[Closed] 417 bike park, 28th Aug....Anyone fancy it ?

still spaces on a Saturday! Hmmmm calendar check..

Be honest never fancy it only live 5 miles away pass above it enough off road on the hill above it and by van always prefer to go down the Forest of Dean much more interesting have nothing against the place.

Far too technical for me.

You'd love the blue Kryts... it's super swoopy and smooth.

Was there yesterday with 2 moderately competent (read "more competent than I am") 15 year-olds.

Great day, except my new cassette/freehub decided to eat itself halfway through the afternoon.

Would recommend...

Really like it, they show how much you can do with a small hill and not much space, all really packed in and none of the wasted dead trail you tend to get at places that have more room. And always getting better, too. Good burgers!

Rather go to FOD or BMCC mind but that's just being spoiled for choice, it's not a criticism.

Rather go to FOD or BMCC

Been to FoD 15+ times this year.
BMCC is fully booked. So is BPW.

So we went with 417.

remedyflyer
Free Member
Be honest never fancy it only live 5 miles away pass above it enough off road on the hill above it and by van always prefer to go down the Forest of Dean much more interesting have nothing against the place.

Same for me, prefer going to FoD, it's just not that much for a day out at 417, only so many times you can do dubby skipper or igneous, they have so much potential to improve it as well, and haven't over the years, it's still the same as when i first went.

We had a good couple of hours a few weeks back and enjoyed it.
We Were on the Levos so can't comment on the uplift.
Any riding is good riding 😎

I'm also a local (within a few miles), I go on average around once or twice a year, same for FOD. But my main put off was Ive always had to push up now I have wheels/tyres that are uplift compatible I'll be visiting more often, been once so far this year with a view for more visits in the autumn.

The natural riding in the area is also really good so if it's fully booked it's not an issue. But every time I go I have  a good time and enjoy myself.

argee
Full Member

they have so much potential to improve it as well, and haven’t over the years, it’s still the same as when i first went.

Em, I think what you mean is "they've added new stuff but you don't want to ride it"?

I’m generally interested but I have road bike commitments that weekend.

I’m definitely interested in mountain biking in the area, so do shout if you’re making similar plans for another weekend.

Northwind
Full Member
argee
Full Member

they have so much potential to improve it as well, and haven’t over the years, it’s still the same as when i first went.

Em, I think what you mean is “they’ve added new stuff but you don’t want to ride it”?

Not sure what new stuff, it realistically has 5 trails, 2 blues with cheeseroller being the better one, 2 reds that are quite good and the black that's had some stuff done, but the 4x and dual slalom are overgrown and not used in a while, the rest of the site is similar, apart from the barns, but not really bothered about that stuff for more than a quick warm up.

Go over to Wind Hill and look at what they've done since lockdown, or before, they've added new stuff, they've improved almost all the trails.

I live down the road from 417 and honestly wouldn't drive past Dursley or Nibley trails for it, let alone the stuff up Painswick, Cranham, Birdlip and Leckhampton hat are next to 417.

That's the great thing about bikes, we're not all the same

argee
Full Member

Not sure what new stuff, it realistically has 5 trails, 2 blues with cheeseroller being the better one, 2 reds that are quite good and the black that’s had some stuff done, but the 4x and dual slalom are overgrown and not used in a while, the rest of the site is similar, apart from the barns, but not really bothered about that stuff for more than a quick warm up.

Infinity and Beyond was opened in 2019... And the red and blue on the left side of the hill are massively changed (there was a line there when I first rode there but it was just scratched out, nothing like exists now) The dirt jumps field gets constantly tweaked and changed. It's changed loads over the years.

Isn't Infinity and Beyond just another line that snakes over the middle lines anyway, then ends with massive gaps that are a bit out of 99% of riders ability?

As i've said, personally i just don't think they've done much with the place over the last couple of years, whilst the other places have, you go to Wind Hill they've added decent stuff, you go to FoD they've fixed a lot of the stuff and BPW have added loads as well.

argee
Full Member

Isn’t Infinity and Beyond just another line that snakes over the middle lines anyway, then ends with massive gaps that are a bit out of 99% of riders ability?

Yes- which is a massive addition. It doesn't stop counting just because we don't want to ride it. Same as the dirt jumps etc. Like I said, you're saying they should build more, but discounting most of what they do just because you don't want to ride it.

And comparing with BPW is a bit ridiculous don't you think?

Bit disappointed in today in honesty.

First run down, withing 50m my back brake wasnt right, I'd given it a bleed last night to firm up the lever and it was squidgy. In the next 300m it went from slightly squidgy to none existent and I needed it on a left and it came back to the bar. Which resulted in me hitting the deck. It was sort of an off the side and a tumble over the top and a very ungracious dismount.

I run SRAM guide brakes and they have a bleeding edge port, I'd not tightened it up enough and it was pissing fluid out all over the caliper, wheel and disc, of course the pads too.
Pads went in bin and it was all cleaned up, then new pads and a fresh bleed. All good.

But my riding wasn't. I just wasn't getting on with things like I want, bit wide here, bit dubious on some other bits and I wasn't feeling 417 at all. It was rock hard trails and quite bermy so all the loose stuff is at the bottom of the berm and crossing it made things sketchy.

Overall though I did plenty but didn't really gell with myself.

Great to see the boys though, especially my small one who set an 11th overall on Strava on a tricky trail. That's 11th out of anyone, not youngsters lol. Bonkers.

I think there’s still bits of my knee halfway down cheeseroller from missing a line and washing out in the gravel.

Some of the reds are less asphalty, but the blues take a lot of use and would erode if they weren’t.

100% agree that I’d rather ride a proper loamy sibgletrack trail.

Was just looking at Strava, wasn't as terrible as it felt. 7s off my PR on Cheese.

My lad did the fastest time this year on Strava, he's a crazy kid.