Getting my Confidence back at Descend Bikepark! | Hamsterley Forest MTB

For the first time in about 4 months we head to some trails outside of The Lake District! We chose to ride at Descend Bikepark to ride some different terrain and try and get used to proper jumps again for probably the first time this year. It was a great day despite the uplift not running. We did end up riding the same tracks quite a few times, but that was the aim of the day, sessioning and progression. I definitely came away feeling more confident in the air again, and can't wait to head back there to attempt some of the bigger features some time soon. Hope you enjoy the video!
EARLY CUTS AND BONUS CONTENT:
/ districtmountainbiker
INSTAGRAM:
/ districtmountainbiker
Music from Epidemic Sound.
#descendbikepark #hamsterley #mountainbiking

[@DavidBrown-zq9yn]

Epic riding I live 5 min away from the place and I'm always up there but can't ride anywhere near your level wish I could lol great watch

[@henrywildin]

My local. Apart from the road gap the new jump line is ok. You definitely had it. I managed most of it last weekend and you are more confident in the air then me. Great vid keep up the good work!

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

Thanks mate, I'll have to give it as go next time! If I had someone to follow into it I might have tried it. Just looked a bit scary for my first time back in ages 😂

[@mouseamillion]

Was nice to stop and say hi whilst I was on the push up (guy from Morecambe). Will definitely be back to give the park a go. The trails were good for a trail centre though.

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

Nice to meet you 👍 Yeah the park is worth a go, I'll definitely be trying the other trails on offer around the rest of the forest too!

[@denttrails5182]

Over there next weekend, love that place. Some sick riding there pal. 🤘

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

Nice one, enjoy it 👊 I'll have to get back asap to get those other features ticked off!

[@victoriamoney2547]

NICE I GO HERE EVERY SUNDAY SO GOOD

[@loucifersadventures573]

Great video. Im there tomorrow. Currently in the lakes too. Can't reccomend hamsterley enough. Especially if training for confidence on big desecent like the alps! Top video

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

Thanks man, glad you enjoyed. Have a good day tomorrow!

[@TheNorthernRider]

Loved this! good to see the progression and how quickly you recovered from your nerves!

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

Glad you enjoyed it 👍 It's a great place to progress that's for sure!

[@TheNorthernRider]

District Mountain Biker yeah man So many great trails! I need to get back up and ride it again! 🤙🏻

[@TylerBoothGolf]

Looks like an awesome park! Glad you're able to get some solid jumping in.

[@j.a.mjamiesadventuresmount5594]

Mate you are still killing it!!!

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

Thanks man, definitely felt like I was improving as the day went on 👊

[@J_Harker]

Noice! It's true, bike setup makes a huge difference :)

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

Yeah for sure, I need to get into the habit of tweaking my settings for different types of riding, definitely a bit of a "set and forget" kind of guy 🤦‍♂️

[@camerondarnbrough3916]

Nice vid man! Descend is probs my favourite place to ride, perfect mix of flow jumps and tech in my opinion!

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

Cheers 👊 Yeah they've managed to cram a lot in!

[@trailsfromthedarkside6460]

For a man with low confidence, you were shredding. That place looks immense. Just did the forest last week and thought that was gnar. Great riding dude.

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

Really appreciate that mate cheers 🤙 I don't think the sketchiness comes across on GoPro so much but I definitely made some progress throughout the day and was feeling good at the end 👍

[@trailsfromthedarkside6460]

District Mountain Biker thats all we can ask for. A bit of progress and home with a smile.

[@lukestevenson7927]

Sweet riding that duck 👌

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

Thanks 🤙

[@HawkArmy]

What a great day!

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

It sure was!

[@jimbojrt]

Hey, another good video, always wanted to hit up hamsterley. I noised you up before as I ride with my twin sister I'm the borders quite a bit. She's up next weekend if you fancy getting s ride in with Taylor? Was good to see Taylor going down the techy stuff in the vid, representin the female shredders

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

Hey man, thanks 👍 I'll have to see if I've got my bike sorted by then as my forks are currently off for an upper assembly replacement 🤦‍♂️ But it would be good to get out some time!

[@everywherelocal]

yeah! 🙃

[@streetpigeonmtb]

Brilliant riding Joe. Your Descend vids always look crazy. Cracking edit as well, really engaging for the viewer. On it bud 👍

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

Cheers Jamie, got to get there with you some time and show you some of the jumps, then if we survive you can show me the off-piste 😂 Was happy with how this one turned out so glad you liked the edit 👍 Hope your trip was good, looked pretty epic!

[@streetpigeonmtb]

@@DistrictMountainBiker that would be great. I can jump ok but I just cant judge speed on the big ones and the ones I've never ridden before. Would be awesome to follow you through some of these trails to build confidence. I'll get my friend Tomas to give us and off piste tour for sure!

[@joeelliott1781]

Great video, is the park full face only. Just wondering as you had you open face on.

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

Pretty sure it's full face only, I was riding in a full face with detachable chin piece

[@joeelliott1781]

@@DistrictMountainBiker oh, ok thanks. Just wondering as I am thinking of going in the summer.

[@UKDrillers]

ive been waiting so long for this video

[@o_lgaming5196]

What part of the park where you in since I want to do this

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

Most trails start from the Descend car park, there's trail maps and people to point you in the right direction so it's easy to get around 👍

[@o_lgaming5196]

@@DistrictMountainBiker thanks mate love the content 👍🏽

[@hazzatrazza]

Myself and a few mates are heading down to the lakes (from the Tweed valley) for a week of biking, would it be worth treking over to Descend for a day? Or do you have any recommendations for Glentress/Inerleithen style riding in the lakes? (ive watched your lakes playlist :D )

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

It's probably worth getting over to Descend for the day as the drive isn't bad at all. There's some good off-piste trails at Grizedale and Whinlatter that might be your thing, but they're not official like the trails up in the Tweed Valley. Worth looking into some big mountain rides if you have the time, The Lakes is best for natural stuff like that 👍

[@JWDTphotography]

What day was this, I’ve been here many times recently doing what I do, snapping photos

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

It was the 11th July, not sure I spotted you there? I was thinking I'd definitely buy a photo to use as a video thumbnail! 😂

[@JWDTphotography]

District Mountain Biker ha. I was there on the Sunday. 12th July.

[@jacobstables22]

Love the content do you think that you will ever make a vid on Hamsterley forest trails like k line and transmission

[@trailsfromthedarkside6460]

If your interested dude. I have just dropped a video on those sections. First time riding them. 🤙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

Cheers mate 👍 Yeah definitely, I have plans to go back and ride some of the trail centre stuff along with some off-piste at some point. Just trying to figure out when to fit it in!

[@jacobstables22]

Trails from the Darkside I’m gonna check it out now

[@trailsfromthedarkside6460]

MTB _SHUP hope you enjoy dude. 🤙

[@philipreed5269]

been on all the regular trails at Hamsterley, but never been through the bike park. Do you have to pay an entrance fee on top of the parking?

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

The parking for Descend is at the top of the hill which you don't pay for as such, but I guess the parking fee is included in the ticket/pass. It was £10 to ride, can't remember what it is when the uplift is running though!

[@philipreed5269]

​@@DistrictMountainBiker Thanks! Ive been paying £8 for all day parking in the main visitor car park at Hamsterley this whole time! I'll save up the extra £2 and ride the bike park from now on!

[@marcjenk30]

@@philipreed5269 get yourself an annual parking pass for 50 quid its what we do we ride there most weeks but do have to pay on top for descend

[@dickheadcentral6974]

Everything you just said at the 4x section is bang on.. I need to slow my rebound so it doesn't po go me over and feel so unsteady

[@mtbendurog4617]

Hi I saw your dad has Trek how does it compare to your merida which both of them run on floatlink design thanks

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

Having ridden both they do feel very similar. I like the "bottomless" feeling that the floatlink gives, can't say I've ever had a harsh bottom out. I do prefer the Merida for the slight extra travel up front, it just feels a bit more aggressive which suits me. The geometry of the Merida just seems to fit me a little better too. Would be happy with either bike though 👍

[@mtbendurog4617]

@@DistrictMountainBiker wooow thanks for the quick reply and for the great feedback very much appreciated 🙏🙏🙏 i too btw ride a merida One forty and very happy actually big fan of Merida Bikes

[@James.watson4]

Yo 🤘

[@peter-coates]

Im 14 i can do the red quite well and have a good bike but only has forks on the front do you think i could do this

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

I don't see why you couldn't ride a hairdtail here. Yeah some sections will feel much more rough, but it can be a good help for choosing better/smoother lines!

[@mileskelly7745]

Would a Carrara Vulcan go down that ok ?

[@DistrictMountainBiker]

Probably, just might be a little rough haha!