Forestry Commission - News - bikers get active at glentress

Cyclists of all ages and abilities are being given the chance to get more active by learning biking skills at a new skills loop opened at Glentress forest - the only one of its kind in Britain.

The skills area has been designed to help newcomers to mountain biking develop some basic skills and confidence before heading out on to the longer more challenging trails in the forest.

The loop features small jumps, ramps, raised timber trails, rock gardens and twisty singletrack trails to help newcomers face some of the obstacles you might find on a bigger mountain bike route. All the features have interpretation signs to help riders better understand how to tackle them properly.

The launch of the skills area coincides with Forestry Commission Scotland's new 'activewoods' campaign which is a new nationwide push aimed at tempting people off the sofa to explore the huge range of fun activities in the forest - and feel the benefits they bring to body and mind.

At the official opening ceremony, John McBay, Senior Sports Development Officer at Scottish Borders Council said:

"It is great to see a skills loop being added to this world class facility, it will act as a great way of improving bike handling skills and confidence for the many riders. I am convinced that this new loop will be of enormous benefit to the instructors who are taking out youth classes such as the Glentress Riders Kids Club, the Big Lottery Funded Fit Kids Mountain Bike Programme and the Council's own Summer and Easter Sports Schemes. This loop will for some be the starting place for many new mountain bikers who will hopefully go on to represent their school, club or country."

The skills area was built by Forestry Commission Scotland as part of the 7stanes mountain bike project which is creating seven centres right across the south of Scotland. The Peebles Cycle Club volunteered their time to help create many of the features under the watchful eye of trail designer Pete Laing from Selkirk.

Alex Maclennan is the Commission's recreation manager in the Borders:

"As part of the continual success of the 7stanes project, education is becoming a key factor in helping to bring newcomers to mountain biking. This is the first project of its kind in Scotland and will go a long way to building up riders' confidence and abilities.

"We want more people to try out mountain biking as it is also a fun way to improve overall well-being. Getting out on the bike does wonders for your fitness and helps enormously with relieving the stresses and strains of everyday life.

"The beauty of the skills loop is that it doesn't commit you to riding long distance - you can do one loop or as many as you like."

The skills area is frequently used by the Kids Mountain Bike Club run by The Hub at Glentress. The club meets every Saturday says Emma Guy: "The skills loop is a great introduction to mountain biking. It can be as easy or as challenging as you want - it's a real confidence builder."

Glentress is the flgship centre of the 7stanes project and attracts over 250,000 visitors each year. The trails at the venue are award winning and recently a poll by mountain bikers across Britain voted the centre the best place to go for great riding. Mountain bikers also voted The Hub as the best cafe in Britain.

To find out more about mountain biking in the Tweed Valley, or other 7stanes centres, log on to www.7stanes.gov.uk. For more details about the activewoods campaign log on to www.forestry.gov.uk/activewoods, or phone 0845 FORESTS (367 3787).

Media enquiries: Alex Maclennan, Scottish Borders Forest District, 01750 721 120 (mobile 07917 267 183) or Steve Williams, Forestry Commission Scotland press office 0131 314 6508.