Anyone ridden at Triscombe?
Discussion
Just wondering what it's like?
It seems to get positioned as DH on the web, but from some of the videos I've seen, it looks like pretty much "standard" trails riding, with nothing challenging that can't be avoided?
Chances are, when I'm down in Somerset, that I'm more likely to be on a 115mm travel HT with my similarly equipped 9yr old (and possibly 12yr old daughter on a rigid forks) than on my 150mm full susser, so I'm trying to figure out how much that makes available to us, rather than heading off to something like the red run at Haldon Woods, which the little one doesn't find particularly challenging.
It seems to get positioned as DH on the web, but from some of the videos I've seen, it looks like pretty much "standard" trails riding, with nothing challenging that can't be avoided?
Chances are, when I'm down in Somerset, that I'm more likely to be on a 115mm travel HT with my similarly equipped 9yr old (and possibly 12yr old daughter on a rigid forks) than on my 150mm full susser, so I'm trying to figure out how much that makes available to us, rather than heading off to something like the red run at Haldon Woods, which the little one doesn't find particularly challenging.
I'm there in September - but I hear that it's very steep.
Don't make the mistake of thinking that Go-Pro footage on Youtube gives provides a good representation of how difficult the trail actually is. Go-Pro's are a bugger for making things look smaller, less steep and slower than they actually are.
I've turned up to ride DH tracks having looked at them on you tube for find that:
That fairly flatish looking gradient is 65%+
That 4 foot step down is actually closer to 9ft.
That 15 foot gap is much more like a 25 footer.
Still - it makes the first run down interesting!
Don't make the mistake of thinking that Go-Pro footage on Youtube gives provides a good representation of how difficult the trail actually is. Go-Pro's are a bugger for making things look smaller, less steep and slower than they actually are.
I've turned up to ride DH tracks having looked at them on you tube for find that:
That fairly flatish looking gradient is 65%+
That 4 foot step down is actually closer to 9ft.
That 15 foot gap is much more like a 25 footer.
Still - it makes the first run down interesting!
You make a good point!
The other thing I've found absolutely flattens a trail, oddly, is walking it. Don't know why this is, but I took the kids to see some of the trails we ride in the Surrey Hills (the Yoghurt Pots on Holmbury Hill as an example), to see if they reckoned they could ride it, and the bits that seem fairly tall and steep when you're looking down them over the bars look almost flat and pedestrian from the side of the trail!
The other thing I've found absolutely flattens a trail, oddly, is walking it. Don't know why this is, but I took the kids to see some of the trails we ride in the Surrey Hills (the Yoghurt Pots on Holmbury Hill as an example), to see if they reckoned they could ride it, and the bits that seem fairly tall and steep when you're looking down them over the bars look almost flat and pedestrian from the side of the trail!
I've ridden there on my hardtail with 140mm forks and it was great fun. Stuck to the stuff on the left side of the valley as you come out of the car park (it makes sense once you're there) cos it's not as full on DH as on the other side. Lots of fun turns and little jumps. Some steep stuff but all pretty rideable
Kermit power said:
You make a good point!
The other thing I've found absolutely flattens a trail, oddly, is walking it. Don't know why this is, but I took the kids to see some of the trails we ride in the Surrey Hills (the Yoghurt Pots on Holmbury Hill as an example), to see if they reckoned they could ride it, and the bits that seem fairly tall and steep when you're looking down them over the bars look almost flat and pedestrian from the side of the trail!
Oddly enough I have the opposite experience.The other thing I've found absolutely flattens a trail, oddly, is walking it. Don't know why this is, but I took the kids to see some of the trails we ride in the Surrey Hills (the Yoghurt Pots on Holmbury Hill as an example), to see if they reckoned they could ride it, and the bits that seem fairly tall and steep when you're looking down them over the bars look almost flat and pedestrian from the side of the trail!
I've often hit a DHL trail on the bike first only to walk up it afterwards.
There have been a number that I probably wouldn't have ridden had I walked it first. I find everything looks easier from behind the bars than stood underneath it.
There is nothing quite as exciting as riding a trail you've never even walked before!
lgs22 said:
I've ridden there on my hardtail with 140mm forks and it was great fun. Stuck to the stuff on the left side of the valley as you come out of the car park (it makes sense once you're there) cos it's not as full on DH as on the other side. Lots of fun turns and little jumps. Some steep stuff but all pretty rideable
Cheers. Sounds perfect for my Stumpy, but possibly one to avoid with a 9yr old on a Hardtail! Kermit power said:
Cheers. Sounds perfect for my Stumpy, but possibly one to avoid with a 9yr old on a Hardtail!
Haha possibly, I've only ridden there a couple of times so can't give a full judgement. it is great fun there though, completely in the middle of nowhere mind. worth a visit at some point, maybe when he's a bit older!Triscombe is my local trails area, and as a downhiller I'd say it's all reasonably easy albeit there are plenty of gaps and jumps I won't do.
on the other hand, I've ridden it with a lot of "trail riding" guys who'd say it was as steep and as techy as anything you'll find in the UK, because they normally ride smooth trail centres.
It's steep in places, very verysteep, and when you're on the rooty bits or the cobble tracks you'll get no grip in the wet, which can result in some pretty fast crashes over the top of berms into nothing!
Trying to find a photo I took of a mate who'd just fallen off on one of the more sedate tracks, shows the steepness pretty well.
on the other hand, I've ridden it with a lot of "trail riding" guys who'd say it was as steep and as techy as anything you'll find in the UK, because they normally ride smooth trail centres.
It's steep in places, very verysteep, and when you're on the rooty bits or the cobble tracks you'll get no grip in the wet, which can result in some pretty fast crashes over the top of berms into nothing!
Trying to find a photo I took of a mate who'd just fallen off on one of the more sedate tracks, shows the steepness pretty well.
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