTS was a great ride, it’s a mean old climb though.

We got absolutely savaged by mozzies on it, which was the only downer. And they were monsters.

My most memorable was probably the first ‘proper’ ride I did after sacking off just having a DH bike. We rode Afan Masts with some locals. We all were dying on the climbs, but the descents were amazing, even if they were sketchy as hell on the borrowed Lapierre Zesty I was on. Went out and bought a trail bike and been enjoying it ever since 🙂

Best regular is the beast at cyb.
Torridon for best UK riding
Best ever would be the trail from saisies back to albertville…. Long, rooty, long and long. Good Times

I did a solo weekend at GT years ago on a whim drove up in the middle of the night on Friday and had a cracking weekend of it. Rode all the official trails there and at Inners in 2 days.

Went back more recently and while hating it would be harsh, it wasn’t anything like I remembered. Felt much rougher and more eroded and lacked all the flow I remember. I guess in the meantime FS bikes have become the default and the definition of eroded has shifted as a result.

Salmon run in Queenstown, starts off with a nice view and runs into a trail that never seems to get too gnarly but more than enough to keep you thinking. Probably my favourite trail i have ridden.

In May this year, this stands out Around the Berwyns for quality, ideal distance, solitude and downright ‘old-skool-ness’. As my description says, one part of it would be even better done in an anticlockwise direction, but then most of the other descents would be on the road. Maybe doing the Clochnant valley descent is something I need to keep in hand for 2020, and combine it with an alternative route to the north

That sounds like a variation of the Classic “Wayfarer” loop. It was one of my first “proper” mtb adventures, solo naturally and really enjoyed it. In fact a few days later I went back to walk on the Berwyns, such an unspoilt area.

Lakes – Descent into High Nibthwaite, Garburn Pass East to West & most of the Lake District tbf. A few I’ve been riding in South Oxon for over 30 years still make me happy. Black Canyon over in US..minging hangover that ride but awesome trail

Hondarribia to San Sebastian. @Basquemtb do versions of it with various amounts of uplift but a great day out unsupported. Fantastic coast views as you climb in and out of bays along the first third. A big climb up to the masts followed by some cracking descents along the watchtowers and down into Passaia. Lunch in the old town, the boat across the harbour and a few more great descents before finally dropping down for beer and Pintos in San Sebastian. Train back to Hondaribia. It’s a truly great day out on a bike.

In the UK there are few loops around Ambleside that I’m always glad to ride again (despite attempts to sanitise the fun out of ever larger parts of them) and I’d always happily ride the Borrowdale Bash again.

Flume trail for me at Tahoe

Nothing special trailside . Just a great weather , flowing trail amaizing views .

I’ve done better trails on worse days and better days on worse trails

But the stars aligned that day….even the fact we were riding very basic specialized hardtails couldn’t detract.

far far too many in over 30 years riding mountainbikes.

but one day sticks in my mind.

Aviemore to Blair Atholl via ryvoan, pools of avon, linn of dee and glen tilt.
it was a bone dry september day, and it was simply stunning.

Coniston-Tarn Hows-Wray-Claife Heights-Hawkshead-Grisedale loop, great ride. Made memorable by the company and the weather (June 2018, “that” summer) and the socialising afterwards. 🙂

@cinnamon_girl – not so much a variation on the Wayfarer route, as an alternative to it, but without the clowns on trail bikes and the (sometimes) streams of 4WD Landies which plague the Wayfarer track. I too went back a few weeks later for some slightly cheeky off-piste, including a section of the main ridge, and ended up coming down the Wayfarer into Llanarmon DC. Most times, away from the popular honeypot of the waterfall at Llanrhaeadr, you can spend the whole day out and hardly see a soul. It’s a great area, I just love it.