Reviews for North Face Trail

Summary:
Better second time round

Review:
After reading some of the other reviews on this site I wasn't expecting anything special from this trail, but i have to say i really enjoyed it.

It seemed to make more sense on the second lap and i would urge anyone to have a second go if they didnt like it the first time round.

I learnt that my anticipation of a trail can sometimes mute the overall experience. I think its probably unfair to judge trail from your first blast round it.
For instance without prior experience you dont when to rest and when to really put the hammer down in order to get the best out of the trail. Also you can miss jumo opportunities etc.

Trail was a bit rough in places with some big puddles but it all adds to the experience!

Its a good place to practice technical climbing on rocky terrain and also the builder made a point of turning the end of the North Shore sections into small drop-offs and i feel that I got them nailed as a result

In fact, I felt like i improved my all round skill as a result of riding the NFT which is a superb compliment to the trail designer/builder.

Go ride it now, just make sure you've got time and energy to do it twice!!. You can always push up a couple of the hills on lap 2 (if needs be)!!

Summary:
A lot of fun in the wet, cant wait to try it dry

Review:
This was my first taste of a man made MTB trail and it did not disappoint. We did the red route from start to finish and buzzed of it the whole way round. The bike shop at the visitor centre is great but not as good as the people who work there. I managed to buckle my large cog and front disk brake and they fixed it up quickly and in expensively, they did not charge for labour only the parts.
The olny thing I would warn people of (especially beginners) are the boardwalk sections in the wet. The combination of rubber and wet wood is never good and thats where I got the damange to my bike. Other than that it was excellent.

Summary:
Well worth riding

Review:
I'd read some of the bad reviews on this trail so wasn't expecting anything too challenging. The first climb is pretty straighforward mainly up single track, then a bit of downhill then more climbs on fire roads - that seem to go on forever. Pity that there is some downhill on fire roads, surely this could be routed on some single track. Towards the end the downhill sections are really good, fast flowing and long. Loads of north shore sections that keep you on your toes. Overall not too challenging but great for intermediates and beginners.

Summary:
In need of some TLC.

Review:
I started near the visitor centre Grizedale where you head in to a grueling uphill singletrack that was a challenge to walk up with rocks that make it near impossible for anyone human to cycle all the way. Then the uphill continues on fire roads for a bit before going into some more singletrack. These do get better as the trail goes on but are scetchy in places where people have worn out berms with heavy braking or riding when wet.
The wooden sections are fun and have been maintained recently but the rest needs some work now. I don't think I'd return, unless they improved the tracks a bit.

Summary:
Disappointend

Review:
Did I miss something? Road Grizdale on Monday and was disappointed, it did not take my breath away or give me a buzz. Great for beginers to the sport, but the trail does need some improvements for the intermediate or advance riders. I thought the steep climb at the begining would make a tremendous end to the trail coming down hill that is. I have now read the reviews for this trail and the low scorers have it right.