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My mum lives, quite literally, just around the corner from Lee Quarry, and I happen to be heading up there on Sunday evening until Wednesday to visit. I am planning on bringing both my mountain and my road bike with me.
The road riding is sorted; the mountain, on the other hand, is not. I have two questions:
1. Having read old threads about LQ, it seems it is a bit Marmite-ish. I wouldn't mind trying it, but I want to introduce my road-riding brother to the joys of singletrack, and I am pretty sure - while he might be interested in the way we do things down here in Wales - he won't be at all interested in something that looks a bit BMX Park. (I am ONLY going by the pictures I see on google images in making that last comment!)
So, can you convince me that LQ is a good venue to one person who would be entirely new to MTB, and another who would simply be new to the area?
If not, what alternatives in terms of interesting riding would you suggest? I know the area fairly well; I just don't know it at all from a MTB point of view.
and...
2. If I can get my brother to concede to trying MTBing, is there someone or someplace where I could rent one / borrow one for a day early next week?
I wouldn't.
It's good fun but it's really unforgiving if you bin it - just big, pointy rocks.
Bit intimidating at first sight for a newbie, I'd imagine.
Bet STW towers would lend you a bike if you asked really nicely.
Failing that, Ride On in Rawtenstall or Blazing Saddles in Hebbers should be able to sort you out.
The lucky bastards who don't work 'till 7 on a Monday will be along to invite you out on a ride shortly, I'm sure.
Blazing Saddles don't do bike rental any more. It actually cost them money to run the service, because people kept ****ing the bikes on the trails
http://www.rossendalepennineadventure.co.uk/#
if they are still going
I'd ride low level to Rammy, up the Rake to the tower and than back along Moor Road, back into Irwell Vale and back home along the river
if superkeen head up to Edenfield from Irwell Vale and try the new café and then up Gin Coft, Sand Beds, then turbines. Hit back of Cragg then across for the big descent into Lee Quarry from Rooley Moor Rd
Cragg over Lee for certain.
Don't bother with Hebden, not for a first timer.
There are some good bridleway routes locally.
Look at the pmba website for the rolling boar routes.
http://www.pmba.org.uk/news8.htm
can you convince me that LQ is a good venue to one person who would be entirely new to MTB, and another who would simply be new to the area?
No.
Cragg would be a bit better but it's stil uppy-down-uppy-downy-uppy-downy-repeat ad nauseum.
Is Gisburn too far? Good trail centre for a newbie IMO. Still fun for you.
Cragg is far better than Lee. Its like a big pump track. Great fun. I live there, and you can put Cragg in the middle of a run taking in loads of brilliant natural trails. For a newbie though? I can think of better introductions. Like chakaping says - Gisburn would be bettre, and its only down the road
I'll probably make the trek up to Gisburn, then, and do LQ on my own some other time.
What about question 2? Is Ride On in Rawtenstall the best/only option?
The lucky bastards who don't work 'till 7 on a Monday will be along to invite you out on a ride shortly, I'm sure.
Hi.
http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/monday-night-pub-ride-%e2%80%93-october-26th-%e2%80%93-turton
Loop I do quite often, will take you right onto Cragg, starts in Cowpe
http://www.bikemap.net/en/route/3159481-cragg-quarry-from-cowpe-mtb/