Learn mountain biking skills or improve what you can already do at Cumbria’s first dedicated mountain bike coaching trail on the Forestry Commission estate at Whinlatter Forest, near Keswick.
The Cyclewise coaching trail is for private training purposes only and will be opened by Rich Martin, Director & Senior coach from Cyclewise of Penrith and Whinlatter, who designed the new facility. It will also be the Forestry Commission’s first mountain bike coaching trail in Britain.
The new 300 metre trail is supported by British Cycling – the internationally recognised governing body of cycle sport in the UK. The trail will feature specially constructed bumps, humps or drops, which in mountain biking are known as three berms, three table tops, a rhythm section and rocky drop offs. There will also be technical climbing and descending sections.
British Cycling has expressed an interest in using the new facility for their Olympic talent team.
The launch of the Cyclewise coaching trail will coincide with the IMBA UK (International Mountain Biking Association UK) conference & AGM in Keswick.
Rich Martin Director & Senior coach at Cyclewise, said “We’re delighted to have finally achieved one of our long terms aims in providing the most professional and inspirational mountain bike coaching possible at Whinlatter. Our clients will now have their own unique trail to ride without other riders interfering with the learning process.
“A big thank you to Adrian Jones of the Forestry Commission for making this happen and also to trailbuilder, Hugh Clixby, who has created this world class coaching trail for us here in Keswick.”
Cyclewise also offer bike hire and shop, leadership training and maintenance courses and workshops at Whinlatter.
To find out more about the new Cyclewise coaching trail visit www.cyclewise.co.uk or call 01768 898775.
Together with all the different walking routes and the Go Ape high wire forest adventure courses; Whinlatter is now one of the region’s leading centres for outdoor activities.
Paul Brown, Recreation Ranger for the Forestry Commission at Whinlatter, said:
“The new Cyclewise coaching trail will certainly reinforce Whinlatter’s growing reputation as the region’s leading mountain biking venue as well as Cumbria as the UK’s “Capital of adventure”.
“People wanting to develop their mountain biking skills can now enjoy the most exclusive, professional and unique training experience in the county.”
The Quercus Trail, a 7.5 kilometre blue grade mountain bike route, was added to Whinlatter’s range of mountain biking facilities in July. The Quercus Trail was designed especially to suit reasonably competent cyclists and mountain bikers of any age with basic off road riding skills, including families with children aged seven years and over.
The “Altura Trail”, the longest purpose-built mountain bike trail in the Lake District, was unveiled at Whinlatter at the end of last year. The 19 kilometre red grade mountain bike route includes 15 kilometres of singletrack and was built for experienced riders with good off road skills and a reasonable level of fitness.
Mountain bike trails are colour graded green, blue, red or black, according to the level of difficulty. Green is the easiest level and black is for expert cyclists.
The new mountain bike trail developments at Whinlatter are part of an ongoing £500,000 project to improve the visitor facilities at Whinlatter Forest.
The North West Regional Development Agency has helped to fund the construction of the mountain bike trails and redevelopment of the car park at the Whinlatter Visitor Centre.
The Altura and Quercus Trails were made possible thanks to a £50,000 grant from Cumbria Tourism’s Adventure Capital Phase One Fund and a £50,000 grant from Sport England.
Whinlatter Forest Park is England’s only true mountain forest. Rising to 790 metres above sea level, it offers spectacular views of the Lake District and into Scotland.
More information about Whinlatter Forest Park and its cycling facilities can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/northwestengland.