[Closed] Ashton Court! Brizzole

Rode AC at the weekend and was very impressed. The weather was pretty grim at times and the trails held out well. Really enjoy the flow of the new trails.

Also popped down to 50 Acre but that wasn't much fun as it was so muddy and the wet roots were no fun. Had a look at Leigh Woods too and saw some of the new stuff. It was all closed off byt you could see some numpties had been riding it.

Big thumbs up from me.

50 Acre but that wasn't much fun as it was so muddy and the wet roots were no fun

A point of view thing. It's not fast, grippy and flowy like the new AC trail and more like how AC used to be where you have to pick lines and fight for traction, possibly slightly tricker than the old AC in places. I thought it was a right laugh staying upright with the bike skipping and sliding, especially the rockier bits. We were jolly filthy at the end 🙂

I'm determined to keep my fast summer tyres on for the Oktoberfest (tubeless faff) which with current trail conditions in 50 acres is a recipe for disaster, hence my borked knee, elbow and holed arm warmers.

Wouldn't want 50 acre any other way.

I've ridden 50 before in the dry and it was great fun but just couldn't get anywhere on Saturday without coming a croper. It was a total mudfest from the heavy downpours. Only managed to postie myself on the crossbar a couple of times! Still, all good practice!!

By the way, some good pictures available on the 1 South West facebook page of the new Leigh Woods stuff.

A quick heads up - the Quarry Trail loop in Ashton Court is going to be closed for riding between 1.45 and 3.00 pm this Sunday (25th) to allow the Bike Olympics fastest lap competition to take place. All the other trails will be open as normal.

If you fancy giving it a go it's £2, there will be prizes for the winners and the best effort.

There's also loads of other stuff happening that day for riders of all ages. Check it out here:

http://bristolcyclefestival.com/event-diary/bike-olympics/

Bike Olympics

Why can't these things be organised when other things aren't on? (FoD Enduro). I'm doing some fast morning laps up there these days.

Tell me about it! Particularly gutted to be missing the Cobble Wobble.

On the other hand, this is going to be ace, local, and either dirt cheap or free! 😀

Got a facebook update this morning that they are putting in a trail diversion at Ashton Court which will be ready by the end of the week. Anyone know anything about this?

Slightly off topic, has anyone ridden nearby Ashton Hill Woods? I've heard there are a couple of small DH tracks there.

"Don't look down" has gone in LW. The old entrance is still there (I assume the badger set meant they couldn't buldoze the new trail through), but a new trail joins it after about 100m.

Is any of the new stuff at Leigh Woods open yet or is it all closed off for a grand opening?

Is that the one with the off camber rooty bit? Be interesting to see how it turns out - the last time I rode it it was pretty knackered.

In last Tuesday night's rain the new AC trails were excellent, even though I still can't get the hang of the New Barn Wood roller coaster-esque bit.

Looked around Ashton Hill a couple of months back. Lots of jumps that looked impossible to us ground-dwelling trail plodders. Tried some of the easier chutes and berms which was fun. Definately worth an explore. Not sure how it would be in the wet?

Looked around Ashton Hill a couple of months back. Lots of jumps that looked impossible to us ground-dwelling trail plodders. Tried some of the easier chutes and berms which was fun. Definately worth an explore. Not sure how it would be in the wet?

Great thanks, as long as it's worth an explore! Hopefully it'll stay dry.

The majority of the tracks in Ashton Hill Plantation are now destroyed thanks to extensive logging operations. The place is almost un-recognisable now! There are a couple of tracks at the Long Ashton end that have survived but that's it. Nearly every path has been driven down by the huge machinery they used to remove trees.

In regards to Leigh Woods, can anyone explain what the hell the trail builders were thinking?! Rode all the surfaced stuff we could find last night and apart from the sporadic 'feature' it was all flat corners and no interesting bits whatsoever. I love the new AC trails and despite riding most of it daily as part of my commute i'm not bored of it. LW on the other hand is awful!! Just as well the best bits have remained untouched.

nickegg, why not ask them here:

I've not seen yet, but that doesn't sound like the fun that AC now is.

nickegg - I thought that too but if you look at the map the skills section and most of the downhill has not been completed yet so I'm withholding my judgement.
[img] [/img]

Just as well the best bits have remained untouched.

I'm still gutted they went through Don't Look Down/The Rim Trail etc - I wish they'd left that stretch alone. I don't have a problem with an all-weather blue trail in LW (and they've done splendid work in Ashton Court) - but smoothed out berms & rollers ain't really why I like to go riding in woods. Still, I guess a compromise was required.

Anyway, give it a few years.

In regards to Leigh Woods, can anyone explain
what the hell the trail builders were thinking?!
Rode all the surfaced stuff we could find last
night

has it been opened? I thought it was still being built.

I thought LW was being done by Clixby, not Architrail...?

I still can't get the hang of the New Barn Wood roller coaster-esque bit.

Has anyone? I'm happy with the last section starting with the mini rock garden, but the upper section perplexing me.

I guess I'm just going to miss the roots, although it's possible I'm getting grumpier as I get older. Maybe I'll take up dog-walking & trail sabotage. 😀

Has anyone?

It might work better as a climb...

Is any of the new stuff at Leigh Woods open yet or is it all closed off for a grand opening?

None of it's open yet. There's at least one more month of building/bedding in to go yet.

Rode all the surfaced stuff we could find last night

Well done. 🙄

LW is being built by Clixbys under supervision from the trail designer who did AC. It's not meant to feel as "built" and it should bed in and become a bit more interesting before you know it.

We're slipping back into presenting our own personal tastes as infeffable fact, but I reckon if you rode the old trail back when it was first cleared, then you were put into cryogenic storage, and then revived just in time to ride it again immediately before it was rebuilt, you'd be pretty horrified. Ditched out lines, ruts and mud might make a DH course more interesting but most people find them a bit of a chore on a flat pedally trail.

We're slipping back into presenting our own personal tastes as ineffable fact

I know* - we're a right bunch of Immanuel Kants. 😉

(*or do I?)

Anyway, Mother Nature is going to be the ultimate arbiter on all this. Few harsh winters, lots of deadfall, colonising roots etc - & it should blend in nicely.

Noteeth, I was thinking of you when I wrote the above as I seem to recall you left Bristol a few years back when the cheeky network in Leigh Woods was riding at its best. It was great - while it lasted...

I was thinking of you when I wrote the above

I'd never get accepted for cyrogenic storage, Mr A - I don't have the cash. 🙁

Point taken though.

Are there any plans for the Orchard trail/Abbotts Pool, particularly that swampy bit at the top?

oh no - don't tell me they're going up there as well - will there be nothing left ?
LW is transformed....to mediocrity......
imho of course

Well, if you ignore all the other trails in LW, then yes, it's all gone.

thought so 🙂

presumably all we need now is Sierra cycling to organise some tours in there ? 🙂

No plans for the Orchard. Look out for the diversion round the really poached bit - the trail heads off into the woods just before it gets boggy.

Someone was asking about Ashton Hill. There is thinning going on over there at the moment and most of the trails are buried as a result, but there are plans to resurrect them at some point. We've discussed the trails over there with the FC, who are happy for "grey" trails to be built or kept as long as the local ranger (Darren Edwards) is informed and gives the thumbs up.

Looking forward to Leigh Woods opening. The all weather trail will complement the steeper gorge side stuff, such as the knicker trail & picnic table very well (that stuff holds up well through the winter anyway (guess it just drains well and less people ride it).

Work is busy and cycle time tight at the moment. Having all weather winter trails a 10 - 15 minute ride away means less time on the road or in a spin class through the winter = very happy Taz.

Thanks Mr Agreeable - the one along by the fence I presume?

Andy - [url= http://www.betterbybike.info/bike-trains-ready-to-roll ]this[/url] must be what you're thinking of for LW.

lol flatpat - that's about my level
hey! - they've got my photo on the top of the page there too ! 🙂

On the subject of Ashton Court, as posted above, this is on Sunday:

[img] [/img]

http://bristolcyclefestival.com/event-diary/bike-olympics/
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Get yourselves along, it's going to be awesome.

People need to remember that the trails are designed to cater for a range of abilities and experience. Whilst the new stuff in Leigh Woods may well turn out to be a bit dull for my tastes, they'll be a great introduction for beginners. And as Cheers Drive says, they're not finished yet, so give them a chance!

In last Tuesday night's rain the new AC trails were excellent, even though I still can't get the hang of the New Barn Wood roller coaster-esque bit.

I think LW will be better than people think, there's some rollers to play with and it'll wear down.

although the entire MTB crowd that day sheltered under the arch at one point

[Waves]

The raindrops were hitting the ground and bouncing up about 1 metre at that point. Yes, it rides really great when it's wet.

Whats that new bit in AC by the gap in the wall for 50 acre about? It doesn't seem to ride right! Anyone know what i mean?

I noticed that. I was thinking that they've routed it further from the hole in the wall as there's a risk that with the original route which went very close to it, someone walking through it into AC could be hit by a flying rider.

Can't say that I saw any real problem with the new route though. Seemed fine.

Yeah i thought it may be a H&S conscious decision but i can't seem to get used to it. Time may tell.

I noticed that. I was thinking that they've routed it further from the hole in the wall as there's a risk that with the original route which went very close to it, someone walking through it into AC could be hit by a flying rider.

Can't say that I saw any real problem with the new route though. Seemed fine.

My route to AC takes me backwards through 50 acre and through the hole in the wall from BBL, I had a couple of near misses with riders there, more my fault than theirs but the old route was a risk so I guess that's why they changed it, seems to ride perfectly well now IMO*.

*As long as there are no painfully slow riders blocking the trail. 😉

Thats the problem with the new bit imo - you have to slow down!

A bit yes, but for a reason between those two bits of trail is a thoroughfare to AC, that said I didn't take it fully on board last week as I was stuck behind a family plodding along, I'm up there for a few laps this weekend Oktoberfest training so it I shall see.