Hamsterley Forest: Red Grade MTB Descents - Mountain Biking in Durham

In an earlier Hamsterley video, I rode part of the black trail, including Pike's Teeth and Route 666, as well as part of the red trail, from Polty's Last Blast through to the end of Nitrous. At the end of that video I suggested that the final descents of the red trail, Section 13, Special K and Brain Freeze, would be a good addition to the route. So, in this video, I'm back at Hamsterley to ride all of the red descents, right the way through from Polty's Last Blast to Brain Freeze.
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[@MeantforDescent]

If you'd like to see more of Hamsterley, check out my earlier video at kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3Okf4qQh8-WgdU

[@markpotts4428]

Really enjoying your videos and I've subscribed 👍, I only live an hour away from Hamsterley and just started out mountain biking, I would like to know as I only have a basic bike and I'm going to buy a new one, would a decent hardtail be comfortable on the red trails (I won't be doing black) or should I buy my first full suspension, thanks..

[@MeantforDescent]

@@markpotts4428 Thanks Mark. That's a tough question. A hardtail will definitely be capable enough, and you'll get great spec bike for the same cost as an entry level full sus. A good trail bike with around 150mm of travel front and rear will certainly be more comfortable, but it's probably not strictly necessary. I think if it's a matter of practicality. A hardtail will do, but if you've got a yearning for a full sus, you'll be disappointed if you don't follow your heart.

[@markpotts4428]

Yeah probably right, reason I was thinking about a hardtail is most full suss seem to be 29ers now and I like 27.5, thinking about the whyte t140 Sr when it's released seems pretty well equipped and a good price point to start off..

[@MeantforDescent]

The Whyte looks like a great choice, Mark. I know what you mean about 27s, but I can see the benefit of a 29, at least on paper.

[@adamhooper4293]

Why can't every mountain bike channel be as good as this one, a lot of it is so funny ! GMBN will soon have a competitor hahahaha

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks Adam. Very much appreciated. More in the pipeline.

[@brandontds4256]

Quality video this dude, really helpful in what trails to ride and gives you a quick heads up for what's in store.

[@MeantforDescent]

Glad you enjoyed it, Brandon. Have you ridden any of it yet?

[@tritonsyc]

thanks I almost feel like I have had a lap of Hammers during lock down.

[@MeantforDescent]

Glad you liked it, Graeme. Thanks. I'll bet there are a lot of people itching to get back out there.

[@monkeytonker4637]

I'm one of those that's knows what it's like to head off there on a weekend... It's a great place, followed closely by dalby forest.

[@MeantforDescent]

It really is. Polty's through to Accelerator is first class. I've ridden Dalby twice and I'd love to explore beyond the red route.

[@monkeytonker4637]

@@MeantforDescent they've been doing a bit of work at dalby. I was there last Sunday on the ebike. Made some of the trails alot faster.

[@HarryElvor]

I live here nice to see people like it

[@MeantforDescent]

Hamsterley's a blast. Love it.

[@maciemccarthy465]

Rode there the other day - really enjoyed it. Great video 👍

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks, Macie. Glad you enjoyed the vid and the trail.

[@gazbuck73]

What an awesome video and should help me find these sections for my next visit. KUDOS 👊🏼

[@AndyWalker1989]

Your channel is class mate. Keep it up. 💥

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks, Andrew. Much appreciated.

[@ElectricCrotchRocket]

Great video! Hoping to go soon 👍

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks. I'm sure you'll have a blast. The trails are great fun.

[@hippienixon462]

cheers just the video ive been looking for. Been slowing getting in to mtb and wanted to try the red route. bit more practice now and ill be giving it ago.

[@MeantforDescent]

Glad you liked it. Ride it slow the first time and you'll be fine.

[@TwoGuysOneVan]

Nice vid mate... Looks like they're "Flow-ing" the place out there... :D

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks and likewise. Yeah, it parts. Transmission's getting rougher with time, but Polty's Last Blast and K-Line are a flow fest. All excellent trails.

[@johnjd831]

I like your style of video, some light humor and good editing make standard footage standout. Plus 1 sub from me mate 👍🏼 well done

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks, John. Just been watching you're off piste vid. Love it. Definitely inspired to explore Hammers. Also subbed. Cheers, Chris.

[@joelong6565]

Gotta love section 13. Great vids 👍

[@jimslicer807]

I work in Darlo on Thursdays & get to hit this on my way home from work. Keen & smug. Lovely video

[@MeantforDescent]

Cheers. I would be too, mind. Great trails.

[@jimslicer807]

@@MeantforDescent smug life mate

[@u700495]

Great video mate. Dying 2 get to Hamsterley.

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks, Kenny. I hope you enjoy it when you get there. There's definitely a lot of fun to be had.

[@craigmaddison8254]

Ain't been to Hamsterley for a while, nice to see Accelerator and Nitrous are now linked together but looks like they've removed a few features, the wall ride on Special K and that little wooden feature drop thing at the end of Brain Freeze. Yeah, I've clipped a tree on Accelerator and in the tight bit at the end of Transmission. Nicely put together video it's wet my appetite to return soon.

[@MeantforDescent]

Cheers, Craig. Now you mention it, something definitely felt out of place on Special K and I couldn't put my finger on it. I've ridden the timber drop a few times before and knew it had been taken out, but the wall ride completely passed me by. Well spotted.

[@zootmanmtb7739]

Sick bro 🤙🤙🤙

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks, man.

[@ryanbarker2953]

How do you know how to get to them it’s like a maze in the woods nd I’m uncertain how to even find all these

[@MeantforDescent]

Hi Ryan. Most FC sites with legitimate waymarked trails will have a trail map for visitors. The one for Hamsterley is here... www.forestryengland.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Hamsterley%20MTB%20Map%20A4%20leaflet_2.pdf

[@bravesirrobin6293]

Wonderful video. Subscribed straight away! So I'm ngl, I've ordered my first bike in years, but hugely looking forward to getting stuck in. I'm based in Northumberland. What you do lads consider essential kit for a weekend blast?

[@AngusNewmanMTB]

dude your channel is sick you put so much effort in how do you not have more subscribers

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks, Angus. As yet unrecognised in my lifetime, I guess. What camera are you recording with?

[@AngusNewmanMTB]

@@MeantforDescent go pro hero 7 black and I'm getting a foam thing for the wind

[@MeantforDescent]

Read my mind.

[@lukekeleher9403]

The Trees being close and nearly hit, I did in practice for a downhill upthete .any moons ago, I went flying ower the handle bars and hit one asif I rugby tackling it the snow fell from the tree and landed on the marshall while I tried to get my breath back from been winded, the race got called off after practice because of the black ice

[@MeantforDescent]

Probably for the best, Luke. Sounds like the Ambulance Service would have had a busy day. ;)

[@corfiot21]

I did the red trail about an hour ago on a giant talon 3! I absolutely loved it. Your speed is out of this world, I am 34 and just started going downhill. I found the red route gave me a rush to become better and better. What bike would you recommend that would cover the needs of a route like the red? I felt like he luck of back suspension was really missing, although I really enjoyed the route

[@MeantforDescent]

The Talon 3 looks like a good, solid bike and people say that the best bike for the trail is the one you're riding. Riding a hardtail will also help you to develop better control as you're not relying on the rear shock to get you out of trouble if you make a bad line choice. That said, I love my full sus and wouldn't want to go back to a hardtail for the trails. I wouldn't want to recommend a specific bike, as it's a hugely personal choice, but, if you're going to mainly be riding trails like those at Hamsterley, a trail bike would be the area to look in. Trail bikes are all rounders, so their geometry means that they're at home on the climbs as well as the descents. Typically they have between 120mm and 160mm of suspension travel and are very capable on rough lines and drops. If you're expecting to ride steep, gnarly trails and bike parks look at enduro bikes.

[@corfiot21]

@@MeantforDescent thank you you for replying, I really appreciate it. I think i will stick with my bike a bit longer and if I seem to be enjoying it in the long run then I will look for a trail bike. I was pretty impressed with the performance of my Talon, considering that I never bought it intending to use it there! I just saw the route and thought ''what the hell, lets go for it''. Cheers for all the info though it feels like another world when you come across some of the bikes that ride around Hamsterley!

[@MeantforDescent]

No problem. Just take it easy and enjoy yourself exploring the forest. There's loads to ride.

[@joejinks3414]

Another one to ride on my ever growing list 🤣😅

[@MeantforDescent]

You won't be disappointed, Joe. Hamsterley's a great place to ride.

[@joejinks3414]

Loving your videos, keep up the great work

[@MeantforDescent]

@@joejinks3414 Thanks, Joe. Much appreciated.

[@andrewmarsh6308]

So am a heavy set lad, am looking to get in to this type of stuff, would you recommend this for first timers or is there better place to go up north ?

[@MeantforDescent]

Hamsterley's great, Andrew. If you want to get the downhill in, you're going to have to put in the work on the climbs first, and Hamsterley's as good a place as any. With regards to the descents, if you've got basic bike skills and a little confidence, you'll be fine. Just take it easy the first time around and walk anything you're not comfortable with. If you want an easier alternative with fewer technical features, the blue grade Osprey trail up at Kielder's quite entertaining. Speaking as someone who's 6' 3" and has weighed as little as 79kg and as much as 120kg, it's a lot easier to pedal without the extra weight, but it shouldn't stop you. if you persevere and ride regularly, your fitness will improve noticeably in a relatively short space of time. 30 minutes of pedalling every other day will pay dividends.

[@jimslicer807]

Give Chopwell woods a go? Shorter trails & closer to Newcastle if you're over that way. Then head to Hamsterley for some FUN

[@trailsfromthedarkside6460]

Nice video dude. Thinking about hitting up Hamsterley in the next week or so. Looks sick. Did you just do the full red or did you mix and match. Heard a lot off people say that the red is mainly fire roads. You don’t have to mash the go pro button to get another sub. 🤙🤙

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks. You're right about the fire roads. I'd session the trails in this video and also the ones in the link below. There's a lot of off piste, too, but I haven't explored that yet. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3Okf4qQh8-WgdU

[@trailsfromthedarkside6460]

Meant for Descent thanks bud. I’ll chrck that out.

[@MeantforDescent]

No problem.

[@trailsfromthedarkside6460]

Meant for Descent just watched the second video, that looks like a great loop with bits off the black. Is that the route you would recommend or would you change some. What sort off mileage is that. Congrats on the 1k subs as well. Glad too help along.

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks. Not sure of the distance, but it's a good loop. Pikes Teeth, Odd Sox, then up to Polty's for those descents, then back up for Section 13 and the rest. Better than the whole red, definitely.

[@mikefandango3343]

Well done m8 for mentioning the trail builders, they do a fantastic job for nothing 👍

[@MeantforDescent]

Cheers, man. I used to do it, too, over at Kielder. There's a wooden feature near the end of the red Deadwater trail that I built with my brother. The trail's been diverted away it now, but it's still standing. It was fun to ride when it was new and dry, but in the wet it's probably a little above the grade. Probably what you'd call a bit deathy.

[@tobywaggett8694]

K line is nice but knarly in the wet

[@MeantforDescent]

I think parts of Transmission were resurfaced recently, leading to a spate of crashes. Could be just as gnarly in the dry now, too.

[@MegaPepsimax]

I'm ashamed to say I've gotten off the bike and walked over countless numbers of those technical features. You ride over them like they don't exist, but here I am saying hell nah I ain't about to break my neck here. I have a FS bike and good MTB skills, but my problem is confidence

[@MeantforDescent]

I'd bet that if you picked one of those features, an attainable goal, and stopped to session it, after a few goes you'd nail it, and that would go a long way to building confidence. It depends on the feature, but for the most part keeping your weight to the rear of the bike pays dividends. Good for steep descents, drops and rock gardens, to prevent you from going over the bars. Also, don't second guess yourself. I've had a couple of offs caused by braking when I shouldn't have. Often I feel that once you're committed you've just got to ride the wave. At the end of the day, though, the only person really judging your performance is you. If you enjoyed your last ride, that was a good ride.

[@MegaPepsimax]

@@MeantforDescent thanks for the advice, I'll give it a shot next time I'm there. As you say I just need to pick a feature on a trail and just keep practicing it. Once I get comfortable with it, I can move onto another feature and take my confidence with me

[@angeloys]

Tea and cakes... You seem to be mispronouncing Chinese food delivery. Another great video there birthday twin. Keep them coming.

[@MeantforDescent]

Man, I thought I said pizza. ;)

[@mickcolledge9269]

I hear it’s open now I’ve been using a hard tail bike I wanna up grade to a full suspension but don’t wanna spend loads any recommendations 2nd hand or out under a grand if I can help it just to start

[@MeantforDescent]

Hey, Mick. I'm riding a Vitus Sommet at the minute and it was just under £2000. At that price point it's still a budget buy. If you're after a quality bike for less than a grand I think you're looking at a hard tail. I used to ride a Giant Stance which was a full sus and cost £999, but I snapped the frame at Bike Park Wales. I like the look of the Cujo 2 for that money, but if full sus is a must MBR reviewed the Calibre Bossnut in December and gave it a 10/10 score. You can pick one up at Go Outdoors for £1100. Cheers, Chris.

[@mickcolledge9269]

Meant for Descent thanks I will look into it I used to live in Sunderland and move up in the dales I live about 15 mins away from hamsterly and I am getting right into it I used to race cyclo cross when I was a kid but i am getting right into this now just finding my bottle for the jumps I’ve always liked me kona‘ I was talking to a lad who had a Santa Cruz and he was saying he preferred his bike before a specialised stump jumper i have seen some 2nd hand for 6-8 hundred but not sure i will look in to the bossnut and take me time am not rushing into it

[@MeantforDescent]

I have a Genesis Longitude, too, which is a 27.5+, and it's branded as "a mid-fat, expedition ready, fully rigid adventure machine." It's probably the bike I ride the most and I rode it in a video I made last year which was about a bikepacking trip to a bothy at Kershopehead. The fatter tyres absorb a lot of the bumps, so if I were looking for a hard tail for the trails, I'd be considering 27.5+ wheels for sure. You can see what I mean here... kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHbSkqaZeqpqjJI

[@mickcolledge9269]

Meant for Descent I have a kona fire mountain at the min with 27.5 but smashed me rear derailleur good style aswell so I will be ordering another one of those but it’s done me good I’ve getting me money’s worth it’s done some miles up hamsters but I just thought it would be better with a full sus ya don’t see many hard tails up there Iam using a boardman cx I’ve borrowed off me dad it’s more of a road bike and quite scary with the clicky pedals just for the time been so I can get a bit bike time in when I finish work but you don’t half hit some speed on it he has two and said I could take one was thinking of cashin mine and the boardman in for a full sus just not sure which one yet and the bike packing would be something i Would like to do have been meant to do coast of coast for like the last 3 year or summit lol

[@MeantforDescent]

@@mickcolledge9269 That's what I did. I sold two bikes to fund the Sommet and saved some cash, too. I love it., but it's not without issues. It's an enduro with 160mm of travel at the front and rear and it's great on the downhill sections. The OEM bearings are terrible, though, and the suspension pivots don't stay tight; they could do with some threadlock. Otherwise, it's a blast to ride. Vitus also offer the Mythique, with less travel and a 1x10 drivetrain, for £1249.99.

[@madscottishmtber2093]

If it's not a photo it's a time lapse I've done this many of times

[@MeantforDescent]

Yeah, I've done all of the above. I'm sure it won't be the last time either.

[@JaymieDewar]

What psi where you running

[@MeantforDescent]

I'm 6' 3" and run this bike tubeless. I'm also a little heavier than I should be, so, at the moment, it's 29 in the rear and 27 in the front.

[@1968davidlynch]

A whole 4 new subscribers 😂

[@MeantforDescent]

Some weeks I get as many as six. ;)

[@scandalousprogareth]

nice video. the trail looks quite tame tbh though, I'm not a massive fan of the manufactured look

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks, Gareth. Glad you enjoyed it. I've seen people ride it faster than me, and slower, too. I suppose it's subjective. If you live for Fifty Shades of Black it's probably a little dull, but it's within the grade. I know what you mean about trails that are obviously man made, but it's still a blast to ride.

[@scandalousprogareth]

@@MeantforDescent I've just watched your other video 'Red and Black Grade' and this looks much better, a lot more natural and challenging looking. now it looks worth a trip :)

[@MeantforDescent]

I'd suggest doing a bit of research on Trail Forks. There's loads going on in the forest, and you could spend months exploring. We tend to pick and choose the best bits, and it's always worthwhile.

[@scandalousprogareth]

@@MeantforDescent thanks man. i will do. i'm originally from darlington, but it's been years since i've ridden up there. i'll try it when i'm allowed to go back and visit family!

[@middleagedmtber2164]

You are sooooo luck to live near their . This is exactly what I want in West Lothian , but our councils won’t spend the money building .

[@MeantforDescent]

Speak to some local land owners, put together a plan and apply for grants. It's a well used model. Forestry Scotland will be a better advocate than any council. Good luck.

[@jamesphilipson1289]

I recently went here for the first time and did the blue route as I’m a beginner but myyyy god it was interminable and boring as hell. It was poorly signposted too which caused me to do a right slog of an uphill section twice and I got stung by a wasp. Should have just jumped into the red, doesn’t look as bad as I pictured

[@MeantforDescent]

Check out the trail map on the Forestry England web site, James. I wouldn't bother with the whole of the red, but it'll help you pick out the best bits shown in this video and another Hamsterley vid I did a while back. Polty's Last Blast onwards, and Section 13 onwards are the sections to aim for.

[@davidcoomber4050]

Omg really

[@MeantforDescent]

I know. Hang on to your hat, David Coomber.