It all started as a random thought after a couple of beers and now look

[video]https://vimeo.com/175259260[/video]

Edit out the s from https

Someone has just destroyed my ears.

WCA – very nice and congratulations ! BTW based on comment below the video I watched it with the sound off.

Love vimeo btw, excellent platform

No S ….

[video]http://vimeo.com/175259260[/video]

Wow, a few more routes that I thought there would be, looks great! I must get over there to see/ride in person, now my cold is finally shifting… Well done all that helped create it! 🙂

Where abouts in Southampton is this?

On the edge of Bassett Sports Centre.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Outdoor+Sports+Centre/@50.9401841,-1.422609,718m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x4874741523778a57:0x6ccaff6da1185e79!8m2!3d50.9401841!4d-1.4204203

Clearly visible on Google earth fwiw

All it needs now is a sign showing all the routes…

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Jq7YaY]20160721_184725[/url] by WCA!, on Flickr

Looks great! I haven’t been in a few years, and it looks like there are more trails now?

well done WCA – looks like a lot of hard work and now fun

and folk riding without a helmet – bravo!!! 😉

is a pay to use or just kind work from you plus ?

I was there on Monday with the son and a couple of RC cars – good for some cracking jumps 🙂

Shame the pikey with a mini-moto style dirt bike was ragging round it at the same time though 🙁

All it needs now is a sign showing all the routes…

😀

Built by Riders for Riders*

All free to use

*and RC cars

Once the pikey sodded off back into Lordswood, a couple of proper riders came along – Was good to see it in use at all times of the day. It really is a great addition to the Sports Centre.

WCA that’s stunning. I can feel a long lunch break up there coming on.

That looks great fun and the location is perfect. Slow pace of the cricket and the quick flow of bikes on dirt!

you should be proud: it’s awesome.

It made me buy a BMX: which has made it even more fun. On monday night some kids even told me i was getting “loadsa air”. this may or may not be correct, but they said it and i’m taking it! 😀

^^ loadsa 🙂

First fill of the engraved Southampton Bike Park sign
[url=https://flic.kr/p/KdALro]20160722_134953[/url] by WCA!, on Flickr

Need to let it dry, sand it back and see what needs correcting. Another fill to deal with additions and corrections. Another sand down. Highlighting / low lighting with different fillers. Another sand down. Varnish. Extend the frame around the edges for protection. Varnish. Varnish. Attach to the sign post in the Bike Park.

50% done, just another 80% to do.

Who wants to run a sweep-stake on how long it is there before it gets burnt, broken or stolen?

Nice work and sadly I was thinking about your last question as I was reading.

Will definitely give the paek a try when I have a car I can move my bike in (hours ride each way otherwise)

Initial results are okay but a bit patchy

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Koa2yc]20160722_165146[/url] by WCA!, on Flickr

I little white highlighting for the jumps as filling the patches. Also turned to check which way around it should be placed when at the park.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Koa2EV]20160722_171302[/url] by WCA!, on Flickr

Almost there. Just need to frame and seal it

[url=https://flic.kr/p/KpjTn2]20160726_163707[/url] by WCA!, on Flickr

🙂

What a great looking track. You should feel well proud.

Proud yes but not all my own work.

Luis, Decio, Dan, Jake……

I just thought of it and made it happen. The whole team did the work

And the sign is now installed but I am on an iPad so can’t post a pic from Flickr

https://www.flickr.com/gp/89686376@N04/v533F8

If anyone can get the image up then please do

Nice one! 🙂

I seem to have lost my photo-fu, couldn’t imbed my own photo of Wazoo upgrade bits the other day. 😕

and now the the picture of the sign in place and a less blurry one so you cann read the text

[url=https://flic.kr/p/JK58yQ]20160731_131435[/url] by WCA!, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/KFoXWx]20160731_104247[/url] by WCA!, on Flickr

🙂

Wow this is awesome Nick. Maybe I need to try it 😉

Great effort all round but we need more pics of the sign 😛

I’d love to do something like this for the kids round this away but our council don’t seem interested. How did you get them onside WCA?

I’d love to do something like this for the kids round this away but our council don’t seem interested. How did you get them onside WCA?

It took 12 months from the idea to breaking earth.

The council weren’t interested here either but I just kept going until it was easier for them to say yes than no.

Their objection – My response
We have no money – I will fund it
We need a design – I have the design
We have no-one to build it = I will organize all labour
We have no materials – All materials will be site sourced
You can’t have machines digging up the sports centre when it is open – All will be hand dug
No-one rides in the sports centre – Here is a petition of riders in and around Southampton who will visit
Who will maintain it – I will form a team for maintenance
Who will it be targeted at – Everyone. Young kids learning, old blokes returning, women who want don’t want to ride in the woods on their own
…

I think I might have the original proposal document if you are interested but don’t underestimate the effort required to hand dig the entire bike park or how many people will be really excited to begin with and then disappear when you ask them to help with a litter sweep

Okay — no more pics of the signs. here are some videos instead

2012
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PINnB7agvcQ[/video]

2014
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxQs5r4GohU[/video]

2016
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdSTjacD_Ws[/video]

I’m contemplating finally getting over to the bike park today, this time with my Wazoo, before it gets too hot from lunchtime onwards. Can I use the bikes trails before what appears to be a 0900 centre opening time and do I need to part with some cash at the central sports centre building to use the trails?

I’m guessing that WCA will be busy @ BBB this weekend but I’m pretty sure that the trails are fully accessible all the time and no need for tickets.

Ok, cheers for that! 🙂

Ironically, after posting the question, I realised I still hadn’t had breakfast so I can’t start cycling over from Bitterne until at least 0830 (so won’t get there until ~0900)! 😆

You can ride anytime, the opening hours are for the office I think. Access to the site is available 24hrs. There is no cost (it is the pitches that are charged for).

Well I finally got out there earlier, it’s a great little setup, especially considering the history behind how it came to be!

I’ve never done anything resembling it before in my life, so as a MAMIB trail rookie and how my cycling confidence was smashed to bits (along with parts of me) in Xmas 2013, I took it very cautiously. Nearly came a cropper on my first descent, on the path that goes most into the field, I came to the steep jump just past halfway and lost all speed as my front wheel hit the crest. Had to slam on the brakes and very gingerly walk backwards with the bike, expecting to ungraciously lose my footing and end up in a heap (close, but just managed not to do this)! 😆

Ventured into a little of the Lordswood trails as well for the first time, going as far as the kennels and then taking paths that were close to the golf course boundary.

Then returned to the jump tracks, to find a mix of youngsters, teens and 20-somethings who were demonstrating with ease what I should be doing. It encouraged me to ride a bit faster, I conquered that steep jump that tried to kill me earlier, but I did not have the confidence to try and fly even for a nano-second.

I definitely want to have another visit to the trails, but I need to learn a little about jumping/landing and find the confidence to try it.