Review for Peak District Mountain Bike Trails

Gavin:

I've just got back from my first experience of Parkwood, and it certainly won't be my last. In fact, I am planning on getting up nice and early tomorrow and heading back. I am a rider of modest fitness and ability, only ever having ridden one 'proper' trail centre - Whinlatter in Keswick. I usually just head out to the Peak District and ride around, reasonably aimlessly, just for fun. I was a little concerned by the length of the circuit. 2k doesn't seem like much, and after a nice climb up Rutland Road to find the entrance, I was really hoping the riding would be worth it. It seemed very quiet, so I decided to take a bit of a risk and follow the track up the hill in an attempt to suss out how the route was put together. After a reasonable climb, I finally made it to the top. Now it was time to try and put some of the skills I have spent much time reading about to the test. My aim had been to go for one run on the blue route from start to finish, and then start checking out other variations. By the time I had finished the first short section of what I believe could be nicely flowing, but certailnly weren't put together in a flowing fashion by myself, berms I just had to get back to the top and have another crack. And then I had to have another, then another! It took all my will to move on to the next section. Again more berms, but with some nice looking jumps, and a deviation for the red route which I noted and duly avoided. Again, once I'd made it to the end of this section, I had another couple of attempts at improving my flow. I did make it to the end eventually, after getting a little cocky trying to jump off a rock before a small berm, going straight over the top of said berm and ending up in the brambles. I managed to keep myself from going arse-over-head, dusted myself off and went back to, guess what.... have another go! It would be nice if there were proper toilets, but that is a very small issue. There is a nice little garden area where you could sit and have lunch. The very fact that this place exists a twenty minute bike ride from my flat in town is amazing. The people whose hard work has put this together deserve medals. Go and check it out, it's great fun.

Great for beginners. You can ride it in any weather. You can have plenty of fun sessioning each section. The location.