Hamsterley Forest

Welcome to Leeds Mountain Bikers (LMB). We meet regularly for adventurous and challenging off-road rides and our aim is to provide a friendly and supportive atmosphere in which to enjoy our sport, with all the benefits of riding in a social group.

We welcome new members, but please understand that while many of our riders have a lot of experience, we do not hold any formal qualifications and we are not instructors, mentors nor technical experts. We will always help and support each other when needed, and will never leave a group member behind, but all riders must accept that mountain biking is a dangerous sport, and that individual riders are responsible for their own safety.

Please make sure you read our 'About' page, here on Meetup for full details on how our events work. You will be required to complete a 'Rider Information Form' and to sign our 'Participation Statement and Acceptance of Risk' as conditions of riding with us.

...then sign up on one of our rides. They are always great days out and it will be brilliant to meet you.

LAST RIDDEN

25/02/22

MEET-UP TIME

10:15am for 10:30am start

RIDE GRADING

Advanced - Intermediate

MEET-UP POINT

Hamsterley Forest, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL13 3NL

Main car park adjacent to toilet block (on left as Forest Drive goes around to right) Fee for parking (ANPR system)

RIDE DESCRIPTION

The ride will comprise of the complete Black route and descent sections of the Red route (Transmission, Accelerator, Nitrous, Section 13).

The Black route is quite natural in feel, with challenging rocks and roots throughout. The Red descent sections are much more artificial, littered with more rocks, drop-offs, berms, jumps and bombholes. Together, it makes for a technically demanding and interesting ride, with plenty of opportunities to get the adrenaline flowing!

Although stated as predominantly a Black ride, please don’t let that put you off. In reality it is more like a challenging Red route, with features similar to the technical highlights from the likes of Gisburn, Stainburn, Lee Quarry and Dalby.

Most of the trail is hard surfaced in the usual trail centre fashion, but some sections have been left natural, with mud, slippery rocks and roots to navigate in the wet!

DISTANCE

13.5 miles

RIDE DURATION

Around 3.5 Hours

RECOMMENDATIONS

Spares, tubes, patches, at least 2 litres of water, high energy snacks, knee / elbow pads

SAFETY

Mandatory helmet and knee pad requirement to ride.