A night ride in Sherwood Pines? Nothing sweeter!
Q. Does the car park close overnight?
A. Yes. In the winter it shuts at 6pm every night of the week except Wednesday when it shuts at 10pm. In the summer it stays open till 10pm every night.
Q. Are there any organised nights for night riding?
A. The bike shop there is open on a Wednesday night and has an organised ride. They are a bit 'up themselves', all ride carbon Scotts and say things like 'don't ride if you can't keep up'...
Not my cup of tea...
Q. Any pro tips from the locals?
A. Back in the day (5 years ago) when I started night riding at the Pines if you didn't ride on a Wednesday the woods were deserted most nights and just a little bit spooky at times...now you see lights bobbing about most weekday nights. Riders park in the (incredible) pub down the road in Kings Clipstone and either enter the woods down the spooky bridal-way and old railway tracks or cycle up the road to the main entrance.
The pub is OK for a drink afterwards but it is petty bizarre inside. We call it the Gaybar. Don't leave your bikes on roofbars/bike racks if you use that pub or the Rose Cottage on the A614.
For your ride it's easiest to follow the red route which with half decent lights is a doddle and not red at all.
I night ride every week with the retroboys over Ticknall way but it never feels the same as a night in the Pines. There is something about being enclosed by the trees that makes it feel a little more edgy and I will admit that at times I have breathed a sigh of relief when we hit the road at the end, particularly if it's just two of you...
It's definitely different to a bridleway night ride and the trails always feel fast with the lights on...
