Beginner mountain biking Worcestershire.
Discussion
I’ve recently treated myself to a Boardman MHT 8.9 with the intention of getting back in to riding again. I live near Evesham and I’m looking for off road trails to explore. Oversley Woods aren’t far away and they look fun. I’m not looking for anything too hardcore, just somewhere I can have a bit of fun and build up my fitness.
Any suggestions of places to explore in the area?
Any suggestions of places to explore in the area?
I would make the effort and try cannock chase. the techincal stuff is fun and really builds your skills up. The dog is signed well and you can stop start.
it is red route but i don;'t think it is that bad, it has got a lot easier the last 5 yers.
it is red route but i don;'t think it is that bad, it has got a lot easier the last 5 yers.
Edited by Thesprucegoose on Saturday 21st September 14:39
I’m getting back into mountain biking after years out, and live in Droitwich. I find the Wyre Forest is great and local. Some very good blue/red type trails, plus the usual hardcore stuff. I also try and get down to Pedalabikeaway at FOD, which has a wide range of trails and practice areas.
Herr Schnell said:
snake_oil said:
How about the Malverns?
You'll get chased by angry locals if you're found off either of the two very short trails up there.It's taken them 30 years to even concede a 5 mile loop which is not even 100% off road.
At least they've got some routes up there now.I used to enjoy a ride on Bredon Hill (after the climb anyway). Various other bits of the Cotwolds can be explored. When I was in Cheltenham I used to ride on Leckhampton or Cleeve Hill and beyond quite often. Forest of Dean is good for a day out too.
Aside from wyre forest, there's not a lot around Worcestershire. It's better than it was, but there's still an anti-MTB attitude around here. It used to be you'd get chased off the wyre forest by an angry ranger on a quadbike. There was a dedicated mtb trail on the other side of the button oak road, but it was mostly just a crappy fire road, I never found any trails worth mentioning.
Kinver edge is nice, some nice short trails, but they don't like bikes up there and are constantly upgrading their fences and gates to make it difficult to access by bike. The only "cycle routes" up there have been covered in deep sand to make riding impossible.
I live near Redditch and not a lot round here either, I've actually just bought a new hard tail, better suited to country roads and canal toepaths, as it's not always practical to transport my full sus around and I like to just go out and ride sometimes without having to plan too much.
Post here if you do find anything interesting though!
Kinver edge is nice, some nice short trails, but they don't like bikes up there and are constantly upgrading their fences and gates to make it difficult to access by bike. The only "cycle routes" up there have been covered in deep sand to make riding impossible.
I live near Redditch and not a lot round here either, I've actually just bought a new hard tail, better suited to country roads and canal toepaths, as it's not always practical to transport my full sus around and I like to just go out and ride sometimes without having to plan too much.
Post here if you do find anything interesting though!
That’s largely what I’m finding, I’m in Salford Priors and there’s a disused railway that runs up the A46. I follow that towards Broom/Exhall and on to Oversley Woods. It’s quite gentle but I’m not at a level yet to do anything too extreme!
I’m not keen on road cycling so I try to do as much off road as possible. I think the answer is to get a bike rack and drive somewhere with more choice.
I’m not keen on road cycling so I try to do as much off road as possible. I think the answer is to get a bike rack and drive somewhere with more choice.
westwood35 said:
The Wyre forest has opened up a lot now to mountain bikers. Lots of trails, and the forest rangers seemed to have calmed down a bit!!
Cleeve hill is good to ride up and around. Agree that Worcs is short on trails though.
I suspect the current generation of rangers are my sort of age (40) and were teenagers when mountain biking was really gaining popularity in the mid-90's, but back 10 to 15 year ago it was still the old guard, very anti-MTB.Cleeve hill is good to ride up and around. Agree that Worcs is short on trails though.
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