Meet at 10:30 am ready-to-ride, Sun 28th Jun by the right side of the cafe veranda, overlooking the big field.
If you plan on coming please let me know. I need to manage numbers. I had 19 turn up once and it was like herding cats!
Lots of new stuff since the last Rideout!
The postcode for Sherwood Pines is NG21 9JL, but ignore the sat nav when you turn off the public road and just follow the signs for the car park.
Unless you ride in, your reg no will be scanned on the way in and you pay at the pay station before you leave (expect to pay £12.50). Don't forget or you will get stopped at the barrier, get blocked in and have to walk all the way back to pay! (And then back again).
Expect 19-20 miles if we do all that I have planned (plus any sessioning). That distance can be shortened by popular request on the day.
The route is different to previous rides although some sections will be common. The majority of the toughest obstacles are avoidable, the jumps are all roll-able if you prefer. If you don't fancy even the alternative route then do what I did at first, walk the bike down (or up) the worst bits! Usually, the camaraderie of supportive riding buddies gives everyone a skills boost! If you are comfortable with a red trail anywhere then you will be OK.
Expect some of the best parts of the red & blue trails, plus the WW1 trenches area and many of the off-piste trails in the area. We will also be heading over to the NCB land for some single-track trails over there. In amongst that lot, we will be riding over the biggest hill in the area to visit Vicar Water park which will be about half way around. We won't be doing the desert this time.
For those of you who have already been to Pines and only done the regular blue and red trails, you won't see much you recognise.
Because it is that time of year there is a lot of brambles, gorse, nettles and bracken. Most of the really bad stuff has been cleared, but it does grow quickly! If you bring bare legs, expect to collect some nettle stings at least.
Eyewear is strongly recommended, helmets mandatory; there are a lot of low hanging branches. If you have ridden the red at Pines before but are nervous about the thought of "going off-piste" then don't be. I stop at the trickier sections to let riders have a look at it first, until I get the feeling for the skill level of the individuals. But in the end the choice is yours whether you tackle any particular feature. I am not professional guide and I am not charging for my time, this is meant to be a fun day out.
There is a lot of shattered wood about, plus the brambles and gorse. Those without tubeless tyres and sealant, come prepared.
I have done quite a few of these rideouts in the Pines and surrounding area and judging by the feedback, they have always been good fun. Allow 4 hours as there is always a lot of piss-taking and general chit- chat taking place. Search in the Rideouts section for Sherwood Pines under @steve_sordy for all the previous outings.
There is a full-service bike shop on site, plus café and a very good toilet block, loads of parking available.
If more than 6 riders turn up, there will be frequent headcounts.
Please trust me on this; if you get lost in the off-piste areas, there is a good chance that you will have to find your own way back. Those who are not lost will have to decide how long to spend looking for you. So follow the trail instructions, and be nice to everyone you meet!
If you plan on coming please let me know. I need to manage numbers. I had 19 turn up once and it was like herding cats!
Lots of new stuff since the last Rideout!
The postcode for Sherwood Pines is NG21 9JL, but ignore the sat nav when you turn off the public road and just follow the signs for the car park.
Unless you ride in, your reg no will be scanned on the way in and you pay at the pay station before you leave (expect to pay £12.50). Don't forget or you will get stopped at the barrier, get blocked in and have to walk all the way back to pay! (And then back again).
Expect 19-20 miles if we do all that I have planned (plus any sessioning). That distance can be shortened by popular request on the day.
The route is different to previous rides although some sections will be common. The majority of the toughest obstacles are avoidable, the jumps are all roll-able if you prefer. If you don't fancy even the alternative route then do what I did at first, walk the bike down (or up) the worst bits! Usually, the camaraderie of supportive riding buddies gives everyone a skills boost! If you are comfortable with a red trail anywhere then you will be OK.
Expect some of the best parts of the red & blue trails, plus the WW1 trenches area and many of the off-piste trails in the area. We will also be heading over to the NCB land for some single-track trails over there. In amongst that lot, we will be riding over the biggest hill in the area to visit Vicar Water park which will be about half way around. We won't be doing the desert this time.
For those of you who have already been to Pines and only done the regular blue and red trails, you won't see much you recognise.
Because it is that time of year there is a lot of brambles, gorse, nettles and bracken. Most of the really bad stuff has been cleared, but it does grow quickly! If you bring bare legs, expect to collect some nettle stings at least.
Eyewear is strongly recommended, helmets mandatory; there are a lot of low hanging branches. If you have ridden the red at Pines before but are nervous about the thought of "going off-piste" then don't be. I stop at the trickier sections to let riders have a look at it first, until I get the feeling for the skill level of the individuals. But in the end the choice is yours whether you tackle any particular feature. I am not professional guide and I am not charging for my time, this is meant to be a fun day out.
There is a lot of shattered wood about, plus the brambles and gorse. Those without tubeless tyres and sealant, come prepared.
I have done quite a few of these rideouts in the Pines and surrounding area and judging by the feedback, they have always been good fun. Allow 4 hours as there is always a lot of piss-taking and general chit- chat taking place. Search in the Rideouts section for Sherwood Pines under @steve_sordy for all the previous outings.
There is a full-service bike shop on site, plus café and a very good toilet block, loads of parking available.
If more than 6 riders turn up, there will be frequent headcounts.
Please trust me on this; if you get lost in the off-piste areas, there is a good chance that you will have to find your own way back. Those who are not lost will have to decide how long to spend looking for you. So follow the trail instructions, and be nice to everyone you meet!
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