Biking The North Face Trail, Grizedale Forest, Whoop Whoop!!

So today Paul and I decided to Bike out to Grizedale Forest and hit the North Face Trail. Would his knee hold up to it, would are legs take it, and most importantly would my ass!

The North Face Trail is a 16km loop which includes 9 sections of sinuous single track trail on the west side of Grizedale Forest. It's killer and the views are stunning! The trail offers adrenaline pumping sections of single track descent along with leg burning ascents contouring through oak woodlands and conifer forest. It offers a rush of curves, berms and north shore, uphill and downhill which takes riders on an adventure trail through Grizedale.


We started at the visitor centre and made our way up the fire tracks and on to the steep winding trail. It was fairly technical with rocks and mud to dodge with the added bonus of frozen puddles to crunch through. The going was hard but my legs felt real good after yesterdays ride. My lungs were pumped and I was peddling like a machine, there was no stopping me.


Once we were up top the view really started to open up. Coniston and Dow Crags we so close, it was amazing. Reaching round the decks and bends in the forest brought us back on to the fire tracks and tarn appeared below us to the left and Helvellyn, Harrison Stickle and the Langdales started to appear. It was a beautiful sight, Helvellyn sprinkle in her winter snow.


We dipped back down into the forest and the boarded tracks got more curved and stepped. They were sprinkled in frost and I took a pretty mean spill and almost busted my balls flying over the handlebars. Paul took a crash in a nasty dip after a boarded section, they are tricky.

It began to snow and the forest got really thick, the light cut out and it was almost darkness riding the boards like a water slide. On our exit the snow began to fall. My lungs were bursting, the ups and down were now getting punishing. We'd been on the trail for 2 hours and we were both feeling it. But the the down hill got better and better, weaving and dropping switchbacks and jumps. Glorious!

We dropped back down to the visitors centre and took a deep breath of relief. What a rush man, I want to come back as soon as possible and run it faster! The Grizedale Stages Rally is December 3rd & 4th. Next up the North Face Trail in Whinlatter Forest and Gisburn Forest. If my bike and my ass can take it!

Check out this short vid called Flow by Seb Rogers about how he build the North Face trail.


Happy Biking

Peace,

Dan