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Riding Spots: Chicksands
23rd July 2004 - Jon Booth
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Rowney Warren, more commonly known to locals as ‘Chicksands’, South of Bedford, is home to Bedfordshire’s best mountain biking and is favoured hunting ground for dirt jump star Ady Bright (Identiti). Owned by Southill Estates and co-run by BedsFatTrax club with Forest Enterprise, Trail Manager and father of rising 4X star, Tom Dowie (Identiti), Steve Dowie has implemented some stunning trails.
Recently, Chicksands attained national fame after MBUK mag did two shoots there in 2003. Following up in 2004 with a visit from Rob Warner and another article to highlight local rider Glen Coe (24Seven/ BSX World) and his back-flipping antics.
Jon riding the jumps
Suitable for all ages, styles and abilities (goddamn Saracen kids...), Chicksands is often milling with “friendly” riders. Included beneath the pine canopy is a race quality Dual Slalom course, plenty of dirt jumps, a free ride area littered with drops and numerous xc trails, which are surprisingly fun…
Bi-annual race days are held (the next one is set for late summer) with Dual Slalom races set across several age categories and some dosh to be won at the end. These precede the more photogenic event of the day, the Dirt Jam where any rider on any bike can test his tricks out (notice the blatant, but true, sexism there...) before a panel of judges without gay wheel size restrictions. And of course everyone’s favourite; the snack van!
The latest additions to the repertoire, however, are the North Shore styled runs; Seesaws, balance beams, ladder drops and bridges. Chicksands is finding it hard to suppress its inner-Canadian.
Droppin the see-saw
Rolling in on a Saturday morning, Pete, Rich and myself (PRJ Racing) are greeted with several new runs including a see-saw and steps. Whereas other, less well maintained trails have a "no build, no ride" policy, it’s always
great to be able to pop down to Chicksands and have someone else build for you, provided you pay your membership.
Better still, based on a sandy soil and articleserate climate (bet you wish you’d done AS geography now, huh?) Chicksands can be ridden all year round with relative safety and maximum enjoyment, even after prolonged rain, partly due to the build quality, partly due to our awesome riding ability...
If an inverse ratio of speed: height on bits of wood doesn’t light your Freeride fire, then check out the main Freeride area, plenty of drops and other scary stuff. Just bear in mind though, the soil is orange, shite is still brown, your mum is gonna know, so keep to your limits and leave those "brown" stains off your over-priced jeans...
Nose turn on the tight stuff!
Basically, Chicksands will lure you just long enough for the Council to bulldoze your own illegal trails and keep you coming back for more. Progression is amazingly quick and you’ll go home feeling top.
If you visit, just remember a few key things:
1. Pick up your litter; be cool!
2. No-one likes a pussy, but leave the ego at the car park
3. Packed lunch (squashed, preferably) is essential
4. Helmets are obligatory (!) and I’d highly recommend shin and knee pads.
For more info on joining up to BedsFatTrax and location maps, go to www.bedsfattrax.org Yearly membership is only a fiver for under 18s or you can pay £1 for a day ticket. Although there’s rarely anyone to take your money, give it to a trusty local, who will pass it on (to the club or to the pub is the local’s decision).
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