Sherwood Pines off-piste Sun 22nd Sep

[steve_sordy]

For those of you who have been to Pines and done the regular trails, you won't see much you recognise. A few of you have been with me off-piste before and have seen some of the more interesting and stretching stuff there is. My buddy and I have found some more and at least one is proper scary (to us two at least). We have cleared out the brambles and the gorse, that was "stopping" us riding down it, but we still haven't ridden it clean from top to bottom.

Today we put together a circuit that is about 18 miles long and we both believe that you will love it. The vast majority of the obstacles are avoidable, all are roll-able. The "proper scary" one is also roll-able, but unavoidable, so if you don't fancy it, you can do what we did - walked the bike down the worst bits! I'm hoping that the camaraderie of many supportive riding buddies will give me a skills boost!

Meet at 10am ready to ride Sun 22nd Sep at the end of Eakring Road East just before it turns to sand. Parking here is free instead of £6 for the Pines car park, but there is no security, no toilets, no cafe. (My buddy parks there all the time).
Proper co-ordinates will be supplied as soon as I know what they are (see note below).

Note: See post#8 for the location.

Note: There are now two meeting points. see post #17

 

[JetSetDemo]

I was at the pines today with my wife and was discussing this very subject, where to park and what else there was to ride.

I might be up for this, if I am still I. One piece after the FOD ride Saturday.

Demo

 

[Doomanic]

I might be up for this, if I am still in One piece after the FOD ride Saturday.

This is the Sunday before the FoD ride...

 

[JetSetDemo]

In that case I’m in

 

[Doomanic]

Unfortunately, I'm holiday shopping with the boss that day. Yaaaay!

 

[Hinett]

@steve_sordy count me in

 

[steve_sordy]

Well that's four of us so far.
Me and my buddy (known as @myapes on here)
@Hinett
@JetSetDemo
I will post the location next and also update the initial post, just to be sure.

 

[steve_sordy]

Location of the meeting point.

For those that use what3words
3 word address: ///reds.recent.questions

I don't know why it comes up as Deerdale Lane, I thought it was Eakring Road East, but I've Googled it and it's correct.

For those with sat navs
53deg 08' 55.4" N OR 53.148731 N
01deg 04' 25.1" W OR 1.073647 W

Finally, Google Earth
Google Earth

 

[Zimmerframe]

It's too far for me .. but Google Maps :

Google Maps

 

[steve_sordy]

It's too far for me .. but Google Maps :

Google Maps

That looks nice! I reckon it might be that place NE of the meeting point. I had no idea it was there until I first looked on Google Earth.

 

[steve_sordy]

Personally, I prefer to meet in the Sherwood Pines car park. It is secure, serviced with loos, cafe and friendly bike shop that also does lots of servicing. It is £6 for all day; you can pay less but too short for the guided ride I've got planned. My view is that the £6 is a contribution to the trail upkeep and new features that keep appearing. Long sections of the red and blue is now completely new and recently opened. In addition, the Forest England rangers provide an emergency service if you get injured where they can get to you. I've never needed it but a mate of mine did an OTB on to rock and he was not a pretty sight! They strapped him onto a spinal board and took him back to their offices to meet the ambulance.
But £6 is £6 and I recognise that many object to spending it if they can see a way to avoid it. This will be the first time that I have run a Pines guided ride starting from outside the Sherwood Pines area.

 

[Zimmerframe]

That looks nice! I reckon it might be that place NE of the meeting point. I had no idea it was there until I first looked on Google Earth.

Damn .. did I give the wrong location ? I thought that was matched to your three words and google earth link .. I'll have another look later .. doh ..

 

[JetSetDemo]

Pines car park also works for me, not sure I like leaving my bike transport up a lane in the woods.

 

[Peaky Rider]

Personally, I prefer to meet in the Sherwood Pines car park. It is secure, serviced with loos, cafe and friendly bike shop that also does lots of servicing. It is £6 for all day; you can pay less but too short for the guided ride I've got planned. My view is that the £6 is a contribution to the trail upkeep and new features that keep appearing. Long sections of the red and blue is now completely new and recently opened. In addition, the Forest England rangers provide an emergency service if you get injured where they can get to you. I've never needed it but a mate of mine did an OTB on to rock and he was not a pretty sight! They strapped him onto a spinal board and took him back to their offices to meet the ambulance.
But £6 is £6 and I recognise that many object to spending it if they can see a way to avoid it. This will be the first time that I have run a Pines guided ride starting from outside the Sherwood Pines area.

I'm with you on that one Steve. I'm happier paying the £6 and feeling my car is relatively safe and that I'm contributing to the facilities provided rather than leave it in some secluded woodland. We are after all only a few miles from Clipstone. OMG! there I go again, just one glass of wine and I'm risking offending half of Nottinghamshire.

I would love to be shown a few new routes around the area and will hopefully be able to join you, but I won't be on the Focus as it's buggered. Will wait and see how the arrangements develop.

Maybe we could park where we like and have an easily identifiable and mutually convenient rendezvous point?

 

[Hinett]

Pines carpark good for me, my discovery pass runs till end of Sept, but happy to meet up where is best for everyone

 

[steve_sordy]

Let's wait and see who else wants to go. The car park and the meeting place are only 5 mins away from each other (says myApes)

 

[steve_sordy]

Using the GPS coordinates I went to the proposed meeting point (it works!). The approach is a down a long narrow road that is not maintained and with few passing places. The parking up place is OK, but isolated. I don't like it, I'm concerned that my tow-bar rack might not be there when I get back. And of course I already have a pre-paid pass for the car park.
@myapes and I have had a chat and we have agreed that he will meet those that want to use the Eakring Road location and bring them to the Pines cafe veranda for 10am. Meet ready to ride at 09:50.

Those with a pass or prefer the Pines car park, meet ready to ride at 10:am by the cafe veranda.
Here is the post code for Pines: NG21 9JL

For those preferring the free parking: See post # 8 for the directions.
It is 1.4 miles from Eakring Rd to the cafe and really does take only 5 mins - I did it today to check. Ride to the end of Eakring Rd just before where it turns to sand and then turn right, go past the gate and pedal in a straight line for one mile. You will see the World War 1 exhibition on your left. Another 100 yards or so and you will come to a cross roads. Go over the cross roads and after a few yards there is a gravelled path going off to the right at 45 degrees. Follow that path until it splits at another cross roads. The right turn and the straight ahead pass around either side of a large field, go right and keep the field on your left. The path brings you to the cafe.

 

[Peaky Rider]

Sweet Steve, I'll be paying my sick squid, as long as it's not peeing it down.

 

[steve_sordy]

Well that's five of us so far.
Me and @myapes
@Hinett
@JetSetDemo
@Peaky Rider

 

[steve_sordy]

The weather forecast is good and is stable for a week either side, so even with the tendency for the weather to drift forwards or backwards, it will still be 20-22 degC and partly cloudy.

 

[JetSetDemo]

@Tunny hey you fancy this?

 

[Mad Mark]

Jet set demo it’s not the day after FOD, it’s the week before the ride out at FOD !

 

[JetSetDemo]

Yes I know that know, that was at the start of the thread, you know I am confused mostly.

So @Mad Mark do you fancy this?

 

[Mad Mark]

Can’t make that Sunday jetset
Have done pines before, but not the off-piste stuff, would like to do it some day

 

[steve_sordy]

Can’t make that Sunday jetset
Have done pines before, but not the off-piste stuff, would like to do it some day

I ride there frequently, let me know through this forum when you fancy a go. Maybe wait until after the Forum Ride to get some feedback?

 

[Mad Mark]

I ride there frequently, let me know through this forum when you fancy a go. Maybe wait until after the Forum Ride to get some feedback?

Will do Steve, see if you can get a big forum ride out of it.

 

[Tunny]

@Tunny hey you fancy this?

No can do mate, I've got family commitments that weekend

 

[steve_sordy]

Will do Steve, see if you can get a big forum ride out of it.

It's not looking likely. So far there is only five of us going. I really need six in total.
Two to carry me back, the other three to push two bikes each back to the car park!

 

[Digcon]

I’ll go I can meet the car park
How will I find you guys

 

[steve06]

think i can make this...ill park in pines, guys you can park at Vickers water clipstone if you dont want to park in Pines, its free but there is a box for contributions, also a Cafe, Rumbles, its a short off road run into pines from the car park