Photo Epic: The Trails of Northern Ireland, With Blake Samson

Oct 9, 2015

by Simon Nieborak

Every time I get a phone call out of the blue from Szymon Nieborak, I know it's going to be a RAD adventure and when he said "Do you want to head over to Northern Ireland for a week of PURE enduro riding at three different trail parks, man?!" I jumped at this opportunity! I've been to Northern Ireland before, but only to do shows, not to experience what they had to offer in proper mountain biking. And when we got there, I was blown away by the views, trails and everything that Northern Ireland has have to offer. All three Trail parks - Rostrevor, Castlewellan and Davagh were unique in their own way. Rostrevor has to be one of the best Trail Parks I've ridden, with long tech climbs, long trail routes, its wide Trail option, good fun decent trails and jump trails. Castlewellan with its family oriented trails where you can find easier climbs, but still has it's tech side to it.Davagh has a great climb called "The Widow Maker", which is a great warm up to a day of fantastic trails. Davagh is a perfect single trail experience, with a number of tech sections and great woodland sections - Blake Samson

The Trails Of Northern Ireland With Blake Samson

Northern Ireland's turbulent past is well documented and unfortunately during the 70s, 80s and 90s the 'Troubles' were the first thing on people's mind when someone mentioned the Northern Ireland. Thankfully those days now well and truly confined to the history books and this landscape of rugged, almost untouched, natural beauty is now ripe for riding. Opening over 110km (70m) of trails (including XC, DH and Dirt Jumps) across five trails centres in 2013, the organisation behind Northern Ireland's MTB revolution, MountainBikeNI.com, claim the country is now 'Built for Bikes'. We hooked up Pinkbike favourite Blake Samson to see whether this self-proclaimed 'pocket rocket' of a mountain biking destination can really cut it with the big boys...

Here you can see an obelisk known as "Ross Monument" placed there in the memory of Major General Robert Ross.

Unless you’re based in Southern Ireland, North Wales or South West Scotland, you’ll probably want to take a few days to do Northern Ireland justice and whilst you can fly direct from most major European cities, we decided to ‘roadtrip’ it with the help of Stena Line from Holyhead to Dublin. After about a three hour ferry journey and a 90 minute motorway drive from Dublin, we were pulling in at our base for the next few days, The Whistledown Hotel, on the shores of Carlingford Lough, asking ourselves why we have never made this trip before. Just a few minutes from the Rostrevor Mountain Bike Trails, this modern family-run hotel overlooks the stunning Carlingford Bay with the Cooley Mountains, in the Republic of Ireland, on one side and the Mourne Mountains, in Northern Ireland, on the other. This is an awesome spot.

Northern Ireland has some of the most beautiful scenery I've ridden in and through. Sometimes you just get carried away with just shredding the trails and don't really have the chance to stop and take in what you are actually riding through. When you do its amazing that you are in a RAD place and the country side is breath taking.

I've got to stop and smell the fresh wild flowers on a berm.

Rostrevor had some RAD trails with some cool lines for the beginner and expert rider. I love the random line hucks off rocks, hips and transfer lines. This one was just one of my favourite hits. So many sweet lines like this all over the trail park.

This is a perfect picture of one of those rock lip hits. Love this style of trail.

The one thing that Rostrevor has dialled and the other three Trail parks, is that you can ride in the rain! So, no matter what, you can still shred in the rain, which Northern Ireland has a lot of, when it comes to weather! Hahaha

Had the privilege to have this little guy join me on this trail. Local wildlife at its fullest.

Already buzzing from the downhills, we set aside day two to check out Rostrevor’s 27km Red Trail and 19km Black Trail. We had already been warned both these cross-country loops break you in (literally) with an initial 6km grunt (400m of climbing) and so as we stood at sea level with Slieve Martin looming over us we did what any sane men would do and hitched a lift. We caught up with local rider Alistair Baron, half way up, who showed us around the rest of the trails.

I really like when days start like this!

Kodak Corner is the name of this scene in the background. This was definitely a water stop and a selfie with the bike.

There is something soothing about looking up into the trees, watching and listening to the rain fall through the trees. The sound of just rain drops falling is very therapeutic. Might just be me, but riding in the rain, mud and puddles is all good fun.

Alistair Baron in has element. We did get a bit of liquid sunshine and Alistair was loving the puddle bombs.

I’ve been riding in Rostrevor for a number of years now, but having Blake alongside on this spin made it one of the more memorable. Even when the weather turned on us, there was nothing but laughs, skids and hucks to be had - Alistair Baron

Godfather of Northern Irish mountain biking, Glyn O’Brien, enjoys legendary status in these parts and has been flying the flag for Rostrevor for as long as anyone can remember. We know how much we enjoyed these trails however we wanted to get Glyn’s view to see whether or not local riders feel this new all singing, all dancing trail centre actually does the mountain justice.

Local riders had been waiting on the development of a trail centre in Rostrevor for a long time. The wait has really been worth it, parts of Rostrevor Forest that were practically inaccessible for mountain bikes have now been opened up for some of the best biking and views that any trail centre could offer. The trail system will challenge most bikers that are used to spending a day in the hills. The only downsides are that riders do not get a chance to get warmed up before tackling the first climb and a skills loop at the trail head would be nice. The potential here for further development is endless, big trails with big features, Rostrevor could have it all! - Glyn O'Brien

Good trails don't just make themselves. There is a bunch of RAD and hard working dudes behind all of this EPICNESS that I got to ride and have fun on. All your hard work has paid off. I thank you!!

Half an hour’s drive from Rostrevor takes us to Castlewellan, the second trail centre on our week-long odyssey around Northern Ireland and the first thing we see as we drive through the estate archway is, you’ve guessed it, a castle!

Castlewellan is the country’s most popular trail centre and with a mix of green, blue and red trails with some optional black descents it’s easy to see why. This place is literally on Ali’s back doorstep so we hooked up with him again to check out Castlewellan’s 19km Red Trail.

Castlewellan was fun, single tracky and tight. You're flying down a bit of trail and then out of nowhere there will be a tree overhanging the exit of the corner. Got to love tight fast single track trails, makes it more interesting and fun.

You have to do it! The stone skimming challenge. Castlewellan is set along side this lovely lake and beautiful countryside.

THE Castlewellan MAZE! This has to be the best Maze I've done on a bike. It took me 30 minutes to find my way to the centre. I think there should be more Mazes like this.

We introduce you to "Irish Lawnmowers".

For our final two days in Northern Ireland we headed North and West to the remote Davagh Forest Trails in the Sperrin Mountains. This place is the definition of ‘off the beaten track’, which was right up our street.

Every rider we met so far have raved about the trails at Davagh Forest and with three awesome days already under the belt, we were pumped to see what these trails were going to throw at us. We met up with Chris McGlinchey and Gareth Kerr from Northern Ireland's Trails Centres' sponsors, Chain Reaction Cycles, who rode with us for our first day at Davagh.

Our second dose of Davagh Forest was an early start to try and make the most of our final day in Northern Ireland. Keen to re-visit some of our favourite spots from the previous day, we made a beeline for the Stream Trail.

This new section of trail officially opened earlier this year and was designed and built in close collaboration with local riders.

Eagles Rock! Great gem of a obstacle on this trail. Both lines on this trail are great, the rock and the route around it were both RAD lines. But you have to do the Rock for the boys. This trail was at Davagh trail park. It has to be one of the best Trail bike park I've ridden.

Davagh had the best woodland ever. It was like I was in Wonder World, moss blanketed the forest floor and up the trees. It was so majestic and peaceful, I had to break the eerie silence by shouting haha. Beautiful part of the world and great times to have at Davagh trail park, a most do if you're in the area and have your bike with you.

Well deserved chill-session after long and hard ride.

My over all experience of Northern Ireland has been unreal. With 50 miles of riding single track, jumps, technical decent's and good times with some of the local riders. I would like to thank everyone that was involved with this adventure. Big thanks to Szymon for the opportunity, bring his EPIC Photographic eye and making the magic happen, Chris Armstrong for looking after us and making everything run smoothly and all the riders that came along Alistair Baron, Chris McGlinchey and Gareth Kerr for making good times on the trails.

I will definitely be going back in the future.

MENTIONS: @blakes19 / @lunatyk / @SaracenBikes

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lunatyk
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74 Comments

38 1

rocko1982 (Oct 9, 2015 at 2:19)

I don't think I have ever posted a comment on here but it's good to see a site such as pinkbike with a feature promoting Northern Ireland mountain biking. Yes the trails need further development and yes people have been hurt, but it's mountain biking, I've no doubt riders are injured at other trail centres. Some of the negative posts above do absolutely nothing to move forward the sport here. I for one am grateful that we have the option now to ride somewhere with uplifts, toilets, in poor weather. The natural trails are all still there and I personally prefer them but the wealth of riding we have on our doorstep compared to ten years ago is fantastic. For the first time in years we had a race series in the North with tracks varying between natural and trail centre, this wouldn't have been possible without these new facilities.

iian FL (Oct 9, 2015 at 4:29)

Exactly.
I only really got into MTB last year, and I can confidently say I wouldn't be even remotely as far along as I am now without the trail centers. They've been fantastic for me to build up skills before moving to the natural stuff NI has to offer. And even now, I can 100% still have a great days riding at any of the above locations.

bat-fastard (Oct 9, 2015 at 8:13) (Below Threshold)

Yes its good to see some stuff built, but if you looking something like one planet adventure at LLandegla then forget about it. The trails they built here are featureless in comparison, flat slow, no jumps or berms. As for the 2 downhill trails, the jumpy one mega mission aka dh1 at rostrevor is in my opinion 'not fit for purpose'. The roll in to the take offs is that tight if you hit with any speed you get a chest full off handlebar. I live 1 hrs drive away and have only rode it one day since it first opened. DH2 the one used for the races has been changed a bit, but has now been closed up again after the fox hunt and all the good lines have been blocked up. If your planning on coming for a trip be warned its not all thats glossy in these paid for adverts.. I would rather drive 4 hrs to bike park Ireland for an uplift day.

NotDannyHart (Oct 9, 2015 at 8:50)

@bat-fastard But.. But what about the Bin Runs??

bat-fastard (Oct 9, 2015 at 9:14)

I did say further down we do have some off the best natural rider built trails in the UK ie the bins - 1,2,3, champs and NPS that you can access from the uplift, the only bad point is you'll miss an uplift getting back to pickup point so will only get 10 in a day instead of 20.

need to look in the hidden below threshold for that positive bit.

ArchieDH (Oct 9, 2015 at 9:23)

@bat-fastard the dh2 lines have not in-fact been blocked up.It has now made On the Pulse (dh2) a very good trail that i could spend a lot longer on than i would have before. And you don't miss an uplift if you do those trails, i always make next lift if i do dh3 or bins etc...
Basically now the improvements at Rostrevor have started, they have turned into pretty decent trails. Sure you've only been there since it first opened..

bat-fastard (Oct 9, 2015 at 9:30)

Archie all the natural lines off dh2 have been blocked up. the changes to the stone trail have remained open. DH1 is still a disaster with no work planned on it. I have been down but ride mostly the bins etc that you only get every other uplift. the natural rider built dh3 still needs a lot of work..

iian FL (Oct 9, 2015 at 10:50)

I'm informed DH1 might be getting an makeover.

bat-fastard (Oct 9, 2015 at 11:00)

Theres been talk of it as over a year now, meetings etc are going on in background and it is being requested to fix the jumps. We wait and see. If takeoffs where fixed I would be on it loads...

ArchieDH (Oct 9, 2015 at 11:27)

Robb i know for a fact that the natural lines are still open, my friend rides there every day and says that they are still open.

Goldieno1 (Oct 9, 2015 at 11:43)

I love the new trails. I remember when there was nowhere to ride because the forestry pulled it all down. Flat and slow?? It's how you ride them ????????. Ballycarton tomo then davagh on Sunday perfect????????.

fattmaverick (Oct 9, 2015 at 13:53)

The trails certainly aren't flat or slow, the red is brilliant, it's not perfect, but if you ride each section like the bejeezus and finish it a panting wreck, its a fantastic trail, especially the section from Yellow water down to the small bridge, its lightning fast with some great small jumps and turns.

The black is okay, but i don't do it often enough to properly appreciate it. It's a little short for all the climbing you have to do to get to it, so it feels a waste.

DH1 has problems, potholes at the bottom of the up ramps for a start, an easy fix for the trail team, but one they have yet to do??? Some of the jumps are awkward and as has been said, the run in is like being a fighter pilot at about 9G. However, you get used to it and you can, if you take the time to learn its jumps get a cracking run down it with loads of air time.

DH2, for me has went from an ignored track pre-foxhunt to my favourite track after it. The new lines are great and its faster than before. Only the natural/mud tracks are blocked as they would be a mess if continuously ridden, but the other lines are all still open. DH2 can now be ridden on any type of bike depending on the route you choose.

Overall, Rostrevor and the other trail centres are a fantastic addition. The only downside is that the constant "Natural" trail snobbery by people who can't ride uphill is exhausting.

11 3

ramymcc22 (Oct 9, 2015 at 6:10)

i have an immense and deep hatred of Rostrevor trail center. a true waste of vast potential.

ramymcc22 (Oct 9, 2015 at 9:21)

the mourne heritage trust and a local biker are working together on improving DH2 or "on the pulse", and these small changes to this track are making a huge difference. this is what needs to be happening. work with the bikers and the true potential of these trail centers in northern ireland could be realised.

bat-fastard (Oct 9, 2015 at 9:41)

Totally agree, there was a long report from local NI bikers group before trails where opened, a snag or problem list that was totally ignored or discounted by the designer. Maybe they should dig this back out and start addressing the problems on it too..

pkmtbaz (Oct 9, 2015 at 7:24)

I grew up in Belfast. I used to ride the Lambeg BMX track, around Lady Dixon and the Lagan Towpath in the mid 80s, then got into MTB in '91 and was riding the Cave Hill, Tardree, Ballyboley, Glenariff, Donard, Tollymore, Ravensdale, and a bit in the Sperrins and Donegal. I go back every Christmas and ride the trail centers and love them, it's great to see solid trails and lots of people out using them. Great work everyone who got them going. I now work for IMBA, based in AZ. Any NI visitors are welcome to come out and stay at my place.

iian FL (Oct 9, 2015 at 9:45)

Up the 'Boley!

bat-fastard (Oct 9, 2015 at 9:53)

up the tardree, going building in the morning

pkmtbaz (Oct 9, 2015 at 10:25)

@iian I used to ride Ballyboley in '92 or so and Woodburn Forest above Carrickfergus. I remember the black muck all too well!

iian FL (Oct 9, 2015 at 10:49)

What was it like back then? The Boley's about 2 miles from the house. Used to spend my summers cycling up and building stuff as a kid, but the forestry commission has the majority of it felled nowadays.

pkmtbaz (Oct 9, 2015 at 11:17)

@iian it was mostly gravel fire roads, with really tall pine/spruce trees, some old school sections of singletrack. My parents moved up to Aldergrove, and I worked at a hotel in Templepatrick during the summers, so it was pretty easy for me to get over there to ride, same with Tardree. We used to ride up to the trig point, the trees were about 2 feet tall and you had the best views, last time I was up there, they were about 25 feet tall!

JulianD (Oct 9, 2015 at 2:13)

Those 'fresh wild flowers' are poisonous...

flaminx0r (Oct 9, 2015 at 3:58)

So are many plants and flowers that you would see on a daily basis in the UK and Ireland.

search the word 'poisonous' on this page - www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=524

EDIT- link for reference.

garcmol (Oct 9, 2015 at 8:03)

Holy crap! Seriously?

Sshredder (Oct 9, 2015 at 10:04)

Its Fox Glove. Digitalus Its poisonous if you eat a whole plant! In small doses its a heart medicine.

flaminx0r (Oct 9, 2015 at 23:51)

@Sshredder It can be brewed up in a tea like fashion right?

Sshredder (Oct 10, 2015 at 7:58)

I looked up Digitalus on Google just for you. Its a poison and a medicine. I photograph /touch Fox glove all the time beautiful plant. I have no desire to eat any flower yet alone make tea.
Do you actually go around waving your arms warning people not to touch fox glove?

flaminx0r (Oct 11, 2015 at 0:19)

@Sshredder previous comment was from memory, I belive it was a much older practice to make a foxglove brew for medicinal purposes.

"Do you actually go around waving your arms warning people not to touch fox glove?" are you serious...

whatever, I'm out.

preach (Oct 9, 2015 at 6:22)

Was in Ireland for 4 days over the summer and without a doubt some of the kindest most cheerful people on the planet are there.

lv555 (Oct 9, 2015 at 11:21)

I live in Devon and every 3 weeks spend 5 day's in NI and ride all these trails.. you have it so good there 5 centre's within 1 hours drive from where I stay.. 6 if you include Barnet demuse right in Belfast.. I drive 1 hour to get to Gawton in England 2 hours BPW and 4-5 hour's to go to the North Wales centre's... Rostrevor is good very good.. yes the mega mission needs redoing but moaning about it won't get it done.. get onto your local MPs get EU financing (like many places in Wales have and some local economies nothing to do with MTB are really benefiting from these parks ) and push for change and expansion in the meantime enjoy what's there bins 1, 2 , the pulse and the red and Black loops, my 6 year old twin boy's have done all the runs there and never been hurt it's all down to riding within your abilities and at a speed according to your abilities.. NI trails and centres get the thumbs up from me all day long.

bat-fastard (Oct 9, 2015 at 14:28)

we have been getting onto them since before it opened few years ago, where ignored at the start, they are now asking why so little people ride it and where given direct answers. DH2 has had some improvements but DH1 hasn't as yet. The jumps are just not fun. You are trying to pump through massive compression at base off take off then hold bike straight. Yes it can be done I would rather do it on my dirt jumper as can pump it better than the dh bike. riding at slow speed and jumping 2 foot is what the designer had in mind as hes also placed speed bumps that if you go at speed you land in the face off them in quite a few places too.. heres me on the dirt jumper www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RXP2oZl-5M

lv555 (Oct 9, 2015 at 21:11)

Who is, "we"? and what did "they"? (them?) ignore before "it"? was even opened?

bat-fastard (Oct 10, 2015 at 0:46)

Ni mountain bike alliance done a site visit before it opened with the people in charge of project. An umbrella group with top racers and club representation. Their snag list of issues was totally ignored, that was the only rider input. meetings are still ongoing again with Mourne heritage trust, council and stakeholders with mostly the same top level riders and mountainbike clubs and builders. Don't want to be hard on Glynn but he get roped into promoting this with few other rides that are sponsored buy crc who in turn sponsor trails such as "on the pulse" "mega mission" referring to the nukeproof brand and also sponsor on here and in magazines. Its become a real joke over here when you read trail reviews that advertising money has paid for.

qduffy (Oct 9, 2015 at 16:46)

I did a lot of road riding around there as a kid, trips from Finaghy to Annalong to my grandparent's caravan, up through (and over) Castlewellan on my tiny little Peugeot Racer, hiking in Tollymore and up in the Mournes - beautiful, stunning country.

pkmtbaz (Oct 9, 2015 at 18:06)

you're from Finaghy? I grew up in Belfast too, I now live in Arizona

qduffy (Oct 9, 2015 at 20:07)

My father is. We lived there for a few years in the early 80s. A pretty challenging time. I'd been back several times since as I still have family there. I went to Finaghy primary from 80-82

pkmtbaz (Oct 9, 2015 at 21:12)

I grew up just a few miles away from there

esquise01 (Oct 10, 2015 at 11:00)

I went to Finaghy Primary, you might have been in my class, small world

pkmtbaz (Oct 10, 2015 at 11:41)

@esquise01 I went to St. Colmans out in Lambeg early-mid-80's. I lived in Dunmurry in the early 80's, then Glengoland (top on Dunmurry Lane) mid-late 80's. Still have loads of friends in Finaghy, Malone, Dunmurry, Lisburn, etc.

qduffy (Oct 10, 2015 at 23:06)

It is indeed.

ardee (Oct 12, 2015 at 9:34)

I live in Finaghy now

Strange to hear people talking about it on Pinkbike!

pkmtbaz (Oct 12, 2015 at 20:21)

@ardee it's great to see this talk on PB!

esquise01 (Oct 13, 2015 at 2:56)

Ardee - Ryan Dallas? Are you riding these days?

ardee (Oct 14, 2015 at 3:26)

@esquise01 lol - is that you Stu? Yeah, after a long hiatus I thought it was time to get sorted with another bike lol. Been back at it for a good while now!

esquise01 (Oct 14, 2015 at 14:39)

Yeah dude, good to hear, maybe catch you on the trails!

G2ennc (Oct 9, 2015 at 3:12)

Class Article , love seeing Irish places on pinkbike

AmanitaFugiFlames (Sep 3, 2015 at 15:00)

This is an awesome Biking Experience, that rivals any across the UK. Whether you are in Rostrevor, Castlewellan or Davagh Forest, there really is literally, something for everyone. The most beautiful back drops, Mazes, Castle's...Yes Castle's you read that right & of course extremely friendly and helpful local people that offer local knowledge of the Trails. The trails themselves are an amazing experience that once rode will never be forgotten...exhilarating & fast for the hard core to the more serene with an odd shot of adrenaline expectantly hidden to a Pump track for the BMX Blazers and under 12's, say. Ireland, North or South is perhaps one of the most beautiful countries in Europe & You will never regret a trip here. I also live right beside Castlewellan and 15 minutes from Rostrevor and I have not heard of serious injury being a constant factor. Yes there have been a few bad falls but absolutely not in large numbers. I guess we all see what we want to see. I do know that a dedicated group of riders and local people are modifying the Trail's at Castlewellan Forest Park and they are constantly on the look out on how to better those Trails. I also know that the Car Park in the center of Castlewellan is packed full of cars with Bike Racks, every evening of the year and all day everyday of the past school holidays. Nothing has ever taken off as quick as these Bike Trails in both Rostrevor & Castlewellan...It really is something to see and my heart bursts with Pride when I see how much my hometown is appreciated by every shape of rider from across Ireland and indeed Europe. I look forward to you Whizzing by an old timer like me at 44 years of age...but watch me go on that Downhill LOL...

bat-fastard (Sep 12, 2015 at 14:49)

Just made up profile to post this, and still reads like a tourist departments advert. There has been alot of riders hurt and airlifted/carried of rostrevor. The jumps on mega mission are a danger. look for crash videos on youtube etc there are loads. A surgeon from the local hospital was on the local news one night asking for these trails to be looked at as the amount of serious injuries at A&E was getting out of control. That aside the rider built trails in Rostrevor are some off the best about and can be accessed from the uplift service. There is 3 times as many as the official trails, you will have to find locals to show you these but most people on uplift are riding them so just follow on...

esquise01 (Oct 9, 2015 at 4:03)

The trail centre at Davagh is awesome, flowy trails that are a lot of fun to ride but the Rostrevor dh tracks are a mess. The jumps on DH1 are horribly shaped with super tight compressions before the take off and riders have been seriously injured. The other track has very little flow and two years on they have still to do anything about it. The Redbull Foxhunt was held on the second track last week and with some modifications they turned it into one of the most fun tracks I've ever ridden, wish they could keep it but it's already been returned to its previous state

phlack (Oct 9, 2015 at 5:47)

The centres could do with a bit of work and a few tweaks like the jumps...but they are better than anything we had before and its a start. Running them down on here won't help matters

esquise01 (Oct 9, 2015 at 6:00)

I'm just being honest. If people are reading this with a view to coming here and riding RT I'm not going to lie and say it is good but people can go onto trailforks, see the ratings and make up their own minds. On a positive note Davagh is great and well worth a visit.

phlack (Oct 9, 2015 at 7:28)

@esquise01 I know you are, and I agree...the centres need work. There's a reason why I hardly ever ride RT but go to Davagh a lot. My comment was more directed at bat-fastard who doesn't seem to see any positive in the fact that we have progressed a lot here in the past few years and seems intent on putting visitors off altogether.

esquise01 (Oct 9, 2015 at 7:41)

Ah okay, internet rant averted

RT still has it's natural stuff I guess, some of the trail centres have lived up to their promise and things should get better especially if Architrail are doing the work... roll on Gortin Glen.

bat-fastard (Oct 9, 2015 at 8:22)

The problem is if people come here and expect what is at the likes of BPW, revolution, one planet adventure they are going to be pissed off. Then they will go home and tell their friends all about it. It will do more harm than good. I think most people know already as theres alot of us from here ride over in wales alps etc.

Sshredder (Oct 9, 2015 at 10:00)

Wow Northern Ireland has a very healthy mountain bike scene! Everything from blue trails to double black judging from the comments. Sweet pics.

ramymcc22 (Oct 9, 2015 at 6:12)

sad when a downhill track gets more use by walkers and runners than bikes.

FarmeR57 (Oct 10, 2015 at 7:46)

sry but not a comment on trails. the place looks amazing

pinkbike's spellchecking...not so much.

AlexGustavsson (Oct 9, 2015 at 2:49)

Looks magical!

redbaronmulisha (Oct 9, 2015 at 5:28)

Generally it is, mid week rides are great

sebas241freerider (Oct 9, 2015 at 0:55)

what bike is that ?

philseparation FL (Oct 9, 2015 at 2:15)

Saracen Ariel 152.

www.saracen.co.uk/bikes/all-mountain/ariel-152

aldo56 (Oct 9, 2015 at 1:48)

Those flowers are poisonous!

flaminx0r (Oct 9, 2015 at 3:58)

So are many plants and flowers that you would see on a daily basis in the UK and Ireland.

search the word 'poisonous' on this page - www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=524

EDIT- link for reference.

FarmeR57 (Oct 9, 2015 at 11:39)

technical 'decent's'...lol

digthehills (Oct 10, 2015 at 0:43)

Yep if you know where to look

niall-j (Oct 11, 2015 at 5:18)

Decent descents

Below threshold threads are hidden

7 11

bat-fastard (Sep 2, 2015 at 13:58)

We do have some of the best NATURAL trails about. I live about an hour from these trail centres and haven't rode any since they opened few years ago. Flat slow boring lined with rocks to clip pedals and wheels off. The jumps at Rostrevor are the worst shaped takeoffs I've seen, there is a couple thats ok that we keep seeing in photos but the rest of the trail is a disaster and has seriously hurt alot of riders. They know the jumps need reshaped as riders are getting hurt but for some reason they will not fix them.. Thats what you wont read as trials are sponsered by chainreaction cycles....

curtaincarot (Oct 9, 2015 at 0:59)

I'm planning a trip to northern island next summer and would love to read your short-list of best areas to ride for natural trails!

flaminx0r (Oct 9, 2015 at 2:01)

@bat-fastard Some valid points, but this is not a post for venting the negatives. This is trying to sell our country to the biking world, let them. There is no harm in pointing out the good things our country can offe; which seems to happen so infrequently.

I'm not the largest fan of trail centres myself either but they have their place.

ArchieDH (Oct 9, 2015 at 2:50)

@curtaincarot if you are planning a trip to Northern Ireland, best to post on a forum and get one of the local lads to show you the hidden gems of the country. Everyone is friendly at the Uplift service in Rostrevor, follow the locals and you will ride the best downhill trails. If you are more into enduro, give me a shout and ill show you around all of the natural places with not a single bit of trail centre in sight!!

redbaronmulisha (Oct 9, 2015 at 5:27)

I agree with Archie, let some of the locals know, we'll get you set up in a house and feed you guinness and sodabread all day

bat-fastard (Oct 9, 2015 at 8:28)

@flaminx0r yes if you read the advert you'll think is great, when you get here you'll find out how crap it is compared to Wales. you'll go home and tell everyone not to bother coming. How will that help our wee country. They need to sort the trails out first. It has been told to the people in charge by loads of people more important than me but nothing has been done to fix.

bigburd (Oct 10, 2015 at 1:59)

Instead of whinging about the jumps ever thought about fixing them ? Don't ask for permission just do it , if it's as bad as every one makes out they will be thankful

bat-fastard (Oct 10, 2015 at 5:36)

would love to but you'll need a digger to do it, trail is all crushed compacted stone, a pick just bounces off it. Never mind you'll have the rangers on you in no time. People have cut new lines in places but they come round and block them up etc..