Chopwell Woods mountain biking centre

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Comment by Ben Dobson on Thursday

The nutcracker MTB racing crew have their 3rd race of the series at Chopwell woods on Sunday 24th June.  We've come up with a cracking little course that takes in some of the finest parts of the western woods that'll prove to be some of the fastest racing in the North East.

Come along and join in the fun - See Nutcracker 3 - Chopwell for full details.

If you have friends that either want to help out or marshal (a good way to see the splills and frills) then let me know.

Comment by craig mairs on January 12, 2012 at 13:39

im new to the area and normaly ride at hamsterly but was planning to have a look at chopwell and was wondering if it was worth a look????

Comment by Chris Osborne on May 24, 2011 at 19:11

Another good day at chopwell the place gets better the more you explore the place,in the last two times I've been I've found at least 6 tracks some need thinning at bit to stop you getting hit in the face or having to duck out the way. Just wondering what the rules are for that I don't want to modify the track just cut a bit back to open the trail up a bit to go faster along it.

Comment by crashtest dummy on November 6, 2010 at 21:21

First off,thanx Michael for that lovely comment.

Secondly,it was the week before said race that i sustained my back injury.Unknown to me,i'd crushed 2 vertibrae effectively breaking my back.This wasn't diagnosed till 3yrs n lots of pain later.

As for the race itself.I'm sure if ya ask nicely Psycho will have the pics somewhere to upload.What was going to be just a couple of locals havin a laugh.Turned into a full on timed race with over 50 riders from as far away as Scarbourgh turning up for a mud fest as it P****d down.But all good fun.

Since then,we've held a race to open the first part of the powerline in conjunction with the Chopwell Wood festival.Again a good turn out n lots of fun.And then we hosted one of the rounds of 1 North East's modern Decathalon.With some riders having no off road experience at all.The race was won by a guy on a full rigid GT.Proper old school.

As for holding races in the future.Red tape n Insurance are even harder to get through.So don't hold ya breathe.

Pop along during the xmas tree sale weekends to meet the friendly folk from NEFA cos we'll be on carparking duties to raise funds.

Comment by easilee on November 6, 2010 at 11:15

many thanks ...cos i didnt have a clue who did what,a race back in 2000,what was it like,those were my gsxr days i didnt do pedals then cos i lost them.....could it ever happen again.or is that too much red tape too

Comment by psycho on November 5, 2010 at 9:13

well all good comments I'm sure and I have resisted the temptation to have a good old rant so far ,
so here's the sp from the man who knows ,(deep breath),

Easilee the manky trail leading down from the behind bombhole was an old trail revamped for a race event held by nefa way back in 2000,
after the event the trail was put out to pasture by the fc and many attempts to block it's route have failed ,so now it is classed at an unmaintained route,
so claggy ,rooty muddy fun in my opinion.(brilliant fun in the dark ).

Peter Robson here is a list of people who really need a massive thank you and more than a few manly hugs from anyone who rides chopwell,

Me (Founder, paperwork master ,risk assessor ,funding finder ,shouter, and general glue that holds together Nefa )

Big Trev (chairman 10 years service)
Crashtest dummy (treasurer 10 years service and bad back due to trailbuilding lol)
Oz (now retired trail pioneer )
Bobt (trail building since he was in even shorter trousers and pre growing breasts)
Earthworm Jim (possibly the angriest brummie on the planet but grafts like a mule )
Warwick hunt ( found in chopwell as a baby and never left )
Allie Lem (trail mam , and ambulance for the nefa group and gets here hands dirty with way too much building work for a lass )
Tony Lem ( top grafter ,top rider all round top bloke )
Flyin Ryan (grumpy teen who works well if pushed lol)

Mr Stella artois without whom none of this would be possible ,

these are the core members day in day out never miss a building session ,there are a few more who drop in and out when times permit ,

after 12 years dedicated to building NEFA are trying thier hands at riding and a bit of racing and a massive amount of drinking .

Oh and the roots section is listed for repair and drainage by the forestry very soon ,it is a footpath but the rules in chopwell are ,with respect all users may use all trails unless the trail is dedicated as a bike or footpath by name so as long as you don't buzz too many dog walkers its all fair game.


as for trail maintenance I am looking to put on a couple of days to sure up a few sections of the powerline and volunteers will be more than welcome ,mail me nefa@blueyonder.co.uk

Comment by mega_waster on November 2, 2010 at 22:52

I could be wrong but isn't the rooty section up the top actually a public foot path?

I used to keep to the left along there but now I blaze down the right taking a rougher line which can help you make it across the mud without stopping. I love that rooty section.

Comment by Peter Robson on November 2, 2010 at 22:37

If I knew who to thank for the trails at chopwell, I wouldn't hesitate to thank them. There's some excellent riding to be had there.
Since the recent deforestation work this summer destroyed the line that heads down the the bottom of chopwell, I've found an alternate route which weaves through lots of trees which is great fun.

On the subject of building: I'd love to help out when I'm available. However, I've not seen any info for planned building, even if it's unofficail. Dragging tools etc from chopwell via backpack on my bike to dig all day by myself kinda makes me a little unenthusiastic about trail building, however, I'd be more than happy to come along if something was organised and I was free that day. I realise you guys have probably heard all this before, but I'd love to fix the middle bit on "Roots" and discover some new stuff which I don't know about but is no doubt there.

Comment by mega_waster on November 2, 2010 at 22:25

I see the bomb hole has been getting a few little tweeks. I seem to have found some bottle for taking on drops since I worked up the bottle to do the biggest drop in the bike park at Glentress. Got me a nice little technique going on now. Anyway, the bomb hole is fun again since that little jump is back (minus the good old log). Bit of a drop appeared too which is fun.

Comment by earthworm jim on November 2, 2010 at 22:03

You would not believe how many times we've had to go through all this on internet forums.. and having been promised so much help and then let down again.... i think it was only about a month or so ago we trawled through all this again with someone from another forum...
and it's not just about the trails and the building, there's an awfull lot of paper work, risk assesments. and filling in of forms, logging hours worked etc etc... having to rebuild the northshore section time and time again as the f.c specifications constantly change.... adding features only to then be told we have to take them out again coz of H&S reasons and loads of other political bullshit..
Chopwell has alot to offer, and WE as the builders very rarely ever ride the power line, as some of the other unofficial trails as far more fun...
And on another note.. the powerline (starting from the sign in carpark) is actually the only route designed purely for bikes. and for riders of all standards including bikes with child seats on etc (although not reccomended) but majority of users are not regular mtb'ers.....
and if you should come across walkers coming up at you or even as mentioned horses.. then you have every right to tell them to move on as you have right of way not them.. the signs (that they will have walked passed) are there for a reason..!!!!

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