[Closed] Hamsterley questions...

Last time I was there there was a small shop in a mobile class room type thing that was really expensive for inner tubes!!

This was a couple of years ago though.

Its not very good Finners, I would go prepared if I was you.

Was there last summer, the wee shop was Ok for quick spares (tube/chain links etc) and had a few odds n sods by way of clothing/pads/helmets etc.

What are you looking for? It's not a big dealership or anything like that, certainly.

Bike shop isn't great. You'll
Love the trails though. Red and black routes for grinning like a Cheshire Cat smooth fast flowing singletrack

I'm new to still fairly new to Newcastle and havent been out yet. All my tools etc etc are all packed for another move. So want someome to pop on a new chain and gear cable. Ideally I'd like to drop it into a local bike shop and pick up Thursday on way to Hamsterley.

The last time I was in Gravitate Cycles (near the station in Newcastle), the guys weren't too busy and were happy to do simple repairs on the same day. You could give them a call?

I was up at Hamsterley earlier today and didn't notice if the bike shop (shed) was even open. I'd guess it might only bother at weekends at this time of year ?

The riding was good by the way. 🙂

At the mo the bike shop at HAmsterley (Wood'nWheels) is only open at weekends anyway.

You could try the new bike shop at Bishop Auckland - inspiral Cycles - which is just a few miles away from the forest. Gary is a really good guy and can point you to the best bits to ride as well as sorting your bike.

Edit - saw you were going on Wednesday and he's shut tomorrow but he's open the rest of the week

Was there at the weekend. Trails are good but the shop is basic so go prepared.

The bike shop thing is Wood N Wheels. It's not quite the Dales Bike Centre but it's better than an hour plus to get anywhere else and back.

There's a Facebook group called 'Hamsterley Riders' that you might like to check out.

The trails are good, but the black ones are really graded that way as they used to be part of a harder loop. The Descent downhill and uplift is not part of the FT operation, and has its own entry price and membership deal.

As with most Forestry places there's permanent friction between user groups who each believe their £7 car park ticket entitles them to expect no one in the way of whatever their chosen activity is...

If you're heading from Newcastle you could drop into Cycleworld in Chester Le street and they might be able to do it while you wait.

Checkout the Facebook group as well plenty of help on the non posted trails on there. If you head for the climb on the right just past the cafe/visitor centre that's the best way to go, should be easy to follow from there.

parking is £3 not £7, but is going up to £4 in April.

If you go there regularly you can get a yearly pass for the car parks for £40. £7 is normally for mini buses.Cafe doesn't seem to be open during the week at the moment though.

Just to add I've been riding up there for 10 years and can not once remember any sort of friction between user groups..The horse'ists, walkers, familys I've encountered are always friendly if you are and they are mostly seperated only crossingspaths aat certain points of the forest.

+1 for Inspiral Cycles in Bishop Auckland. Nice lad, very friendly.

Hamsterley is so much more once you've learnt your way around and found all the natural stuff as well. I can go on 5/6 hour rides and barely use the trail centre stuff. Some reallygood stuff for you to find.

Enjoy 🙂

The trails there are great, but following the full red route means for a lot of fire road. Watch out for dopey walkers on the trails. There's been quite a few near hits recently, seems like people don't read the signs.... Nit just hamsterley I'm sure.

I think in the long term Hamsterley may become a victim of its own success.Some bikers,and horse riders,are riding on sections classed as footpaths,and the first Gruffalo section over the new bridge should should be walkers only due to the amount of people with children using it.

seadog101, when I go I start on the black run then instead of starting the climb to the cafe thing halfway up the DH I veer off to the radio mast on the red route, do that bit then up through the DH area, this means you only miss (iirc) one flat bit of red singletrack and 1 singletrack climb but also about 300 miles (ish! lol) of fireroad. Also lots of other trails as mentioned above....

Great place for a blast, I always go when passing on route to visiting family in Newcastle driving up from the south, only a short detour so would be rude not to 🙂 Good local trail builders keeping it sorted as well.

Inspiral Cycles

Did he previously sell floor coverings?

So, a few things transpired and i didnt get to Hamsterley after all. I did however drop my bike into Gravitate Cycles in the centre of Newcastle. I have to say, the service was really good. Cleary the owners / runners are very passionate about biking in general. Good knowledge and well delivered at the same time. No pushy sales pitches etc. I will definitely use this store again. Going to check out Hamsterley tomorrow which im very much looking forward to 😀