 <i>"We built it to last, so it won't disappear under a foot of mud, which will allow it to be used all year round."</i>
....except some of the early sections. I've ridden them in recent months and they are <b>very</b> muddy.
Not wanting to diss this as some of the sections are fanatastic and all of it would be in the dry? But I wouldn't say this is an all weather trail designed for a lot of users through winter.
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 The muddy trails are the ones that have been marked and cut but not actualy surfaced. You were riding un-finished trails,in a predominantly wet bit of the chase, in the winter. Is it any suprise that life vests were needed?
Those sections will completed by saturday.
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Fair enough. I'll look forward to riding 'em. Must have done a lot of surfacing since I was last there.
The chasetrails web site gives the impression that these trails are intended to be unsurfaced on the status report though I presume that is out of date?
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 Pierre, we have been doing a heck of a lot of surfacing recently. Good point about the trail status summary, I've now updated it on the website.
People have confused unsurfaced trails for finished trails and therefore it is understandable that they aren't impressed with the year round capabilities of the trail.
Things will dry out soon and next winter expect a much different picture.
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Nice one. I believe you work with a couple of friends of mine Stu? We must get you as a guide next time we travel west?
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A couple of friends, who's that then??
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Rich Pratley & Michael Barrow
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Ah yes, just moved from the site they're on but def up for a ride sometime.
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Cool. Will get in touch to organise at some point. Don't worry it won't be too soon! Dunno if they mentioned it but I record our antics here: here We must do that link swap thing too.
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 Can some-one post up directions to the Visitor centre? There are none on the website.
Ta
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 I have been going to Cannock for years and unless you know the area well it was far to easy to get lost as everywhere looks very much the same. The introduction of these marked trails has obviously inproved things 100%, but if you visit the area regularly, you find yourself looking for tracks you have not ridden. Exploring off the marked trails gives some variation to the main route.
On the issue of track surfacing. I accept that you do not have the natural stone that places like Coed-y-Brenin have available. The limestone does its job, but seems a little thin in places resulting in the mud finding its was between the stones and its subsequent dissapearance.
As for the downhill course! Being from the 'cross country' faternity, it takes a a few deep breaths and a few dabs of the brakes to get down in one piece - it is a laugh though. Petty the downhillers choose to walk back up the main tracks rather than the main valley fire road!
Well done to everyone involved. Its just what the area needed if you didn't want a 2 hour trek to Wales
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Waldo, Mad Pierre's link is what you want. the actual address is ;
Lady Hill
Birches Valley
Rugeley
Staffs
WS15 2UQ
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 ... The first letter 'i' in "Slitting Mill" (to the west of Rugeley) is where the Centre is. Multimap
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 I walked the area the other week as part of a sports leaders course i'm doing and me and a Downhilling mate spent the whole time drooling over the trails... so tomorrow we're going for an all-dayer. Woot!
BTW which end is the DH course? N S E or W? A grid reference would be good too...Cheers
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 Just checked the Visitor Centre is actually by the F in Forest Centre. Slitting Mill is a little way off.
Jo, The Dh course is to the East (and slightly south) of that Multimap link. There is a map on the DH page of our website at www.chasetrails.co.uk
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 I was in cannock till late last night, some really good stuff, one of the man made tracks if you reverse it is a total buzz :)
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You'll be talking about Sections 11 & 12 then, parallel to Marquis Drive.
Know what you mean....
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I saw Gary Fisher himself today! Don't I feel special... a day early...
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