Charging a bike at Hamsterley.

[Beezerk]

Hi, I'm off to Hamsterley with a mate for the first time on Friday and we're hoping to get a decent days riding in.
Are there any shops or cafes there which are e-bike friendly? I was hoping to maybe get a spot of lunch and give the bikes a quick boost while we're there.
Or is it just a case of a packed lunch and using Eco mode more

 

[Neverbeentomoab]

There’s no bike shop at hamsterley but there isa cafe but it’s quite small so not sure they would charge a battery.

 

[Gary]

how about contacting

https://www.descendbikepark.com/

 

[Supratad]

Do you really want to ride about with your charger in a back pack? Probably need a trailing socket too.

 

[Beezerk]

Do you really want to ride about with your charger in a back pack? Probably need a trailing socket too.

I was sort of hoping the cafe would be near the car park ?

 

[Beezerk]

how about contacting

https://www.descendbikepark.com/

Good shout thanks, we wont be attempting the Descent park as we're a couple of wusses but maybe they have some spare sockets to use ?

 

[Gary]

Haven't been since Danny and his family took over the lease but there used to be a portacabin type set-up up near the start of the DH tracks/end of the 4X track. There were always a number if different tracks leading down the hill from that area varying from fireroad to proper DH tracks but even with the DH tracks not all will be super gnarly/rough/technical and I'm fairly sure most jump/drops will have a safer option to ride around. and if not, some sort of warning sign preceding it (like most bikeparks do) either way. even if riding DH is of no interest to you it's gotta be a good place to ask for advice on what/where to ride when you arrive.

 

[WilkyWay]

Hi, I'm off to Hamsterley with a mate for the first time on Friday and we're hoping to get a decent days riding in.
Are there any shops or cafes there which are e-bike friendly? I was hoping to maybe get a spot of lunch and give the bikes a quick boost while we're there.
Or is it just a case of a packed lunch and using Eco mode more

I ride Hamsterley twice a week most weeks, I don’t think they have any dedicated charging stations but a nice cafe worker maybe willing to let you plug in for an hour or so, if they’re open that is, amidst the covid chaos.
Make sure you go up and ride K-line, transmission, accelerator and nitrous trails ??

 

[Beezerk]

^^^^
Top stuff, thanks mate ?

 

[WilkyWay]

^^^^
Top stuff, thanks mate ?

Where about's are you from?

 

[Beezerk]

Where about's are you from?

Gateshead, next to Chopwell Woods.
What about you?

 

[WilkyWay]

Gateshead, next to Chopwell Woods.
What about you?

Crook, just next to Hamsterley. I've always fancied venturing over to Chopwell but don't really know anyone who knows the woods...

 

[Beezerk]

My mate who I'm going to Hamsterley with is the Chopwell expert, bit looking at the map of Hamsterley, Chopwell isn't anywhere near as close in selection of trails.
I'll report back after our jaunt on Friday ?

 

[WilkyWay]

@Beezerk did you get out for a ride today?

 

[Beezerk]

@Beezerk did you get out for a ride today?

Yes mate, what a great days riding.
Started on the black trail, didn't really enjoy that, too many tree roots and gnarly stuff for my liking, and what's with that ridiculous climb up then down to Oddsocks
We took the long way around to the top of the reds but what a bunch of trails they were, absolutely superb stuff, you're a lucky man going there so often.
Pick of the day for us both was the second one we did, think it was called K Line, great flow and elevation changes, absolutely loved it. Next time we said we'd just go straight up there and do those loops a few times.
As a comparison v Chopwell Woods, we found The Loop near the car park before we went home, we were both whooping down some of it as it's miles better than Chopwell

 

[Beezerk]

 

[WilkyWay]

Excellent! From K-line down to the river is the best past of the forest. I used to dread that climb on my Trek Fuel, doesn’t bother me on the Rail anymore, although I regularly get called 4 letter words climbing past analogue bikes up there.

 

[Beezerk]

Hey Wilky, what's the latest crack at Hamsterley?
Chopwell closed the car park a few weeks ago but people are still going and just parking on the verge. We had 7 vans full of MTB riders this evening, all parked up and milling together, looked like some kind of club meet.
Are people still getting into Hamsterley (I hear the car park is closed as well) or is it being policed better than at Chopwell?

 

[WilkyWay]

Hey Wilky, what's the latest crack at Hamsterley?
Chopwell closed the car park a few weeks ago but people are still going and just parking on the verge. We had 7 vans full of MTB riders this evening, all parked up and milling together, looked like some kind of club meet.
Are people still getting into Hamsterley (I hear the car park is closed as well) or is it being policed better than at Chopwell?

It’s not being policed as far as I’m aware but there are no staff on site and all the facilities and car park gates are closed. They have ANPR cameras which could be used to record cars going in and out of the forest I guess? There are residents who live in the forest so the access is still there but I’d discourage anyone from visiting. No phone signal in most of the forest so should you hurt yourself you could be in trouble.

 

[Beezerk]

Yeah true about the phone signal ?
My mate was thinking they've probably blocked off most of the trails to stop people going there. Its mad in Chopwell, like half the dog walkers and mtbers of the north east have decided it's the go to place ?