Discussion
Planning on doing a track day at Mallory Park soon and see it isn't too far from Cannock Chase.
I'm far enough away that I'd be staying in a travelodge before the track day anyway, so I figured go up and ride Cannock, head off to travelodge late evening then track day next day before coming home.
Had a quick look online but the trails don't seem all that long - 7 mile trail with a 7 mile extension with a bit of black grade stuff. Happy riding red graded trails to would give the black stuff a go.
Just wondered how much time you can actually spend up there? Would probably do a couple of laps if I need to so I'm not bored at travelodge for too long in the evening - just wondered how much there is to do there and whether it's something to do for a couple of hours/half day/full day of riding?
I'm far enough away that I'd be staying in a travelodge before the track day anyway, so I figured go up and ride Cannock, head off to travelodge late evening then track day next day before coming home.
Had a quick look online but the trails don't seem all that long - 7 mile trail with a 7 mile extension with a bit of black grade stuff. Happy riding red graded trails to would give the black stuff a go.
Just wondered how much time you can actually spend up there? Would probably do a couple of laps if I need to so I'm not bored at travelodge for too long in the evening - just wondered how much there is to do there and whether it's something to do for a couple of hours/half day/full day of riding?
You can ride the Chase all day and not do teh same trail twice. The man amde stuff consist of a figure of eight starting with Follow eth Dog before splitting to do teh Monkey Trail and then rejoing teh Folow the Dog. The Monkey Trail probably takes most people about 1 hour but is so good you could easily repeat it befor erejoinmg the Dog. Folow eth Dog is an ok traoil too and has a sweet finish back to Birches Valley Visitor centre.
However teh amount of natural singletrack is large although you will need a local guide to find it as its extensively spread over the Chase.
However teh amount of natural singletrack is large although you will need a local guide to find it as its extensively spread over the Chase.
I rode Cannock for the first time with a couple of mates on Good Friday and came away pretty impressed. Was a bit sceptical before we went, as the midlands isn't exactly famous for it's hills (I live near the Peak District so am pretty lucky in that respect...!), but thought that they really made the most of whats available. There's plenty of short up / downs,and no lung busting ascents to spoil the fun...!
Would agree that the Monkey Trail was quite a lot more fun than Chase the Dog, and as said above you could easily do a couple of laps of that if you fancied it before heading back via the 'dog. There were a couple of black sections which we didn't do, but that might have just been us being a bunch of fannies....!
Just watch you don't come off and ruin your track day....! Enjoy!
Would agree that the Monkey Trail was quite a lot more fun than Chase the Dog, and as said above you could easily do a couple of laps of that if you fancied it before heading back via the 'dog. There were a couple of black sections which we didn't do, but that might have just been us being a bunch of fannies....!
Just watch you don't come off and ruin your track day....! Enjoy!
james239 said:
Cool, think I'll head up early afternoon and get a few laps in/generally mess around.
Gonna have to be a bit cautious I don't fall off though and don't wanna ache before spending the next day on a bike again on track!
James your not doing the Chris Walker track day are you? Gonna have to be a bit cautious I don't fall off though and don't wanna ache before spending the next day on a bike again on track!
By the way its not that technical you'll be fine.
Mallory Park is only a stones throw from where I live & I often visit Cannock Chase.
As commented, it's a surprisingly decent trail & you can easily re-ride some of the fun stuff.
I popped by last week after work to have a play busting out laps on the Upper & Lower cliff sections, good times!
As commented, it's a surprisingly decent trail & you can easily re-ride some of the fun stuff.
I popped by last week after work to have a play busting out laps on the Upper & Lower cliff sections, good times!
Yes definitely!
http://chasetrails.co.uk/chasemaps.php
You could always start with just Follow the Dog (D1 > D5).
Then move onto the Monkey which requires a bit more effort, but just as Jim would say 'stay out the black and in the red' sections.
All the funky stuff is well sign-posted so you should be alright.
ENJOY!
http://chasetrails.co.uk/chasemaps.php
You could always start with just Follow the Dog (D1 > D5).
Then move onto the Monkey which requires a bit more effort, but just as Jim would say 'stay out the black and in the red' sections.
All the funky stuff is well sign-posted so you should be alright.
ENJOY!
antspants said:
Sorry to hijack but would a mtb beginner be ok at Cannock, is there something for everyone, bits to avoid? I work in Lichfield so it's convenient for me.
My 2nd time on a mountain bike was the red route at Cannock in November, the only bit I personally found difficult on the loop was Werewolf Drops but once you've done them once they're fine.James I debating the Chris Walker School looks value to money for me.
Well I survived Cannock with only a small off.
Some video I recorded with the GoPro for anyone interested - http://youtu.be/03mkfEMu9XY
Any Windows Live Movie Maker gurus know why it has a stupid border around it all? It wasn't there in the original recordings, only when I edit it all together in movie maker!
Some video I recorded with the GoPro for anyone interested - http://youtu.be/03mkfEMu9XY
Any Windows Live Movie Maker gurus know why it has a stupid border around it all? It wasn't there in the original recordings, only when I edit it all together in movie maker!
I was there on Friday after work. My first time on a proper mtb trail, so I was a going a lot slower than you judging by your vid 
Mind you I really enjoyed it, so planning to try and get there once a week.
Only fell off once when I turned to try and read a sign after seeing something about a diversion, and just toppled over
Did chicken out of going down the werewolf drop, hope to have grown some bigger balls by my next visit
Mind you I really enjoyed it, so planning to try and get there once a week.
Only fell off once when I turned to try and read a sign after seeing something about a diversion, and just toppled over
Did chicken out of going down the werewolf drop, hope to have grown some bigger balls by my next visit
Edited by antspants on Sunday 13th May 20:01
I didn't feel as fast as I look in the video! Some sections where it's pebbly were really slippery though.
I managed the werewolf drops but I did wonder how they got them in a red run! Pretty scary. Don't think I included it in the video though, 'cause I stopped to line myself up properly after looking over the edge, then didn't turn at the bottom so I cycled straight into the trees.
I walked a couple of the rock gardens in the black run too - they were just too slippery again, and being on a corner I couldn't pick a line to take so didn't bother risking it. Always look much bigger and scarier when you're there than they do on YouTube videos.
I managed the werewolf drops but I did wonder how they got them in a red run! Pretty scary. Don't think I included it in the video though, 'cause I stopped to line myself up properly after looking over the edge, then didn't turn at the bottom so I cycled straight into the trees.
I walked a couple of the rock gardens in the black run too - they were just too slippery again, and being on a corner I couldn't pick a line to take so didn't bother risking it. Always look much bigger and scarier when you're there than they do on YouTube videos.
antspants said:
I was there on Friday after work. My first time on a proper mtb trail, so I was a going a lot slower than you judging by your vid
Mind you I really enjoyed it, so planning to try and get there once a week.
Only fell off once when I turned to try and read a sign after seeing something about a diversion, and just toppled over
Did chicken out of going down the werewolf drop, hope to have grown some bigger balls by my next visit
lol the werewolf drops are my lads fav bit. Up there today the amount of people hanging around the werewolf was amazing.Mind you I really enjoyed it, so planning to try and get there once a week.
Only fell off once when I turned to try and read a sign after seeing something about a diversion, and just toppled over
Did chicken out of going down the werewolf drop, hope to have grown some bigger balls by my next visit
Edited by antspants on Sunday 13th May 20:01
Still a nice day out
R6dug said:
lol the werewolf drops are my lads fav bit. Up there today the amount of people hanging around the werewolf was amazing.
Fortunately it was nice and quiet when I was there, so I only had my own humiliation to deal with I was thinking I'd wait until it's dry until I attempt it, but looking at the forecast I could be waiting a long time
antspants said:
Fortunately it was nice and quiet when I was there, so I only had my own humiliation to deal with
I was thinking I'd wait until it's dry until I attempt it, but looking at the forecast I could be waiting a long time
First time I went to Cannock I skipped the werewolf drop, although it was in the snow! But next time you go there you'll do it and wonder what all the fuss was about, it's not as bad as it looks from the top. Just remember to brake at the bottom and turn right!I was thinking I'd wait until it's dry until I attempt it, but looking at the forecast I could be waiting a long time
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