Make the Most of this Summer The Great
Escape V O L U M E
1
-
S U M M E R
S E A S O N
Defend Long Sleeve Jersey
www.foxracing.co.uk
2022 Fox Collection Made for Adventure
32.
38. 4
Contents
08. 10. 12. 14.
MBM Close Up - Enjoying The Sun Steve Mokan enjoys the sun riding his bike in some steep ,dusty conditions in Squamish, Canada.
18. 22.
26. 36. 37. 24.
The Goods - Cube Stereo 140 Check out the full suspension Cube Stereo 140 and how it’s been developed for all condition riding.
39. 40.
Summer Season Riding Hot days, dry trails and sweaty helmets are all to come this summer. Here’s what to expect.
Summer Setup Here’s how to setup your bike and best prepare yourself for the Summer riding season ahead of us.
MBM Close Up - Dusty Bike Testing A close up into Axel Brunst testing the new Focus full suspension release in summer conditions.
UCI World Cup Downhill The first round of the UCI World Cup kicked off in Lourdes, France. See how the elite men and women got on.
The Goods A collection of Mountain Bike products priced and reviewed so you can make and informed decision on your summer purchases.
Trails You Need To Try Six unique trails that you need to try! Each trail varies in skill level and are detailed so that you know exactly what to expect.
Cannock Chase This seasons feature is Cannock Chase. See what it has to offer for mountain bikers and the whole family this summer.
Cannock Chase - Campsite If you want to take advantage of the summer weather, a campsite is available at Cannock Chase. This is what it has to offer.
Cannock Chase Cycle Centre Centred in the heart of Cannock Chase a bike shop suitable for all your mountain bike needs.
Cannock Chase - Go Ape Need something for the family to do while you’re out biking? Cannock chase has plenty more to offer, including Go Ap! 5
Summer has Arrived.
2022
Let’s make the most of it...
6
7
8
Hot Days Dry trails and hot temperatures are all to come this summer.
Make the Adjustment Your bike reacts differently to dry trails. Make sure to adjust your set-up for these conditions (Page 10).
Season Riding With summer now being well and truly
A great way to approach your summer
upon us, many mountain bikers might
rides is to focus on your basic skills and
think about hanging up their helmets for a
techniques rather than speed. By reducing
few months until the weather cools down.
your speed, it allows you to focus more
Even though riding in the summer months
on cornering, braking, turning and your
does come with its challenges, it also has
descending skills. It also gives you the
a heap of benefits, which should be taken
opportunity to practice some fancy tricks,
full advantage of.
so you can show off to your mates on your future rides.
Long summer days, warm evenings and a lot less mud, what’s not to like? Mountain
Going slow might not give you the
biking is a great sport, particularly in the
adrenaline rush you are looking for when
summer months, which many people don’t
it comes to mountain biking, but it will
seem to realise. Plenty of road cyclists
help improve your technique, so that you
take to the trails in the winter months to
can have faster and safer rides when the
keep their trusty road bikes from getting
weather turns cooler.
ruined by the harsh winter conditions. Only to then store their mountain bikes away for months on end when the sun comes out. By doing this you really are missing out on the benefits that mountain biking can bring the warmer months. 9
Summer Setup How to setup your bike and best prepare yourself for the Summer riding season!
10
Apparel
Tire Pressure
Best way to dress in these conditions
How to best set up you tire pressures
The best attire for mountain biking on a hot day includes
Typical mountain bike pressures range from 22psi to 35psi,
a well-ventilated helmet, shorts and top. We recommend
generally with more air in the rear than the front. This is
wearing gloves to prevent sweaty hands from slipping off the
because more of your weight is on the rear, so it needs more
handle bars and polarized sunglasses to cut down on glare
support. During this summer trails will become dry and dusty
while also protecting your eyes from the sun, dust, and dirt.
making it tough to find traction. By reducing your psi to low
It’s still extremely important to be protected on your rides, we
20s more traction can be found due to softer tires with a wider
recommend a less bulky pair of knee pads such as the Fox
base in contact with the ground. Be weary that lowering your
Enduro D30s which provide protection and ventilation.
tires pressure to 18psi or lower puts you at risk of a puncture.
Suspension How to setup your suspension for Summer Season Riding
Need a bit of help with how to set up your suspension for the
dry conditions. In the dry, firmer suspension will help you skip
summer? Give this a read. Set up is absolutely crucial in order to get
across holes. A slightly faster rebound speed will also stop the fork
maximum comfort and control while riding. Get it wrong and you’ll
and shock ‘packing down’ through multiple hits. Start by adding 10-
be fighting a constant battle with your bike and the terrain. Get it
20psi of pressure front and rear, and adjust the rebound by a couple
right and you will enter a whole new world of control. And while it
of clicks. Both full suspension and hard-tail bikes are suitable for
can seem very complicated, all it takes are simple tweaks to adjust
the summer, but if you’re chasing some PBs, full suspension will
your suspension and make it suitable for the dry, hardpact summer
allow you to carry the most speed through dry rough sections.
conditions. The general rule is to set your suspension up hard for
Hard-tails are still a lot of fun though! 11
Dusty Bike Testing Summer in the woods is as good as it gets for technical riding, which is why Axel Brunst used this oppurtunity to test the new Focus full suspension Release. The test span over the course of four days with the focus on the first few days about the tech. The last two then focus on flow riding. The bike held up to the test and is perfect for riders who want to who want to experience incredible desert riding early in the season, and want to progress their technical skills to a new level.
Axel Brunst Stuttgart, Germany 06/07/2021
12
13
Enjoying The Sun The trails are next-level in Squamish, and most black trails in the area have features that most riders will have to check out and potentially walk the first time. The downhills are STEEP, so the mileage tends to be a little lower; over the course of a full day ride, you can expect to do 18-20 miles with 2500-3000′ of climbing and descending. When it comes to the trails themselves, you can expect just about everything to be thrown at you. Long flow trails with jumps, tables, rock gardens and berms made from heaven.
Steve Mokan Squamish, Canada 28/08/2021
14
15
16
The Welsh Wonders Wales played a pivotal role in the development of mountain biking in the UK, and the principality has remained at the forefront ever since. But there’s so much more to riding in Wales than trail centres and bike parks: the mountains and valleys are home to some of the best wild riding in the UK too. There’s so much good riding around the Ellen Valley, you could take a few days there, barely repeat yourself and have a ball. There’s some wicked sections here including the steep but amazing Gulley drop and the wonderfully-named Puke Hill.
Tom Hutton Wales, Ellen Valley 18/08/2021
17
UCI World Cup Downhill Lourdes, France / March 26th - 27th
Start: 1000m 1
2
Distance: 1.18mi 3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Finish: 600m 11
13
14
15
16
Start
A
17
A
B
B
C
C
D
D
E
E
F
F
G
G
H
H
I
I
J
J
K
K
L
L
M
M
N
N
O
O
P
P
Q
Q
R
R
S
S
T
T
Finish
U
1
18
12
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
U
13
14
15
16
17
Elite Men’s Results
1st 2nd Specialized Gravity
Commencal 22
Amuary Perion / France 2:47.711
Finn Iles / Canada 2:48.558
4th
Benoit Coulanges / France
5th
Luca Shaw / USA
6th
Danny Hart / UK
7th
Reece Wilson / UK
8th
3rd Specialized Gravity
Loic Bruni / France 2:48.797
Commencal 22
2:49.177
Canyon Collective Factory Team
2:50.142
Cube Factory Racing
2:50.406
Trek Facrory Racing DH
2:51.084
Laurie Greenland / UK
Santa Crux Syndicate
2:51.567
9th
Antoine Vidal / France
Commencal Les Orres
2:51.871
10th
Matt Walker / UK
Madison Saracen Factory Racing DH
2:52.174
A new season brings excitement and nerves for every athlete. This
A couple of years ago, Amaury Pierron was on fire. Major injuries
Lourdes track was last raced in 2017, so track walk and practise was
sustained in crashes, including a broken back, curtailed his
a case of getting reacquainted with this super intense technical track.
appearances on the World Cup circuit since the start of 2020. However, those injuries don’t appear to have had a negative mental
Racing doesn’t get more exciting than the Elite Men’s race with some
impact on Pierron. In this Lourdes race, Pierron also had issues. He
incredible runs and creative lines it was impossible to guess who was
came into this race low on energy after a bout of illness and probably
going to win. Amaury Pierron bested the conditions and laid down a
didn’t expect to win the race.
ride putting him 0.847 seconds ahead of a charging Finn Iles. Loic Bruni didn’t manage the French win he wanted but his flat out run was
We now have an almost two-month break for the riders and team to
good enough for third place and rounded up the podium.
get prepared for the return of the classic Fort William. 19
20
Elite Women’s Results
1st 2nd Commencal Muc-off
Dorval AM Commencal
Camille Balanche / Swiss 3:19.983
Valentina Holl / Austria
5th
Marine Cabirou / France
6th
Mathilde Bernard / France
7th
Canyon Collective FMD
Tahnee Seagrave / UK 3:20.980
Myriam Nicole / France 3:20.607
4th
3rd
Rockshox Treck Race Team
3:21.657
Scott Downhill Factory
3:25.620
Scott Manigod Shot
3:32.340
Nina Hoffmann / Germany
Santa Cruz Syndicate
3:33.799
8th
Eleonora Farina / Italy
MS Mondraker Team
3:34.527
9th
Monika Hrastnik / Russia
Dorval AM Commencal
3:37.205
10th
Veronika Widmann / Italy
Madison Saracen Factory Team
3:38.255
The women’s race went down to the line. Literally, with the top three
was very much in reach for the 2021 World Cup overall champion
riders only separated by a mere second, it was a true nail-biter of a
Valentina Höll. She set off looking strong but lost time at the latter
race. With three riders still left to race after Balanche’s flying run, it
end of her run and finished 1.6s back in fourth place.
was anyone’s race. Third place qualifier Tahnée Seagrave came flying down the track looking back to her old confident self after having
The Swiss rider of Camille Balanche only started riding bikes in 2016
dealt with multiple injuries in the past couple of seasons. Staying
but has proven time and time again how good she is, winning the
well within winning margins, she kept it pinned the whole way down,
opening round in Leogang last year. Now, with a second World Cup
finishing just 0.997s off Balanche’s time. It was then time for Myriam
win to her name, it’s clear that she’s one of the fastest riders on the
Nicole, who put down an uncharacteristically wild and loose run that
circuit. We’re in for one hell of a season if women’s racing is as tight
was 0.624s off. Finally, with only one woman left at the top, the win
as we’ve seen in Lourdes. 21
The
GOODS Fox Enduro D3O Knee Guards
Fox Airline Gloves
Price: £75 Rating:
Price: £32.99 Rating:
When you’re a mountain biker and you enjoy riding hard,
The Flex Air gloves quickly became a lot of riders go-to choice
falling off is just a part of life. However, with the Enduro
for gloves. They have a ‘true feel’ palm design with limited
D30 Knee Guards, you won’t end a ride with bloodied and
padding. Your hands can take some getting to this but the
bruised knees.
advantage is a greater feel of the bike. Fox opted for no Velcro
The removable D30 polymer padding is
soft and flexible in normal use and yet offers instantaneous
of the cuffs, using an elastic fabric allowing for a snug fit.
absorption and dissipation of crash forces, far beyond that of ordinary foams. Not only that, a reinforced skid plate reduces
With the lack of padding durability is a concern overtime as
friction in sliding crashes and durable Cordura fabric is used
they have been seen to tear with excessive use.
to ensure abrasion resistance. These MTB knee pads are built as tough as you are.
Another concern is how they handle in the wet. Getting them wet effects the grippers on the fingertips. The grippers are so
22
The D3O protection sits in a flexible, pre-curved sleeve,
effective in dry conditions but once wet they become slick to
featuring a stretch mesh back to make them comfortable for
the point where you can hardly feel your brake levers. This is
a day of trail riding from sun-up to sundown. With their easy
a massive draw back for gloves costing £33 as they can only
to slip on ergonomic fit, you can pedal at full speed on your
be used for a small part of the year. They can be enjoyed this
bike without ever feeling restricted. Having comfort like this
summer, but for wet rides for the rest of year, another choice
makes wearing knee pads a lot more appealing, helping you
in gloves would be recommended. Look out for our Winter
get into the habit of wearing them all the time.
release where we’ll cover products for wet weather.
SIDI Shoes Price: £148 Rating: These SIDI shoes are tailored towards being worn while cycling,
The shoes are fitted with a cushion that covers the heel, something
suitable to be used on and off road. These are for riders who want
that incorporates all models of footwear. Its function, apart from
to be clipped in when riding. The shoes are made of Politex, a fabric
protecting the shoe against wear, has the mission of reinforcing
made up of several superimposed layers, which has magnificent
rigidity when exerting force when pedalling. While the price is high
physio-mechanical properties, ensuring a long life thanks to its
they have a good reputation for being a quality pair of cycling shoes.
resistance against tearing, laceration, stretching.
Kross Arrok Helmet
Fox Defend Jersey
Price: £49.99 Rating:
Price: £45 Rating:
This helmet is dedicated to dynamic cycling being suitable
The Defend jersey uses fabric that is very airy and very light
for both downhill and uphill riding. The in-mold design will
when you pick it up. The main panels are made from a tighter
provide safety and durability for many short and long rides.
weave, while the whole back panel features perforations to
The convenient fit system will make it easy to match the
really help improve breathability.
helmet to the head. Rigid visor will absorb the impact from large branches, protecting the face of the rider and ensuring
The construction might appear fairly basic at first glance, but
comfort during cycling.
closer inspection shows good attention to detail. The neck area is equipped with an elastic strip for extra comfort, while
The price is much cheaper than a lot of its competition and
the front of the collar is finished off with a glued fold instead of
still offers the same level of protection and quality. If you’re in
the classic thread, resulting in a clean look and a soft surface.
the need of a new helmet this is a great option.
This ensures comfort and breathability with each ride.
23
CUBE Stereo 140 Price: £3,099 Rating: When you’re pushing your own limits, you need a bike that won’t let
This bike works best on flowing trail centre type trails, where decent
you down. The Stereo 140 HPC uncompromising build starts with
pedal efficiency and comfortable suspension comes into play. With
cutting-edge Fox suspension technology. A Fox 36 Float Factory
a carbon front triangle and some higher-end kit, Cube has kept
FIT GRIP2 fork and Float DPX2 Factory EVOL shock for unparalleled
the bike to a respectable 13.51kg, which certainly helps things
comfort and grip. Sram’s GX Eagle transmission and Carbon Eagle
on the climbs. As such, on longer days in the hills, the Stereo is a
crank transfers your power to the trail, while powerful Magura
fair companion, certainly when compared to some more descent-
hydraulic disc brakes and Schwalbe tyres ensure you’re always in
focussed trail bikes.
full control. And a Race Face Next handlebar, CUBE dropper post and Newmen Evolution wheelset are the finishing touches.
The Stereo 140 HPC doesn’t just ride better than many bikes in its class, it’s also one of the most elegant frames ever made. Hidden
24
Hidden pivots, a short rocker and internally routed cables all
pivots, a short rocker and internally routed cables all contribute
contribute to clean looks, great handling and reduced maintenance.
to clean looks and great handling. If you are willing to spend the
The carbon main frame is light and, thanks to details like a tapered
money you will get a great all round bike in return that will last you
head tube, also stiff and accurate. Combined with a Boost 148 rear
a fair few years. It’s also suitable for harsh dry conditions of this
axle, it makes for a precise, trail-devouring machine.
summer and all year round.
25
Trails You Need To Try Chasewater Staf fordshire WS8 7NL
Sherbrook Trail Cannock Chase WS15 2UQ
Follow the Dog Cannock Chase WS15 2UQ
26
The Monkey Cannock Chase WS15 2UQ
Dog & Monkey Cannock Chase WS15 2UQ
Bike Park Wales G e t h i n Wo o d l a n d C e n t r e CF48 1YZ
27
Chasewater S t a f f o r d s h i r e
3.4 miles Difficulty: R e l a x e d
R o u t e
Description: Chasewater provides a 3.4 mile route circling a lake and steam railway. The trail is wide and mellow, making it perfect for beginners or family days out. It’s an ideal venue for nature trails, bird watching, walking, cycling, and picnics. One thing for sure is that however you choose to spend your leisure time, Chasewater is an ideal venue to enjoy a great family day out. The entrance barrier will close at 8pm. It re opens at 7am, please ensure you vacate the car park by this time as the cars will not be released until morning.
Open Hours:
28
Monday
9:00am – 4:00pm
Tuesday
9:00am – 4:00pm
Wednesday
9:00am – 4:00pm
Thursday
9:00am – 4:00pm
Friday
9:00am – 4:00pm
Saturday
9:00am – 4:00pm
Sunday
9:00am – 4:00pm
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
A
A
B
B
C
C
D
D
E
E
F
F
G
G
H
H
I
I
Enterance / Start J
J
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Information: Bike Routes
Walking Routes
Directions
Horse Routes
Toilets
Cafe
Information
P
Car Parking
Sherbrook Trail C a n n o c k
C h a s e
7.5 miles Difficulty: R e l a x e d
R o u t e
Description: Tighten your laces, pump up your tyres and head off through the scenic, and wonderfully tranquil Sherbrook Valley. The trail starts at the main Cannock Chase Forest car park where you can grab a coffee and cake at the café before you start. There are two loops to choose from, the shorter Pepper Slade loop is 7.5 miles long, and the longer Abraham’s Valley trail takes you to the Stepping Stones and Abraham’s Valley is 12.5 miles. Each route is open 24/7. Great for beginner Mountain Bikers and family days out. It’s a great trail to get used to a new bike or tyres. Technically it isn’t demanding but you cover some distances at speed and the scenery is really good. During this summer season the trails are well maintained. Due to the dry hardpack conditions deterioration of trails is likely to appear but it’s nothing to immediately worry about.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
A
A
B
B
C
C
D
D
E
E
F
F
G
G
H
H
Decision Point I
I
J
J
K
K
L
L
M
M
N
N
Start & Finish 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Information: Bike Routes
P
Car Parking
Directions
Information
Walking Routes
Toilets
Horse Routes
Cafe
Not Disabled Friendly
29
Follow The Dog Information: C a n n o c k
C h a s e
6.7 miles Difficulty:
I n t e r m e d i a t e
P
R o u t e
Bike Routes
Toilets
Car Parking
No Walking Routes
Directions
No Horse Routes
Information
Not Disabled Friendly
Description: This is Cannock Chase Forest’s original and much loved mountain bike trail and was first designed by quite literally following a dog! Even if you have ridden it before, the technical singletrack is being regularly updated, so make sure that you keep coming back. Current trail highlights include the ‘High Voltage’ and ‘Bomb Hole’. Mountain bike hire is avalible with on-site bike hire specialists avalible at Cannock Chase Cycle Centre. Volunteer mountain bike trail builders, Chase Trails meet on Sundays at 10am outside Cannock Chase Cycle Centre to maintain and improve the trails. Why not lend a hand and give something back?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
14
15
16
Start & Finish
A
17
A
B
B
C
C
D
D
E
E
F
F
G
G
H
H
I
I
J
J
1
30
13
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
A
A
Start & Finish B
B
C
C
D
D
E
E
F
F
G
G
H
H
I
I
J
J
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
T h e M o n k e y Information: C a n n o c k
C h a s e
7.4 miles Difficulty:
I n t e r m e d i a t e
R o u t e
P
Bike Routes
Toilets
Car Parking
No Walking Routes
Directions
No Horse Routes
Information
Not Disabled Friendly
Description: This challenging red cross country MTB trail was first launched in 2010. The trail surface is variable, in places expect loose stone, roots and mud. Designed with very experienced mountain bikers in mind, this trail is far more physically and technically challenging and demanding than Follow the Dog. It features bigger, stepper climbs and more technical descents. A singletrack mountain bike trail which includes technical features and several black options. Expect flowing singletrack, medium berms, step ups, step downs, rock gardens, boardwalks, rollers, jumps and drop offs. The black difficult graded lines include large and unavoidable rocks and rock gardens.
31
32
C h a s e
9
10
11
14
15
16
Start & Finish of Follow the Dog
12
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
A
E
8
E
7
D
6
Not Disabled Friendly
Information
D
5
No Horse Routes
Directions
C
4
No Walking Routes
Car Parking
Toilets
C
3
P
Bike Routes
Information:
B
2
R o u t e
The Monkey adds technical stages to the loop, making much more rewarding especially the two down hill sections at the end. Plenty of airtime to be had depending on your skill levels and bravery. There is also a Black routes with tight switchbacks and steep, rocky sections which is best ridden with a lowered seat, knee pads and a full face helmet. Lowered tyre pressure will help with the grip on the slippery dirt this summer.
From the Dog, the Monkey Trail can be joined at kit bag hill, making one big loop. Combined, the trail covers around 14.6 miles. If you want to spend more time in the sun this summer, this is a great way to extend your ride!
Description:
B
A
1
I n t e r m e d i a t e
Difficulty:
14.6 miles
C a n n o c k
Dog & Monkey
33
5
6
7
11
15
20
21
22
23
24
25
V
W
V
W
19
U
U
18
T
T
17
S
S
16
R
R
14
Q
Q
12
P
P
10
O
O
9
N
N
8
M
M
4
L
L
3
K
K
2
J
J
1
I
I
Start & Finish of The Monkey
H
H
Decision Point
G
G
Re-join Follow the Dog
F
F
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
A
A
Drop off Point Start of Rides
B
B
C
C
D
D
E
E
F
F
G
G
H
H
I
I
J
J
Pick up Point End of Rides
K
K
L
L
M
M
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Bike Park Wales Open Hours: Gethin Woodland Centre
Monday
9:00am – 6:00pm
Friday
9:00am – 6:00pm
Difficulty:
Tuesday
Closed
Saturday
8:00am – 8:30pm
Wednesday
Closed
Sunday
8:00am – 8:30pm
Thursday
9:00am – 6:00pm
*Times may Change During Summer
A d v a n c e d
R o u t e s
1200 Acres
The UK’s most incredible network of over 40 trails for riders of all abilities, swooping bermed runs, tight gnarly rock sections, jump trails, drop offs, a pump track and even a family specific loop.
40+
Tr ails
With a team of 7 professional trail builders maintaining and building new trail all the time so you can be confident no matter what the weather you will experience incredible trail conditions each time you visit.
34
P
Bike Routes
Toilets
Car Parking
Walking Routes
Directions
Fee Required
Information
No Horse Routes
Cafe
Not Disabled Friendly
Description: The concept is simple, picture a ski resort, remove the snow and replace the pistes with an array of sweeping flowy bike trails meandering to the bottom of the mountain and you are close. Add a bunch of adrenalin and big sprinkle of fun and you are pretty much there. Bike Park Wales is an exhilarating way to spend your day in the Welsh mountains. For beginner mountain bikers through to seasoned downhill pro’s, Bike Park Wales will offer you an incredible experience unlike anything else in the UK. It has the longest green and blue graded descents in the UK offering unbelievable fun and a perfect opportunity to progress for beginner and intermediate riders. With over 40 trails to choose from even the best riders will spend several blissfully adrenaline filled days exploring our hugely diverse trail network. This summer is a great time to plan a trip to experience all of this in the sun.
Our series of lift assisted trails for riders of all abilities offer the ultimate riding experience. With a mix of incredible all weather roller coaster trails and some of the best natural Single track the UK has to offer, we challenge you to suppress the silly grin on your face at the bottom of each run. The uplift system is a fleet of mini buses which will transport you quickly, safely and comfortably to 491m, the top of our mountain, Myndd Gethin. You will be dropped off at the very top of the hill right next to the start of our trails. All that remains to do is select your route and whoop your way back to the bottom of the mountain in time to catch the next lift up.
35
This Seasons Feature
Cannock Chase
36
Chase Campsite If you want to extend your ride over the course of a weekend a campsite is available at Cannock Chase which is well laid out and bordered by trees. Cannock Chase is one of England’s finest landscapes, and the jewel of the West Midlands. Well known and loved for its scenery, wildlife and rich history, it offers superb walking, cycling and horse-riding in a tranquil and peaceful setting. Provided is showers and toilets, the site also offers washing up facilities, a site shop with basic provisions and a family room. With a combination of natural woodland and open heathland, the Chase offers great adventure for mountain bikers. There is a direct link to the trail ‘Follow the Dog’ from the site meaning you get to spend the maximum amount if time riding your bike. 37
38
Cannock Chase Cycle Centre The Heart of Cannock Chase
Cannock Chase Cycle Centre is situated in the Midlands in the
In the late nineties, the family was approached by the Forestry
heart of Cannock Chase home to the famous ‘Follow the Dog’ and
Commission to help run their “cycling strategy” on Cannock Chase.
‘Monkey’ mountain bike trails.
Back then they were part of the long established and very much respected Roy Swinnerton Ltd. In 2003 they opened the bike shop
Cannock Chase Cycle Centre is the ideal base to explore the
on Cannock Chase, and Swinnerton Cycles Forest Centre was
fantastic scenery and diversity of terrain the Chase has to offer. It’s
formed. Now completely separate from the founding shop they
a family run shop, offering an extensive range of cycles, accessories
have developed into one of the best trail centre bike shops in the
and advice for the whole family. Established in Stoke-on-Trent back
country. Over the years the shop and staff have evolved, and in
in 1915, it is now managed by the third and fourth generation, Mark
2018 they re-branded as “Cannock Chase Cycle Centre”.
and Jack Swinnerton. With over 100 years combined industry knowledge the staff are committed to providing the best customer
Reviews
experience possible. All of the staff love to get out cycling on and off road, allowing them
“Always had a good experience with Chase Cycle
to carefully hand pick all of the bikes and accessories to suit the
Centre but today was exceptional. Popped in with
tough Cannock Chase conditions. Whatever age or stage you are at in cycling, you can find that perfect bike or accessory that suits you, your style of riding, and your budget. The mechanics also play a vital role in the quality of the finished product that you purchase. Their love of bicycles shows in the pride they take in assembling and servicing your bike.
a split brake hose expecting to be told would be a wait of days or weeks - was actually all sorted within the hour and a few other bits fixed too, all for a fair price. Big thanks to the staff there!” - Matt. C 39
Go Ape! If you’re planning a full day out to Cannock Chase this summer but the whole family isn’t as obsessed with mountain biking as you are, look no further than Go Ape! This is the ultimate tree top experience of wobbly bridges, intricate crossings and an awesome zip wire finale in Cannock Chase Forest. The perfect high ropes course for kids as well as mum, dad, the grandparents, school groups and birthday parties. In an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty you’ll find the longest combined crossing of any Go Ape location with 1,500 metres of tree-to-tree crossings on our Challenge course. Go Ape has developed a safety system that is easy for everyone - so don’t worry, you’ll be attached to our trees at all times. They pride themselves on enabling people with a disability to access their courses - so give them a ring or call in at the cabin on site to discuss any needs that you or your group may have. Please note minimum age of 10 years, minimum height of 4FT 7 and maximum weight of 20.5 stone. For every two children (aged 10-15) taking part, one participating adult aged 18+ is required.
Open Hours Monday
9:00am – 3:00pm
Tuesday
9:00am – 3:00pm
Wednesday
9:00am – 3:00pm
Thursday
9:00am – 3:00pm
Friday
9:00am – 3:00pm
Saturday
9:00am – 4:00pm
Sunday
9:00am – 4:00pm
Prices
40
Treetop Adventure
£19.00 per Person
Treetop Challenge
£34.00 per Person
Forest Segways
£35.00 per Person
41
Make sure to look out for our next seasonal release in Autumn where we’ll cover everything you need to know for adjusting to the colder weather.
Enjoy your Summer!
Photo Credit Page 1: Image by Fox Racing Via Foxracing.co.uk Pages 19-21: Images by Red Bull Via Redbull.com
Mountain Bike Magazine™ Designed By: Bill Smith - BS Graphics Email: billsmithgraphics@gmail.com Website: bsgraphics.co.uk The rights to all the content published on stack are owned by us or the relevant thirdparty owner. All rights are reserved and acknowledged.