 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
We’re aiming to be the premier privately owned progressive gravity park in the UK.
Uplifts servicing 20+ trails of multiple varieties (jump trails,rooty single track,wooden features and more!).
MINT!
do we know where?
CONTACT INFO
G.N.A.R. Bike Park
Penrith
Cumbria UK
20 TRAILS SOUNDS A BIT OVER ENTHUSIASTIC.
I think the name gnar bike park is **** but heyho, you don't ride a name.
Location seems to be secret, apart from a hint that its within 20 minutes fro J40, 41 & 42 of the M6
Probably makes sense to keep the location fairly secret as they don't have planning permission yet. Keep the NIMBYs at bay.
well 42 is way up to carlisle. so, Eden valley somewhere?
Fantastic ! Let's hope it all works out for them, and they manage to get it built.
I think it's just what the county needs to help promote it as a MTB destination.
Yes, there's lots of natural stuff, but it can be a long day out to get a decent ride in, so having a bike park where you you could go for a quick blast, or as a stop off point for people on their way up to Scotland would be an excellent idea.
Could be where some old dh tracks used to be, I won't say where as they're clearly trying to keep it secret. Plus I may be entirely wrong in my assumption.
it's just what the county needs to help promote it as a MTB destination.Yes, there's lots of natural stuff, but it can be a long day out to get a decent ride in
I think you've missed the point somewhat. Cumbria doesn't need help to promote it as an mtb destination.
I think its to do with getting some trails set aside with more of a DH focus.
There was a 3-4 track venue on a farm north of Penrith and lots of plans for more trail though 20 tracks seems more than that place could handle.
blazefell?
just south of armathwaite, switch to google maps you can clearly see what look to be some dh tracks snaking down the hill.
There's been a DH race at [url= http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=351519&Y=538708&A=Y&Z=120&ax=351609&ay=537913 ]Scratchmere Scar[/url] previously. Few photos on Pinkbike too.
Edit from back in 2008: http://www.pinkbike.com/news/scratchmere-scar-2008.html
Christ that looks steep. only 20-30 mins from keswick so this only increases the number of options for biking in the lake district. Let's see how it develops.
Scratchmere was closed because of the quarry at the back was still blasting, it was a proper DH tracks too, none of this bike park crap that's why NDH used it to race on.
Hi Folks,
I was sent a message asking me to join this forum, so here I am. Simply due to the number of plates I've got spinning at the moment, I'm not sure I'll be able to keep fully in touch with this thread. If anyone is interested, you can keep up to date via my Facebook page.I posted an update on there that deals with the reasons I'm not giving full disclosure on the location yet and it also gives the reasons that the location isn't Scratchmere Scar.
Hopefully, I can shed light on a few of the points raised above....
@jekkyl - Sorry you're not keen on the name. The big picture is that it stands for Go North And Ride and Gnar is just a fun word I've been using since 1984.As far as Blaze Fell goes, close but no cigar.
@scruff - 20 trails sounds over enthusiastic? How about 34? 11 machine built trails and 23 natural trails with added features.
@ahsf - "bike park crap" ?? Judge us once we're open and you've ridden the trails.
Cheers,
Ben
Ben, I read ahsf's comment differently. I'd love to see a more DH focused venue appear in prefwrence to uplift assisted freemincing, Enduro, or whatever it's called this week. Along with Scruff there's a little group of us in Staffordshire that'd love to come up and visit when you open.
Best of luck Ben, looks like you've got some plans. Put a shout up here when you need build help, there might be a few who would come to help but we all support your efforts & look forward to riding your trails when complete.
Yes, good luck with the project, Ben, I certainly can't fault your enthusiasm!
Whilst it won't be for me, it sounds like you're offering something quite different to Whinlatter or The North Face, which people will be prepared to travel for.
From my experience of Parish Council meetings (and such like), they'll try to resist anything, even projects bringing money into their area. Appease them by identifying sensible routes to/from your site (for visitors arriving by car) with plenty of parking and toilets. And keep the trails out of view / earshot from any local houses.
Ben, cheers for reply, looking forward to it.
Nope, didn't miss the point at all. There are not enough good man made trails in the county, and more of them will help to promote it as a destination to more people who are new to the sport, or who prefer park based trails, or who don't want to do a full day out in the hills looking for that good downhill bit, that might be riddled with walkers, or as a stopping off point on their way up to the 7 Stanes or Fort Williams. The bias of the trails DH/Enduro/Whatever doesn't matter, the fact there their might be more of them, to encourage more people into the area is only a good thing.
More of a "freemincer" my self but wishing you luck with the project and as above happy to lend a bucket and spade when it's needed.
Ben - good luck with the plans...34 trails? i think i'll be camping there for a full weekend to do them all ...cant wait!!
There are not enough good man made trails in the county
This is Cumbria in England we're talking about, right?
I reckon it's going to be here - http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=357732&y=526940&z=120&sv=357732,526940
Sounds promising, smart location choice near M6 - people can break up a DH trip to Scotland or add onto a Lakes visit.
I'll almost certainly visit.
geoffj - at least they'll be accommodation!!
I assume that the 34 or whatever trails will actually be a much smaller number split up at things like fireroads. 34 just sounds like nonsense to me, pretty sure that Les Gets, Morzine, Les Lindarets, Chatel and Le Crosets couldn't boast 34 official trails between them.
Definitely looking forward to this, BPW and Cwm Carn etc are too far south, about time we had a decent set of DH oriented trails in the North West.
Good look with this. Will definitely be interested once it's up and running.
Not talking about Bridleways, I'm talking about places like Whinlatter and Grizedale, which need to be developed much more. I'm talking about the Bike Park Wales idea, but in Cumbria. A network of purpose built, MTB only trails, with good facilities, that people will actively travel to, solely for the purpose of getting in a weekend of riding. If there is lift assisted trails as well, so much the better.
It's what has been missing in Cumbria for sometime. Of course there is lots of natural riding around, mountains and moorland a plenty, but that's not what is needed now. Remember Sanny's post a couple of weeks ago, about why he didn't see anyone out on a BH weekend in the hills ? Mainly because people are pushed for time. Lots of folks come up here for a holiday, bring the family, and get a day pass from the missus for a days riding, but don't know the area, and so end up having to do a lot of research to get the best out of a days riding in the area. How many time do I see posts on here asking for route advice for the Lakes ! If there was a place where people could be guaranteed a good days riding, maybe even with an uplift service, that would be a winning idea.
This could be amazing, BPW is too far away for me so somewhere else up north will get some serious use.
Facebook page https://m.facebook.com/gnarbikepark?_rdr
great news! good luck Ben. I'll be all over this as I live in East lancs and have to go Revolution for my uplift jollies which is a bit of a trek, inners and AE are a bit too far north as well so this is perfect.
Trailofdestruction, just because some riders may want it doesn't mean the area needs it.
Bonus points from me for use of the word 'gnarnia'. 🙂
Good luck with it - I'd probably come - I'd certainly at least come and check it out.
Thought I should give this a bump. Looks like there's some momentum behind the project:
_____ GNAR Bike Park news update ______________
I've just got home from a meeting with members of Eden District Council. What a nice bunch of really friendly people they are! I know this isn't a popular sentiment when dealing with local councils but they all took time to listen and understand the business (and frankly, they didn't have to).
Now, of course, there's no magical pot of money to fund the bike park but in fairness, I already knew that when I walked in. What they have offered though is assistance with the planning permission and that's something that is really appreciated.
The long and the short of it is that the Councilors all really like the idea and are on board with the project. The assistance they will be able to offer with planning is pretty much priceless in itself because,as much as I know about business, I have no experience when it comes to making planning applications.
All in all, you're reading a post written by a very happy ( and slightly relieved) man.
Well done Eden District Council.
Not talking about Bridleways, I'm talking about places like Whinlatter and Grizedale, which need to be developed much more. I'm talking about the Bike Park Wales idea, but in Cumbria. A network of purpose built, MTB only trails, with good facilities, that people will actively travel to, solely for the purpose of getting in a weekend of riding. If there is lift assisted trails as well, so much the better.
Whilst I agree to an extent, Grizedale and Whinlatter do serve exactly that market. If you are only in the area for half a day then why do you need more than 2 trail centers (3 if you include Gisburn)?
Personaly I think the business model is based on using the Lakes as a marketing tool, a bit like Artur Stiniog is North Wales in name only, the trails could be anywhere with a hill. Whereas Aston Hill, PORC, etc struggle because the Chilterns are harder to market depsite the fact you could probably find a similar sized hill in the SE to build BPW, Revolution, Gnarnia, etc!
On the other hand he's a private business so good luck to him, it's more worthy than another publicly funded trail center 4 hours from anywhere.
A positive spin-off would be that those looking for a gravity adrenaline rush would probably go here and not the fells. 🙂