Matador Downnill Track Innerleithen PDF Print E-mail
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Wednesday, 16 January 2008 03:03
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Our return trip to Innerleithen down hill tracks was brilliant, fantastic weather great company, excellent uplift service.The Matador at Innerliethen is just one of the sweetest downhill tracks there, with many more to offer. There is now a fully working uplift service.

 

(video courtesy of www.mtbvideo.co.uk )

 

Starting a little away from the other routes, this track sets off innocuously enough, with a pedally section through young trees.  A sharp, right hand turn has you diving into the trees over a tricky rock step, which quickly tells you things are going to get a lot harder. 

Hit a couple of S bends and you're faced with an 8ft-rock drop, which requires full commitment.  Land this and it’s into a fast, flat right hander, leading straight into a nadgery rock garden.  Safely through here, things soon steepen into three tight turns and onto a rock chute, which spits you down across the upper road.

 

Skip over a couple of rocks at the roadside and it’s down another steep chute. Feather the brakes though, as this fires you into a tight section through the trees with some more rock steps.  Crossing the push-up path, a rooty drop leads straight onto a 4ft-rock drop.  The trail falls away sharply then swings left then right across an old dyke before veering hard right and opening up considerably. 

Over a double, it’s then hard left and onto the trail's signature feature – a 6ft rock drop (which can easily send you over 20ft) down the long run out, across the lower road and straight onto a rock fly-off at near warp speed.  Keep it low or send it high and long, but watch your speed, as you’re straight onto a double then a tabletop and another double in quick succession. 

 

Back into the trees, there’s a couple of different line choices before hitting a sweet wee rock drop across the bridleway.  The trail then drops onto the bridleway, taking in a couple of bus stops.  Wide and open, you need to pedal quite hard down here as the trail swings off right and straight onto a pretty meaty gap jump.  A couple tabletops follow then it’s down into the old Arena.  Hang on through the braking bumps, before a couple of rutted, rooty turns set you up for the infamous bombhole and final bermed corners.

 

Distance: 1.96km / 1.22 miles

 

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There are four downhill trails in total: Matador, Cresta Run, Gold Run, and Make or Break. 

 

All routes are graded ‘extreme’, with small, medium and large features.  Full face helmet, gloves, body armour and a Downhill specific bike are strongly recommended for all trails. 

Getting to the start of the trails

 

Signed push-up paths from the car park will take you to the top, but it’s a serious workout, climbing over 300 vertical metres!  (Give yourself 45 - 60mins bottom to top). 

 

Uplift service 

Uplift services are run regularly at Innerleithen by 'Uplift Scotland'.  Booking essential. Contact David 'Tally' Tallontine on 07709 144 299 or see www.upliftscotland.com for more details and booking. 

 

Source and Trail centre

http://www.7stanes.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-5S4F38 

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Last Updated on Saturday, 15 March 2008 17:35