Let’s face it, the MTB around Bath is OK but it is a long way from the likes of mendips/quantocks/wales. But is Bristol massively better? I mean there is the Ashton/Leigh/50 Acre/Plantation area, but IMO the official trails are a little dull, the unofficial stuff is too shitty to ride for 9 months of the year, and all those steep techy trails are a good laugh but I get bored of them. Maybe there is loads more I’ve never found? Some other area I’m missing?
One difference I would say is that MTB around Bath is that the views are better and more frequent as there are bigger hills.
For road riding, any ride over 10 miles it makes no difference as you are on the same roads. Only slight thing to consider is that it is quicker to get in/out of Bath and away from traffic on a road bike as it is a tiny city with a more defined boundary.
If I commuted through the 2 tunnels I’d go mental within the week. Likewise the B2B cycle path.