 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Should be going to cannock chase for the first time monday, would like to know which trail would be the best use of my time.
I like going flat out, smooth jumps and drops, steep and tech, rocks and roots would be a bonus, more natural as it were.
I'm not into miles of pretty much canal path with the odd really easy man made feature.
I'm also not into massive drops or gaps that don't feel smooth, or kill the flow of the trail. The kind of big obstacles you do once just to get them done, then realise it feels rough and sketch and realise it's not worth it.
Recommendations please.
You'll probably like the Monkey trail then, it's not really steep or tech but it's fast and has some very small jumps/drops and rollers. Few roots and rocks but not many. Wouldn't really call it natural though.
If you want bigger jumps and drops then you could divert to Stile Cop halfway round - when you've done the first Monkey descent, you can cross the railway and then instead of going straight on, turn left at the road. If you keep going along there for a few minutes, on the right you'll see a lane/layby type thing. Follow that round onto a fire road that I think goes past a farm - keep going til you can turn left and you'll be at the bottom of the DH runs with a big step down. Could find a map to explain better if you're interested.
tom makes a good point - monkey is a great trail, very swoopy and quick in places - although the berms are getting to be ridiculous now as they've worn away so badly!
TBH though, i really like doing follow the dog as a warm up, then moving onto monkey. Nothing too challenging, but fast and gets you in the right frame of mind to do monkey really quick!