[Closed] not riding trail centres

I rarely ride trail centres, but that's because I rarely ride.

When I do ride, I tend towards Swaledale more than Hamsterley (the two local options) which is 'natural' in the sense of being mining, farming and quarrying tracks and not made specifically for MTBing.

does it really matter where you ride if you enjoying it?

I've never been to one, well unless you call Stainburn one that is. But then Stainburn is just over the fields from the Farm and too close for me not to occasionally play on it innit.

But no, never been to one and I have no intention of going either. I know some might think I'm missing out, I don't.

The thing that puts me off, they all seem the same, geared towards uplifts for the uninterested in climbing types and pajamas wearing.

Mebbies they scare me, the pajamas that is 😆

I last rode a UK trail center in [s]2008[/s]2010 I forgot a trip to Swinley. I do ride some of the official Surrey Hills trails but most of it is unofficial.

EDIT: I will be doing more riding at QECP in the future but overall I would say I will be 80% natural.

I was thinking of asking this myself. I'm sure there's a continuum between those who only ride at trail centres and those who never ride at trail centres.

This year I've ridden at a trail centre just ... twice. I'll average between two and three rides a week so that's something like 80 rides not at trail centres. If it's a wet year I'll ride at centres more but the last couple of years have been so dry (and the trails are still dry) that I haven't seen the need.

My friend and I tend to go to them a couple of times in the summer and always enjoy it but are never in a rush to go back.
Having been to a fair few over the years I think I would give up biking if trail centres were the only option as I find them very dull, boring and the riding always seems forced.
Luckily we have much better riding locally to choose from including kinver, clent and the wyre forest.

I've never been to a trail centre.

Not even somewhere with 'natural' bike trails you have to ride a certain way round.

I like both.

Rude not too.
😀

But no, never been to one and I have no intention of going either. I know some might think I'm missing out, I don't.

The thing that puts me off, they all seem the same, geared towards uplifts for the uninterested in climbing types and pajamas wearing.

Nah.
I much prefer natural stuff, but I've never been to a trail centre that wasn't fun.

Limiting the possibility to enjoy yourself because of some daft prejudice is a little silly, isn't it?

And try The Marin or Penmachno and tell me there's not got enough climbing.
🙂

I'll keep on riding what I feel like on any particular day rather than put any restrictions on my fun.

I rarely ride trail centres, but wouldn't ever discount any terrain from my riding. All riding on all surfaces is all good. Too much of one thing probably isn't, so why not mix it up more, or just ride what you fancy riding - freedom of choice is key.

I have fun at trail centres when I go, but would get frustrated with their particular formula and crowds if I rode them a lot.

I last rode a UK trail center in 2008.

You've missed a few treats then. If you've not ridden Labyrinth @ Swinley your life is poorer for it.

Trail centres can be fun, 'natural' riding is brill, it's all part of the experience.

The thing that puts me off, they all seem the same, geared towards uplifts for the uninterested in climbing types and pajamas wearing.

Having never been to one, you will understand why this opinion isn't right 😉

I've been to a few, non of which where geared towards uplift at all.
Or wearing pyjamas.

both! Just riding really...

I've never been to one...

The thing that puts me off, they all seem the same, geared towards uplifts for the uninterested in climbing types and pajamas wearing.

I ride both. Both are good.

Bikebouy - Stainburn is a trail centre and the rest of your post is pointless as you've never been to a trail centre and have completely missed the point of them.

They are handy for a quick blast and usually good fun as you can blast around them without fear of walkers or dogs getting in the way.

I like to just ride whatever i feel like at the time. The trail centre haters should really get over them selves.

bikebouy - Member

The thing that puts me off, they all seem the same, geared towards uplifts for the uninterested in climbing types and pajamas wearing.

I think there's exactly 1 trail centre in the UK that meets this description. (not counting innerleithen, ae, nevis range etc because they're basically separate trailcentres and downhill venues, the uplifts access different tracks). Most trailcentres are incompatible with uplifts and not really suitable for a pyjama party.

So, yeah, you might want to give it a go, it's nothing at all like you think, you might be missing out.

Both, trail centres in winter, natural trails for summer. Mostly.

Ok i'll bite but only gently.

'Armoured surfaced mtb motorway' suggests you are tarring many places spread over the entire country (including Scotland) with the same brush.

I enjoy trail centres but there are some that I do not much care for and there is a particular type of trail that doesn't appeal.

So in part I get what you are saying as I avoid the surfaced trails but there are plenty of excellent trails that have been around a long time and were craved from the terrain rather than dumped on top of it.

As for the pj type centres they are still in the minority but have a place and I enjoy them when I am there.

Did a stunning trip up to the Borders this summer, some trail centre stuff and some natural, worked well for me.

Be happy.

I have fun at trail centres when I go, but would get frustrated with their particular formula and crowds if I rode them a lot.

This for me too. I enjoy them but I enjoy natural trails more.

There is a surety about them in that you know you are going to be able to ride whereas with a natural trail you might come across a missing bridge or similar and have to turn back. I've done both day and weekend trips to trail centres so it's not as if I'm not prepared to put the effort in to visit them. It's a bit like grabbing a takeaway, nice now and again but I couldn't eat them every day.

I don't know how many trail centres there are in the UK these days but I've been to quite a few and to be fair I haven't come away from any thinking: "Well that was carp, not going back there". Whether I have gone back is another matter 🙂

The last time I rode Hamsterley was on a cross bike, in the middle of a longer ride.

wtf is a pajama trail centre? I feel like I am missing out on something important

I was gonna say both, but actually I don't think I've ridden a trail centre this year. Not our of choice, I've not done much riding in general the last few months, more out of circumstance.

Oh wait, I tell a lie, I did ride at Parkwood for an afternoon.

Ok i'll bite but only gently.
'Armoured surfaced mtb motorway' suggests you are tarring many places spread over the entire country (including Scotland) with the same brush.

Was only meant in the way that the surface is man made & everyone travels in the same direction

All depends on the trail centre, but some in particular I quite enjoy riding, but I wouldn't want to be riding the same official trails on a weekly basis.

I prefer to roam and explore, mix it up and do different things, and there's so much variety available with so called natural trails (most are actually worked on by pixies to some degree so no entirely natural, but they feel it). Trail conditions also vary throughout the year which makes it a different experience each time. People make changes, good and bad, which makes it more interesting.

Depends how you define "trail center" though doesn't it?

On the one hand a former roman road on the yorkshire moors isn't 'natural'. But neither is a bit of Singletrack at Tunnel Hill (but it it rooty/bumpy/twisty/all things good). You could formalise Tunnel hill just like Swinley was (if the army wasn't there).

Basicly, it's all good fun, and frequently the 'trail center' is more fun. The USP of 'natural' rides to me isn't that they're better riding (frequently they're crap, boggy, too flat, too rocky, too steep, or overgrown), it's the getting 'out there' or exploring a new route, seeing a view, acomplishing a challenge. Having said that I don't travel very much for MTBing, I ususaly just ride whatevers on my doorstep at the time.

[i]And try The Marin or Penmachno and tell me there's not got enough climbing.[/i]

That's my weekend plans. Never ridden either so I am quite looking forward to them.

I'm based in Spain and trail centres don't really exist here in the same way as they do in the UK. We have bike parks - with ski-lifts and woodwork on the trails and all that - which are more DH oriented. Also, there is the odd trail with home-made berms and jumps on an otherwise natural trail but other than that its pretty much all natural. Last time I went to a trail centre was Coed y Brenin in 2001. I must say I really enjoyed it but I also enjoyed getting out into the wilderness.

everyone travels in the same direction

not at night 😉

You've missed a few treats then. If you've not ridden Labyrinth @ Swinley your life is poorer for it.

everyone travels in the same direction

not at night

Thread sidetrack - which trail centres and sections are the best ones for a bit of reverse-direction fun?

I think the last thing in the world I'd ever do is take time out of my life to purposely think "I'm not going to ride man made trails next year", especially since man made trails offer so much fun per mile. I live in what I consider to be one of the best areas for natural riding in the UK and yet I love going to trail centres.

^ deserving of it's own thread? I mean the bit about riding in reverse. not backwards mind.

@mattjg I actually edited my post to say 2010 as I had forgotten a trip to Swinley. TBH I thought it wasn't worth the drive (40 mins to Bracknell vs 15 to Peaslake), I rode Labyrinth which was indeed OK but I find Swinley to up and down whereas Surrey Hills is more consistent climb then descend.

I'd never swap Swinley for BPSH but it's fun to have both: speaking as someone who's close enough to Peaslake to ride there.

You're right Swinley is more rolling, it's pretty tiring actually!

I've never been to a trail centre

nothing against it, but all my rides are from my door

although now living in Glossop, there isn't much riding straight from the door

What P-Jay said.

Why the hell wouldn't you want to go and ride somewhere thats purpose built for mountain biking?!!?

I don't like them. To be honest, I understand why people do more than I understand why I don't, but I don't.

[I]Why the hell wouldn't you want to go and ride somewhere thats purpose built for mountain biking?!!?[/i]

For exactly that reason.

How odd.

Why the hell wouldn't you want to go and ride somewhere thats purpose built for mountain biking?!!?

Because some of us are looking for a scense of adventure, it's not something you'll find at a trail center apart from perhaps the first visit or two.

The riding is just a part of the overall experience imo.

While we fill a thread of tired old arguments

Does anyone never ride the groomed trails & is 100% natural only?

Surely there are no natural trails? well maybe the Slick Rock trail, but that really feels like a trail centre

Last one would be Grizedale but only touch the odd bit and link up with "natural" paths built by man...

I don't ride natural stuff much. I prefer man made trails with jumps and other fun stuff. To me mtb is mostly an extension of the bmx riding I used to do, but bigger and easier. Don't mind the odd natural xc ride but for me, road bikes are for the miles and mtbs are for the fun downhill bits. I like trail centres for if I want a bit of both and can't be arsed to research routes/os maps etc.

Stainburn is a trail centre

I'm not sure I agree, yes they are manmade trails. but there is no centre to the trail centre. They are not Llendegla/Coed-y etc...

I have a rule that the best man made trails are not trails centres, no cafe, no facilities, just a car park and some gnar. ONce you have facilities and a shop they have to start dumbing dfown for weekend warriors. Don't get me wrong they're still fun and there is a place for them, and like them for what they are, but the uncatered ones feel more secret and they need another moniker.

People like different stuff shocker....

Deliberately not riding a trail for the reason taht it was purpose made?

Why? Scared you might enjoy yourself? Will it diminish your purity? will your beard fall off?

What next? Who will have an off road free 2016 (but still only ride a mountain bike)?

I enjoy trail centres every now and then but it has to be at non peak times. I cant be doing with queues of people everywhere. Why people drive for an hour odd to ride Swinley on a sunny weekend is beyond me, but each to their own...

Well living in London a trip to Swinley is heaven for me.I try and get out there as often as possible.
Otherwise its Richmond Park which is rubbish.

Don't think I've ever not enjoyed being out riding my bike but I find trail centres less appealing these days. Been doing a few hike a bike epics in the Lakes and Scotland recently and trails centres seem a bit tame in comparison. They are good for riding with groups of mixed abilities though.

At the risk of sounding smug now that I have loads of of good reasonably techy riding within about half a mile of my house the idea of driving to a trail centre seems a bit daft most of the time.

Lot's of people are not lucky enough to live on the doorstep of natural trails so if they need to drive over an hour to trails it's understandable that they're not going to want to waste precious riding time looking a maps or riding round claggy natural trails.
Why it bothers some of those who are lucky enough to live close enough I have no idea.

I like both but hav never idea why people get so uppity about trail centres.

I've got limited(ish) time to ride so want make sure that I enjoy myself. I'd be really cheesed off having a natural rude and it turned out to suck because it was too boggy or just plain rubbish. At least if I turn up at CYB I k is what I'll get and should have a good time. It's all about fun and laughs per minute for me rather than some super pure, elitist BS.

Does it really matter.

Riding is done for the love of riding and if that involves something man or nature made then it makes no difference to me 😀

I've ridden both over the years, prefer natural stuff but trail centres are fun and have their place.

I've not ridden a trail centre yet this year as I've been riding all the local trails round me this summer but plan on going to laggan in the next couple of weeks.

My riding is probably a 50/50 split between the two. I probably prefer riding natural stuff but most of the local stuff is ok at best and my main weekend riding buds prefer trail centres for the easy access etc.

I can't say I'm that fussed either way as I love riding my bike and it's all great fun, I don't get trail centre snobbery tbh.

Lucky enough to live 10mins ride from the first trail that will lead me well into the Peaks in half an hour , so I ride mainly natural. However when I have riding trips away, I often do a trail centre or two. I initially hated them for reasons more about my perception and now I accept they are just another way of riding my bike I enjoy them. However I wouldn't want to just ride Trail Centres without a good dose of natural

I've always been lucky enough to have some fair natural riding from the door, ranging in quality from errr, fair to sublime.. But I havta say, when winter sets in and solo night riding is the only option, I prefer the predictability of a trail centre

Spoilt for natural riding here in N. Wales, but really like trail centres at quieter times. Can fun be wrong?

Bit of both, it's all good.

Trail centres are good as I ride alone, so there's a chance if I almost die that someone might see me.

Natural is good too.

Everything is good.

Having ridden mostly XC and a bit of cross I've been guilty of being snooty about trail centre riding in the past then last month I did an uplift day at BPW and blimmin loved it! I'd done a 'self powered' day there before that left me feeling a bit empty but having 10 runs this time I could really concentrate on my riding. I felt a better rider at the end of the day and have booked more time, won't stop me doing my normal more natural rides but it's a good laugh and I definitely got something valuable out of it. And I'm 51 next month 😀

Trails where there weren't any previously, free of charge..........and if you go after dark, you can ride them BACKWARDS...... 😈
#crapinnit

It's simples:

Trail centres have no gates, no barbed wire, no rambling ramblers, no cattle, no dogs, no sheep shit, no shootin' mad farmers, no tarmac sections, less mud in winter, no unexpected deep holes in singletrack, easy navigation, less risk of dying alone if you fall off and break something. They even have toilets and cafes and shops for bike stuff.

Wild trails have views, adventure, solitude, challenge, unrideable stuff that hasn't been sanitized and can be ridden after all, cattle, dogs, etc...

I enjoy the wild stuff most (with my trusted Garmin 800), but I will always be scared of cattle, dogs, farmers, etc. If you do a winter night ride alone deep in the North York Moors, you will understand.

I am laid up with a buggered knee at the moment.... i'd love to be able to ride any bloody trail right now!!!!

So long as I'm having a laugh, I'll ride anywhere. Don't care if 'man made' or 'natural'.

I don't think I'd ever restrict myself to nor riding somewhere just because.
It's great to go and explore the great wilds of the UK, it's also great to have a good blast with no dickhead waving at you for having fun and complaining, to have some stuff that is built to be hit rather than some not, to be able to ride fast and not care and have a nice cup of tea some cake or maybe a burger at the end.

I'm sure it was not the OP's intention but it is possible to come across as fairly sanctimonious with the "I won't ride a trail centre" or "I only EVER ride from my door, can't see why anybody wouldn't do that" crap. It's all riding, it's different, it's great. If you have never been to a trail centre here is some news there are a lot of them, they can all be very different, it's not all the same. Try it with an open mind you might actually enjoy it.

What I've found is that the best natural rides are better than any trail centre. Conversely though the worst natural rides are worse than any trail centre.

For me it's generally natural in summer and trail centre in winter. Not a hard and fast rule though.

I ride what ever I feel like riding and make the most of it. I enjoy natural riding for the exploration and solitude of it and trail centres for the chance to enjoy some purpose built, fast flowy, jumpy trails.

I do tend to pick my times carefully when it comes to trail centres as I really dont enjoy the heaving masses of people that swarm on them at weekends.

I took up walking recently, but I refuse to walk on these purpose built soul-less "paths" that all these losers go for their mcwalks on. So today I went for a walk in a remaindered book warehouse, up and down the shelves. Tomorrow I think I'll go for a walk in the sea.

You do know that most times you can mix and match these things? The centres I've been to always have bridleways or other public access. I prefer to find my way around using a map, but by heck sometimes it's just nice to just ride. If I'm near a centre, I'll look to see if there's a more 'natural' loop outside the boundary, so creating the best of both worlds; some fun in the centre, bit of exploration outside, make a day of it.

Llandegla was the last one I went to. Some cracking 'natural' trails over the hills above Llangollen - not to mention the Ponderosa cafe. Even though the natural stuff was fantastic, and out there, I'd have been cutting my nose off to spite myself if I'd missed Llandegla. Yet a handy OS map meant that the two could be combined happily. Great ride outside the centre, pop inside, do some Black and Red, food at the cafe, spares at the shop, back out on the hills.

Of course using an OS map to access these places isn't in the spirit of their enterprise!

Most of my trail centre rides have been with younger teenagers

I really enjoyed the riding. But for the people I was with (niece and son) they were spot on.

The climbing isn't steep and on good surfaces so its as easy as it'll ever be

The height gained is then well used on more fun bits

All the other people around having fun reinforce the idea that its a good thing to be going

Both!, luck to live near wrexham, and have access both types of ride, tbh who cares? just riding a bike ..............

and i have ridden to llandegla, via some natural routes.......

Years ago I regularly visited trail centres,7 stanes & North Wales mainly ,but got bored of them,this year after a 6 or 7 year gap I got invited to a midweek day out at Llandegla & enjoyed it,been back twice.
It's all riding,I prefer a big day out in the Dales but I'm all for a bit of variety.

local stuff for me is a 30 min drive. Trail Centres are just over an hr (Drumlanrig, Glentress). I haven't been at a trail centre (apart from Cathkin which is 5 mins from home) in well over a year. I enjoy them when I go, but the additinal travel time, fuel and parking tends to dissuade me

I always find it amusing (and sad) when you express a preference and people take it to mean "you don't like what I do as much as I do therefore you hate it".

I'll go riding, whether that's road biking; mountain biking; cyclocross; trail centres; "natural"; whatever. It's riding and it's better than being a lazy slob.

I love a trail centre but sometimes the logistics that goes with it - the miles on the motorway and getting bike in car and change of clothes , parking etc means that the simplicity of just riding out of my front door wins most times ..

I almost never ride trail centres .

They are good for your kids when they start out
The reason is not the riding - it is often very good but the lack of views

Never been to a trail centre that felt like i had got out into the countryside.
I am sure they exist but they are further from my house than the mountains of the Lake district.

YMMV

I cant be doing with queues of people everywhere.

Has anyone actually been to a trail centre and whilst riding the trails come across a queue of people? You come across groups the same as you do when out riding natural stuff...

In fact as crazy as it might sound, I think I'd rather have the higher %age of grin factor by riding nothing but trail centres. I love them!

I ride trail centres on occasion and there are some great ones, but I don't like the way many of the trails are heading these days.
I love the Penmachno / Hopton style, but loathe BMX track features that typify places like Llandegla and are starting to creep in at CYB.
The term "Bike Park" sends shudders down my spine - and not in a good way. 😉

Has anyone actually been to a trail centre and whilst riding the trails come across a queue of people?

Usually you are barrelling along at similar pace so unless a group stops then you aren't going to come across one even just a hundred metres ahead.

As for BMX/bike park features, they are only likely to get added if enough people ask for them.

As for BMX/bike park features, they are only likely to get added if enough people ask for them.

I realise to a growing number of people, that's what MTBing is about, but it's never appealed to me. I'd rather have murderous climbs and proper narrow, technical singletrack descents.

I view trail centres as a bit like climbing walls: places to practice technique rather than an end in themselves. Just like climbing walls some people like them for what they are and have no desire to head out in to the wilds, not my viewpoint but it's no less valid.

I think we'd have a lot more access problems if trail centres didn't exist and all those riders were out on "natural" trails and the "cheeky" alternatives.