There was an initial invitation to get user involvement but then I heard that the there were no replies forthcoming from Rebeca Mayo. See the following link
http://www.bikemagic.com/news/article/mps/uan/5882
I think the person in charge now is Chris Bray
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/newsrele.nsf/AllByUNID/79750B74F3E39485802573530042A0E1

I don’t feel able to go and give feedback alone because I don’t think that I will be taken seriously. This is why I set up my website in the hope that I can get a number of users signed up on my forum. This will be like signing a petition and give us some clout and also the ability to organise dig days.
http://sherwoodpines.synthasite.com/
I only have me plus 1 other person on the forum at the moment and it’s a bit lonely having a discussion with my self

The Garmin units have a limit to the number of routes, waypoints and legs per route. If you get a cheap one make sure it will support the number and size of routes that you intend to do.

If you get one with mapping you also have to buy the Garmin mapsource product to go in it and then you will need to make sure the map will fit in its memory. You will get a base map included if you buy a European model but it only shows main roads.

I would go for a Garmin Legend HCX and budget for a handlebar mount at about £20. If you want to be able to record heart rate and cadence for fitness training get an Edge.

H = High sensitivity receiver
C = Colour Display
X = memory on a micro SD card

Hemlock Stone (Stapleford hill) is really small. The council have designated a couple of areas for mountain biking but people ride on the areas where they aren’t supposed to so I think a few railings/logs will appear soon. Have a look at this link for some videos of the hemlock and some other local stuff which is probably secret.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=NicoTurnerVideos&view=videos

I have just uploaded a wet diversion route to the routes section of my website. I’m not saying it will but just in case it rains.

http://www.sherwoodpines.synthasite.com or somthing

If you haven’t had the Fallguy’s map emailed to you, you can download it from the same place.

Not sure its repair work that’s needed. Finishing the job off more like. All they did in some sections was to walk through with a chainsaw and then called it a cycle trail.

Definitely agree with the gutter comments. What were they thinking? Left handed bikes?

Thefallguy – Either address will do. Thanks very much.

Dawson – Sorry I was being a muppet. here it is again
http://www.sherwoodpines.synthasite.com

James – I have been missing out the filthy black part of the route because it was filthy and black. I was surprised to find they had done it.

The video I took was all choppy when I uploaded it so I will have to convert it again.

my advice is wait for it to dry out it’s very muddy indeed. I went on sunday and it was drying nicely. 1 days rain on tuesday followed by 2 days without rain went back today and its proper muddy. I think it needs a week without rain to make it worth while.

Thanks fallguy. I am abductee3 at g00g1em4i1 dot com.

I’ve been for another ride round today and its really muddy.

Low point – MUD

High point – the new section that has recently been built marked on your map filthy black and old woods.

I am uploading some more video to my website but it’s all at a walking pace because of the MUD

http://www.synthasite.sherwoodpines.com

Thats a nice map. There was one similar on here a while ago from someone called pinenut (before singletrack forum was reborn).

I have just set up a website about Sherwood Pines. Would It be OK to link to your map?

There are sign posts all the way around the light blue (Kitchener trail) route but they don’t have arrows on them pointing in the right direction.

http://www.sherwoodpines.synthasite.com

Dr Bike Nottingham

This bloke was hired by my company for a cycle to work promotion and I got my gear change and brakes sorted out. He’s been in business since 2005 so someone is calling him.

I think it’s an Oregon ATC 2k-5k series because every time you hit a bump the picture goes wobbly.

Check out this article on MTB Britain

I have similar Cree torches from Dealextreme 2 on the handlebars and one on the helmet.
Using handlebar clamps from cheap BLT lights with tie wrap channels cut with a dremmel and the torch tie wrapped to the mount. The helmet mount is off a specialized halogen which broke and is modified in the same way.

Cree are not as bright as the SSC P7 but get a longer run time

also got the protected 18650 Li-Ion batteries and charger

Don’t worry about the altitude too much. All GPSs display GPS altitude but you can get better accuracy with barometric altimeter. I have never felt the need for any greater vertical accuracy.

You need to have a think about what you will be using the satnav for. Off road XC, touring, performance training and street navigation will all have different requirements which will affect your decision.

Sorry if my prices above are a bit out of date. The prices and the technology do not stand still so my advice could be a bit dated as well so have a good look around before you part with your money.

Have a look at the satmap active 10

Gadget show garmin edge

Gadget show wild challenge 2

gadget show winter challenge

you could also use bikely[/url] or every trail[/url] or bike hike[/url] to plot your route for free.

using a GPS and PC software for mountain biking By Crispin Bennett

I thoroughly recommend the use of a GPS for cycling. It will save you hours on the trail.

However if you don’t explore and only use waymarked cycle trails stop reading this now and save yourself some money.

I use a Garmin etrex Legend Cx. I bought it in the states at about half the UK price for around £75 but it comes with the US basemap not the UK one so bear this in mind if you buy an import from ebay. (the base map is not very detailed)

The advantages of an Etrex : You can buy a handlebar mount for the etrex range. They are waterproof and durable. The colour display works much better in daylight than a PDA and the batteries last 25 hours.

It’s best to plan your route using something like
memory map (£100 per region) or
TrackLogs (£146 – 80km centred map)
the above use OS mapping on a computer and then upload the route to the GPS unit.

Not all GPS units support mapping. To upload maps to the GPS unit you need to get the Garmin map source software: –
Garmin Metroguide Europe V8 for roads (£100) no unlocking and no automatic routing on the GPS (or does it Wink
City Navigator Europe NT for roads (£150)
UK Topo for bridle paths (£150)
Don’t buy these second hand, once “unlocked” to a GPS unit the software is useless and if the GPS unit fails you will have to buy another copy (a bit harsh).

It’s worth getting a: –
Cx model because you can expand the memory by buying a bigger micro SD card and a
H model to get the high sensitivity SiRF III receiver so you don’t loose signal in the forest.

I woud get the Legend HCx (£170) if I were buying again but there may be newer stuff that is better.

You will need to buy the handlebar mount (£13)

The cable to connect to a computer is a standard mini USB on the newer Garmin models but on the older ones it’s an expensive serial lead (£20)

Total cost £500? if you buy software

There is a lot of money being spent on the new “Kitchener” trail at Sherwood pines but the progress seems really slow. the wooden posts to mark the trail went up months ago and lots of trail has been done but there is still lots of muddy unfinished trail linking up the new sections. The ground is quite sandy and dries out quickly in fine weather but you don’t really want to visit for a couple of days after heavy rain at this time of year.

Its comical how people turn up to have a ride and look bewildered about where to go. They ask at the shop only to be told you will have to ride around and find some single track or hand out a map that only shows the fire roads. There is a sign board by the toilets/cafe which point you in completely the wrong direction for the blue trail (whatever that is).

While people are riding around the fire roads looking lost, horses are mashing up the new trails, dog walkers are S4***ing on them and the brambles are growing back.

I saw a really good map on this forum before it got hacked which I think was posted by pinenut? It showed all the original trails and most of the new stuff.

Here is a map of the new trail. You can download the .gpx file to your satnav or follow the wooden posts and yellow dots on the trees.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Sherwood-Pines

To start. Stand in the middle of the car park and face the visitor centre. Now resist the temptation to go forward towards the visitor centre and the old cycle trail sign board. Turn around and face the opposite direction. leave the car park crossing the exit road and carry on for 20 metres. The new cycle trail start sign board is on your right. Follow the trail in a clockwise direction.

Enjoy.