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Duggan13
Joined: 08 Sep 2009
Posts: 12
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 Posted Tue Oct 27, 2009 8:25 pm |
Okay, so I have finally received my first 'proper' mountain bike and am itching to get out and use it properly. Things I guess to bear in mind are that I haven't really rode a bike since I was about 13 I guess (other than 1 trip along the Trans Pennine Way on mates a few weeks ago) and I am thus a complete novice.
Furthermore, I am not fit and due to an ankle injury I haven't even been out running or anything for a fair while so am doubtless actually very unfit.
So my plan is this:
After a few local trips (South Manchester), take a day off work in the week and get the train from Manchester to Delamere and the ride to Delamere Forest.
There, try out a few modest trails and (hopefully) enjoy myself and get familiarised with the bike and being offroad. And well, hopefully pop my cherry, so to speak. (Metaphorically).
Does this sound like a reasonable idea? Specifically in the sense that:
Will it be fairly self-evident which trails I should be attempting? (i.e easy ones). I do intend to buy a map from the centre.
Will Delamere Forest be a good place to begin some off-road biking or is there somewhere nearer South Manchester that would be more appropriate for me?
Is there any obvious (to everyone else) must-know etiquette I should be aware of? I don't want to get in anyone's way, pi*ss anyone off or worse.
Maybe I should be working a lot longer on my general fitness by riding around my local area much more first?
clearly it would be much better if I could go with someone but none of my mates are interested apart from one who is buying a bike in January. So for the minute, it is go by myself or not at all.
Any advice, help, direction would be gratefully appreciated, even if it's just 'That sounds fine, go for it'
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biff55
Joined: 16 Aug 2009
Posts: 99
Location: blackpool
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lfcquin
Joined: 11 Nov 2008
Posts: 216
Location: Biddulph
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Posted Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:21 pm |
Delemere isn't a bad place to start. The trails are mostly quite wide and straight forward, there are hills, but they tend to be short so are over quickly. The train station is next to the cafe and round the corner from what could be described as the trail centre. I honestly don't know if they do maps, I have never stopped to ask. I guess it is possible to get lost in the forest but most of the routes are marked and I don't think you would have many problems.
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omegas
Joined: 03 Jun 2007
Posts: 371
Location: Cheshire UK
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Posted Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:05 pm |
The 2 routes around Delemere are fireroads , not very long and not challenging more of a place to take the kids on a Sunday afternoon. There is a 4x track and skills area that the local scallies hang around and last time I went there was in a bit of disrepair.
If you can get to somewhere like Llandegla and try the blue trail a few times would be better for building up your skill level and fitness.
My weekend bike:
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/1844902/
My commute bike:
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/1844919/ |
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Duggan13
Joined: 08 Sep 2009
Posts: 12
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Posted Wed Oct 28, 2009 12:01 am |
Cool, cheers for the advice everyone 
Sounds like I'll give Delemere a go, but I'll bear in mind that it's not too taxing so will take stock after that and consider Llandegla.
I don't currently have access to a car so part of the appeal of Delemere is the proximity of the train station, for the minute.
I shall report back, though may be a while depending if I can get any time off work 
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compo
Joined: 28 Jul 2009
Posts: 220
Location: Bolton - Undesputed Capital of Chavs!
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Posted Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:26 am |
If you are off on Friday, a few of us are going on the train from Manchester if you wanna come?
My mood is opposite to the gradient
Down on the Up
Up on the Down |
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jay12
Joined: 29 May 2009
Posts: 1230
Location: Northwich,Chesire, Jamaica
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mac man
Joined: 18 Aug 2009
Posts: 217
Location: A Lancastrian living in West Yorkshire
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Posted Wed Oct 28, 2009 2:27 pm |
Get on the train to Todmorden/Hebden Bridge from Victoria. Some great trails to be had in Calderdale. Everything from beginners to some quite technically challenging stuff.
With no fences or walls on the Internet, who needs Gates and Windows? |
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mac man
Joined: 18 Aug 2009
Posts: 217
Location: A Lancastrian living in West Yorkshire
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Posted Wed Oct 28, 2009 2:30 pm |
Get on the train to Todmorden/Hebden Bridge from Victoria. Some great trails to be had in Calderdale. Everything from beginners to some quite technically challenging stuff.
With no fences or walls on the Internet, who needs Gates and Windows? |
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Duggan13
Joined: 08 Sep 2009
Posts: 12
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Posted Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:23 pm |
Cheers both, that's a very kind offer indeed- unfortunately for me I am on a stag do in Liverpool all weekend, wearing Halloween fancy dress (I am told  )
Is it a regular thing though? If so, I'll check back to that thread^^^ in future and perhaps see if I am free another time..
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Duggan13
Joined: 08 Sep 2009
Posts: 12
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Posted Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:25 pm |
| mac man wrote: | | Get on the train to Todmorden/Hebden Bridge from Victoria. Some great trails to be had in Calderdale. Everything from beginners to some quite technically challenging stuff. |
Nice one mac man, duly noted 
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jay12
Joined: 29 May 2009
Posts: 1230
Location: Northwich,Chesire, Jamaica
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Radiorat
Joined: 04 Oct 2009
Posts: 19
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Posted Thu Oct 29, 2009 3:36 pm |
Llandegla is doable by train in to Wrexham and a wee cycle up the hill. or shout someone commin by your way and they could make room for ya... I try to get out to Llandeglka with a few mates at least once or twice a month over the winter oyu are welcome to join us if your up for it. I'm based in Liverpool. We are all relatative noobs or comming back from injury, so it blue/red at mo rather than red/black. Llandegla will begin to push up your skills esp withthe skill and pump trak too.
Here's hopin you have sweet rides and cold beers!
Ratty
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Radiorat
Joined: 04 Oct 2009
Posts: 19
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Posted Thu Oct 29, 2009 3:39 pm |
oh, we range in age from 16 - 45 yrs, so you wont get left behind.
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nick1962
Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Posts: 20
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Posted Sun Nov 1, 2009 10:37 pm |
I wouldn't call Delamere forest a trail centre as an earlier post has already said. If you live in Manchester get in touch with Manchester Mountain bike Riders meet up group if you want to meet some biking buddies.
There's lots of good riding around the River Mersey in Stockport and in Reddish Vale,far better than Delamere and on your doorstep(?).Get some miles under your belt here first then try out the trail centres.There's lots of of interesting local loops off most rivers, canals and railway lines and finding them  is really rewarding and half the fun...just get out and ride!
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Duggan13
Joined: 08 Sep 2009
Posts: 12
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 12:40 pm |
| nick1962 wrote: | I wouldn't call Delamere forest a trail centre as an earlier post has already said. If you live in Manchester get in touch with Manchester Mountain bike Riders meet up group if you want to meet some biking buddies.
There's lots of good riding around the River Mersey in Stockport and in Reddish Vale,far better than Delamere and on your doorstep(?).Get some miles under your belt here first then try out the trail centres.There's lots of of interesting local loops off most rivers, canals and railway lines and finding them is really rewarding and half the fun...just get out and ride! |
Cool, the info about River Mersery in Stockport and Reddish Vale sounds encouraging- I'm about 15-20min away from Stockport so I'll get on this soon, cheers!
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Noizetek
Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 54
Location: Glossop, High Peak, Derbyshire
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 7:30 pm |
Hey Duggan! Yeah Delamere is fantastic, had my first solo outing there a few weeks back now, nice and easy on the waymarked trails, but if you feel adventurous theres singletrack to cater, for a total beginner I would give the skills area a miss for riding, quite scary jumps if you have never done anything like that before...good to watch though! On another note, where in Stockport/Reddish Vale Nick??
Kona Blast 2008
http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/uu182/Todd_Robinson/PICT0326.jpg |
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nick1962
Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Posts: 20
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 11:14 pm |
Opposite the 24 hour Tesco next to the M60 junction 27. Just follow the paths up the valley to Reddish Vale then be prepared to get off the paths and ride through the woods downhill! There are lots of loops in the woods along the river towards Bredbury/Haughton Green in Holt wood, Horse close wood and Hulmes wood.Look on google maps.There are XC routes all the way ouit to Werneth Low and beyond.Watch out for dog walkers and Gorton or Brinnington scallies in the Vale!
Mind you if you live in Glossop you've got better on your doorstep Noizetek
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Steve_b77
Joined: 20 Sep 2007
Posts: 1233
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 11:08 am |
Delamere Forest is a nice place to get used to you bike and starting riding off road.
Once you get used to it, there are literally miles and miles of single track, log crossings, skinny log bridges, jumps, bomb, streams to ride through.
There's more than enough for 2 to 3 hours of riding without hardly touching the actual blue & white trails (mainly if not all fire road).
I live less than 1/2 mile from the station so ride there quite alot when time doesn't allow adventures further affield (?)
There's nothing like independant brand frames, yey! |
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Noizetek
Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 54
Location: Glossop, High Peak, Derbyshire
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