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I got my bike (thanks to some advise and a timely add on here ) and I have managed to get round thorndon a few times and had a nose round the jumps at warley and am already thinking or building a jump bike. I can't say you lot didn't warn me that this turns into an expensive habit lol

A couple of questions:

When over at the jump in warley it seemed to be mostly 16-20 year olds, so are jumps any country for old men ?

Secondly

After doing thorndon a few times I find myself wondering where next Danbury looks quite good, I can't say that I have mastered thorndon but I wouldn't mind a ride with a few more obstacles. Where would you recomend as a next stop ?

Thanks for your help

Definately danbury mate, more techy stuff, nice runs (all rollable), jumps and drops, it has everything and is a great place to learn.

Warley is fine for old men too.
warley does have lots of different size jumps so plenty to play on for all.

a nice single speed is a good way to go
i had a commencal maxmax for a while and it was a very good tool for the job with little expenditure.

defo go to danbury just make sure you have a lid on. there will always be people about to show you about.
only push up on the big wide main path anywhere else will get you run over lol

Warley jumps are dedicated jump terrain, good fun if you can manage it, somewhere i've been meaning to check out to see if i still have the balls for that sort f thing (i'm 42 now !)

Danbury is a decent compromise, plenty of jumps but all roll-able and gives you a nice taste of flying your bike, if i were you i'd session Danbury a fair bit then hit up Chicksands, then Porc then if you really are purely into jumps head for woburn and keep warely as a playground

this way if you decide that you're better being an occasional jumper you can build your bike to suit (like i did !) and still enjoy other types of riding, its easy to jump an XC bike but hard to ride a jump bike up a hill.....

Jumping is a young mans game..ha..

Thanks guys helpfull as always

I am enjoying xc but I think I might look at building a jumper for Sunday fun lol

Build an AM type of bike

Hi harkin, im 45 so your not alone ,i go about 7 in the morning ,that way when ya fall off theres no one around woo hoo

Good shout davray I think that's a good idea for me too.

I have been trying to get my head round the different sorts of bikes. I currently have and XC bike I think (Marin Hawk hill) which does me for everything I want to do at the moment and is a nice ride round Thorndon etc.

From what I can make out Jump bikes seem to be cut back kit (Single speed, one brake, low stem and bars) and smaller frame / wheels so you can be more in the bike. Downhill bikes seem to be built at an angle lol.

So an AM bike would be frame and stem/bars of a jump bike, med size whells and XC style full kit (Gears, brakes ect) ?

I consider my pitch to be AM although a little heavier built than most.
It suits me to have an all rounder due to limited funds.

Nwlarge hit the nail on the head, everyone is limited by funds so build the bike that's right for you! Mine is an aggressive hardtail, basically a jump bike influenced frame with gears, I put a stubby stem on it to keep me in the bike rather than over it but it rides everywhere