[Closed] Cannock Chase - any good?

I like it. Think the best bit of the Monkey is closed, but it's still a decent enough loop. With three hours I'd probably just park at the main car park and do the Dog / Monkey loop. If you have any spare time maybe head up to Stile Cop for a play on the DH runs.

There's lots of off piste stuff but I've no idea where most of it is!

cannock chase is ace! There is plenty of tech.

I went to CC for the first time recently and despite the current closures, had a fun ride round the dog and monkey loop. Worth going if you are in the area. The only two comments I'd make are

- quite a few of the decent sections are plagued by really bad braking bumps, not the end of the world, but it would be far more fun to ride without them.

- I've never visited anywhere before, natural or trail centre, where the trail is routed through so many narrow gaps between trees. It's like they've tried to route the trail through handlebar-wide gaps between trees repeatedly on some sections. Don't get it, it spoils some sections and it gets a bit of a pain after a while.

[quote=skydragon]It's like they've tried to route the trail through handlebar-wide gaps between trees repeatedly on some sections.

I would hazard a guess that 'handle-bar wide' was significantly narrower when the trails were first built!

Agreed

I love it. Every time I ride there I think how fantastic it is that they have strung so much good stuff together out of relatively little elevation. It also drains well, which is a bonus in bad weather.

Cheers guys!

stile cop (im told) is ace.

Where to park

No mention of the marbles!? Standards are slipping 🙂

They do need to recalibrate their tree width for modern bar standards though.
I used to be on 680s and never noticed, then demod 780s and really had to watch myself.

Good timing..
We're planning a summer camp for our explorer scouts (age 14-18) near Cannock and want to take them cycling for the day.
Cannock is the obvious choice - is the Blue trail any good for 'mixed ability' cyclists?

Should we stay clear of the red, or are there chicken runs around all the tough bits?

The tress have grown at the same rate as the handlebars.

Never done the blue, but the red is not the reddest red in the world, especially on Follow the Dog - the Monkey is a bit harder. Would depend on the level of the Scouts but I'd probably take them round the Dog.

AFAICS when criss-crossing the blue, it's just flat wide boring track (like a mini fireroad).
If you think they're up for a bit of adventure, Follow the Dog is all doable. My 8 and 12 year olds managed perfectly, but then they are quite keen I suppose.

The Blue is just fire road, and probably takes longer to get around than the red Follow Your Dad. Bits which may cause issues ie Stegosaurus and Werewolf drop can be easily walked around or have a chicken run.

Based on some of the comments above.

Yes, if you;re in the area and have your bike then go for a ride. You'll do FtD and The Monkey in 3 hours easily.

You can ride get around all of the trails with with wide bars. Anything over 750mm and you might want to wiggle through but this is more a psychological thing than anything else.

The trails have a lot of pebbles. Not surprising as where possible locally quarried materials are used for various reasons and given that Cannock Chase is founded on a bed of sand and gravel it's hardly surprising.

The Blue and Green routes are existing forest tracks which have been linked together by Forestry Commission way-marking. Chase Trails don't have the resources to get involved in this side of things. The Blue route is therefore a nice way to get around the forest on a Summer's day but it's no comparison to a purpose built blue MTB trail as you might find elsewhere in the country.

I reckon (and am biased) that the Chase is a great local venue for riding. Despite the billions of pounds* which the car park makes every week it's still very much a volunteer led trail network which brings with it both good and bad points when compared to the larger, more popular sites.

*because it really does and the FC's biggest problem is which Bentleys to buy for staff vehicles.

Follow the Dog red is not very red and is great for first timers. The Monkey has more technical sections.

Follow The Dog might just be the best mtb trail in the universe.

i'm serious.

so much mellow, swoopy, gravity-assisted fun from so little climbing*. There's witchery at play i'm sure.

(*1 proper hill, and a few short sharp 'ups')

Considering where it is and the elevation they had to work with, I genuinely don't think they could have done a better job.

It also gets absolutely hammered, so I'm not surprised when sections are closed, either permanently or temporarily.

I still mourn for one section, though - it was a couple of hundred yards at most, was singletrack through some quite steep bermed bits and had braking bumps all down it. Given enough oomph at the top you could freewheel all the way down, not losing too much in the turns and pop up onto the fireroad. Which you could then use to go back for another go!

I still mourn for one section, though - it was a couple of hundred yards at most, was singletrack through some quite steep bermed bits and had braking bumps all down it. Given enough oomph at the top you could freewheel all the way down, not losing too much in the turns and pop up onto the fireroad. Which you could then use to go back for another go!

That would be the original chain slapper at a guess, what a section! 8)

 

That would be the original chain slapper at a guess, what a section!

Yep, I think that's the one. Not long, or technical but something I found I could challenge myself on not to brake much or pedal at all after the first turn.

I've only rode it once - the full circuit - FTD/Monkey with 780mm bars and can't remember any problems.

I liked it, but would only head back if passing/convenient.

It's pedally, but the fun bits are worth the effort.

Those last 4 sections of the original Dog route, starting from the Chainslapper were a real hoot and I miss them but the newer sections across the road (from Son of Chainslapper onwards) are just as good if slightly different. They certainly wear much better.

Whats the postcode for Stile Cop?

hora - Member
Whats the postcode for Stile Cop?

www.chasetrails.co.uk/directions/

Hora, here you go

http://www.chasetrails.co.uk/directions/

Use the post code to get you to Stile Cop Road and drive up to the top. Look for a forest gate on the right before the brow of the hill, you'll need to ride through here to get to theTrailhead. Drive on and look for the car park on your left for parking.

Cheers 🙂