Flyup Downhill – Uplift at the Forest of Dean

If you are serious about downhill then you know the chore of push ups and the pain of finding your DH rig scratched by a cattle truck. Uplifts are starting to appear more frequently around the country and offer an alternative to sweating blood to get to the top (anyone who has pushed up Inners will understand that one). With the prospect of 10-15 full runs in (as well as lunch) instead of a whole day like a forest dweller sessioning the same area repeatedly uplifts have offered a more friendly entry point into our sport. Now there is a school of thought in DH that people should wear their scrapes on their bikes like a badge of legitimacy but we believe not. Not only is poor uplifting a fast track to some real damage to forks and frames alike  but also we personally like our bikes to look good for as long as possible if we are gonna spend our lives knocking our pipe out in an office to pay for them. Some uplift damage is so bad that the MoreDirt crew are now more inclined to avoid anything that doesn't involve a proper bike trailer. Cwmcarn started the trend towards a sensible uplift that meant your bike didn't look like it had been attacked with a club hammer by the time it reached the top and made a commercial success out of it (with only one track to choose from). Flyupdownhill have followed this trend with a twist and are providing a gem of a service in the Forest of Dean. Not only can you get in 15 runs a day, but the uplift is only 5 minutes and its all on the road (with a short pedal to the start of the trails). Simon who runs the show is one of the most friendly blokes in mountain biking and is really enthusiastic about all levels of rider as well as being careful to ensure that everyone is safe. The FOD has been notorious for years for having a maze of different DH trails and to be fair we only tried out the marked ones but there was such variety. From steep and technical to smooth and flowy, there is something for everyone here and while the longest track is half the length of a standard Welsh DH, you don't seem to notice this at all. There is nothing here to scare the bejesus out of you (as an average DH rider) and all tracks are rollable for the beginner. With a really healthy trail building team, everything seems to be in balance there and Simon tells us that his only regret is not being able to discount the uplift for kids getting into the sport. Personally I would say that putting the price up by a few quid could offer a free seat on the bus for just this and we certainly wouldn't mind. Taking the new TR450 for its maiden ride proved that the FOD was ideal, being fun and challenging in the wet and superfast in the dry. The FOD abounds with campsite and riverside pubs as well so the weekend there can be a pleasant rather than challenging experience. The Pedalabikeaway on site centre has everything you could need from a great café to showers and a bike wash as well as a bike shop and hire centre. We get the feeling Simon and his van are gonna get very busy very quickly there as what they offer is not only good value but an excellent service. Get yourself booked on a uplift now: www.flyupdownhill.co.uk