Hamsterley Forest ..Friday 4th March '22.

[Tubby G]

Ok that's great mate, I'm going to head up either way, I driver a dark grey Passat estate, I'm not sure on the little one yet but will know before hand I will give you a shout on here beforehand. I am looking at doing the Birdsall Blast in March so need to get some practice in as I am crap haha. I dont know Dalby well and find its just normal trail riding

Cool, you’ve entered Birdsall then. We were about to, and I was being indecisive about paying £90+ for the two of us, and then noticed they’re doing one in July too so thought we’d enter that one instead

Orange X1 with a two bike rack on the back, but yes I’ll message again on here beforehand to confirm we’re definitely coming. Last time we all tried to meet Storm Arwen kicked off only the day before!!

 

[Whitby Chris]

Cool, you’ve entered Birdsall then. We were about to, and I was being indecisive about paying £90+ for the two of us, and then noticed they’re doing one in July too so thought we’d enter that one instead

Orange X1 with a two bike rack on the back, but yes I’ll message again on here beforehand to confirm we’re definitely coming. Last time we all tried to meet Storm Arwen kicked off only the day before!!

I have not entered it yet just waiting on confirmation from a mate coming up rom the south but will most likely and will do anything else local too fingers crossed

 

[Tubby G]

I have not entered it yet just waiting on confirmation from a mate coming up rom the south but will most likely and will do anything else local too fingers crossed

This is the other event they do in June (not July)

Yorkshire Mountain Bike Marathon - Sunday 12th June 2022

Mountain bike challenge event taking place within the stunning 12,000 acres of the private Birdsall Estates. The route features singletrack, forest descents, natural trails and even a medieval village. 4 routes to approx. 25km, 40km, 65km & 80km.

www.sientries.co.uk

 

[Whitby Chris]

This is the other event they do in June (not July)

Yorkshire Mountain Bike Marathon - Sunday 12th June 2022

Mountain bike challenge event taking place within the stunning 12,000 acres of the private Birdsall Estates. The route features singletrack, forest descents, natural trails and even a medieval village. 4 routes to approx. 25km, 40km, 65km & 80km.

www.sientries.co.uk

Thanks will take a look, looks different to other stuff

 

[The Hodge]

we want to do kielder again too but next time we’ll make a weekend of it and stay over on the Saturday night. If you know of any reasonable accommodation with secure bike storage let me know

I've PM'd you .

 

[Tubby G]

I’ve just been reminded by my social secretary that we can’t do Hamsterley on the 5th Feb as we’re meant to be elsewhere that day, sorry

 

[The Hodge]

Oh well back to the drawing board ..

 

[The Hodge]

As you are there pretty regularly TG ..just let us know the next time you will be there after the 5th Feb ..and we can hopefully get something arranged around that date ...

 

[Tubby G]

Weather is looking good for tomorrow @Whitby Chris so we’ll definitely be there, as mentioned before, around 9.30-0am ish. It’s been dry all week so looking forward to our first dry ride in months!

Dates my social secretary has advised we can do Hamsterley again:

Feb 12th
Feb 26th
Mar 5th
Mar 19th

 

[The Hodge]

Either of the Feb dates for me ..
March is out ..2 "kids " birthdays & a christening ..

 

[Tubby G]

Either of the Feb dates for me ..
March is out ..2 "kids " birthdays & a christening ..

Actually, now that my social secretary is sat here in front of me, and after muttering something about ‘d*ckhead’ and that I never listen, the dates in February we can do are:

Saturday 12th

Or

Saturday 19th

 

[Whitby Chris]

Weather is looking good for tomorrow @Whitby Chris so we’ll definitely be there, as mentioned before, around 9.30-0am ish. It’s been dry all week so looking forward to our first dry ride in months!

Dates my social secretary has advised we can do Hamsterley again:

Feb 12th
Feb 26th
Mar 5th
Mar 19th

Thats great @Tubby G See you in the morning, I'm leaving the little one behind so will be just me

 

[Tubby G]

Thats great @Tubby G See you in the morning, I'm leaving the little one behind so will be just me

Great, see you in the morning

 

[Tubby G]

Great ride at Hammers today. Trails running fast. Shame I missed Chris’ 15ft gap jump at the end of Accelerator

 

[Whitby Chris]

Great ride at Hammers today. Trails running fast. Shame I missed Chris’ 15ft gap jump at the end of Accelerator

Haha yeah great ride today, thanks or everything . I think Louise must of come around behind me on the Berm and thought "what the hell is he doing up against that tree"

 

[The Hodge]

12th ?

 

[Tubby G]

12th ?

12th is good for us

 

[Tonybro]

Looks like it is good for me too

 

[Tubby G]

Message from the FC, just in case anyone is planning on going today:


URGENT UPDATE

The forest is currently now CLOSED due to another storm. At 10am we lost all power again in the area and have multiple trees down across entrance roads and trails. Please do not attempt to come to the forest today (Saturday 29th January). We will post an update this evening. We are unable to reply to comments here as this post was created off site.

 

[drewbirks]

Yes I should be good for the 12th

 

[The Hodge]

Just seen this post ..we have also lost power from 10.am yesterday ..still without so we are having a MaccyD"s before heading back to our cold storage ( for that is what it has become ) ..

 

[Tubby G]

Just seen this post ..we have also lost power from 10.am yesterday ..still without so we are having a MaccyD"s before heading back to our cold storage ( for that is what it has become ) ..

Oh dear, not again, hope your powers back soon

Went to Dalby today, the off piste trails were well busy. Probably due to Hamsterley being closed again. Danny Hart was there too getting all the KOM’s on Strava !

 

[Tubby G]

Oh dear, not again, hope your powers back soon

Went to Dalby today, the off piste trails were well busy. Probably due to Hamsterley being closed again. Danny Hart was there too getting all the KOM’s on Strava !

 

[The Hodge]

Any update on trail conditions ?

 

[Tubby G]

Any update on trail conditions ?

I haven’t seen anything since the weekend but I’ll search my social media for some info and report back

 

[Tubby G]

Found this from the FC written on Wednesday:

We regret to inform everyone that the forest and all trails will be CLOSED until the weekend. On Friday we will make a decision as to whether we can open. This is due to a considerable number of damaged and fallen trees. Thanks for your cooperation

Also just seen thatDescend is open now, but a couple of trails at Descend are still closed

I’ll look out for the FC’s update today

 

[Tubby G]

FC:


We are reopening Hamsterley forest to visitors TOMORROW. Please be aware there are still some Trails closed.
Cafe - OPEN from Saturday
Car Parks - OPEN from Saturday
Superworm Trail - OPEN from Saturday
Viking Play Trail - OPEN from Saturday
Riverside Walk - OPEN from Saturday
Bedburn Valley Walk - OPEN from Saturday
Three Becks Walk - CLOSED
Orienteering - CLOSED
Gruffalo Orienteering - CLOSED

MTB training Loop - CLOSED
MTB Blue trail - Diverted at Blacking hole.
MTB Red Trail - (partial closure)
Brain Freeze, Special K, Bone Shaker, Section 13, 4DC, -CLOSED
Five Lane end, Poulty's, Transmission, Accelerator, Nitrous - OPEN
MTB Black trail - CLOSED

Our teams have been working hard all week to open up these sections, please adhere to any diversions and closures that are still in place. If you are unsure where you can go our info point will be manned all weekend. Have a great weekend.

 

[The Hodge]

If that's all there is by next Saturday then it simply isn't worth going ..hopefully another week will see it all open

 

[The Hodge]

Any further news TG ?

 

[The Hodge]

...just made a phone call ..
Much the same as the last update ..however they are hoping to have the full red route open by the weekend ..which still means a whole lot is closed including section13 ..which is red but overlaps with the black route ..
They are hoping to have the full network open in time for half term ..which is in two weeks time ..
That being the case I'm "out" for this weekend ..its not worth the time & fuel for whats on offer ..
I'm about to ring Whinlatter to find out the state of play ..
Edit : everything is open at Whinlatter ..so that is where I will be heading ..anyone else interested ?