Non technical x country?

[Byrne]

Hello there, I'm a newbie, with a burning question.

Went out with a cross country group for the first time the other day, previous to which I had only really ridden tarmac and bumpy fields (!).

I was expecting to tackle some mud and some hills, but for the focus to be on endurance and possibly speed, so when confronted with "singletrack" trails, jumps and twisty winding tree-rooted lumpy little paths down steep and narrow banks I was unprepared and a little put off. Whilst I did actually enjoy it, I made it through by the skin of my teeth and am wondering: is there a type of racing that is off-road, but also not very technical? I want to climb hills and concentrate on determination and speed, in a natural environment, rather than negotiating obstacles.

The guys I was with are also very into downhill, so that might account for the route we took to some extent, but they assured me that "cross country" does have technical elements, and so I'm thinking that it's not for me, and I'm gutted!

 

[PK99]

Hello there, I'm a newbie, with a burning question.

Went out with a cross country group for the first time the other day, previous to which I had only really ridden tarmac and bumpy fields (!).

I was expecting to tackle some mud and some hills, but for the focus to be on endurance and possibly speed, so when confronted with "singletrack" trails, jumps and twisty winding tree-rooted lumpy little paths down steep and narrow banks I was unprepared and a little put off. Whilst I did actually enjoy it, I made it through by the skin of my teeth and am wondering: is there a type of racing that is off-road, but also not very technical? I want to climb hills and concentrate on determination and speed, in a natural environment, rather than negotiating obstacles.

The guys I was with are also very into downhill, so that might account for the route we took to some extent, but they assured me that "cross country" does have technical elements, and so I'm thinking that it's not for me, and I'm gutted!

Speed is a key factor, it can be very intimidating doing technical off road stuff with people who are faster and far more skilled and who make no allowance for you - forgetting that when they first started they too were slower and more cautious.


I don't like (and avoid like the plague)  the technical stuff in the in the surrey hills around leith hill, but OTOH have done hundreds of off road miles in the Surrey hills on the many Trails criss crosssing the area - and there are ways up and down leith hill that are achievable by all ranges of ability & bottle.

I don't know where you are, but i'm sure you can find a similar mix and that routes that today you find "technical" will become easier. Stuff that continues to scare the s**t out of you - avoid!

 

[Debian]

Of course non-technical XC exists.Get yourself an Ordnance Survey map of your local area, or any area you want to cycle in, and look for Bridleways, Byways OpenTo All Traffic and Restricted Byways. These are usualy unsurfaced roads that are legally usable by cyclists. Depending on the area they range from simple gravel tracks to quite demanding terrain. This is what I do for all of my XC riding and I can easily set up a circular route that's as simple or as demanding as I like.Also look at Forestry Commission land, usually open access and open to cyclists.Do keep to legally usable tracks though. Never use footpaths, or go "off-piste", stick rigidly to BWs, BOATs and RBs + cycle-permissive open access land.

 

[skudupnorth]

I did Delamere forest with my 6 year old the other week and it was just right for the off road feel whilst being safe for the youngster.I guess most forestry commision sites will proberly have such trails to suite all kinds of riders.

This is the sort of trail that we rode around Delamere.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

south downs way. a significant challenge to ride but only about 0.001% has anything technical about it.
downslink. less of a challenge similar technical content.
most easy (I forget the colour) or family runs at trail centres
and as is said above most of your local bridleways and byways, rupps and boats.

 

[Cubist]

Hello there, I'm a newbie, with a burning question.

Went out with a cross country group for the first time the other day, previous to which I had only really ridden tarmac and bumpy fields (!).

I was expecting to tackle some mud and some hills, but for the focus to be on endurance and possibly speed, so when confronted with "singletrack" trails, jumps and twisty winding tree-rooted lumpy little paths down steep and narrow banks I was unprepared and a little put off. Whilst I did actually enjoy it, I made it through by the skin of my teeth and am wondering: is there a type of racing that is off-road, but also not very technical? I want to climb hills and concentrate on determination and speed, in a natural environment, rather than negotiating obstacles.

The guys I was with are also very into downhill, so that might account for the route we took to some extent, but they assured me that "cross country" does have technical elements, and so I'm thinking that it's not for me, and I'm gutted!

Where do you live?

Many trail centres have blue or green trails that are nearly all on fire roads with a bit of simple singletrack involved.

If you want to build a bit of confidence, go and ride Sherwood Pines. The red route is about as easy as they get in terms of technical trail features, but has enough swoops and bumps to get the adrenaline flowing if you go flat out. It will also build your confidence if you ride it at your pace, not the pace of a bunch of far more experienced hardcore gnarly dudes etc. I had a similar experience at Kirroughtree and Dalbeattie at the weekend. I was riding with a bunch of guys who are faster, more experienced and confident than me. I found the tech features very hard in places.

Then go and get yourself out on bridleways. Funnily enough, bridleways can be just as tech as trail centres, so the two can and do lead into each other.

Get out and ride.

I