What's Thetford Forest like then?

[WildCards]

Sir Jonny, Shiny Side Up and I are off to Thetford Forest on Saturday, what should I expect? All I tend to ride are the Peaks or Welsh trails, so i'm a bit of a noob for this other english stuff. Can anyone help build the excitement? any pics?

[tjdixon911]

What time are you heading up there? I'll hopefully be there Saturday along with my Borther and Nervous.

I'm crap at writting reveiws and as I have only been back into mountain biking for 6months or so I don't really have anywhere to compare it against!

Bit of info from this site http://www.cycle-revolution.net/whereToRide.asp#th...

"Thetford Forest - Website

Location: High Lodge forest centre is off the Bl107 east of Brandon near Thetford.


Comment: "Thetford" is unquestionably the best off road facility in the east of England - There is an endless maze of well-maintained trails and challenging single track. For all abilities, families and hard-core trail seekers alike. The worthy location of many a cross country race including a round of the British Nationals. The visitor's centre contains a great cafe with both indoor and outdoor dining! A bike hire centre opens during the warmer months"

As for Parking I wouldn't bother going to High Lodge as its £6 per car, head to Brandon Country Park instead as its free parking....

HTH.

[cone]

My memories of Thetford are 12hrs of pain in the dark , so bad ive signed up to do it again . Nearest i can describe it as it like Cannock but flatter. Still a change is still good. Have fun

[WildCards]

cone said:

like Cannock but flatter

Superb!

I'm 'Really' looking forward to it now

[tjdixon911]

cone said:

My memories of Thetford are 12hrs of pain in the dark , so bad ive signed up to do it again . Nearest i can describe it as it like Cannock but flatter. Still a change is still good. Have fun

We may do the D2D, but it depends on the final date of my Brothers Wedding.

[cone]

tjdixon911 said:

cone said:

My memories of Thetford are 12hrs of pain in the dark , so bad ive signed up to do it again . Nearest i can describe it as it like Cannock but flatter. Still a change is still good. Have fun

We may do the D2D, but it depends on the final date of my Brothers Wedding.

Would make a good weekend - in a sick way

Do i sense a hint of sarcasm from Wildcards?

[vwsurfbum]

its very flat in the sense of scenary, but the trails have been hit hard through the winter and its very ondulating, like every 5M it plunges and it makes it very hard to keep any speed,
but with that said, there is enought trails to keep you busy most of the weekend, no real down hills, jumps or drop offs, THE BEAST as it is called may be called the kitten once you have ridden it. I was so excited about going there for the first time, and after 4 hours of riding nothing really stood out?
sorry to piss on your bomfire?

[WildCards]

cone said:

Do i sense a hint of sarcasm from Wildcards?

You are, and with good reason it seems going by what you and 'vwsurfbum' have said. Oh well, i'm not driving and it'll be a turn of the legs at least.

[tjdixon911]

vwsurfbum said:

its very flat in the sense of scenary, but the trails have been hit hard through the winter and its very ondulating, like every 5M it plunges and it makes it very hard to keep any speed,
but with that said, there is enought trails to keep you busy most of the weekend, no real down hills, jumps or drop offs, THE BEAST as it is called may be called the kitten once you have ridden it. I was so excited about going there for the first time, and after 4 hours of riding nothing really stood out?
sorry to piss on your bomfire?

We have been struggling to keep momentum through certain parts of the forest latley, it was very boggy a month or so ago which I think, since drying out, has made parts very difficult to keep any speed.

I still enjoy the Beast but always find it too short.

There are a few additonal bits if you go off the marked routes.

[cone]

WildCards said:

cone said:

Do i sense a hint of sarcasm from Wildcards?

You are, and with good reason it seems going by what you and 'vwsurfbum' have said. Oh well, i'm not driving and it'll be a turn of the legs at least.

Didn't mean to hack you off, just my impression- also like i said a change is more often a plesant change , go nd enjoy it.

[WildCards]

cone said:

WildCards said:

cone said:

Do i sense a hint of sarcasm from Wildcards?

You are, and with good reason it seems going by what you and 'vwsurfbum' have said. Oh well, i'm not driving and it'll be a turn of the legs at least.

Didn't mean to hack you off, just my impression- also like i said a change is more often a plesant change , go nd enjoy it.

no, no, don't misunderstand me mate, i'm not hacked off at all, i'm always happy to try new places.

[nervous]

so, whos joining us tomorrow?

[WildCards]

Well, I should imagine we'll be there for about [EDIT] 11:30am. look out for a large white LDV Maxus. That'll be us.

Edited by WildCards on Friday 29th February 21:51

[WildCards]

WildCards said:

What's Thetford Forest like then?

P!ss poor is the answer, it was nice to turn the legs somewhere different, but i'm very happy I wasn't driving or paying for the fuel. I feel sorry for you lot that live over that way, fo once I quite like the riding in Leicester!

[nervous]

what aspect of it did you think was piss poor? Im not defending it mind, just interested in your opinion.

[atom111]

thanks for the review wildcards I shall cross that off as a place to visit I'd wondered what it was like.

[WildCards]

nervous said:

what aspect of it did you think was piss poor? Im not defending it mind, just interested in your opinion.

It's a nice place to go, I imagine it's lovely to take your family, but if your wanting something challenging it just doesn't cut the mustard. We did the black run and didn't find anything to warrant it being called a red let alone a black.
If i'd have gone with the kids, it would have been great, but to go wanting proper trails it just didn't deliver.

[Mr Noble]

Hello,

Sorry for gatecrashing, I live near Thetford and ridden the forest for 15 years, I would try and avoid the marked routes (Red\Black)due to over use and under maintained. I would suggest parking at Brandon Country park http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&ge...

Please note, no cycle shop for hire or spares, but a cracking cafe, for lunch after your ride!. Also no £5 parking costs which High lodge charges.

This is the same side as the Dusk till Dawn and the recent Marin winter series while non of the routes are marked it won't take you long to find single track, I tend to mix up both sides, the drier parts and the beast of the Black run and the non-marked trails of Brandon Country Park (BCP).

If you study the google link and make note of the road layout you shouldn't get lost!.

Hope this helps, I'm looking to try other venues other than Thetford so if anyone has any advice Cannock or Epping would be of interest.

Thanks

[Mr Noble]

If anyone wishes to race, the next event is the National Points Series, you will need to pay for a race licence on Saturday but Sunday anyone can take part in the Whyte enduro's.

http://www.britishnps.co.uk/races.htm

As for Wildcards comments, I would suggest trying the un-marked routes as per my previous post, if it's good enough for the pro's on the NPS i'm sure it's good enough for us!.

[WildCards]

Mr Noble said:

As for Wildcards comments, I would suggest trying the un-marked routes as per my previous post, if it's good enough for the pro's on the NPS i'm sure it's good enough for us!.

Point taken, i'm sure their are some better sections of singletrack in the forest, but IMO it's more of a family cycling venue than a trail centre (as noted by the hundreds of kids cycling everywhere and the fat bird in the cafe with her norks out and a baby hanging of off one of them).