Double post oops
I had a particularilly carp day yesterday, rode AC then round and round Yer Tiz at LW 'til I got giddy, came away with a smile. To have that on my doorstep, I count myself as really lucky. The 3 Cheesy rides last night also proved if you don't want to ride the manmade stuff, there's lots of alternatives, which now don't get trashed as much, as most peeps ride the circuits..........
A tale of caution.
Comedy Gold. 😀
Never know if I should laugh or cry at these threads
The trails are great for the crappy Bristol Winters (July to Arpil 🙁 )
They are also fun as part of a much bigger and challenging route in the better weather. Flashes is right the 'off piste' now holds up soooooo much better as well.
The AC edging is a bit of a blunt instrument no doubt but blame that on the lazy muppets cutting all the corners.
Do wonder about the BBF though. Passing was hard at the Oktoberfest. Will be very tricky in the BBF 😕
Anyway. Seriously doubt any major city comes even close to rivalling the Bristol set up.
Fast & flowy - Yer Tiz & Nova,
Flat & rooty - 50 Acre & top of Leigh Woods
Steep & Techy - Leigh Woods Gorge
I'm avoiding Bikefest this year, too many "elite" riders trying to get past in stupid places only for me to able past on the up hills.......
First off I'm not complaining, having AC on my door step is brilliant,having year round hassle free riding for those times I can't be assed to drive anywhere is a luxury.
But, I think the large stone edging is/was getting a bit obsessive, have also come across times when the stones have been placed/fallen/rolled or whatever onto the middle of the trail. I'm a huge believer of making these trails as accessible to everyone and get a huge kick to see so many people using them, but I think the odd person cutting a corner is a small price to pay in keeping the trail as safe and enjoyable as possible for all skill levels.
but I think the odd person cutting a corner is a small price to pay in keeping the trail as safe and enjoyable as possible for all skill levels.
Actually, it's quite a big price: those cut corners damage an ecologically sensitive area (AC is a SSSI), and create muddy ruts which ends up all over the proper path.
I don't see any other options to the stone edging but I but there'll be some nasty injuries happening as a result @ BBF this year.
have also come across times when the stones have been placed/fallen/rolled or whatever onto the middle of the trail
If anyone does spot this, it would be great if you could take a moment to kick them back to the edges. You may have to pause your Strava, but it'll be appreciated.
I love the new trails but i think putting all these rocks on the fast sections is really stupid. Previously if you slid out you could normally recover without too much fuss. Now you smack into a load of rocks which could cause some serious and unnecessary damage to the rider and or the bike. Fair enough you could say ride slower so you don't risk sliding out, but where's the fun in that?
I love the new trails but i think putting all these rocks on the fast sections is really stupid. Previously if you slid out you could normally recover without too much fuss.
I think, riding in such an uncontrolled way that you slide off the trail is known as 'riding like a cock', just so you know for the future
If anyone does spot this, it would be great if you could take a moment to kick them back to the edges. You may have to pause your Strava, but it'll be appreciated.
I just shout 'STRAVA' at the rocks and the put themselves back.
As it happens I took a nasty off at the Oktoberfest last year and had a pretty bad faceplant as I lost the wheel over the edge of the trail as I let someone pass me, had the trail been lined this would have been less likely to have happened IMO.
I'm all for it.
Now you smack into a load of rocks which could cause some serious and unnecessary damage to the rider and or the bike.
Pick yourself up
Dust yourself off
Dry your eyes
Wipe your nose
Pull your big girl pants back on
Go and try something more in your comfort zone. Fluffy toy collecting?
Pick yourself up
Dust yourself off
Dry your eyes
Wipe your nose
Pull your big girl pants back on
That's exactly what I did, then finished my lap.
[url= http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6160/6253553388_a00eb03557.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/40838958@N07/6253553388/ ]305469_261820643855703_100000833094677_676330_1003843202_n[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/40838958@N07/ ]KINGTUT2009[/url], on Flickr
😉
Pull your big girl pants back on
See, if he'd had big girl pants on, they'd have acted like a parachute, thereby keeping his velocity in check and averting disaster.
Are rocks more or less dangerous than trees? I spotted some of those in the general locality of the trail the other day, maybe we'd better remove them and replace with foam pits either side of the trail?
Rocks on a fast bit of trail. Oh lordy lordy save the children [img] 
[/img]
What about angry wasps? Can we install anti-insect lasers?
Rocks on a fast bit of trail. Oh lordy lordy save the children
But have you seen the gravel as well? GRAVEL I tell you.
My god. I don't even want to think about the consequences of falling onto gravel at 15.4 mph. My very blood runs cold.
Obviously i don't ride around in an uncontrolled manner continuously sliding off the track. All riders going at a reasonable pace are bound to slide off, or misjudge a corner at some point. Only now what would have probably been a harmless mistake has the potential to be far worse.
My god. I don't even want to think about the consequences of falling onto gravel at 15.4 mph. My very blood runs cold.
Nah you'd be reet, you'd bounce. 😉
The thought of ADH lying injured and sobbing on the ground, having fallen from his tiny bicycle, has cold shivers running down my spine. How DARE Mr Agreeable go out there and put ROCKS ON THE GROUND!
Has anyone told the riders in such areas as the Peak District of these horrors known as 'rocks', or are they specific to the manmade sections of Ashton Court? START A PETITION!
goodbyegti - MemberObviously i don't ride around in an uncontrolled manner continuously sliding off the track. All riders going at a reasonable pace are bound to slide off, or misjudge a corner at some point. Only now what would have probably been a harmless mistake has the potential to be far worse.
ummm, tough titty?
stay near the back, you slide out, your fall will be cushioned by the crumpled heap of riders that have failed before you.
i can only imagine that if they'd been walking instead of riding their bikes any form of ingury would have been completely mitigated.........
Not wishing to get all gushing but AC, Leigh Woods and 50 Acre are superb and we're so lucky to have them in Bristol - I'm extremely grateful for their continued maintenance.
As members of STW it goes with out saying that negotiating some small rocks and graveled sections is not beyond our considerable riding abilities.
Personally i think that mountain biking is most fun when you're pushing your limit. On an artifical trail as smooth as AC you have to be going fast to get near it. The rocks don't slow you down, they don't add to the fun of riding the trail, they just make it more likely you're going to bust something and have to take time off the bike. I don't see the point in that.
How DARE Mr Agreeable go out there and put ROCKS ON THE GROUND!
As I say above, it's not the volunteer group doing this, and we wouldn't take the same approach, mainly because it's a bit unsubtle and we'd rather any rocks used in the trail were firmly fixed.
The ideal situation you want is for every rider to naturally follow the armoured line of the trail and not braid or widen it, without making it too obvious what's happening.
In Ashton Court this is really difficult. There are so many types of user of a huge range of abilities. Our experiences with the old trail and the amount it was widened over a period of 5-6 years - from an average width of a couple of feet to 5 or even 15 in places - make me think that taking a heavy-handed approach outweighs the negative effect of having to choose your line more carefully.
As other people have said, there's no trail that's free of obstacles at the sides. I did a rather spectacular somersault on one of the natural trails the other night, thanks to catching a pedal on a hidden stump that was lurking in the undergrowth. By contrast in Ashton Court it's very easy to see what's at the side of the trail.
As other people have said, there's no trail that's free of obstacles at the sides. I did a rather spectacular somersault on one of the natural trails the other night, thanks to catching a pedal on a hidden stump that was lurking in the undergrowth
Photos?
I just turned it into a front flip and rode it out. 😉
Rad skills dood.
The gravel ought to have been compacted into the trail, not left loose. Doing so helps prevent water damage.
Edging the trails with rocks is a bad idea because as mud fills the gaps between these rocks there is no longer anywhere for the water to escape off the side of the trail. If water collects it gradually loosens the stone, allowing bikes to cause damage as they ride through puddles.
Personally I think mountain biking is most fun when you're riding your bike off road away from arseholes, without having to worry that some plonker has tried to alter the trail.
Personally I think mountain biking is most fun when you're riding your bike off road away from arseholes, without having to worry that some plonker has tried to alter the trail.
You'd best stick to bridleways then, seeing as the AC trail is an entirely artificial construction.
You'd best stick to bridleways then, seeing as the AC trail is an entirely artificial construction.
What, bridleways aren't manmade?
I did specify [i]plonker[/i].
And Bristol is full of arseholes..
I think the rocks are this year's Bridge of Doom. http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/bristol-bikefest-roll-call/page/4#post-419595
The gravel ought to have been compacted into the trail, not left loose.
I believe that's the feedback that's been passed on to the contractors.
Edging the trails with rocks is a bad idea because as mud fills the gaps between these rocks there is no longer anywhere for the water to escape off the side of the trail. If water collects it gradually loosens the stone, allowing bikes to cause damage as they ride through puddles.
The issue at this time of year is definitely people widening the trail and cutting corners, not standing water.
What, bridleways aren't manmade?
Looks like it's the road for you then. Oh wait - that's manmade too. You'd best give up cycling.
Honestly, the things people choose to moan about.
Honestly, the things people choose to moan about.
I was simply paraphrasing goodbyegti's comment above, changing his pushing youself theme for one of, it's nice when nobody tries to improve the trail in the style of a plonker.
Wish I had Mr Agreeable's confidence in the upcoming weather.
it's nice when nobody tries to improve the trail in the style of a plonker.
Are the plonkers a) people who repair the trail or b) people who fall off at first sight of a little bit of gravel?
Wish I had Mr Agreeable's confidence in the upcoming weather.
Wish I Had Mr Agreeable's enthusiasm, knowlege of trail repair and above all selfless use of his personal time to help maintain the natural trails and act as an a go between developers, land owners and end users of the Nova trails.
ASHTON COURT QUESTION: Sorry to veer slightly off topic, I'll correct this at the end...
Heading to AC for a few laps in prep for BBF at some point in the next week. I always struggle with finding the right place to park and end up miles from the trail and riding around blindly until I stumble across part of the course I know (normally the bottom of the climb at the end of the straight road section). Can anyone tell me where the best place to aprk is if I want the car near the course for storing supplies while I try 6 hours in the saddle, I'd be very grateful!
Back on topic, oooh rocks, oooh gravel, oooh trees, oooh whatever.
you're going to ride the course for 6 hours in prep for the race?! 😯
The AC golf course car park would probably be closest to the course as its just to the right (up a hill! ) from where you cross the road on the course (after the first long Singletrack section)
I'm doing my first 12 hour solo. I did the Torq Rough Ride last weekend which was about 8 hours in the saddle. My plan is to try and find a pace that will get me round 12 laps of Ashton Court in 12 hours, which is slow slow slow so I need to know how slow!
I've tried finding the golf course before and got horribly lost, I'll do plenty of google prep this time, thanks!
golf course car park is here
http://m.google.co.uk/u/m/RBRBU1
you need to enter AC from the top gate, not the bottom one. opposite bridge rd, at the top of Rownham hill
