Is Thetford any good?

I haven't been to Thetford forest since I was about 15 and I don't really remember whether it was actually awesome or whether it was awesome because I was shit.

My birthday's coming up and I might get a bike and am tempted to get a MTB and rip some offroad up at the weekends. Are the forest runs actually any good? I mean I'm not expecting Whistler but at least good enough to kill a few hours on a Sunday morning.

http://www.waoc.org.uk/n.humphries/waoc/details/2013-02-09-10-thetford-thrash.php

They're good fun, but definitely more XC than downhill - there aren't any hills in East Anglia. I always enjoy a spin around there.

Watch which pub you go into though.

I have been in some weird and messed up situations in my life but the evening half the town's 13 to 30 year olds kicked hell out of me and three other guys from London takes some beating(see what I did..).

We were there to ride the trails, which we did over the next two days albeit with very lumpy heads and busted ribs.

Not been recently, but I used to enjoy them.

Timber site has some info on the trails http://www.timbermtb.org/website/

Timber site has some info

Watch which pub you go into though.

Not on this though.

Cool, better get building a mountain bike.

Is there anywhere locally I'm likely to source a full sus MTB frame on the cheap (but not necessarily really shit)?

How far are you from Dereham? Pauls Cycles often has some bargains on older models.

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/

Also worth asking here.

http://www.lfgss.com/thread2639-81.html

And here

http://www.lfgss.com/thread34855-72.html

Is there anywhere locally I'm likely to source a full sus MTB frame on the cheap (but not necessarily really shit)?

Are you building this with Thetford in mind? If so I'd go for a hard tail. It'll be more than enough for the trails there, and cheaper.

Are you building this with Thetford in mind? If so I'd go for a hard tail. It'll be more than enough for the trails there, and cheaper.

Initially yes, but I'd like tO have something a little futureproof and would rather spend more now than have to upgrade.

I go there sometimes. Its is largely flat and there are recently remarked trails, blue and green that are essentially just cinder roads or sandy tracks that are suitable for kids. then there are a couple of red trails and the longer one, called something like "limekiln trail" that has a mix of tight tree sections and some interesting bombholes that used to be part of a black run and are good fun.
Its very sandy and last time i was there very muddy in places. Its absolutely perfect for cross bikes. I had great fun eating mountain bikers and you definately do not need full suspension there.

Ignore everything but red/black there (there are good unmarked trails also). The green/blue are just for families and little kids.

As for hard tails, I bought a Kona Fire Mountain after renting bikes at Thetford for a while. It's since had new forks and I love it. It went to Wales last year and got battered on some proper rough stuff - it coped. I would like full-sus too, but I can't justify it when the Kona does so well. With purchase and upgrades it still owes me less than £700...

Might head this way in a couple of weeks. Anybody here been recently?

Yeh I went a couple of weeks ago, it's ok not any that special, no crazy jumps or anything like that, well not that I had seen anyway

As above, it's pretty tame stuff. The final section of the lime burner trail is actually pretty good and a bit more challenging if you're into downhill/technical stuff.

It's the miles and miles of muddy single track beforehand which killed me!

Epic thread dredge, but I am curious to know the full story behind this hiding; considering moving to the edge of Thetford.

Ha, I'm sure its lovely there now..

Come on a future ride and I'll tell you in person.

Are you being forced to move to Thetford against your will?

In case any locals* fancy it.

Thetford Forest mtb ride

*Norwich being more local than London