Giant UK today announced its new sponsorship deal of the Follow the Dog Trail in Cannock Chase Forest, Staffordshire, with immediate effect.

Giant UK has signed a three year deal with the Forestry Commission for the exclusive sponsorship of the well known Follow the Dog Trail. The seven mile trail is the work of Chase Trails, a volunteer trail building group founded by local riders Stuart Tite and Gary Galpin. Their small army of volunteers worked for two years alongside the Forestry Commission to build a sustainable, all-year-round trail. Additional support came from local shop Swinnerton Cycles.

Giant UK’s Managing Director Ian Beasant says: “We wanted to find a cycling trail that was fun and exhilarating for the riders. I think we’ve found the perfect one in the Follow the Dog Trail at Cannock Chase. We will be branding the trail over the next couple of months with some creative and hopefully inspiring ideas. We are also planning to stage some of the largest Giant Dirt Demonstration weekends we have ever put on in the UK as well as a charity led Giant Bike Ride.”

Jason Maclean, Environment Manager for the Forestry Commission at Cannock Chase, says: “There are no facilities of this type, scale or quality within an hour’s drive of the Birches Valley Forest Centre and so Cannock Chase is fast becoming established as the region’s premier mountain biking venue. The generous support from Giant will allow the development of new purpose built trails, which will encourage everyone from families and beginners to enthusiasts and experts to get more physically active.”

Giant will also be taking over the sponsorship of the leisure trail which will be soon be relaunching a second trail that is more suited to the leisure cyclist designed for fun and pleasure rather than spills and thrills. The shortest route is 1 mile but the trail can be built up to 19 miles long, taking in the scenic Fairoak Valley and the beautiful heath land of Sherbrook Valley. Suitable for groups of all ages and all modes of bikes from mountain bikes to tandems, trailer bikes to buggies.

More information at www.chasetrails.co.uk.