Hello from all of us at Pedalabikeaway,
There’s something about riding the same trail over and over again that changes the way you ride.
First run? You survive it.
Second run? You spot a better line.
Third run? You finally trust that corner.
By the end of the evening? You’re wondering where those extra few seconds came from!!!
It all started from thinking how often do we actually session trails these days?
Kids do it all the time. That’s why they’re so ridiculously good. They’ll ride the same section again and again until every root, turn and compression is dialled. It’s not just fitness – it’s repetition, confidence and learning what the bike can really do.
That’s exactly what FOD Thursdays are all about.
From 4th June – 9th July, we’re bringing back six weeks of midweek gravity riding fun with a different trail every Thursday evening.
No pressure.
No serious race vibes.
Just good riding with your mates and a chance to get better every single lap.
What’s Included?
Ride Times
And because no good Thursday ride should end in a car park…
These nights always end up being one of the highlights of the summer.
Amazing tracks
Loads of laughs.
Loads of laps.
And not forgetting great food in the club house after!
These events are always popular, and usually sell out, so get booked on now!
See you on the trails!
Hello from all of us at Pedalabikeaway,
There’s something pretty special about a Thursday evening at Pedalabikeaway.
The trails are a little quieter, the fire’s on, and the smell of whatever the kitchen has cooked up that week is drifting across the car park.
Over the years, Pedalabikeaway has become a bit of a clubhouse for cycling in the Forest of Dean. The place where rides start and finish, where muddy bikes lean against the wall, where you bump into people you know, and where the post-ride chat somehow goes on longer than the ride itself.
Thursday nights feel a bit like that turned up a notch – good food, good people and plenty of stories from the trails.
Our Late Night Thursday Flavour Club is every Thursday from 5pm–9pm, and if you haven’t tried it yet, you’re missing out.
Each week we head somewhere different. One week it might be Korean burgers, the next Indian wraps, Brazilian sandwiches or Nashville chicken.
We’ve had everything from wood-fired pizza and ramen to proper burgers and mac & cheese over the last few months.
The best bit? You don’t even need to stay.
That’s right – the menu is available to take away too, and you even get a 10% discount!
So, if you’ve had one of those days where the thought of cooking feels about as appealing as pedalling up Ski Run, we’ve got you covered.
Ride after work, grab your tea and take it home.
Or don’t ride at all. Pop up, grab something ridiculously tasty, and head back to the sofa pretending you made it yourself. We won’t tell anyone!
It’s become a bit of a Thursday tradition for some of our regulars – a quick spin in the forest, then food for the whole family on the way home. No pots. No washing up. No one asking “what’s for tea?” for the tenth time.
On the Food Front – the vital ingfo…
The only small catch? Some weeks we sell out. Turns out word has got round.
So keep an eye on our socials, see what’s on that week, and if something takes your fancy, get up here early.
Thursday nights just got a lot easier… and a lot tastier.
See you on the trails – or at the counter getting ready for your takeaway!
We have been awarded a prestigious Silver Award for Best Café/Tea Room at the 2024 South West Tourism Awards of Excellence.
The award recognises our commitment to providing high-quality food and drink, exceptional customer service, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere for local walkers, riders and any other hungry folk passing through.
The team have worked (and continue to work) very hard to offer a range of delicious dishes, including signature burgers made with locally sourced ingredients, lighter bites and plenty of vegan and gluten-free options. As you know we are open late every Thursday night until 9pm too with a weekly cafe special to refuel locals enjoying what the Forest of Dean has to offer after school or work.
In addition to our culinary offerings, the judges also recognised our dedication to sustainability and community engagement. Our team all regularly volunteer for the Dean Trail Volunteers to maintain and improve mountain bike trails accessible from the Cycle Centre.
We are so chuffed to receive this award and it’s just spurred us on to be even more committed to providing great food year round for our customers and supporting our local community. We’re loving seeing more and more non riders joining us for our late night Thursday specials too – word is definitely getting out! Who knows, maybe this time next year we’ll be celebrating the Gold Award!
Thank you all for your support and please continue to feedback to the kitchen team your thoughts or ideas for new menus!
Photo credit: Forestry England.
Meet Old Bob – the new Green MTB trail in the Forest of Dean. The perfect bridge from the Family Cycle Trail to the Blue Verderers Trail and beyond:
The Story
Our motto at Pedalabikeaway has always been ‘Cycling for everyone’ – so we are delighted to finally have the missing piece in the jigsaw, the new Green MTB trail, “Old Bob”.
The original “Old Bob” was the pumping engine at Cannop Colliery, ensuring the mine shafts didn’t get flooded as far back as 1880, and the new Green Trail name is a nod to our Cycle Centre’s industrial heritage.
Since 2011, we have had the blue Verderers trail, green Family cycle trail (now called the “Colliers Trail”), red Freeminers route and several downhill lines.
Old Bobs is the final piece in the puzzle!
We feel it now makes the Forest of Dean the most complete trail centre in the UK!
What to expect?
It is a 2km flowy green trail, with 3 skills areas that you can session and lap. Expect a small climb, lots of berms and flow and a whole heap of fun!
Starting a sort distance from the Cycle Centre along the link trail, Old Bob starts with a gentle gradient climb. After a few hundred metres you’ll find the first of 3 skills areas, this one with a range of different corners to help you build up your confidence…
A little more climbing gets you to the ‘top’ of the trail, where you’ll find the 2nd skills area to practice on! After honing your skills once more, you can start your journey down the hill, and here the real fun begins…
The whole trail is suitable to lap time and time again, building up your confidence and skills, and tiring out little legs as you go.
All of this is no more than a hop, skip and a jump back to the Pedalabikeaway Café, and a much needed hot chocolate and refuel!
Check out all the info on the trail on the Forestry England Website here
Plan your next visit
With half term just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to enjoy the Forest of Dean’s autumnal glory and check out the new trail!
Need to hire a bike? Not a problem. Just head over to our website to book here
See you out on Old Bob soon!
Photo credit: Forestry England
The summer holidays are finally here at FOD HQ. We’ve had a taste of summer warmth and we’re hopeful there’s more days like it to come.
There’s loads going on at the Cycle Centre over the holidays, so well worth planning your next visit!
Wye MTB kids coaching
Looking to get your kids more proficient at mountain biking? Our sister company, Wye MTB has a range of kids coaching sessions all summer.
Every Monday and Wednesday, there are beginner, intermediate or advanced kids MTB sessions – so something for every level from age 5+.
They also have the Fodders Academy for 10-16 years old every Tuesday and the Youth Gravity Camps (14-17year olds) each Thursday.
Plenty to keep your little rippers entertained!
Late Night Thursdays
These continue all through the summer with café open until 9pm every week.
Our Chef Jason will be rustling up a range of hand stretched Pizzas and of course, we’ll have lots of Wild Boar Cider and Sheepskull Ale chilling in the fridge to wash it down.
Join us and escape for a quick post work ride and stay for food afterwards!
Saturday afternoon Bike Hire and evening Burgers
Want a lazy start to your Saturday? There’s now an afternoon bike hire slot (3pm – 6pm) if you want to start your ride a bit later. Our café is also open until 7pm on Saturdays until the end of the holidays, serving a range of delicious burgers in the evening.
That’s still more than enough time to get in some laps of the Colliers Trail (previously known as the family cycle trail), the Verderers or just session some of the downhill trails….
Don’t forget to book your bike hire in advance!
Need to cool down?
The short diversion off the Family Cycle trail (now known as the Colliers Trail) to Mallards Pike is the perfect spot to hit up with the kids.
Not only are there plenty of lakeside shady spots, but there’s also the Gruffalo Trail for the kids to follow, our café serving cold drinks and ice cream, and a Go-Ape site (pre-book only) for those who are feeling at little more adventurous.
See you on the trails!
The leaves are turning golden, the temperature has dropped and the nights are closing in. It’s time for hearty and warming comfort foods, and the new Pedalabikeaway Cafe autumn menu has plenty of tasty dishes to keep you satisfied when it’s cold, wet and windy like jacket potatoes, homemade soups and more.
If you’re vegetarian, or just looking to cut down on your meat consumption, there’s no need to compromise on taste at Pedalabikeaway. Our famous Loaded FOD Burger and Loaded fries have had a veggie makeover.
The Veggie Loaded FOD Burger combines a vegetable burger patty with fresh tomato and lettuce, optional cheese, and delicious pulled soya protein in a rich barbecue sauce. Or opt for our loaded fries which are crisp, hot and tasty, and also loaded with pulled soya. The taste and texture is so good, you won’t be missing out on the meaty equivalent.
Get a few steps closer to your five a day – or simply satisfy your desire for something fresh and light – with one of our freshly made salads. Crisp lettuce and tomato combined with shredded cucumber and onion, plus either chicken breast chunks, or pulled soya with a beetroot and orange salad. Whatever you choose, you’ll find it flavoursome and satisfying.
The quintessential winter dish, it’s hard to beat a piping hot jacket potato with lashings of beans, cheese or tuna mayo, with a fresh salad on the side. Perfect for cold days, or when you’ve been out walking or riding in the mud and rain, these will fill you and leave you feeling toasty and warm.
On its own, with a chunk of crusty bread, or with one of our fresh sandwiches, you won’t regret warming yourself up with one of our homemade soups. The menu changes regularly, but expect choices like leek and potato or tomato and red pepper. Fresh, delicious and wholesome.
There’s a new rental bike on the block, and it’s pretty damn badass. The full-suspension Whyte T-160 S boasts 29er wheels, 150mm of frame travel, powerful brakes and an all-mountain geometry that means it’s ready to handle whatever you throw at it. If you want to really experience mountain biking at the Forest of Dean, this is the bike to go for.
Take your skills to the next level
The Forest of Dean is famous for its wealth of purpose-built off-road trails that make the thrills of mountain biking accessible to all. Graded trails allow you to progress from beginner to expert, developing skills along the way, and the Whyte T-160 S is ideal for that progression.
This bike is perfect for anyone who loves to ride the more technical trails in the Forest of Dean Cycle Centre; the red-graded Freeminers Trail or some of the downhill tracks in the Sallow Valets area.
It’s capable and confidence inspiring, so it’s perfect if you’re looking to progress your skills and try more technical or challenging riding, since the bike geometry and suspension travel are designed to work particularly well on steeper, gnarlier tracks (and also make intermediate technical features a whole lot easier).
Or, if you’ve only ridden a hard-tail and are considering upgrading to a full-suspension bike but want to get a feel for what they’re like and the benefits they can bring to your riding, without committing to buying one outright, then renting one is a much more accessible method.
A premium full-suspension dream machine
The Whyte T-160 S is available to hire as a Premium Mountain Bike from Pedalabikeaway.
It’s a full-suspension all-mountain bike with a 160mm RockShox Lyric fork and a RockShox Deluxe Select shock at the rear controlling 150mm frame travel. A Shimano SLX 1X12 groupset provides plenty of gears for spinning up those Forest climbs, and also getting those sprints on along the flats.
Shimano hydraulic disc brakes provide powerful, reliable stopping power, and of course good quality Shimano wheels with Maxxis High Roller (front) and Dissector (rear) tyres provide the ideal blend of reliable traction, grip and speed.
How to hire this bike
If you want to take the newly arrived Whyte T-160 S out for an adventure, all you need to do is book it via the website.
Pop over to the Bike Hire page, choose the MTB hire section, then select Premium Mountain Bike and you’ll see the Whyte T-160 S as an option. Then just choose which size you need (full size range coming soon) and the date you’d like to hire it for, and we’ll do the rest.
On the day, you’ll need to bring a photo ID such as a driving license, as well as proof of address, then you can head off and ride all day long to your hearts content.
The nights are dark, the wind whistles through the trees, and strange lights move through the forest….it can mean only one thing. The Pedalabikeaway Halloween Thursday Late ride has returned!
Break out your scariest (or weirdest, or most heroic) costume and join us for a family Halloween bike ride on Thursday 28th October. Bring your children along from 4.30pm – 6.15pm to take on ‘Launch Pad’, one of the most fun and flowing trails at the Forest of Dean Cycle Centre.
And when you get back to Pedalabikeaway, they’ll have earned a tasty treat! We’ll be serving Finger Hot Dogs (£2) for the children after they’ve completed the ride, and there will be veggie options available too.
For the adults we’ll have tasty Monster Burgers, priced at £10 with a beer or cider.
It wouldn’t be Halloween without a good costume, so we’ll be holding a competition for the best dressed on the evening for both children and adults, and prizes will be announced on the night.
Come along for thrills, chills and plenty of Halloween fun!
Looking for a family-friendly activity for the August Bank Holiday weekend? Or just hoping to get away from it all in a Forest wonderland? Whether you’re an active family, or you’ve got mountain-bike mad kids – or you’re just looking for something different and fun to do – we’ve got lots of ways to keep you all entertained and happy this bank holiday weekend!
Imagine a beautiful trail that takes in the best that the Forest of Dean has to offer, with towering trees, lake views, sculptures, and wildlife galore. You might spot deer or one of the famous Forest of Dean boars as you walk or cycle around this traffic-free route. There are plenty of rest stops along the way, and tea and fresh cake (and hot food) are available at both our Mallards Cafe and the Pedalabikeaway cafe at the Cycle Centre.
It’s fun to walk, but we think it’s much more fun to ride, and we’ve got a selection of adult and child leisure bikes available to hire, plus child seats, tagalongs (in case those little legs get tired) and baby trails. We’ve even got dog trailers too!
Yes, you read that right! If you want to do things differently, we guarantee riding a tandem will raise a smile and you’ll be greeted by every person you meet! Our tandem is fun, stable, and actually makes short work of hills because there’s two people working together to get up them.
In fact, the only thing you have to choose is who’s going to be the pilot at the front, and who wants to be the stoker at the back!
The mountain bike trails at the Forest of Dean are famous. We’ve even got Olympians coming to train on them, like cross-country mountain biker Evie Richards who competed at Tokyo 2021!
For a taste of the thrills and skills involved, rent one our fun, stable hard tails, or take things up a notch with our premium full-suspension mountain bikes which are perfect for developing skills and making the most of what’s on offer. We’ve even got electric-mountain bikes which will make short work of the hills!
All the trails are graded too, from easy greens to super-technical blacks and downhill tracks, so there’s something for every rider. And all trails start and finish at the Pedalabikeaway Cafe and the cycle centre car park, so you’re never too far from a cuppa and slice of cake.
If beautiful views and historic ruins are your thing, then the Wye Valley Greenway is for you! Newly opened at the start of Summer 2021, it follows the route of the long-abandoned Wye Valley railway, taking you on a ride through woodlands above the River Wye, and through am amazing old railway tunnel, which is home to a rare species of bat – but don’t worry, they’ll be asleep during the day when you ride through! Then stop for lunch in Tintern in the shadow of the beautiful Tintern Abbey, before hopping back on for the ride back.
You can park at the National Diving and Activity Centre just outside of Chepstow where the trail begins, and if you want to hire some bikes, Pedalabikeaway has a rental shop right on the trail with adult and child leisure bikes which are perfect for exploring the route.
Pedalabikeaway have just opened a brand new family-friendly bike park in the Dare Valley in Wales, and it’s a whole lot of fun! Pump tracks are perfect for developing bike and bmx skills, and the trails are all beginner-friendly and smooth. You can ride to the top and do laps, or we also have a bike uplift service; pop your bike in the truck, hop in a seat, and let us do the hard work so you can focus on the downhills!
There’s parking, a cafe and bike hire, so all you need to do is turn up and have fun.
If things have all gotten a bit too much and you want to get away from the crowds, then the Forest of Dean is big enough to offer you a little slice of peace and quiet. Grab a takeaway cuppa and sandwich from Mallards Cafe, and explore the quieter trails the Forest has to offer, watch the world go by, spot some wildlife, and just breathe.