stumpy_dan:

So the first thing that strikes you is that we are talking about an URBAN mountain bike centre in London! It's in Redbridge and so is accessible to East and North Londoners alike (which includes me luckily:). I keep saying this but examples like this keep reminding me that although there is a way to go there is still to date not a better time to be a cyclist in London and things are looking better and better all the time. I left with a few impressions. Firstly Hog Hill is a great place to train and an amazing place to introduce kids and teens to the never ending thrills of mountain biking. It's 100% gravel make up means like on rainy days like today you don't need to contend with predominantly clay muddy mayhem terrain that is London's biking blight but you have an all year all weather mtb centre to ride. This is a greenfield site and it is ambitious, new and deserves praise. I believe it has a few areas for improvement. One the gravel make up and the greenfield nature makes it a bit bland in look and feel to a mtber used to woods, roots, trees and mud. Some tree and bush planting would not go amiss to add some mtb character. Also the trails lack technical elements like roots and drops. This is core for real mtb skill development and I see opportunities to build small two route options here in certain sections. Specifically on the cross country section. I also think in time more routes or route options on the descent are needed to give riders variety as well as give them new boundary pushing challenges. So if you are a mtb'er and ride locally and fancy a good bit bit of fun at the end of an Epping or hanault ride do pop over and kills a couple of hours honing your skills and having some great fun. If you are new to the sport and finding your pedals or want to take or point your kids towards a controlled environment to build up skills, enthusiasm and confidence then this place is great and where I see it really succeeding particularly with schools and the local community. If you are looking to compete in races need a contant training centre then get down there. This is a great start and a significant step forward in UK mountain biking as it brings our sport to a new large urban youth market which frankly is to be applauded. I look forward to seeing it grow. As a new centre in a pretty urban setting I see this as a brill blueprint off road cycle park (nb it has a road circuit too mind). The recent planting of trees on what was a green field site will pay dividend in the next few years as we see roots protruding into the trails and foliage creating more that special mtb feel.

Great for teens and pre teens to cut their teeth on. Offers good progression. Good selection of berms and pump. All year weather proof due to gravel base. Pump track is enormous fun

Gravel base can be off putting. Would benefit from some drops. Pump track is not a traditional pump track more of a little downhill with pump if you wish