Off-Road cycle trails/routes

[tvchimp]

How do you find out where your nearest off road trail is?

I'm not looking for anything for a motorbike, but looking for a fair few mile journey mainly off-road cycling, trails and the like. Just got a new bike, and feel like testing it out (please bare in mind, I'm not at my peak physical fitness! ... )

I know a few which aren't so near, but are a few mile, then the trail starts. Found a nice 20mile round journey which I'm gonna be doing shortly (in a few weeks) which hopefully will jump start my off road cycling experience..

Will post a pic of the bike later on after work, camera has no battery for a decent pic
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Bike: Currently Bikeless... Gahh

[t121anf]

Sustrans

https://www.sustrans.org.uk/map?searchKey=&searchType=search&Search=Find

or

Forestry.gov.uk

https://www.forestry.gov.uk/england-cycling

[njd27]

Look on bing maps, switch it to ordnance survey mode.

Then look for bridleways (long dashes) and BOATS(plus symbols)/RUPPS (dashes with little blobs) but not the footpaths (little dashes) because they have lots of stiles and confused dog walkers.

For instance, here:
https://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=51.047188395439534~-1.248650697490712&lvl=14&dir=0&sty=s&FORM=LMLTCC

Plenty of bridleways on the South Downs

OS map key is here:
https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/education/pdf/25knewEGMlegend.pdf

Whereabouts are you?

[tvchimp]

I live in Nottingham, so have the Sherwood Pines trails not too far away (which is the 20mile jouney mentioned in my previous post).

Will look at the OS maps and those sites when I get home around 6.30... Only able to access the internet at work on my lunch..

I need to get in some serious saddle time, due to not riding a bike for ages, and this seat being far smaller than my previous bikes', I was walking a little like john wayne after I got to work... Never a good look

The bike is a GT Avalanche 3.0.. Google Image pic:
https://gripcycles.co.uk/shop/images/GT%20Avalanche%203.0%20cable.jpg

It's handled my 15minute journey fine this morning, I'm impressed with it as the gear changes are really smooth compared to my last bike and the brakes are sharp as hell. Got the back wheel in the air a few times at traffic lights lol..

The Maxxis stock tyres on it are pretty dismall, not good for the on-road stuff at all.. Took my hands off the bars for around 5seconds and started to watch them do a tankslapper motion... Will be getting some slicks for the commute to work, and likely to put the off-roads back on at the weekend for the off-road bits.

Any recommendations for some decent slicks? On my last bike I had some ebay special slicks, they were ok but not very confidence inspiring with their lack of grip in the wet.. I'd prefere a 1.35"~1.75" tyre, bike has a 2.35" off-road on it, which should be fine for any off-roading I wanna take on at the moment.
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Bike: Currently Bikeless... Gahh

[Slacker24seve...]

[njd27]

[G]

Remember no numberplate and people generally don't moan at you for riding on footpaths anyway .

[cloric_tzr]

a little far to bike to but not in a motor wwith bike on board, theres cannock chase just north of birmingham, i used to go to a place next to what used to be r.a.f chicksands in bedfordshire, brilliant forest trails with a slalom section,

or as t121anf suggests

https://www.forestry.gov.uk/england-cycling

the best thing to do is fill a bag with goodies

(food water plasters beers ((weed)) mobile phone)

and hit the dirt therre always little gems close by you just need to get 'on yer bike' and find them.
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My wifes so ugly, the only thing that goes down on her
Is the internet connection.