Last weekend - Dalby Forest, Yorkshire, UK

[Colin]

Hi All,
Just had a great Saturday at Dalby Forest, North Yorks, UK. Mainly on their Red route.
£7 car parking but the trail construction makes it worth it.

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/ourwoods.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/EnglandNorthYorkshireNoForestDalbyForestDalbyCourtyardREDCycleTrail

Basically just a Forestry XC ride, but with a few more technical and exciting bits especially if you deviate off onto some of the Blacks!
http://www.singletraction.org.uk/downloads/dalbymap01.jpg



Here's a Youtube video of someone else's day there to give you a bit of an idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U71ENdEp0ns

The 4X course (8.35 into the video) is pretty good as are the jumps and crushed limestone bermed sections immediately after that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkQe287RDy4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmxK45dF-rA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-qhdSbGQEY

We had full on sunshine, 30 deg C, and it was pretty hard work on the climbs in that heat.

All in all, an excellent day out that the 4000se coped pretty well with.

Col.

[shovelon]

Nice, that looks like fun!

30 degrees C , I would be putting on a jacket.

Terry

[jeffhop]

i went to dalby at the weekend and if im honest i never enjoyed it, did the red route and to be honest im glad i never took the oz as its too rough and with my ability to ride into things rather than round them i might have caused the old girl a bit of damage, the red route there is more like the black route at my local trails and i just couldnt get any flow into my riding too much stop start for me im afraid, if your fearless and fit then its a great place to go but if your fearful and fat like me then its a waste of time imo 

[Colin]

Hi Jeff,
Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy it, I absolutley loved it, bit one thing my mob agreed on was that it was a tough trail for a Red, (bit like Ski resorts I guess, it's all relative!)

Where's your local trail?

I thought the worst bit was a rock trail where the limestone had worn away and left the jagged granite showing through and I thought my teeth were going to smash due to the juddering!

I felt I was pushing the 4000se (and me) to our limits and so that was good, but hard work!

Had a great compliement from someone on a downhill monster who asked if the forks were "Girvins", which of course they are (Crosslinks) and he said he was really impressed with watching them working coming down the hill towards him and he was certain I would brake or get off for the rolling dips and jumps and the final rock drop off, but by that time I was so knackered I just thought "sod it" and went for it, maybe 3' of air on the final jump and it all ended nicely, so no complaints.
Of course I also overtook him on the next climb so an extra point scored for the relatively light weight of the K2!

Can't wait to try it on a rebuilt Oz with Maverick forks!

P.S. in my case, Fat=5'8"/90Kg and fearful=44 years old! <GRIN>

Col.

[jeffhop]

my local trails are hamsterley forest in co durham only about 15 mins away by car and only £3 to park but ive got the yearly pass which has already paid for itself. i think half my problem was i went with a mate and his mate, both fitter than me and they just left me, i never saw them for about 45 mins till i rode my way round to the north shore part where they were waiting for me, if id had a problem or come off i was knackered and i wasnt impressed, guess that put me in a bad mood  and it affected the whole day for me. after that i left them to it   and followed my gps back to the car park,  i might go back but not with my so called `mate`his trail etiquette leaves something to be desired. if i went with guys of my own ability and fitness it would be enjoyable im sure, as its rated the best trail centre in england.