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If the thought of bombing down some good trails has you dreaming of getting off-road, here's some extra info on suitable four wheel mountain bike trails to help get you rolling...
The ideal trail for a four wheeler has a predominantly downhill gradient throughout. Whilst it is possible to self propel a four wheeler on the flat and up shallow gradients, it is very difficult and can cause exhaustion. A four wheeler will also struggle to regain any momentum following flat or uphill sections. The bikes can be jumped in a similar way to a normal DH bike (with 6 inches of travel) but it is particularly important to land on the exit transition to reduce the impact. You therefore need to carry enough speed into a jump to achieve this safely.
Steep, straight, downhill gradients are fine for 4 wheels, however turns across steep gradient on off-cambers are not very safe. Table-tops, small drop-offs and doubles are all OK, providing it is possible to carry sufficient speed into the take off to reach the landing transition. Technical features and natural terrain such as rock gardens are fine providing they are wide enough, as are raised boardwalk sections and fun boxes etc.
UK MTB trails use colour codes to tell you what to expect. The colours are based on those used for cross-country skiing routes. We have created an easy to follow table showing you what the different colours mean for UK mountain-bikers. In addition, some trails have now been upgraded to the new 'orange' status, which itself has been split into 3 sections: Level 1 (Intermediate), Level 2 (Proficient) and Level 3 (Expert).
Below is a list of the trails that have been successfully ridden on 4 wheeled bikes. The club is also in constant contact with the Forestry Commission and various trail builders, regarding any new DH facilities being developed across the UK.
NB. Our five stars venue ratings apply to the range of trails and their suitability for gravity MTB riding (and uplift access) at the various locations.
Scotland MTB Trails: Promo Video
Laggan Wolftrax
Bike Park (Grade - Orange)
See the Base Camp Bikes website on the Linkz page for further information.
Glentress
Freeride Park: Essentials (Grade - Orange)
Freeride Park: Unnamed Trail (Grade - Orange)
Spooky Wood (Grade - Red)
Innerleithen
Make Or Brake (Grade - Orange)
Cadon Bank (Grade - Red)
Ae
The Shredder (Grade - Orange)
Ae Line: Omega Man (Grade - Red)
Mabie
Skills Area: Freeride Line (Ungraded)
Phoenix Trail: Descender Bender (Grade - Red)
Fort William
Off Beat Downhill (Grade - Orange)
Nevis Red Trail (Grade - Red)
Hamsterley Forest
DH1 (Grade - Orange)
Four Cross Course (Grade - Orange)
See the Descend Hamsterley Bike Park website on the Linkz page for further information.
Whinlatter Forest
Altura Trail: South Loop (Grade - Red)
Quercus Trail (Grade - Blue)
Seldom Seen (Ungraded)
Forest of Dean
Ski Run (Grade - Orange)
Sheepskull (Grade - Orange)
Flatland (Grade - Orange)
Corkscrew 1 (Grade - Orange)
Corkscrew 2 (Grade - Orange)
See the Pedal A Bike Away website on the Linkz page for further information.
Surf the Turf
This private facility is closed until further notice.
Scratchmere Scar
This private facility is closed until further notice.
Antur Stiniog
Powdwr Du: Black Powder (Grade - Black)
Car Gwyllt: Wild Cart (Grade - Red)
Drafft: Drafft (Grade - Red)
See the Antur Stiniog website on the Linkz page for further information.
Llandegla Forest
Beginner (Grade - Blue)
Intermediate (Grade - Red)
Advanced (Grade - Black)
See the Coed Llandegla Forest website on the Linkz page for further information.
Cwm Carn
Y Mynydd Mojo: The Mojo Mountain (Grade - Black)
Y Mynydd Mojo: The Mojo Mountain (Grade - Red)
See the CwmDown website on the Linkz page for further information.
Bikepark Tenerife
This private facility is closed until further notice.
Las Lajas to Los Olivos (Ungraded)
See the LavaTrax website on the Linkz page for further information.
Las Lagunetas to Agua Garcia (Ungraded)
See the LavaTrax website on the Linkz page for further information.
Los Organos to G��mar (Ungraded)
See the LavaTrax website on the Linkz page for further information.
NB: Unauthorised riding within the Parque Nacional del Teide is illegal, and punishable with fines of up to 4000 euros...
Ideally a trail needs to be at least as wide (0.9m) as the bikes. This does not mean that the prepared width of trail needs to exceed this dimension for its entire length. It is often necessary to ride a four wheeler with one side off the prepared surface, in the rough. The main thing that prevents the use of a trail is very narrow 'bench cut' single track sections and raised (wooden) boardwalk sections of less than 1m.
Entry/exit barriers to trails also obviously need to exceed four wheeled bike width. Usually 0.15m either side of the bikes is sufficient to allow them to get through unhindered. This allows for the fact that a turn is often required at staggered gates. Trail demarcation posts, etc. also need to be considered with the width of four wheel bikes in mind.
Our full 'gravity MTB friendly' trail building guidelines, are now available to download on-line below:
Please respect others when riding the trails... if you ride multi-use trails, when you see someone, slow down. Give any other riders room to pass and yield to those riding uphill. Try not to go so fast or so slow that you disrupt others (hikers or riders) and, when you stop, get off the trail for your own safety and that of others.
Please respect the trails too... ride only on trails when they are open. Try to ride where the ground is hardest, especially during or after heavy rain. Don't take shortcuts across switchbacks, etc. and leave undisturbed areas alone. Travel in groups no larger than 5 or 6 to reduce your impact on the environment and on other trail users. Also, ensure you take away everything that you bring with you, including any litter. Ride on!
