LOCAL SECRETS
Chipps wants to show you all of his favourite trails. Well, nearly all.
We all know that there are no secrets any more. Every mountain has been discovered, every field, stream and hillside catalogued, and every vaguely wiggly forest track named and KOMed. It seems that you just have to open an internet browser and a rip-roaring good time will be guaranteed. The reality, thankfully, is a little more nuanced.
Even the best map reading and .gpx downloading can only get you so far on unfamiliar trails. The map, or the trail photos taken a year ago, won’t convey the condition of the ground right now, or the state of the nettles, or the depth of the puddles. Even a meteo-map reading whizz can’t always explain why that headwind appears to have been following you around for the entire ride.