Mountain Biking - NE Manc

[blueST]

Anyone on the NW forum into Mountain Biking?

I should be ordering my Cyclescheme MTB this week. I used to ride a lot about 10 years ago nearly always in the same place, but now I'm fat. So where's good to go to get back into things? I live in Oldham, so not far from Saddleworth, Pennine Bridleway etc.

I'm looking for cross country, something really easy to start with whilst I get used to bike and get at least some sort of fitness back, and then I'll look for something a bit more challenging if I've not had a coronary.

[ian_c_uk]

To the west, there is Delamere to start you off, then Coed Llandegla once you feel a bit more confident.

To the north, Gisburn forest.

[blueST]

ian_c_uk said:

To the west, there is Delamere to start you off, then Coed Llandegla once you feel a bit more confident.

To the north, Gisburn forest.

Thanks Ian, Delamere might well be one of the first ports of call, I want go riding with the wife but she has not ridden anything since being a kid and only has a pretty basic bike. Is it mostly flat wide tracks?

Coed Llandegla looks more like my sort of thing. Would be nice if there was something like that nearer to home too.

Cyclescheme application went into work so should have a bike in a few weeks, can't wait!

[was8v]

North Manchester has to be one of the best spots for MTBing from your doorstep in the UK.

Where are you?

Loads and loads of trails from Ramsbottom.

Lots around Hebden bridge into yorkshire.

Trails around Rivington.

Get on singletrackworld.com and find a bunch of like minded people to show you round

[blueST]

was8v said:

North Manchester has to be one of the best spots for MTBing from your doorstep in the UK.

Where are you?

Loads and loads of trails from Ramsbottom.

Lots around Hebden bridge into yorkshire.

Trails around Rivington.

Get on singletrackworld.com and find a bunch of like minded people to show you round

I'm in Shaw, would be great if somewhere within riding distance so I didn't have to load the car up.

[slomax]

blueST said:

ian_c_uk said:

To the west, there is Delamere to start you off, then Coed Llandegla once you feel a bit more confident.

To the north, Gisburn forest.

Thanks Ian, Delamere might well be one of the first ports of call, I want go riding with the wife but she has not ridden anything since being a kid and only has a pretty basic bike. Is it mostly flat wide tracks?

Coed Llandegla looks more like my sort of thing. Would be nice if there was something like that nearer to home too.

Cyclescheme application went into work so should have a bike in a few weeks, can't wait!

I go to delamere quite a lot. It is mostly flat, wide, well maintained paths yes, but if you are prepared to go for a little explore and off some little side shoots there are some fantastic little runs that can be very challenging and massive fun. I have ridden llandegla too, this is really nice and want to go back soon. Even the blue route is fun with a really nice fast descent. Red route is nicer and a bit more challenging. I haven't done the black route, not too sure if my XC bike would hack it to be honest.

[Yee haa!]

slomax said:

I go to delamere quite a lot. It is mostly flat, wide, well maintained paths yes, but if you are prepared to go for a little explore and off some little side shoots there are some fantastic little runs that can be very challenging and massive fun. I have ridden llandegla too, this is really nice and want to go back soon. Even the blue route is fun with a really nice fast descent. Red route is nicer and a bit more challenging. I haven't done the black route, not too sure if my XC bike would hack it to be honest.

the black run at llandegla isn't really that 'black'. Give it a go, it's awesome fun

[ian_c_uk]

blueST said:

I want go riding with the wife but she has not ridden anything since being a kid and only has a pretty basic bike. Is it mostly flat wide tracks?

Sounds very similar to my missus, so I started her off with llandegla. This was a mistake so you might want to learn from my mistakes and start with the main paths at Delamere.

The short route (can't remember the name / colour) at Delamere is a good start, and there is a cafe etc to relax / take on caffeine / persuade her to do the longer route afterwards.

[ian_c_uk]

was8v said:

North Manchester has to be one of the best spots for MTBing from your doorstep in the UK.

Where are you?

Loads and loads of trails from Ramsbottom.

Lots around Hebden bridge into yorkshire.

Trails around Rivington.

Get on singletrackworld.com and find a bunch of like minded people to show you round

Are there any "suggested" routes for rivington? I know the roads really well up there, but not sure where to start investigating trails from, rivington barn or up near the tower etc?

[was8v]

ian_c_uk said:

was8v said:

North Manchester has to be one of the best spots for MTBing from your doorstep in the UK.

Where are you?

Loads and loads of trails from Ramsbottom.

Lots around Hebden bridge into yorkshire.

Trails around Rivington.

Get on singletrackworld.com and find a bunch of like minded people to show you round

Are there any "suggested" routes for rivington? I know the roads really well up there, but not sure where to start investigating trails from, rivington barn or up near the tower etc?

The best routes do use footpaths - so best to use a local to show you around rather than advertise on the internet.

One here:
http://www.bogtrotters.org/route/showrouteframe2.p...

[ian_c_uk]

was8v said:

The best routes do use footpaths - so best to use a local to show you around rather than advertise on the internet.

One here:
http://www.bogtrotters.org/route/showrouteframe2.p...

Ta, that's given me food for thought!

[B1G GK]

blueST said:

I'm in Shaw, would be great if somewhere within riding distance so I didn't have to load the car up.

I am in Chad Vegas, and you are literally sat at the start of a plethora of routes.

Just waiting to set out now,
round the back of Royton Autos, along bottom of Oozewood/Tandle Hills past stakehill to Thornham Lane, over there, lap of Tandle Hills, past the summit and cut through to the Colliers, down into Shaw and up Buckstones, over crompton moor and down to Denshaw, Grains Bar, take the fork behind kings arms and cut through to the Donkey path that runs parallel with Delph New Road till we get to the Woolpack, there we join the Diggle Jiggle (google it) and follow that to Greenfield > Mossley, around Hartshead pike, through Park Bridge and back to Chad, 30 mile.


If you go up Crompton Moor, round the back of the masts and follow that to the Newhey Denshaw road, you can then hit Piethorne and Ogden Resevoirs to take you to Holly Lake or upto Windy Hill mast.

I think Shaw library might have an Oldham cycle routes map to give you a starter.

[hab1966]

Rivington: there is a guide book you can buy from the Tourist Information by the Lower Barn which contains a number of rides of varying 'complexity'. We have a number of routes that we use, that take us around Anglezarke, upto the Pike or a quick blast around Yarrow depending on how long we have.

[blueST]

B1G GK said:

blueST said:

I'm in Shaw, would be great if somewhere within riding distance so I didn't have to load the car up.

I am in Chad Vegas, and you are literally sat at the start of a plethora of routes.

Just waiting to set out now,
round the back of Royton Autos, along bottom of Oozewood/Tandle Hills past stakehill to Thornham Lane, over there, lap of Tandle Hills, past the summit and cut through to the Colliers, down into Shaw and up Buckstones, over crompton moor and down to Denshaw, Grains Bar, take the fork behind kings arms and cut through to the Donkey path that runs parallel with Delph New Road till we get to the Woolpack, there we join the Diggle Jiggle (google it) and follow that to Greenfield > Mossley, around Hartshead pike, through Park Bridge and back to Chad, 30 mile.


If you go up Crompton Moor, round the back of the masts and follow that to the Newhey Denshaw road, you can then hit Piethorne and Ogden Resevoirs to take you to Holly Lake or upto Windy Hill mast.

I think Shaw library might have an Oldham cycle routes map to give you a starter.

Cheers B1G. I too am a Chad lad, Iwas kidnapped and turned into a Gorby about 6 years ago.

Once I've got my hands on the bike I will definitely be checking some of those routes out. Maybe not the full 30 miler first time out though

[B1G GK]

Are you accepted yet though
Where in Chad you from originally, North or South?

Loads of routes available to you, either going over Bucky towards Saddleworth of around Tandle Hills,

Actually, give this a try and see how you go on and time it.
Up Rochdale road, left at Londis, Bare left down Low Crompton Road??? (Where the dude sells xmas trees from that big shed)all the way down until you hit Dogford, turn left n cut through the park, to Oozewood road, follow that all the way, as the tarmac ends turn left, through the stream up the little hill, bare right then turn right and follow that down the 2 drops, where the stables are, at the end of the stables turn right and run parallel with the stream and it will bring you out at Royton Auto's, Turn right and 1st right up Cinderhill, follow that up until you git the cottage on your left (left will take you to Motorway bridge) turn right heading towards Tandle Hills, and at the end, left towards Stakehill, under the bridge, left right then right after the 1st row of houses towards the top of Stakehill, carry on until the road bends to the left and bare right up the track and along to Thornham Lane, turn right, up to the top and as it drops go through the gateway/barrier into Tandle Hills, Straight down then up and along then down, as the path starts to break up before the trees bare left along the grass and re-join the path again, left at path junction and left at next junction where there is a little shelter, then bare right up to the 1st dip you hit (bit naughty this hill) Right at the top and back out the way you came to Thornham Lane, turn right to the summit > Turks Head > home.
Dependant on where you are in Shaw thats 10-12 miles, We hit that from Cinderhill/Royton Autos and come home along the canal.

[blueST]

From North, the best end obviously Lived on Broadway, went to North Chad etc. etc.

Anyway, I'll defo give that last route a try. I think we used to run a lot of it when they made us do cross-country at school.

All this talk of riding and work tell me I might have to wait three to four weeks for my bike voucher. Damn that beurocracy! So impatient.

[B1G GK]

I am on the back of Park estate, went to North Chad myself,
Part of that route did get run on, notice I was nice and kept heartbreak hill off there, still get visions of Fitzroy Wallace stood at the bottom giving us bkings for slacking up there

[blueST]

B1G GK said:

I am on the back of Park estate, went to North Chad myself,
Part of that route did get run on, notice I was nice and kept heartbreak hill off there, still get visions of Fitzroy Wallace stood at the bottom giving us bkings for slacking up there

I'm sure he made us give people piggy backs up there once! I actually enjoyed the cross country, mainly 'cos I was crap at football.

[matty_doh]

Darwen Tower isn't too far from Oldham IIRC? 30 miles or so ish?

Went there for the first time (and also my first time on the rough stuff for a while) on Thursday, nice downhill runs, not too steep uphills - bit of a bh on a hardtail though as there are a lot of cobbles - struggle to keep the rear in contact with the ground!

Plenty of bikers around too, all happy to help should you come unstuck (Or in one lads case, forget to tighten your pedals!)

Edit; Oooh right, you said cross country... missed that part!

Edited by matty_doh on Wednesday 28th April 22:39

[lord summerisle]

there is Lee Quarry, in Stacksteads, Bacup which has been turned into a trail centre