Trail centres - do they really work for a retro bike?

[brocklanders023]

Only been to Dalby and the mini TC at Gusburn (both with my 5 )but I'd say you could ride 'em both with a retro bike.

I like natural trails and am lucky that the likes of Malham, Settle etc are on my doorstep but also enjoy TC's as you know what you're going to get and I like what I get.

 

[ededwards]

Ed you wouldn't like trail centres, far too vulgar. Ill mannered oiks with no sense of style or penache hurtling around on bicycles with suspension whilst wearing their nast baggy shorts, baggy tops and body armour.

You'd spend your whole day tutting and going nowhere in case you came too close to one of them.

Quite right, definitely for the nouveau arriveste but was wondering whether you need a particular type of bike to enjoy them and the concensus seems to be "no".

 

[Neil G]

Do you need 6 inches of burl to enjoy a trail centre?

Or is it fine on a retro ride just at a slightly more modest pace (required anyway so people can appreciate the attention to detail of your colour matching)?

And finally, are trail centres too sanitised and unidirectional?

Ed you wouldn't like trail centres, far too vulgar. Ill mannered oiks with no sense of style or penache hurtling around on bicycles with suspension whilst wearing their nast baggy shorts, baggy tops and body armour.

You'd spend your whole day tutting and going nowhere in case you came too close to one of them.

Yep, lot of them types about

Man made berms rule though so I'm prepared to put up with the oiks

 

[orange71]

trail centres have their place and if they keep the bridleways clear for us then so much the better

To answer your question though, I have got much more out of trail centres on my rigid singlespeed hardtail than on my full suss as the paths on the latter become even more of a motorway.

The former at least make the journey a little more exciting.

 

[Pickle]

trail centres have their place and if they keep the bridleways clear for us then so much the better

Given the choice, I'd much rather ride a bridleway or footpath than a trail centre.

The best rides out are the ones where you feel in the middle of nowhere and dont see anyone, just countryside and wildlife.

 

[Agency_Scum]

It comes down to design. I've done most of the trail centres in Scotland, Glentress and Innerleithen especially, and they're really well thought out and compromising but NOT compromised.

 

[cannondale king]

iv'e always had fun no mater what i ride as long as its not 9" dh rig (they just dont seem right) as mint sauce once said "more smiles than miles"

 

[LeeDevelopment]

I've ridden the 'trail centre' tracks at Hamsterley Forest and feel it's spoiled the forest trails completely. My history with that place goes back a very long time, I've assisted with the Hamsterley Hammer, NEMBA, NAMBS and NPS courses and races there. Some of you may remember the sheer drop section in the NPS XC course in '99? That was one of my little babies! As well as developing both the original (old skool) downhill and the new official way-marked one.

There's just no 'flow' with the trail centre style tracks. It's best to get yourself over to Egglestone and ride into Hamsterley via Egglestone Moor. Or go further up the dale to the mine track leading into the forest from the Stanhope Road. Much better rides. Even then someone has now smoothed out the old mine track which used to be a blast.

I miss that place. London sucks for off road riding.

 

[velomaniac]

Modern trail centres were designed for modern bikes and thus their capabilities.

Retro bikes were designed for riding terrain no one designed for the bike and thus trail centres are within the capability of retro bikes. I can ride Glentress and Innerleithen on a rigid retro steed without problem. I dont get big air nor charge flat out but for me that is not a problem.

Big Kudos though when you come to a halt beside modern riders who look at you and your bike with disbelief and awe

Ride what YOU think you can ride, not what THEY think you should ride

 

[LeeDevelopment]

I've ridden at Inners, Glentress, Ae Forest, Hamsterley Forest et al all on a retro hardtail steed and the modern hardtail rig with no problems at all.