Review for Hadleigh Park Mountain Bike Trail Centre

Unfortunately there is no love left in the XC trail centre. Red tape nightmare in trying to get anything done with trail crews, no money being spent, and more places elsewhere opening up to address a wider range of riders. 

A 2012 legacy that has been let go unfortunately to be a dog walking track. Now anyone that knows me knows I don’t like the “Ups” but as Hadleigh is on my doorstep and does have a history that, I think, should be supported I would get behind any effort to bring it back to a XC circuit that’s worthy of an Olympic course. I have cut my MTB teeth scaring myself on Leap of Faith, Deanes Drop, The Rock Garden etc and have used it facilities like the Cafe and the Bike shop on many occasions. 

To let the track fall into the disrepair is a travesty and, I’m my opinion, a massive let down to every rider, enthusiast, and the local community. This has the potential to be a massive success as it was at the 2012 games and support families and children getting out into the parks and fresh air to learn an exciting, challenging and fitness based activity. 

The works that were carried out by contractors should never have got the go ahead, and whoever oversaw the works should have their heads read. This could only have been signed off on by someone who didn’t care, had no idea, or was earning a pretty penny to complete the job. This work has pretty much shut the majority of all the large “features” of the track and unless you are a hardcore XC rider, you wouldn’t even think of using the track. 

Hadleigh MTB track has a million pound potential, but only has a pounds’ worth of investment. If something isn’t done about the issues that the community is highlighting the whole place will just be lost to the fauna and flora and will become just a memory of a legacy. 

I sincerely hope that, one day, I can be back moaning about going uphill, but at least I would be on an exciting and well maintained track. 

Features, community support, Olympic legacy, potential, cafe and pump tracks.