southerndownhill.com - Forum

Ive heard alot about cannock....  a lot of mention of timed runs and secret trails...

Could anyone give me info about it...

Does it have uplift??

Does it cost money to ride??

thanks

check this out

www.racersguild.co.uk ;D

Alright mate, its free to ride, there are quite a few different tracks up there now with track building days every month i think, there is no up lift but there isnt much need for one.

runs are anywhere up to a bit over a minute, with a 15min push back to the top.  plus there's some drops in the quarry across the road from the dh tracks.  if you go up at the weekend theres generally loads of locals who will point you in the right directions

Smithy

where bouts is the quarry, is it literally just over the road that runs along the bottom?

It's only 15 minutes back to the top if you crawl and chat all the way  ::)

The quarry (http://www.multimap.com/maps/?hloc=GB|ws11#map=52.73573,-1.93776|15|4&dp=841&loc=GB:52.689:-2.01784:16) is in Chetwynd's Coppice. The main DH runs are in Regents Wood (Warning: Regents Wood may not actually contain the following: a wood)

Info is available on my site, or Aaron's Racersguild site, also on Chasetrails (http://www.chasetrails.co.uk).

It's free to ride and there is no uplift, but there's really no need. Think Aston Hill, only with a shorter pushup track.

There are no secret trails. Just stuff you've not ridden yet.

One thing though! Please please please take your litter home with you! It's getting awful up there.  :-\

It's awesome.

the new black stuff they are building is brilliant and the Red course is fun for a good blast.

I tend not to go all the way down to the bottom, the best bits are at the top in my opinion, which cuts down on my walking time  ;D

Sorry to cast a negative light on it, but if you're used to riding anywhere like Rheola, Bringewood, Cwmcarn etc then you'll be a bit upset as these guys are misrepresenting it a fair bit as they ride there everyweek.

It's worth trying it out if you live an hour away and have a short travel bike, but if that isn't you then you may not be too keen.  It has more of an XC feel to it than DH, but that may be what you're looking for if you're starting up in the sport.

The guys have done a great job with what they've got, but don't let them blow it out of proportion especially if you have to come a long way to check it out.


...and not as long, step or technical

I agree with Poops - the work that has been done there is fantastic. And as a local DH spot its fantastic - but you need to put perspective on it.

George - I believe it was you that rode Moelfre with us the other day ( I sessioned the switchbacks a couple of times with you ) - its not that sort of track.

From Oswestry it might be worth poping to Cannock one day to see for youself.

As for the comment about it being like Aston - its nothing like it. Runs at Aston are longer and steeper - but yes, it has a hell of a push up!

I think the fact it's a 10-15min push to the top (yes alex, we're slow) puts it into perspective really guys.  Nobody said it was mega-awesome.  But I can go there with a mate or 3 and kill a whole day without getting anywhere near bored!  So yeah, wouldn't say it was worth a 3 hr commute like some places.  But I travel from Oxford once a month (stay at the parents house) just for the timed runs coz it's just so much fun.

Smithy

Poops, you will NEVER see me over-blowing Cannock. I know it has its limitations, and it is very short (our timed tracks range between 1:14 and 47 seconds if the winning times are anything to go on) but frankly that's not detrimental.

With six plus distinct tracks with very different feels and numerous offshoots , you can easily spend the entire day without riding the exact same trail twice if that's what you want.

The steep bits are there (The switchbacks in at the top of the Darkside, or most of Little Bringewood), and the technicality is definitely there if that's what you're looking for.

I ride away from Cannock plenty, Moelfre/hopton/bringewood/scotland/caersws/france, and yes, in comparison, cannock's a molehill with a blue-route, but to have within an hour of you, or to take beginners to, or to go to when every other course is a foot underwater, it's very hard to justify travelling further. We also have the cheapest races in the UK  ;D

Oh, and just to clarify, if you live more than two hours away from Cannock, you'll be sorely dissapointed. It's good, but not two hours battling midlands motorway traffic good.

Recently at Cannock.

(http://i2.pinkbike.com/photo/1768/pbpic1768943.jpg)

^^^^ I need to have a bash at that ^^^^

See y'all in 2 weeks

Smithy

I'm still in two minds as to whether or not I should have a pop at the first jump on Walleater. The whole line gives me the fear.

I don't think we're really mis-representing the place. Taken from our website I quote...


"The hill isn't huge, the peak is a modest 205m above sea level but it's fun spot for local riders or those passing through the area. The soil is free draining so it's a perfect winter alternative to other courses that suffer with the mud."

It's a fun local spot that's worth a modest journey for an afternoon of riding. If you regularly hit Bringewood, Hopton or other Midlands area tracks and expect the same of our little hill you will be disappointed. Blimey, plenty of people turned up and paid 25 quid for a "DH" race at Chicksands.

Stile Cop is way more of an asset to be appreciated than a white elephant to have the p*ss taken out of.

I really fancy making the short trip soon, i've been in two minds about whether it['d be worth it and have decided it will be.
i'll be up sometime in the next few months with some mates to session.
Look forward to riding!

i should have my wheels and be there a week on Monday, First race there but i have ridden there before

watch out No. 15 on a black/white V10