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Hopefully getting to Cannock for the first time this weekend.
Relatively confident (Laggan reds not quite flat out are about my comfort zone level) rider on a short-travel AM hardtail.
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For a first run round how much different/tougher then FTD is the Monkey Trail and how 'black' are the Monkey black options - doable on a HT (will be riding with a less confident mate on a FS)?
slainte ❓ rob
All do-able on a hard tail. The black options are a bit tricky but you can get off and push past. Give it your best and enjoy yourselves.
Take care!
You'll be fine on both FTD and the Monkey... there's nothing really challenging on the normal routes on either...
I'd give the black bits on the Monkey a miss though, especially if your mate isn't very confident... while they might not be massively technical, they still take a bit of bottle to ride...
Haven't been to Laggan, but i'd say the monkey is a fairly standard red grade trail
The Monkey is quite different to FtD, definitely tougher, but a lot more fun. I've done some of the black options on my HT, albeit slow and cautiously, but they're just that - options. Most of them are only minor diversions, well signed so you can stop at the top and have a look before deciding what to do.
Definitely do the Monkey though, it's ace!
Thanks for the advice so far. Sounds like FTD + Monkey with a nose at the black bits before riding/bottling is the way to go.
Just to clarify - riding mate is no novice and has done FTD before, but always seems under the impression that I (15 years older and 15 years heavier than him) am faster, braver and less fragile than him (I think I just have less of a well-developed sense of self-preservation).
slainte ➡ rob
Don't know whether you has seen [url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/video-of-the-monkey-trail-at-cannock-chase ]this thread[/url] but if you haven't then the vid will get the juices flowing.