WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY CHIPPS
The gravity pull of a marked forest centre trail can be very strong. Leaving the warm confines of the café, you simply need to follow the siren call of the coloured arrows and you’ll be guaranteed a circular, predictable and repeatable ride. There’ll be no unannounced drops or sudden corners, very little in the way of multiple line choice (or any line choice for that matter), no livestock or gates, and it’s entirely possible that you’ll only have to put a foot down when you finish the ride, back where you started and in time for pudding.
Sometimes, especially when the weather isn’t all that great, that’s exactly what you need – a ride where you know precisely what you’re going to get. It’s the mountain bike equivalent of a McMeal; go anywhere in the country, pick a red route and you’ll know roughly what you’ll find.