Another Field of Dreams.

An hour and twenty minutes from home, just a couple of miles from the coast, you’ll find a single sloping field, maybe four or five football pitches in length, overlooked and surrounded by lush green fields with hedged boundaries and scattered woodland. In the distance probably the steepest lane I've seen in Cornwall rises up and off into the distance, leading to St Maybn, whose church stands tall on the hills above. The field draws you into some woodland at the bottom corner, and standing tall, holding the centre stage over it all is a huge electricity pylon, buzzing with current along the lines that stretch North and South. This is the field of dreams, this field is full of fun. 

From the top to the bottom, the landowner and his team of merry trail builders have built a bike park, 200 yards off the A39, 'the Atlantic Highway', and they built a park that never fails to bring a smile to your face. 

If you ever get a chance the The Ride Companion Podcast it's a good listen and recently they were discussing the scale of Bike Parks, using a tiering system. Old Hill is certainly not a tier one park, that would be Bike Park Wales, Revs (sadly closing down) or Dyfi,  with the elevation, huge trail networks, cafes, and an uplift service. Tier Two might include have Dirt Farm in Wales or possibly even Woodies here in Cornwall with an uplift and push up, but less trails, and lower elevation. I'd personaly place Old Hill Bike Park in Tier three alongside Rogate or Windhill. By no means an indication of poorer quality; it's simply that there is no uplift, and why would they need one. These bike park have a few of things in common, they’re low elevation, they're easily accessible, superb value for money, and built for maximum fun. 

Old Hill Bike Park is always such a friendly place, as are all bike parks. I do believe that the smaller bike parks, the push up parks are sociable hot spots. Because of the scale your can watch others ride, and when your strolling back, you're often chatting to toher riders, comparing notes. Old Hill has something for everyone, and I mean, all ages and all abilities. The park welcomes everyone, and the riders encourage everyone. Like minded people can progress at their own pace with no need to feel intimidated by big jumps because there is a line suited for all occasions. Blue lines with gentle rollers, fun turns, and table top jumps that are super low consequence. The red lines get a little larger and more challenging and there are two black lines, one with some wooden features thrown in, and the bigger black jump line. 
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On the day we rode the wind was from the West which is not ideal, and the air was full of mizzle but that didn't stop us. The new additions to the bottom lines were really the only viable options and we sessioned them all day long, with the wind at our back this line was a crowd favourite.  We spent most of our four and half hours working on consistency. No tricks, of which I have none anyway, no fancy riding, just consistently riding the line without casing (landing short), and landing smoothly.  Whilst my son built his confidence back up, I was focusing on my body position, my head especially. I have a tendency to look down and not ahead when I’m jumping and this then affects my set up for the next jump because I often case the landing.  But I’ll fix that, I’ll progress, and my son will progress, in fact when you look at many of the riders at OLd Hill, i think that is the common bond, they’ll all there to progress, and we’re lucky enough to have places like Old Hill Bike Park in Cornwall.

Note.  I know, I know!!! We should be wearing full face crash helmets. WE were the only ones stupid enough to have open face helmets on. Jago has grown out of his and although I had mine I would have felt like a bad dad if I'd worn mine, and my Jago didn't.  But if there is any  defence, we were both happi;y within our comfort zone and Jago has not really ridden much this past year, so hasn't needed one. ut now we've been again, I'm ordering him a full face.  
If you're also wondering where the other Field of Dreams is, well that would be The Track at Portreath.