Forum

Hi all, just introducing myself to the forum. This is not my first post, but seeing as a bought my first bike at the weekend, I wanted to introduce myself and to thank those that have already shared their knowledge. Bought this at the weekend from my local store, really pleased with it since it has hydrolic brakes and locking front suspension. Now just need to learn to ride the thing properly. I have been out on the roads, and I tell you what, I have forgotten how much burn you get in the legs riding a bike, its going to take some getting used to. Want to get some beginner XC trails in, and since I am based in Hutton, I guess that Thorndon is the best place. Can anyway tell me a good start point and how long should I be getting out for to get my stamina up.

Hi matey, happy to show you round thondon, trouble is its dark pretty quick now after work.
We normally start from the kart track, but if your riding there (why wouldnt you) i would start from hartswood or shenfield common.

When are you thinking?

Well fortunately/unfortunately, depending on how you look at it I am away on holiday from Thursday this week to September 18th, so wont be around for a couple of weeks, by which time I imagine it will be too dark in the evenings, so I wont be able to get out intil I am back. Thanks for the offer, appreciate it and would be great to take you up on that offer.

I will be riding there, rode down Hanging Hill Lane last night actually, but was getting dark so headed back.

Get your self some lights, night riding is brilliant fun and keeps your legs turning through the winter
look up my lights thread on here.

Nice one, will do that as I imagine night riding is awesome, adds another element into the fun I guess.

Apsafrickinlutely it does. more enjoyable when you have fast dry trails and a few lights attached to you. makes me happier than a pig in **it

Ha ha, look forward to some night action, but better get myself a lid as well...

Ah ha! no Lid, No Ride!

Got it, I have read a few thread with that moto, good policy if you ask me, and well worth the investment. The Mrs. would love it if I was to cave my head in and not be able to pay the mortgage on our new pad....

I used to live in Hutton, there's a route along some bridleways that will get you from Hutton Village, out on to a little road opposite Thorndon Gate. You could then enter Thorndon from there, ride past Thorndon Hall and you're in to Thorndon North

Look up "Middle Road, Brentwood" on Google maps, that's the route I used to take. It's got a really fast decent when going from Hutton to Thorndon. Never been in the little woods along there, next to the old sewage works, didn't look like there was any decent trials in it, but might be worth exploring? For heading back home from Thorndon, you could go back the same way, but it might be a bit of a climb! You could go down Priests Lane from Shenfield Common, you can pick up enough speed to keep up with the traffic at one point!

Hi Marktuk, thanks for the reply, just looked on the map. So from Hutton Village, I head to Hall Green Lane and then onto Middle Road which takes me to Ingrave. Looks like a nice little route on the map and takes you right into Thorndon. From there I guess I could make my way through Thorndon, Kents wood, Harts wood and Shenfield Common back to Priets Lane. I usually use Priets lane, which is great for going back on. Thats me sorted for this weekend then.

Make sure you got mud tyres on as that route will be propper gloopy!
I used to run that way from home, through school and around thorndon and back home. (not down preists lane though) back through the paths across the fields. Good days

Your not wrong, I was exploring (getting lost) in Harts Wood and Shenfield Common on Monday and there were areas that felt like I was hitting a wall of mud, couldnt get a momentum going and as soon as I hit the gloop, come to s stop. Oh, and I was filthly, but all good fun all the same.

So I took the middle road route from Hutton yesterday and did a 10 mile loop via Thorndon, Harts Wood and Shenfield Common and back down Priets Lane. The bridleway on the between Hutton and Middle Road is a great run, get some good speed on some fun terrain. That will definitely be my route of choice for a little while. Had a great ride.

.....football boots????