Nickolp1974
Active member
As I currently work just down the road I'm gonna go for a blast after work, so about 4.30, anybody know the parking cost for an hour or 2?
A lot of trail development has been done to the trails at Pines in the last 15 years, a huge amount! For starters most of the boggy bits that made the red trail impassable in winter have been drained, paved or re-routed. Many new features have been added (there is a lot more rock for example , all of it imported), oh and there are now many marker posts. The blue is unrecognisable, but the green is mostly unchanged. Brand new toilet block (still no showers though), bike wash, bigger car parks. There is a bike shop and workshop although that may have already been there 15 years ago, I've only been going there 13 years.Thanks guys, just got back to hotel for a pint! Great couple of laps, much better than I remember, it was 15 years ago though at least. E bike must help as well cos everywhere is a blast. Defo be going again.
There are no big hills at Pines, but they use what they have to good effect. I once rode with a guy who had Dalby Forest on his doorstep, he was begging for a rest less than half way round the red. He said that he could never stop pedalling.not bad for 1st time out Afternoon Activity - Nick Olphert's 19.1 mi bike ride
There are no big hills at Pines, but they use what they have to good effect. I once rode with a guy who had Dalby Forest on his doorstep, he was begging for a rest less than half way round the red. He said that he could never stop pedalling.
Just done a couple of laps of the red this morning. Nice to see the closed sections back open again in the 2 weeks since I was last there too!
Did two laps of the Blue this morning (don't think I'm ready for Red yet).
We need to wear a flower in our helmets so we can find EMTB forum users ?
I find on my ebike the red is much more enjoyable than the blue, whereas it's definitely the opposite on an analogue bike as there are so many flowing sections on the blue that suit over 15.5mph. There is nothing on the red that can't be rolled or avoided if you don't feel comfortable - give it a go ?
All you have to do is to stop for a breather, off to one side of the trail obvs. Someone will be along before too long so you can have a chat.Tried Red last month on my analogue bike, it killed me, couldn't manage it. First ride on the eMTB today, so maybe try Red next week.
Only been MTBing for 4 months, so slowly getting cardio fitter.
Thursday again and bought my bike to work but the weather ain't brilliant. How's the pines in the wet??
I don't mind that, used to mud etc living in the woldsPretty good drainage in the main, though be prepared to a few puddles
I was out this morning (Thu) and it was great, even after all the rain we've had. I tend to ride off-piste which gets less hammer than the designated trails. But then again, they don't get maintained except by me and a few other people unknown to me (God bless them, whoever they are!). Where I did ride the red, blue or green they were all fine; grippy with a few small puddles.Thursday again and bought my bike to work but the weather ain't brilliant. How's the pines in the wet??
Thanks for that Steve, another great ride. Plenty of puddles but generally good, couple of laps, a visit to the bike park, then a few runs on the downhill section which was great. Got chatting to a guy there on a hardtail(analogue) from Newark way on, really nice chap pointed me in the right direction, mentioned the forum and he said is that the one with "Steve" i'm pretty sure he meant you!!!, mentioned all the good off piste stuff, defo want to join a ride out or just spend a day or so exploring.I was out this morning (Thu) and it was great, even after all the rain we've had. I tend to ride off-piste which gets less hammer than the designated trails. But then again, they don't get maintained except by me and a few other people unknown to me (God bless them, whoever they are!). Where I did ride the red, blue or green they were all fine; grippy with a few small puddles.
Pines has a seemingly inexhaustible capacity to soak up rain until all of a sudden it doesn't, and then the trails sprout puddles everywhere. The soil is sandy and drains easily, and from Spring to Autumn the trees drink a lot of water. Then the trees go into hibernation and the rain increases. Once the water table rises to the surface, that's it! Even a little bit of rain produced lots of deep and large puddles.
Pines used to be most unpleasant from about late October until late February, the only respite being when it was frozen solid. But over the years, Forest England have done a huge amount to drain the worst bits, go around them if they can't, or have armoured the surface to stop the bikes digging deeper and deeper holes. As a consequence, Pines is ridable all year round now.
The answer to your question is that Pines is riding just fine right now. It's grippy with a few puddles, but unless we get some torrential rain for a few weeks, I doubt that we will see the big puddles everywhere like used to happen.
not tried the blue yet, any good???I'll be there Saturday morning for a couple of laps of the blue. Then find the down hill section and see what that's all about.
I find on my ebike the red is much more enjoyable than the blue, whereas it's definitely the opposite on an analogue bike as there are so many flowing sections on the blue that suit over 15.5mph. There is nothing on the red that can't be rolled or avoided if you don't feel comfortable - give it a go ?
think i better join you on your rideout Steve and learn some more about the area. Been out with a work colleague tonight parked near to the pines but went to clumber and sherwood parks, taking it steady as he has just had a knee op, was good to see new places.There are a few places at Pines where the red and blue either cross over, share a trail for a short section, or get very close so that you can swap over. Before I started doing the off-piste stuff I used to ride the red and blue together, swapping from one to the other. You can do several different 18 mile circuits that way.
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