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Hi,
I only get to Cannock once a year or so. Went yesterday and the trail fairies seem to have done a good job of maintaining various bit of it compared to last year. We did the black sections but on one part there seemed to be a few people stuck on it, so we skipped round them (missed the corner they were looking at) and kept going. But in looking at it i could see why they were assessing it rather than riding it as it did look pretty sketchy.
The black peels off to the left, You have a qualifier, then a tight hairpin and 2' drop, then a right hand rocky slope (all fine) then a bit farther on the left handed sketchy turn appears. Its between a bank and a tree with some new rocks and then a steep drop off.
Last year we rode this and you could simply lean back, but now, with the new rocks in place, it looks a lot more sketchy and not something you can just roll.
Is it rollable? How do you cannock regulars ride this bit? It almost looks like to have to jump from the rocks to the very bottom.
I have just had a nice ride out at Cannock. Is this the oblivion bit? There is a crappy left hander into a set of rocks? I did that black section and I don't remember there being anything that you could not pretty much roll down. So if it is in that at section then I think with a bit of momentum it's all rollable. I skipped the other back section so if it's there I cannot comment!
The rocks are at the start, before the turn, then it drops down and to the left. Its in the black run off the red half way round the Monkey Trail (by the original monkey i think). Other side of the main road from Birches Valley VC
Just looked on a trail map. its called le Singe Noir. Obviously!!
Is it the 1 that is like a double step down if so yes it's rollable. Just lean back and let it rip
You might be on about the original monkey bit. Stuff wears out, people go round difficult features (on the black section), its gets rebuilt....
Its on here at 0.45s - But this is the old version before they rebuilt the corner.
Is it by Tom, Dick and Harry?
Yes that's the 1.Very rollable
Yes Robbo, but if you're on Tom dick or Harry you've missed the turn off.
As it happens, I'm a very regular at Cannock, but I almost always give the monkey blacks a kiss, there's too much to go wrong for too little reward.
I attempted this one a few months back - I really struggled too.
Tom dock and Harry ridden flat out offers a lot more. Those sw8tch back rock sections are just shite imho.
Yes that’s the 1.Very rollable
Cheers. Is that corner any more "gnar" than the previous version i rode last year? - that seemed fine (i just leant back and kept going) or has the rebuild taken it up a notch?
I have to admit i didnt get that much of a look at it as there were about 4 riders all stood on that corner, off their bikes, weighing it up. No one looked in a rush so i just had a quick look, cut the corner and kept going.
You like to give the 'Monkey Blacks' a kiss Prawny? 🤔
Dirty git..I've heard that about you 😂
It’s a good black section, But there again I like all the Cannock blacks. I prefer them to Tom, Dick & Harry - even at speed. They are not that high-risk, certainly I have never crashed on them.
I can’t wait to be able to ride again - as once I have built up my confidence and am able to ride them again.
Enjoy them!
I rode them for the first time for a long time back in January on my hardtail. They were quite slippery, but I've never found them that easy to ride. There's a YouTube video here (the black sections you are talking about start at 3:09): Cannock Chase Monkey and dog
We found them a bit more worn and with more "holes" than I remember. They were tricky to ride but still good fun. I've never really liked them that much as they are too slow, and you have too much time to think about how much it could hurt if you fell off! I prefer blasting over rocks quickly 😁. There were also a lot of strava/cheat lines. I can't see the point of turning down there if you aren't going to ride them?!
Just got back from a ride at Cannock. Did Tom, dick and Harry though. The blacks are too much for my skill level (apart from the non blacks like the first boardwalk, the sharper turn on the descent after crossing back after shitbag hill and werewolf drop - which I think used to be part of the red route).
Trails are lovely and dry and running fast! Great evening for a ride.