ROGATE DOWNHILL B1KEPARK

Think you need mountains to become a world-class mountain biker? Think again. Rogate and England’s South East have been churning out top pros for yonks. Bernard Kerr and Brendan Fairclough are just two of the established names who call this place a local spot. It’s one of B1KE’s four parks, along with Wind Hill (overleaf), Tidworth Freeride and the S4P jumps in Milford, all of which are worth a visit. You need to become a member to ride here, with rates starting from £10 for a day pass – still a lot cheaper than a day on the uplift.

The park is split in two, with the top section being steeper and more technical, while the trails near the bottom have more flow, berms and bigger jumps. They’re graded from blue to black, providing something for all skill levels. You can ride Rogate on any bike, from a hardtail to a full-bore downhill rig. Helmet wise, you can use what you have, but we’d recommend a full-face if you’re looking to test your limits. The sandy soil here drains exceptionally well in the rain and that makes it a great winter riding spot because the trails seldom, if ever, turn to slop.

Rogate has plenty of well-made jumps that are great for practising getting airtime, along with more natural trails that are ideal for honing your technical skills. There’s plenty here to keep you entertained all day and coming back for more, including the new DMR-sponsored ‘S&M’ trail and the pro line, with its step-on/step-off whale-tail wooden feature.