[Closed] Ashton Court! Brizzole

Might be worth sticking a copy of the map in this thread to refer to:

[img] [/img]

So is the new TT no longer a multi use trail? As it always used to be, hence the walkers/joggers/dog walkers and on occassion horses you would see.

Had a quick blast on Monday night, agree the new trails have turned out really good. But[u]there are now hundreds (literally) of people queuing to get on them. Came across a group of around fifteen riders on the BBL section who appeared to be having some sort of tuition by a mate. They were causing serious hold ups which resulted in i reckon nearly thirty riders strung out at walking pace along the trail. And at every intersection it was a similar story.

I think this will sort itself out eventually, but right now everybody with any old bike in their garage are heading to AC at every opportunity:<

Edit: in fact i actually came across a couple of guys on old road bikes trying to get through the section after the stony golf course climb.

ups which resulted in i reckon nearly thirty riders strung out at walking pace along the trail. And at every intersection it was a similar story.

I think this will sort itself out eventually, but right now everybody with any old bike in their garage are heading to AC at every opportunity:<

Treat it like a race, politely ask to move on by to the left / right when they are ready, then if that fails push them in a bush.

KT- i dont usually take long to get by slower riders. The old racing "on your right" nice and loud usually scares the bejesus out of people as my s/s is almost silent.

It has to be a good thing having loads more people doing healthy stuff, just not on my trails 😉

KT- i dont usually take long to get by slower riders. The old racing "on your right" nice and loud usually scares the bejesus out of people as my s/s is almost silent.

I prefer 'Elite rider to your left' It scares and belittles them at the same time, winwin.

I find "Arghhh No brakes!!!" works really well

Rode the full thing this morning for the first time. Lots of new signs have appearred. Like all of it and loved some bits

What a great resource to have on our doorstep. Coupled with 50 Acre, New Leigh Woods & Off piste Leigh Woods we are very, very lucky.

I personally preferred the old AC when dry but I reckon the new trail is great and very happy to have a weather proof trail.

Also can take the kids there at the w/e's. Time with kids, time on bike, brownie points at home = happy Taz

Good to hear about the signs, Architrail did say they were doing them this week.

Its going to be soo busy once the new building is up... When is it going up!?

As above, we are pretty damn lucky to have this on our doorstep... Well 20 minute drive for me!

Its going to be soo busy once the new building is up... When is it going up!?

April, according to the 1SW website:

[url= http://www.1sw.org.uk/experience/trail-hubs/bristol/ ]http://www.1sw.org.uk/experience/trail-hubs/bristol/[/url]

Went to the Quantock's enough said 😉

I have changed my mind on my opening post after riding AC and Leigh woods with some locals tonight.. WELL DONE TRAIL BUILDERS and big thanks to the guys that showed me around !
MINT as they say round here!

Loving the new trails at Ashton Court - although have noticed quite a few people riding the wrong way despite the direction signs being stuck up last week.

Then noticed that the signs had been ripped off in several locations (vandals or pig-headed old skool riders?).

Does anyone know why the signs have been ripped off the posts?

Does anyone know why the signs have been ripped off the posts?

Quite possibly pissed off dog walkers.

IMO if they can be ripped off, they ain't good enough signs! I also think some of the signs need to be a little bigger.

Saturday was a great day, didn't see a single person going the wrong way.. Apart from one guy carrying his blue ht up new barn wood rock garden, a huge improvement over last weeekends ride.

I was out this morning and looking at the signs, I can't see them lasting long - they're just much too easy to vandalise and unfortunately time has shown that that will happen if it can...

I have been wondering what the small blue flags either side of the trail are ? Sections that need repair? Just most didn't seem to be anywhere near damage.

Little blue flags are to knock out with your back wheel as you go past...5 pints each.

Back to the original post, I've found that it actually quicker to go slower and straighter through the very twiddly bits.

I'm not sure about everyone saying it will improve their bike skills. The old "Wall" track had some amazing lines over tree roots and rocks that required a real level of skill to keep carrying good speed. There were multiple lines and reading these took real skill. Now you just need to be good at berms and rollers.

I'm bored of it all already!

5 pints or points? if the former then the post-ride pub visit is going to be interesting this evening...

Call it a positive typo!

Ride today took in 1.5 laps of new AC trails, 50 Acre woods and some of the Gorge side, Leigh Woods stuff (Knicker Trail, Picnic Table, Rocky Horror).

That is some fast smooth bermy, pumpy stuff. Some rocky, rooty singletrack and some steep tight technical riding. In future I will add in a trip to Still Woods for the bigger jumps to get a complate set. 🙂

Reckon no other UK city can boast of such a variety of riding within such easy reach of the city centre. 🙂

Looking forward to ridng the new stuff. When you say Newbarn Wood Rock Garden, how rocky is it?

Can't undersatnd why certain neanderthals would pull down the signs. I suggest that everytime you see someone going the wrong way then mention it to them and if we all start doing it they'll soon change!

Started using my Superlight for my commute bike now, a quick detour from home up Ashton Court, around and about the trail and into town/work. Might get sick of it after a few weeks but it beats going to the gym!

Someone in my club did the NBW rocky section on a CX bike and lived. Not to recommended but should indicate the rocky-ness.

Still woods is still out of bounds isn't it?

The old "Wall" track had some amazing lines over tree roots and rocks that required a real level of skill to keep carrying good speed.

I miss those sections - and the 'woodchippings' bit (which was nice and fast) - but I accept that it's all for [Hot Fuzz] "The Greater Good" [/Hot Fuzz].

Thing is, you can build nicely bermed & roller'd trails almost anywhere - you could build 'em on a gently sloping sports field. Trails in the woods tend to have their own particular character, hence my concern at some of the stuff in Leigh Woods. I've got no problem (indeed, I welcome) a 'blue' trail running around LW, but I really hope they don't smooth over the interesting bits along the Rim Trail/Don't Look Down. 😕

I rode up through AC from Failand to the Clifton archway on my evening road ride, my god I have never in the 10+ years I have been riding AC seen so many mtb'ers around the area, there was one group of about 30!

Of course as I was riding a road bike so I treated them [u]all[/u] with the contempt the deserved.

there was ALOT of riders out tonight was doing some teaching to a fellow rider on the bikefest camping fields.

Having ridden there tonight, I now feel qualified to comment.

What a superb little route! The trail surface is very flat at the moment, and generally represents all I detest about trail centres, but it'll weather in. It compensates by having smashing little features all the way round, all the time.

I think they've done a superb job. New riders can ride it and chicken-run the features, and more experienced riders can rag the crap out of it. We did an exploratory circuit and a half (the half being a bit of a tootle), but by the time we finished the loop, we were grinning like idiots and completely mashed.

I do reflect on the former trails with a little sadness, but theres so much natural stuff in the woods, I think the new trail is complimentary to those.

Thumbs up from me. Just ride it at full whack.

AC was immensely busy tonight, it was insane! The car park was full! Lots of people out, but not many on the trails, I just seemed to see them hanging around at the entry to each section.

The best thing about these new AC bits? LW is practically deserted. The LW trails are so dry and flowy at the moment, they bring an even bigger smile to my face than anything in AC can. I just keep getting lost over there!!!

I was there tonight, first time I've been since everything's been open. Maybe you saw me if you were one of the many, many other riders up there tonight; I was the overweight and overbiked guy on a Specialized SX Trail, looking like I may suffer cardiac arrest any time...

Anyway, I loved it. The guy I was with was riding my HT (hence my use of the silly bike) because he's totally new and doesn't have his own bike yet. He'd ridden off road twice in his life before tonight and came away grinning like a fool. Mission accomplished there!

I think the trails will get better as they wear in a bit, and with the amount of traffic up there at the moment, that shouldn't take too long.

I just seemed to see them hanging around at the entry to each section.

Thats only the riders that are having a rest so if you think about it there must be heaps more riding in a different part of the trail or resting in a different part of the trail. Theres lots of people up there these days with more to come no doubt!

I go up every morning on the way to work, i saw one rider this morning!

I only manage to get up during the daytime and if I'm really unlucky I get to see one other rider. 😀
Virtually the whole trail to myself.

Suprisingly it's also completely empty in the morning from around 5:30 to 7am though I do occassionally hear someone clattering down the red rocky section at around 6:30 🙂

I do occassionally hear someone clattering down the red rocky section at around 6:30

Might be me!

Could be 🙂 I've definitely seen someone a couple of times who looks like they're on their commute - IIRC I did speak to someone at the start of the red section a few weeks ago to say that it was open.

The best thing about these new AC bits? LW is practically deserted.

Could be I've definitely seen someone a couple of times who looks like they're on their commute

Say hello if you see me, i'm on a red superlight. 🙂

And isn't that just brilliant - instead of churning up LW/50 acre/etc, people will tend to gravitate to the new trails when wet which can actually take it.

Ah, no, the bloke was on a hardtail but I'll keep an eye out for you now

Auuw, I sense a bromance developing..

Their eyes met over the smooth flowy singletrack at dawn!

How about a photo of our bikes? So we know what to look out for?

I'm usually up Ashton Court on a weekend morning on this..
[url= http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6023/6008195242_2e743e59fb.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6023/6008195242_2e743e59fb.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/milkiekula/6008195242/ ]My Mountain Bike[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/milkiekula/ ]MilkieKula[/url], on Flickr

Shout out "Milkie" and I will look around and scowl at you 😉

I am early morning lurker also. You will recognise me as over dressed & over biked (Nicolai & 'soft' body armour) 🙂

In my defense I usually do AC with my mate from 6 ish to 7 ish then I head either to Leigh Woods for the steep stuff or Still for the jumps for the 2nd hour, before heading off to work

Trying to get the HT back up and running as I reckon the AC stuff will be great on a HT

You'd know if you met KINGTUT. You'd just know.

The riding in Leigh Woods last night was just [i]sublime[/i] - lovely fast singletrack at the witching hour, dropping back down to the river & then on to the Nova for ales... lush! Hello to the rider on the Orange Prestige - I forgot to return the 'nice old steel bike' compliment.

Only downer was the trail saboteur who had resorted to breaking live saplings in an effort to block the trails - hopefully our paths will cross soon. 😈

The riding in Leigh Woods last night was just sublime - lovely fast singletrack at the witching hour, dropping back down to the river & then on to the Nova for ales... lush! Hello to the rider on the Orange Prestige - I forgot to return the 'nice old steel bike' compliment.

Only downer was the trail saboteur who had resorted to breaking live saplings in an effort to block the trails - hopefully our paths will cross soon.

Were you on a Bontrager?