Unless you know where you are going you need to ride both – The Monkey Trail is an addition to the Follow the Dog Trail that you take half way round. To get back to the start you then re-join the Follow the Dog and ride the rest of it back to the visitor centre. Should take you between 1 and a half to 2 hours to lap both trails depending on fitness/traffic etc…
Best UK man made trail IMO – but then I'm biased cos I live 3 miles from it.

Ride from Birches Valley Visitor Centre starting at Swinnerton Cycles and follow the signposts – take the left hand route at the sign for Monkey Trail about 3 miles into the trail to ride all of the new stuff – enjoy. It's very well signposted with only a couple of sections closed for maintenance. It's all dry and dusty at the moment and riding great.

Well done to Alex in 6th place – next years winner for sure!!!

I love the trail. I'm local, not a member of CT but have given the odd morning up to help out. I take the OP's point about the road crossing but with so many potential users so close and so little space available the road crossing can't be avoided. I think the railway crossing is less dangerous than the road – the train drivers all seem to be aware and sound their horns as they approach. Some of the car drivers are reaching some very high speeds along the A460 so be careful FFS!!
The trail is bound to break up initially with the amount of users at the start. The amount of users will die down and the trail will be repaired. Hopefully more users equals more trail pixie helpers.
BTW – the switchbacks are great! As for the werewolf drop – just ride off it – can`t see what the fuss is about (and I ride like a girl most of the time).
One thing I shall add is that the rest of the Chase and cheeky stuff was deserted today – fantastic!!!
Johnnywhitesox(aka johnnymac)

Works well for me – ride mostly in Cannock Chase – no big hills and lots of mud most of the year. Wouldn't go for it in a lot of other places. Horses for courses etc etc…..

It dont get much drier at the moment – enjoy!

They're a bitch!! Sometimes helps if you push a bit of fluid out first with the old pads still in. Slacken off the banjo and squeeze the lever in a bit then retighten before loosing the lever. Also when you push the new pad/spring/pad assembly back in it helps if one pad is slightly forward of the other while doing it – but not too much that the spring pops off the pad backing.

I agree. I bought my first pair of these last year and within a week they were coming apart. I got my money back through wiggle and replaced them with some Gore biblongs – much better and over a year old with no signs of wear – same price incidently.

Sheryl Cole – total opposite, eye candy but talentless! The Brit performance was a classic – can't even mime!

Why does she have to be born conventionally attractive to be allowed to put it out?

A dry Cut Gate last September.

Geeza at work has an 03 plate saloon

I'm talking pre-2003 though.

Same model as the silver one in the pic (1.8VVT Vermont) – just before they went to the square shape one.

Google Avensis Oil Consumption – some interesting stuff – some mention 1 litre/1000 miles being the norm – seems to have been an issue on those particular engines.

Geeza at work has an 03 plate saloon – good solid looking car but the issues he's had are a failed gearbox at 95,000 (not sure if it's a common problem, he may have just been unlucky – cost him about a grand for an exchange unit to be fitted) and high oil consumption even from when he bought it as a low mileage 12 month old car – he tells me that is a known issue with them.

Snow was still there well into the afternoon. 😉
Try http://www.bikeadventuresuk.com for local rides.

Tone,

NeilB has one – you may want to talk to him. 🙂

JM

It's fine – just watch for collar bone splinters near the glacial Boulder.

Stand on it – it'll bend back. You can do it with steel no problem.

Snap – well nearly!

Hiya Tone, hope all is well – yep it's me BTW!

It's a 16", I'm 5'8" – fit's great.

This Green enough for ya Tone? (Johnnymac)

I had a 5 year old specialized frame which cracked on the joint between the bb and the chainstay. I read the similar statement in their warranty about only being built up by a specialized dealer and was worried because I bought it as a frame only and built it up myself. Need not have worried because I mentioned this to the original retailer (Bikescene) and they said it shouldn’t be a problem – and it wasn’t – replacement sent FOC.

Yep.

Cheers – I’ll give it a go. The last lot were slightly odd!