Reviews for Monkey Trail - Cannock Chase

Summary:
excellent

Review:
the trail builders have done a fantastic job, when you do follow the dog and monkey it feels like a lot of uphill but there is more down than up, the switch backs are brilliant and upper and lower cliffs are 2 of the best descents I have done, great fun. Monkey Black is a nice little trail.

Summary:
enjoyable

Review:
travelled down from Manchester to ride this trail and was not disappointed although I don't think I'll do it again, we can get to the lake district in the time it took to get here and there's much better trails up there, also it hasn't got a patch on Gisburn forest or Lee Quarry and Llandegla, if this the best trail in the Midlands then I feel sorry for you guys maybe you should consider moving home to Lanc's which must have the best range of trails and cross country in England. Idid enjoy myself though it was a fun trail, what was sad was the amount of riders that don't wear helmets IDIOTS!!!!!!

Summary:
Good Singletrack, but too flat.

Review:
The trail builders have done a stirling job with what they have to play with, but the bottom line is, the chase is flat when you compare it to anything in Wales or Shropshire.

The trail is twisty and tight, but realistically, if you've been riding a while then nothing here will test you.

Personally, I think that a hardtail with a short travel fork up front is the best thing to take here, as it'll make it at little bit more of a challenge. 29er's work well here.

Singlespeed works really well here too and makes it worth the trip and the little climbs a bit more of a challenge.

Whenever I finish here, I'm never fancying that extra lap around, because the whole course is very very similar

On the whole though, the high percentage of single track is good, and even the majority of the climbs are single track rather than fire roads, which is definitely a plus.

Bottom line is this is a good place to start, but Shropshire and Wales have far more to offer, so I'd travel that bit further.

Summary:
Good, but not brilliant

Review:
The trail builders should be congratulated for what they have managed with limited elevation, but ultimately the lack of altitude leaves you wanting more.

On the plus side, the paucity of elevation means that the climbs are short and sweet and you are rewarded with frequent downhill sections. Anyone familiar with Swinley Forest or Surrey hills will feel right at home here as the trail is often enclosed in closely-knit pine trees and the trail surface is reminiscent of fireroad - in the dry this can prove to be unpredictable as it contains large, shiny pieces of flint.
Some of the drops offs are quite steep and there are a few technical rocky sections that are best avoided by newbies, but most of the ride is manageable by all but novices.

It’s a shame that none of the sections have been given ‘nicknames’, instead they are labelled D1, 2, 3 etc and this feeds through into the trail itself; which is short of an outstanding signature section of singletrack.

Don’t get me wrong, you will have fun, but you are left with the feeling that there is a something missing…

Summary:
the last two sections are ace

Review:
the best place for biking in the midlands.up there most weekends. would like to thank the sunday track building club for the great job they do building the trails and maintaining them.