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Best mate's just moved to Ocbrook so I'm off down on Saturday to take a look at this new house and try the local pubs, but we're hoping to get a decent ride in beforehand.
Anyone got links to any .gpx files for around the area, preferably we'd ride out from Ockbrook but I dont mind driving to the start.
Nothing rad or exciting, but lots of bridleways around Dale Abbey and Ilkeston, find your way over to Drum Hill. You can use the towpaths and Sustrans routes to link through to Nottingham and Derby, more bridleways around Strelley and Shipley Park. You can link the whole lot together to make quite long routes with hardly any road
Only an hour to Cannock or Sherwood Pines, less to Hicks Lodge for a short easy ride. And an hour up the A6 or M1 you are into the Peak.
Let's hope the weather forecast is right, it's like the set of Frozen round here at the moment. Austerity includes no gritting in Derbyshire this winter!
google maps says only 20 mins driving to ticknall, or 13 miles cycling.
http://singletrackmag.com/trailguide/uk/east-midlands/east-midlands/
the pdf listed as 'the tough ish route' is the tour of ticknall that he talks you through, it's very good but not very techy, lots of swoopy though.
There is lots fantastic riding to be had in and around Derby which can serve up whatever type of riding you like. there are loads of rides up and down the Derwent valley (between Derby and Matlock), loads of good XC around the wider area and the Peaks are not too far away if you want something a bit more dramatic and a big day out.
Drum Hil is good if you want some jumps and a skills session and not too far from Ockbrook.
Ambergate (Shining Cliff Woods and Chrich Woods on the opposite side of the valley - I think its shown as Bilberry Woods on the map) for some good natural technical XC with some short but brutal climbs, though that will be pretty boggy and nasty this time of year.
For some good XC you can head to the other side of Derby (Maybe 30 - 40 mins drive away) and do some rides around Ticknall.
A personal favourite of mine is around Black Rocks, up by Wirksworth (above Cromford), which is just a good play area with plenty of technical stuff and some XC if you want it.
Basically there is good riding to be had all around the Derby area, just depends what you're after, and the best part of it there is always a decent country pub serving up a good selection of Real Ales not too far away at the end of your ride.
Sorry I haven't got any maps or links to point you to, I tend to ride with friends who know the areas well so I tag along with those guys - i'm not from the area originally.
There is no need to resort to bridleways, towpaths or Cannock, unless trail centres is what you're after. Don't get me wrong, I ride Cannock a few times a year, and as far as trail centres go its as good as any, but I much prefer the local rides around Ambergate, Coxbench (Drum Hill) etc. The problem you're going to have at this time of year are the conditions.