So what about the biking? Drive to the car park and leave the hardtail at home. Tighten up your helmet because you are about to experience some of the most exhilarating downhill in the country. I am not just talking one trail here. I am talking several. Everywhere you turn here an opportunity opens up for heart racing decents both in and out of forests.
Mountain bikers have been coming up here for 20 years and before that Scramblers were. It is a great place to train because it is so accessible and the terrain is so variable. There are some tricky climbs. Some mountain bikers leave their office and head up for a quick spin in the fresh air rather than spending their time in the gym. In urban areas, recreational facilities like this are invaluable
If you ever need to test out your suspension, bring it here. The trails are naturally eroded wide granite paths. Boulders grow out of the ground like the goosebumps on your arms do, as you thunder over them. When you get to the bottom you can catch your breath and wonder what your name was. Then you will do it again. If your heart is not working here then your nervous system is. It's a total body workout.
If the rain starts to fall cut into the forest and wind your way around the bermed corners at 45º. The strategically placed ramps propel you along as the ground falls away from you - then thump, you land again just in time for another chicane. Pine needles rising in your wake. The ground is soft in here but don't be fooled. Those same granite boulders still protrude from the floor in lots of places. A misplaced wheel could end in disaster.
There are a few areas in here that you can play around in. Literally from the entrance to the forest there are tricky little bits to loosen you up. You can drive up a little further as far as the gate and either continue up on the main trail and then descend or cut down left for about half a kilometer and then right into the forest via the single track. Problem with this route is you might meet someone on the way down - not a good combination. A better route might be to continue on until the clearing and then turn up around the patch of forest.
At this point you come to a wide and rocky granite path that runs straight up to the summit for about 1km. As climbs go it is very testing.You can continue on there if you like cross country stuff, because from there the trail continues for miles across hilltops. If you prefer downhill then turn around and head back down. It will test your grip to the maximum. Any old injuries that you may have to your wrists or forearms will be revealed once again. Make sure you have good brakes. Don't dream of doing this without a helmet.
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