Help. MTB day out for the family

[Harv]

looking to go somewhere with the wife and my 16 year old son on October 28th

They have little MTB experience so looking for some trails suitable to this level of experience.

Ideally somewhere I can rent the bikes as well.

I'm based in E Yorkshire but happy to travel somewhere the night before and book a hotel.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[DRM]

Dalby forest or Sherwood pines would do, both have different graded trails, so you can go as hard or easy as you see fit, and they both have a cafe for coffee, cake and bacon butties, if I go to Dalby I park at Dixons Hollow its a fair ride up from the cafe car park back up to the trails.

 

[Harv]

Dalby forest or Sherwood pines would do, both have different graded trails, so you can go as hard or easy as you see fit, and they both have a cafe for coffee, cake and bacon butties, if I go to Dalby I park at Dixons Hollow its a fair ride up from the cafe car park back up to the trails.

Thanks. I'll need to hire bikes. Do they have any at Dixons Hollow?

 

[Cubist]

The Bike Hire is back next to the visitor centre. The Green blue and red trails can all be accessed from there, except the Black World Cup course.

 

[DRM]

Yes as cubist says the hire bikes are down at the visitor centre,its quite a climb up to the trails if you have inexperienced riders with you, Sherwood Pines its at the bike shop below the car park, a bit more of a gentle start to the ride, I think you will be looking at £25 ish per bike per day, don't forget some i.d

 

[Harv]

Thanks for the replies.

What's the name of the bike hire shop nearest to the start of the blue trail. I've done a Google search and there seem to be a few in the area but I can't tell which is the closest.

 

[Cubist]

Go ride the red at Sherwood. It's great for families and doesn't need much experience. Otherwise the Blue at Dalby has some fire road climbs but nothing major. Personally I'd recommend Sherwoood

 

[Harv]

Go ride the red at Sherwood. It's great for families and doesn't need much experience. Otherwise the Blue at Dalby has some fire road climbs but nothing major. Personally I'd recommend Sherwoood

Where is the best place to hire a bike here? Is this close to the trail start?

 

[DRM]

Yes it's. Right at the start just below the car park area 2 minutes walk from the car park.

 

[DRM]

Should say it's £3.50 to park up

 

[Harv]

Anyone know the name of either cycle hire place (Dalby or Sherwood Pines)?

Both are just over an hour from me. I'm paranoid is turn up and there are no bikes available for hire so I want to book in advance.

I think I'd do the blue route on either course. Dalby is 12.8km and Sherwood is just under 10km so not too much in the distance.

The Sherwood blue looks a little easier than the Dalby Forest one.

I think the red route is too much on either course.

Remember my wife and son have never been MTB before. I don't want to put them off. I'd rather give them something they'll enjoy and want to do again.

 

[DRM]

It's called Sherwood Pines cycles, I. Don't know if you can book hire bikes, but they have plenty of them, you can't go wrong its the only bike shop in the forest, don't forget to get a leaflet with a map of the trails & fire roads and have a great day out.

 

[Cubist]

Anyone know the name of either cycle hire place (Dalby or Sherwood Pines)?

Both are just over an hour from me. I'm paranoid is turn up and there are no bikes available for hire so I want to book in advance.

I think I'd do the blue route on either course. Dalby is 12.8km and Sherwood is just under 10km so not too much in the distance.

The Sherwood blue looks a little easier than the Dalby Forest one.

I think the red route is too much on either course.

Remember my wife and son have never been MTB before. I don't want to put them off. I'd rather give them something they'll enjoy and want to do again.

If you have any level of fitness the red at Sherwood is rideable. As a reasonably experienced MTBer I would say the gradings at Sherwood are very conservative. There's only one climb to speak of, and there are no jumps, steps or drops. It's all smoothish singletrack with a couple of bermed sections where a novice would have to ride carefully. You could always walk those sections. I always recommend the red to novices who want to build up confidence. Your choice of course, don't feel pressured into overstretching you or your family. It's about 12 km in total.

 

[VJOCK]

We do sherwood pines blue route and it was fine. All novice mtb'ers. Did it on tandem and Isla bikes with mtb tyres. One or two places we got off and pushed but bear in mind junior and mini vjock are under 8 and mini has hemiplegia so not very strong small for age and balance issues. The skills loop at start by the car park is great fun. Also there is a go ape which the kids loved and mrs vjock. I watched from the safe secure solid ground!! The cafe there is excellent also. If we lived closer I would have bought annual pass.