I don’t know anything about Scotland but I wonder if at Gisburn they’re removing it (if it’s true) because it’s part if the blue. It’s a tricky piece of boardwalk with off camber, corners and so on and seems far more at home on a red then a blue. The problem is it’s one of the shared trails by both routes, so removing it upsets those doing the red. I don’t think FC have anything against woodwork at Gisburn per se – there’s loads on the red include black grade skinnies etc

We had bikes stolen from not far away from Bradford. Police very helpful but not a lot they can do really. They think that most of these are targetted thefts, ie they know what bike they are looking for, they are not locals doing it but people driving into the area with a van and the bike will be long gone. In some cases they are stripping the components to sell online. then taking the frame overseas to sell.

Sad fact is that means locating the bike is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Its unlikely to be seen ridden locally to you. Unfortunately I think the odds of getting your bike back are slim

Burn it’s kennel down. Only language that sort understands!

Here’s an idea. If you like Llandegla then go and ride there. If you don’t then ride somewhere else and save your £4. I’m not sure if one short section of a 20km route makes or ruins a trail anyway

Whilst its not quite as easy to navigate as some forest trail centres I wouldn’t say there’s NO signage. There are plenty of signs and arrows, although you do have to look for them occassionally. I went by myself for my first visit and apart from a bit of confusion round the skills area had no problem. One advantage of being in a fairly compact space is that if you do get lost you generally end up back on the trail fairly soon rather than heading deeper into the woods. And you can download free maps from Lancashire Council just by googling ‘Lee Quarry’. Its really not that hard to navigate.

Obviously its not everyones cup of tea, biking would be dull if we all liked the same thing. But its a fantastic addition to the trails we have, its totally free to ride, and life would be duller without it.

Well I live about an hour away and ride regularly there and have to say I love it. Not sure I’d drive all that way for just Lee but add in Cragg quarry and the link it makes a good day out. Once the ‘natural routes’ are linked in it’ll be even better. It’s not a trail centre in the usual sense so I guess if you go expecting a 20km forest trail you’ll be disappointed but as a giant skills loop it’s great. Also it holds up really well in the wet, was riding there las week and all in good condition. The local moors are probably not great at this time. The signposting isn’t great but I’ve never found it a major problem. Just follow your nose and look for the little signs on the rock. And read the trail description on the PMBA site first, then it all makes sense.
If you want more of a traditional trail Gisburn isn’t much further away.

Would I drive two hours to Lee? Not unless there wasn’t anything else nearer. But that’s true of a lot of places I ride. I tend to reserve two hour plus drives for the Lakes or North Wales

I was at Gisburn a couple of weeks ago and it was fine. Not much mud, a few puddles, but all very rideable. Not been a huge amount of rain since

Thanks. I’d like to contribute because I’m local and love riding there but family comitments mean I can’t help with trail building. I’d happily pay a few quid each time to park, and I do feel a little guilty that such a great place is free for me. I’ll look at joining singletraction.
The tree should be very easy to move with a couple of people and a saw – not sure about the black though.

Thanks for that. Can I just confirm – are you suggesting NOT going up the actual PBW but a different way? So keep going on the road through Cowpe and up that way?

Thats the problem with these names. I’m not a local and had no idea it was called potato alley. So of course if you’re old-school like me and enjoy pouring over OS maps to find routes you’ll never find ‘The Beast’ or ‘Potato Alley’

The Beast is the trail that runs down from the crossroads at Hope Cross on the top of the ridge down through the woods to the western end of Ladybower Reservoir. Its not an all out fast descent, or a twisty flowy singletrack. Its a wide gully, very, very rocky, some of which are huge. Its a skill to clean it all. Its way above my standard so I don’t particularly enjoy it, but I could see why people do.

Easy to link in to all the other Ladybower routes, to make a looop around the reservoir. If the Beast isn’t your thing then going straight on at Hope Cross rather than right leads to the Blackey Hey descent. Still rocky but not as technical, more open and faster (I think). Brings you out further along the A57

I start riding slowly then when I feel better I ride a bit faster.

Then I usually get off and push!

Mind you wrestling the bike off the roof rack is enough of a warm up for me.

Very close to Stainburn. I agree it would be ideal, and I ride there a lot, but I fancy a bit more of a ‘ride’ if you know what I mean?

Thanks for the suggestion though

Grizedale is great as an all year ride, especially when it’s a bit wild on the hills. I did a decent ride yesterday (mix of bridleways and TNF) and despite the ridiculous amount of rain recently it was fine. Lots of surface water and puddles (and a small river along the trail at one point!) but no mud and all rideable.
I love the Parkamor descent, great views, fun, a few technical bits and it seems to go on for ever.

Cheers for all the comments and advice. Had a very helpful PCSO round last night. Otley is v low for crime but a recent spate of bike thefts here and in neighbouring areas. Almost certainally groups from elsewhere and it’s b unlikely the bikes would turn up anywhere local. The current vogue is to strip them of parts then sell far away, often in Europe. So will keep eyes peeled on market and car boot sales, but chances of seeing them again virtually zero.

I am going to sort out a ground anchor – thanks for the tips, I thought it was a major construction job, not something I could do! I’ll also sort out the attack alarm tip. At the moment we have a spare room awaiting redecoration so when I get a replacement it can stay there for the winter, but not a long term solution.

Just for the records the bikes were a black Commencal Meta 5.5.2 – 2008. Fox shock and fork, shimano SLX and avid juicy brakes and a 2011 Genesis Core, silver, with rock shock fork and a rack on the back for a child seat.

Cheers

Not on Strava or anything like that. Internet forum is the limited of my computer skills. But I suspect they have seen the roof bars fitted to the car (we take the rack off but obviously can’t do anything about the crossbars) or seen me loading them. It’s a bugger really. Thanks for the security tips

Hully Gully was great yesterday. Very fast and fun, and not too muddy. Like the rest of the trail really. The repairs round Whelpstone have really helped, that bit used to be hard going in winter.

Also big thanks to the volunteers for all their work. Especially liked the new section bypassing the staircase on Homebaked. Often ride by myself and never had the nerve to try it, but got annoyed at having to get off the bike and push. I always thought it was a bit hard for a red grade section. The new line is no pushover, and quite fun

Just starting work now so nice run round Gisburn earlier. Rain held off, even a little sunshine and trail in good nick.
What’s not to like!

I’m sure I read on the pmba website that the lane from the D&P to the Hope Line has now been blocked off to cyclists. Something to do with blocking access for locals/forest workers. So the only real start is the old Crockett Hill or new Hub car park (which although very easy to find I somehow always miss and overshoot the junction!).

Just got back from there today and it was great. When it first opened I avoided it in the winter because parts were so worn and muddy but now it’s where I go when I want more shelter than a typical Dales ride. Despite the recent rain it was holding up very well. The recent repairs to Homebaked and Bottoms are good, it’s a fine line between technical challenge and eroded mess and I think theyve got it right.

So my way was start at the Hub. Ride the lower 8 then up the hill with the phone lines and do the too half. If I have time/the weathers ok I’ll repeat this by staying on the fire road back to the quarry. Then down Bottoms, back up the hill to play on the Hope Line a bit then home (the new Swoopy is great). Finish with maybe a play in the skills or repeat the first new blue section which I really like.

One really annoying thing though – ugly chicken lines appearing at the top by the slab. It’s a black run. If you don’t want to do it (I don’t) there’s already a great chicken run – the red route. Far more fun than slithering down an eroded peat hillside.

Would a 29er roll over a badger carcass better or would the panel recommend a 650b??

Be careful – you’ll have Brian May after you.

What tyres for badger culling?

Cheers. Looks like I’ll give it a go. I usually ride Peaks or Lee Quarry so ok-ish on rocks! Just wanted to check it wasn’t a step up from the other blacks or had nasty surprises

Technical or not???

Not

Sixty miles will cover a large chunk of the North, North Midlands and North East Wales. Should find some ok-ish riding there!

Sorry about the delay, been away. Afraid I don’t have a route, I don’t use GPS or mapping software. I’m a paper OS map kind of chap.
Try to get hold of the Vertebre Graphics Lake District Mountain Biking book. My route is basically the Grizedale and Parkamoor route, expect I use the first two sections of TNF to get to the top and intead of heading straight back down to the car park I continue to Moor Top. This is in their ‘ short Grizedale blast’ route. Clear as mud?

From the VC you can get a useful map that marks the fire roads, bridleways and TNF trail.

The descent is superb, seems to go on for miles.

My favourite way of including it is first two sections of the north face trail upto the top. Then over the moor and Parkamoor to Nibthwaite. Steep lane and track back into the forest to Force Mills. Forest track upto, the singletrack across and down Breasty Haws. Go north up the lane a few hundred yards then climb steeply back into the forest and singletrack/fire road to Moor top. From Moor Top stay high on the forest road and contour round to the Riverbed bridleway. Either fire road back to the visitor centre or turn left, ight climb on fire road and last section of north face trail. About 30km or so.

Thanks for all the advice. It looks like I’ll have a bit of an explore one day. My usual ‘local route’ is Bolton Abbey to Rylstone, so good to have a change I think.
I’ve seen the landrover track up Round Hill from the A59, I had assumed it was the bridleway.
I might pop into JDs an ask about the thus evening rides. What sort of rides/toughness do you do, as I am far from the worlds greatest rider!!

Simon – thanks for the offer, I’ve sent you a pm

Well after a play at Stainburn I stopped at the Swinsty/Fewston carpark to explore. Not what I was expecting! It’s really rather good. Easy to find using the directions above, it starts with a easy climb then gets rougher and more fun. Lots of alternative lines, rock obstacles and some rock and log skinnies. The last 100yrds or so are still being finished but the builders seemed happy with me riding it. Had a quick chat with them, they looked round Stainburn to get ideas, so they’re clearly not going for the family bike/tag-a-long market! They also said there were plans to build more in the next wood if this was popular so get riding! And the trailhead has one huge advantage over Stainburn, an ice cream van!

As an aside looking at the map suggests it should be possible to link with Stainburn from the bottom of the Black or Descent line. Looks like a bridleway goes past Folly Hall and Nether Timble to the YW carpark. Has anyone ridden this? What’s it like? Don’t mind if it’s a bit dull as long as its rideable.

Thanks

Well this thread is great news for me! Despite living v near Ilkley I had always assumed the moor was out of bounds. Looks like I’m off for a bit of exploring.
Any suggestions for a good loop starting from Ilkley itself – which isn’t too technical. I don’t mind a bit of rock like the Stainburn Descent line but a full on rocky techy fest is beyond me.

I had mine replaced free of charge when it started leaking. Something about a lifetime garentee. It was about 4yr old and I had no proof of purchase or paperwork but the outdoor shop I got it from simply gave me a new one and sent the old one back

Well these ones were all with calves so I was very cautious. Obviously I never go between a cow and calf but when the field narrowed to a walled lane blocked by cows I climbed the wall and walked round

Mastilles lane from Kilnsey in the Yorkshire Dales. Nowhere near as hard as some on here but my personal nemesis. I always get off for the last bit where it stops being just steep and becomes steep and loose. Maybe it’s psychological about seeing the whole climb in front of you all the way up?

Don’t right off Grizedale after one ride on TNF. If not a local get hold of the Vertebrate ‘Lake District Mountain Biking’ book which has a few rides in Grizedale on the natural stuff. All very easy to follow with the book, and the signposts on the ground. If you download the forest map from the web you can easily see how TNF, the forest roads and bridleways link up and can mix and match.

I agree that if you don’t know the forest then some of the suggestions can be hard to follow

If they took the better bits from Dalby and made them into a, say, 20km red route it would be a fun half day out. But padding it out to 35km makes for a lot of dull bits and a lot of effort for not much fun

I rode the black section last time I went there. I enjoyed it, but its very different from the rest of the Grizedale stuff. Its a lot more obviously man-made, with jumps, table tops etc. I’m not really upto most black runs, so I think this one is a bit easier, although one corner was very steep and intimidating (too me).
It is very short, and quite hard to fit in with a TNF loop. I think I actually preferred the adjacent bridleway (The River Bed), which I hope doesn’t become too busy with people pushing or riding up.

Well is certainally less dull than not going for a ride IMHO

I quite like it really, although its not up there with some of the others for best man made trails. Maybe its because its the first proper MTB ride I ever did?

Good points – the views are stunning, and the fireroad bits allow you to look at them, the first climb is quite interesting and better than a fireroad slog, and last descent is quite fun. Its not Glentress of CyB and I don’t think its a ‘destination’ trail, ie one I’d drive a long way just to ride. But if you add in the other stuff in the Forest it can make for a very fun day out.
One suggestion is the first two sections up TNF, then the Parkamoor Descent to High Nibberthwaite, back into the forest, upto and the down Breasty Haws and back up to Moor Top, then stay on the top to The River or the new black, back along the forest road and the last descent of TNF.
Or as I did a few months ago, along TNF all the way to Moor Top, then did the short Grizedale route in the Vertebrate Graphics book (The River, down to Satterthwaite, upto and down Breasty Haws and back to Moor Top) and then finished the last two sections of TNF. A good day was had.

I did notice one section of TNF was temporarily shut, and the diversion was up and down a fireroad

Thanks for all the replies and the advice. The problem with the BB is the threads. As to why, well it’s my first bike and I knew nothing about them to start and found out about regular servicing too late…..

The mechanic reckons he can fix it with a Hope BB instead. As to the rest it’s just servicing the fork and shocks and replacing some components. Obviously this is a lot cheaper than a new bike. What I was trying to find out was whether it was worth spending money on fancy new bits if the bike was likely to need replacing soon. Economically it seems to be a lot cheaper to buy a new bike complete than a frame and new components.

So I’ll get the bike sorted and make a mid year resolution to learn about maintainence and servicing and take better care of it.

I don’t think the lbs are taking liberties – they are always very clear about what does and doesn’t need doing, and their prices seem pretty fair locally. Of course they’re going to try and sell me a new bike, it’s their job!!!

I’d love to get better at bike maintainence but I’m rubbish at practical stuff, don’t have the tools and family life means time is limited. If I have a couple of hours I’d rather be riding than stripping the bike. But I will try to learn some more basic servicing – things like gears and forks scare the life out of me incase I make things worse. Any suggestions of books or DVDs to get me started?

Thanks for all the replies chaps. Yes it is the black/grey 5.5.2, and I absolutely love it. I only have one bike and it’s pretty good for everything – although perhaps a little overbiked on some of the Dales routes. I would love to keep it going, so I think I shall ask them to patch it up, and replace some of the components. Like you say it’s still going to be a lot cheaper than a similar new bike. I suspect it’s not been serviced as it should, I’m not the greatest mechanic ski should have taken it to the shop a bit more.

The LBS have quoted 250 to patch it up and keep it going a bit longer. I think the frame is mostly ok, apart from the bottom bracket. My concern is whether I keep spending a hundred quid here and there which could soon add up. It was more whether I should be disappointed I’d only got five years or just accept it