Reviews for Ae Forest Mountain Bike Trail Centre

Summary:
Full Red Route - Wasn't worth the climb

Review:
I visited Ae Forest for the first time yesterday and to make a day of it headed for the full red. I think it was about 15 miles (24km) so expected some exciting stuff. For the most part I felt like I spent most of the time climbing and never really coming back down. There's a lot of switchbacks you find yourself climbing up but when it comes to the DHs they're fairly level and some even have some climbing, I can't say I really understand how they've worked it considering how much you ascend. The terrain is rough in parts, a lot of loose rocks, that doesn't really bother me all that much but I know some aren't keen. You finish the whole trail up by joining the orange jump line where you go from almost no features at all on the red trail to large drop offs. There wasn't really an in between. Overall I found my day pretty boring and though I enjoyed the climbing and the scenery was spectacular, I thought at the end of it I would be rewarded with a few miles of great downhill but I wasn't. If you're visiting I would recommend you give the red route a miss unless you're looking for something easy to just trondle along. If you're looking for fun I'd take the push path up to the top of the shredder or perhaps do some research as I noticed a lot of unofficial trails which looked like theyd be a great amount of fun. Unfortunately for me it was pouring down and due to these trails being completely natural they were totally water bogged.
All in all, I think there is a great amount of potential here. Instead of making the route so long and fairly featureless, I feel as though they should have used the gradient more and madre some shorter but more fun trails!
If you're passing I wouldn't avoid it, I'd definitely try out some of the unofficial stuff, and the coffee is pretty decent too!

Summary:
My intro to MTB'n

Review:
This was my first trail centre and absolutely loved it! Jumped straight into a red, some difficult technical section but worth a visit

Summary:
Ridden 25/07/13 - Worth doing, brilliant situation, but inconsistent. The new section is awful.

Review:
Great trail, great views, worth doing, but agree with some previous comments that the 'flow' is lacking.

It's not in my nature to be overly critical, but in particular I would like to comment on the new section has been added (perhaps to avoid the traffic going to and from the huge windfarm under construction). This section seems to replace 'nil desperandum'(?) and links 'the edge' and 'omega man'.

This recent addition consists of a winding grey ribbon of about two kilometres of five foot wide tamped down slate with gutters either side. It's like a miniature motorway and as near flat tarmac as you'll get in a forest. The surface is perfectly manicured and as smooth as a baby's bum. Very impressive as a feat of engineering, but a massive contrast to the glorious, natural feeling, twisty singletrack of 'the edge' that precedes it.

Were it not for the stunning views from here (and they are beautiful) the monotony and lack of any challenge whatsoever would be hard to bear; this is green rather than red riding. I fully expect that a year from now there will be dashed white lines down the middle, street lighting and services. I sense it was designed by a civil engineer, and not a rider.

If the Ae management team are reading this; C'mon guys, appreciate the massive cost and effort that has gone in to engineering this section of immaculately manicured track, but this is NOT why we go mountain biking! This section belongs in a municipal park, not somewhere as beautiful as Ae. If it does replace 'nil desperandum' then may I suggest 'the M6' as a replacement name.

Summary:
Not one for beginners and some frustrating flow issues but still good.

Review:
If you're a beginner and you think maybe you'll try out a red grade trail then stay away from this one. Expect to find some short difficult descents that are steep, loose and bumpy. You'll find some short climbs that are similarly tricky. The longer climbs use fire roads which are a little dull. Hardtail riders will find this trail a little bit on the rough side due to the trail's rocky surface in many places. The main issue I have with this trail is the flow is interrupted a lot. A long or short climb will often lead to what looks like a descent section. Seat dropped and high gear engaged your smile is quickly removed as you almost immediately hit more steep climbing which leaves me wondering what was the point of descending for 10 seconds only to climb for 1 minute then descend again. I like my ups to be ups and my downs to be downs. The trail itself is well made and there's fun to be had but there's certainly frustration too. Omega Man section at the end is fast but once again is interupted with climbing until you begin the final descent which is flowy and full of drops and jumps aimed at beginner level freeriders. Underestimate the last section at your own risk and expect faster riders to catch and attempt to pass you at busy times like holidays and weekends. Ae trail centre also has couple of proper DH tracks (expert & intermediate), showers, bike shop and a cafe making it a very well equipped venue.
You can session the last descent of the Omega Man section over and over using the super useful push-up path.

Summary:
Superb

Review:
Great trail, easily accessed. Not too much fire road and loads of great opportunity for a blast combined with a good grunt up the hills. Well worth a shot especially if en route up M74 as only 20 mins off it.