News

Meeting for mountain bikers about new Swinley Forest routes

By Julie Spencer
November 27, 2012

Mountain bikers can find out about the construction of a cycle network through Swinley Forest at a public meeting.

The event is being organised by mountain biker Ben Pinnick after last week’s announcement by the Crown Estate that a 24-kilometre formal cycle network is being laid through the forest.

The routes are expected to be open in March when bikers will be banned from venturing off the routes into the forest.

John Deakin, chief forester with the Crown Estate, is expected at the meeting on Thursday, December 6 to talk about the three trails, catering for different abilities.

Mr Deakin said unrestricted biking on unmarked trails was damaging the forest, which is a Natural England designated Special Protection Area.

Ben, who lives in Crowthorne and has been riding in the forest for nine years and is a former racer, said he believed the Crown Estate was doing the right thing.

New cycle routes for Swinley Forest after damage caused by mountain bikers

He said bikers were pleased the Crown Estate had engaged Back on Track MTB Solutions to build the network.

He said: “The continued expansion (of biking) was going to be unsustainable.

“There were designated areas and it has expanded outside these areas and it is very good that the Crown Estate has taken control of the situation.

“They have absolutely taken the right approach and it was inevitable that some action would have to be taken to formalise it as it was too risky.

“There is no proven evidence of damage to the environment but numbers are increasing and it is too risky for the Crown Estate to allow it to continue.

“The caveat there is that some bikers would have liked the process to be more consultative, but they have got the right people in who know what they are doing.”

The trails will be built to International Mountain Bike Association industry standards.

The location and time of the meeting have yet to be finalised.

Go to www.getbracknell.co.uk or see next week’s Bracknell Forest Standard for the latest details.

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Most recent user comments 6 of 6

Ah, fantasic, well spotted MSmith ~ thank you ~ I was so busy reading the journalistic masterpeice that I forgot to read the comments underneath. That's that sorted then! :-)

Frank Chicken
28/11/2012 at 11:16

Frank Chicken, as Ben Pinnick has said, about 2 inches below your comment:

"CORRECTION: The meeting is to be held on the 3rd of December, at Bracknell College's Church Road facility. Please visit http://doodle.com/7kib8kmwurytp9md to register your interest. "

MSmith
28/11/2012 at 10:38

I found this article helpful and constructive. It informed me there's to be a meeting, then, after reading the rest, it tells me that no one knows when or where this meeting is yet. So I'll need to read more random nonsense at a later date. When the meeting happens, I get the impression it will be an unveiling of the CE's plans and not an opportunity for local riders to have any say in how things pan out. Riders should be grateful for what they get and consider themselves lucky that the Crown aren't closing it down to use the land for pheasant shooting and stag hunting.

Frank Chicken
28/11/2012 at 07:18

Fire roads will not be affected by these plans - families will be free to use them as they currently do for cycling.

Dan Hodge
27/11/2012 at 12:24

CORRECTION: The meeting is to be held on the 3rd of December, at Bracknell College's Church Road facility. Please visit http://doodle.com/7kib8kmwurytp9md to register your interest.

As regards mum and dad and the kids, the exciting news is that the trail network will feature a beginner trail of around 3km, and all the fireroad access will remain. Also great news is that IMBA standard Blue trails are generally fine for most riders, with the speed at which you want to ride dictating the difficulty more than the trail itself. I am looking forward to getting my 2 year old out on the blue trails!

benpinnick, Crowthorne
27/11/2012 at 09:37

Does this mean that mum and dad can longer take their children for a potter through the woods. Are they in effect going to be banned? I know of many cyclists who do not use the 'designated area' because the trails there are just to difficult for them. Many just want a ride through woodland. As for damage to the forest, it is insignificant compared to the damage caused when the crops (trees) are harvested.