[Closed] Sherwood Pines - Worth a Visit?

Yeah it's a decent laugh.

Better than Swinley, but that sort of theme.... some jumpy bits in there too. Plenty of off-piste.

Send Couchy a PM on here, he's a few minutes away.

I've only ridden there the once, but it's a good fun place, i'd happily go back.

If you're near for 3 weeks, might as well give it a go.

I quite like Sherwood. Not technical at all but, a good blast round and is as hard as your fitness level allows.

I'd give it a miss in the wet or after a down pour as the surface turns to a horrible grinding paste.

The peaks are much more challenging in general and no where near as easy as following signposts but outclasses Sherwood in just about every other aspect.

I quite like sherwood, as said above it's really not technical but can be a fun ride, and it's better than sitting in a hotel.

Follow the signs for the jumpy/DH bit to add a bit of 'gnar'.

If you're in Mansfield for three weeks (assuming you survive and keep your bike for the duration), you can do both, multiple times.

Pines is like the waltzer at the fair, the faster you go the more fun it is.
Also if you fancy a trip over to ambergate way, 25 ish mins as opposed to a trek in to the peak) happy to show you round a 2 hr local loop, unless your some xc whippet type.

Just be aware of your security if you go to Sherwood Pines. Theft of bikes from the car park is rife at certain times of the year. Also be aware of cars following you home (if you’ve got a nice bike).

The judge was hard on you there!

Haha, it's a funny place Mansfield - like the land that time forgot....there looks to be some nice areas surrounding though......Blidworth looks alright...a bit rural but not too far from where i'll be working....

Thanks for the heads up on Sherwood, i'm hoping for some good weather so i can do some riding after work.

To make Pines worthwhile you really have to ride your lungs out. It's an alright ride if the weather's not good enough to go to the Peak then.

I'd always prefer to head to the Peak, though. Or, as it's so dry, around Matlock/Ambergate.

First time I've seen this question asked and people haven't slagged off Pines for not being "gnarly" enough!

It is what it is, you can't compare it to the Peak or Welsh trail centres. They've done the best with the geology they've got. It's a great fun blast, it's not a downhill rockfest. Go with that attitude and you'll be fine.

If you know when you are going to be there, probably some locals on here who could show you some off piste options round there as well.

MoreCashThanDash has covered it really.  I live in the village next to ‘Pines, and know it quite well (still go over the Peak at least once a week for a ride tho!).  It’s been getting a bit too dry, loose and dusty just recently, so not the best for hard cornering - but the heavy rain today should help consolidate things.  If you’re only in Mansfield, it’s definitely worth nipping over there.

The ‘mini downhill’ routes starting off the wooden ramp in the bike park area are good for laugh, and short enough to ride back up to try the different variations.  Easiest way to find the wooden ramp is to follow the red route until you get to the section called ‘Tornado Alley’ (it has a sign board at the start of the section).  At the bottom of Tornado Alley you’ll drop onto a fire road, and the red route crosses it.  If you turn left on the fire road and ride for about 25metres towards a railway bridge, you’ll see the blue route going up a gentle gradient on your left - ride up there for about 400-500m and you’ll see a sign ‘to the bike park/downhill’ on your left follow this track for a few metres and you’ll see the wooden ramp structure.  (Don’t worry, you don’t need a DH bike😉)

If you’re around on any weekdays and would like showing round of the off-piste, gimme a shout.

Pines is my local I go a couple times a week as it’s easy to do, the red is ok if you go flat out, the jump section is small but fun. Off piste is better, night garden, bomb hole, old red etc. It’s hard to find if you don’t know. It’s all on my strava account so if you send a PM I’ll link you. There’s nothing extreme there but being local I’ve no complaints 😁

Last time I was in Mansfield in a pub I got a pint of ipa for £1.47

That was less than 5 yrs ago!

Use light tyres at Sherwood pines, and pedal like f***.

There's some stuff close to Mansfield, but I've heard it's been torn down recently . I'd add that the Watchwood Plantation is only 15 minutes further South than Pines from Mansfield and is definately worth a look if you have a spare hour or two.

It’s alright as people have said above, faster you go the more fun it gets. Done it on CX and full Susser a few times as in-laws live a mile away.

The Peaks are not exactly close to Mansfield.

I will be running round the red this weekend 😁

i'm dissapointed ive got to 15 comments and no ones slating it,

i like it, the wife likes it,
i prefer to go with a fast mate and really rally hard around as fast as the lungs and legs will take me, if you are a plodder and/or have no fitness you wont like it..

It's fun and you can do a lap after work. Peaks on the weekend.

I’m not sure who said it was better than Swinley? I’m not convinced it is. Probably equals, just remember if you do two laps or have a play it’ll take you over the two hours and will be 6 quid to park.
I was working that way and the Premier inn was literally next door, nice way to avoid sitting in a soulless bar reading and trying to avoid drinking too much.

A lap of pines red is 35mins and being local a years pass covers the parking if I drive there. It’s a great place for an hour or twos fun after work. Tbh can stretch it to 4-6 hours riding with off piste and a stop at the cafe 😁

A lap of pines red is 35mins

Or hauling my chuncky frame around took just under an hour last week.
It ok i really should ride there more often given how close it is (and some of here it would seem). Take a ride to clumber along route 6, nothing technical but a bad ride.

I really like it as well, feels more natural then swinley. The thing I like best is despite it being fairly flat it seems to be slightly downhill flat. You can really get some speed up and there are enough roots etc to keep you from switching off.