MTB Bristol

MountainPete

Hi all,

I've just moved into NW Bristol (near to Westbury-on-Trym) and wondered whether any of you can point me in the direction of some good singletrack? Anything within sort of 7km is fair game.

Thanks!

welshkev

the only place really is ashton court which is about 10 miles away from you.

but check out here for more info:

http://www.bristoltrailsgroup.com/

hope that helps

Deepunder

Near to Ashton Court is also Ashton Hill woods and Leigh Woods but again, both are more than 7km away. Why the 7km limit, you need to ride to trail?

wesk

You can always come for a visit to Bath for a day - if you train it in there is some cracking riding within sight of the station.

MountainPete

Thanks all! 7km was just a rough estimate of how far I think I want to ride before I get somewhere... Ashton court looks like it will be just within reach.

JimmerG

MountainPete,

I live between Westbury-on-Trym, Henleaze, and (whispers) southmead....

Ashton Court is in fact almost exactly 7kms away. You'll get there in 15 - 20 mins. Rather a nice ride actually, over the Downs and over the bridge, its all rather picturesque. Then once you're there AC and Leighs Woods are pretty equidistant, you've also got 50 Acre woods. Its all thoroughly fine riding too - especially now we've got our very fancy new trails courtesy of Phil Saxena and Architrail. AC's new trails will be finished in a few weeks, then he'll be shifting to Leigh Woods..... we're getting a 'skills area' and everything. We've got the whole range from twisty single track, berms, jumps, drops and scary hang-off-the-back decents.

Keep an eye out for me - I'll be a on gold Trek Fuel.

If you want bigger hills - Cwm Carn is 45 mins away (in a car) - that is properly good riding.

Have fun.

J

MountainPete

Thanks Jimmer! I look forward to taking a look; it sounds perfect. I'll be on my white Santa Cruz Superlight.

Deepunder

I 'think' parts or the revamped timberland trail are now open, although its difficult to tell as I'm sure some riders have been removing taped off areas and signs asking riders to let the new trail settle. There are still loads being worked on.

Bits I've seen look good, designed to keep you pushing to max the speed out. Overall looks promising some really top working going on. Should be a great improvement on the slop you find in the winter. I just hope its not too sanitised, one area of Leigh woods already seen a rocky corner smoothed but maybe I was in wrong spot ??; the amount of tree thinning buggers with my in head GPS !

wordnumb

Yeah, the AC loop is all open as of yesterday, contractors were saying there'll be more finishing work done later in the year, the stuff in LW is still being built.

I took a full-sus bike around yesterday and rode the trail on a rigid this evening as the sun was setting. Given that the brief was to make the trail more accessible and more hardwaring I think that Architrail have done a great job. I'll miss the rootyness of the Timberland, but there is some great flow to the newbuild. The picnic table hub is a nice thought as well.

Kaise

If you're a regular rider then there is bristol mountain bike club, they meeting on North Road on the other side of the suspension bridge on a thursday and then there is a ride on sundays too.

They are a good bunch

but i must admit i like the ashton court trails for some practice at speed work, the lack of roots upsets me be ah well you cant have it all!

Just waiting for the Architrail to put the signs up so everyone knows the right direction, keep having conflict with people riding the old "official" direction

njee20

Being a basically flat trail with no features that can't be ridden in either direction you'll always get that! I used to ride it in both directions all the time.

MountainPete

Thanks again everybody. I spoke to a chap the other day who seemed to think that all of the trails were now open, depsite the official opening not happening until the end of the month.