What's it like got chance to go tomorrow as really close in fact gonna be moving round the corner in Feb. What are conditions there like this time of year, can I just roll up & ride ?
Cheers
Yeah you are supposed to pay on the day 7 quid if the rangers are braving the cold
If its frosty its usually rides really well Surface 2 Air holds up well the best
If its wet its Slidey
Its a dh venue with a push up just so you are clear !
Though there is an xc loop but its not that long
Was there today, frosty but all rideable even the roots are fine... but pretty much what Kimbers said ^^^^
If you want more XC type action (ooh er missus) you'll also be fairly close to Woburn. Lots to ride there and holds up pretty well in winter.
If it's damp it gets really slippy, first time down surface to air I tried to stop before one of the drops to size it up but just carried on sliding, luckily nobody saw so it doesn't count.
Karl33to....happened to my son. I know cause I was following him down..then it happened to me too. But like you said no-one saw so it never happened....shhhh.
Seen its mainly DH but also says has an XC loop which is what I want. Thanks for info will prob investigate though Woburn is bit further to head out at the moment, going to be moving to Hughenden Valley High Wycombe.
The xc loop is fun. Very rooty and quite testing. It's a game of 2 halves - steep down then steep up. All natural and a lot of fun. I woildn't go near it in the damp.
AH is great for what it is, but i wouldnt travel there for the XC, ive never managed more than one winch up the climb.
hope you have fun there today, its a north facing slope so not likely to thaw.
from hughenden valley, you are blessed with from the door riding, literally any direction (ok except towards HW)
If you're very local, the xc will be nice for quick spin, and I guess you may be able to tie it up with other stuff outside the park. If travelling far for just the xc, don't. It's a DH park really and the xc is a 15 to 30 minute loop perhaps.
Clay soil at Aston. Surface 2 Air is more all weather, but the rest is like an ice rink in the wet. The red DH (also is part of the xc) is the most lethal there in the wet. I can guarantee you won't stay on the bike on the berms without full mud tyres and even then one trip the guys with muds said they were no use. Spikes perhaps required.
Ps you can get the day pass for a quid cheaper online, and I recommend it to support the development and maintenance, plus insurance of the site.
I travel for an hour to get to the xc loop and think it's well worth it.
usual rules about video flattening the trails applies.
Didn't make it got to in laws too late. Will defo be there in mid feb as house move seems all but done just waiting for one of the chain who can only vacate then. Thanks for all info will re post something when moved for some guidance regards the non trial centre rides.
I miss Aston, must get back there in 2015 and see what's changed.
OP - I suspect you had a lucky escape. I made my first visit there in wet conditions and don;t think I've ever struggled to stay on the bike as much.
I live a 10 minute ride from Aston Hill and really enjoy it for a DH session, but imo there is better trail riding to be had into Wendover Woods and beyond. I've got a couple of great loops now that I'd be happy to show you round. Went to Woburn today and it was fun, but not a patch on the trail centre that is 'The Chilterns'.
Watching that vid makes me realise how rubbish I am.
I hate drops. Go here for a day and I think I should conquer that fear, or die
tizzzzle - Member
I live a 10 minute ride from Aston Hill and really enjoy it for a DH session, but imo there is better trail riding to be had into Wendover Woods and beyond. I've got a couple of great loops now that I'd be happy to show you round. Went to Woburn today and it was fun, but not a patch on the trail centre that is 'The Chilterns'
I'm only over in Hemel, how long are your loops? I could be tempted..
Another here I'm up in chipperfield/kings Langley and would welcome the opportunity to see some of wend over other than Aston . My regular buddy's are all out of action so been riding swinley solo & local around Friday through Sunday if you fancy a pootle ?
Makkag your Just round the corner from me.. Chipperfield common, woodmans wood, lower plantation are as good as it gets locally for me..
Down the hill from bovingdon, next to the golf course through the woods is a good blast but short..
Ah cool I've not really been out this way exploring too much other than on the road bike. if local I tend to go to whippy where I helped build (and more importantly) know the trails. I'm riding all weekend if I can and would be happy to go and see some local stuff if your around ?
[i]Seen its mainly DH but also says has an XC loop which is what I want. Thanks for info will prob investigate though Woburn is bit further to head out at the moment, going to be moving to Hughenden Valley High Wycombe. [/i]
for XC, just ride local and across into the Chilterns - literally miles and miles of trails
I'll go for a ride Friday morning 8.30ish if anyone wants to join. Mansion hill car park off the road towards wendover
waste of time and money IMO... but if you're there anyway then why not. I'd ride there if it was my local spot though. the Push up is horrible too.
I guess my point is its not worth driving 2 hours to go and ride.
Makkag, I've been meaning to ask on here if anyone one knew who built whippy! I'm in leavesden and that's my local spot.(some really nice stuff in there, taken me a while to find most of it!) I'm not about this weekend as going to swinley with my bro. But well up for someone to get some regular local riding in. Pm me with details for any local rides. Tizzzle, depending on strength of hangover I'll be up for Friday ride.
Makkag..
This morning would have been a good opportunity, with the heavy frost we've had.
Most of the slop being frozen..last time I was out it was a proper mud fest.
I'll check it out and see if it's worth riding..
Oops I'm off to swinley solo tomorrow setting off about 11 but if anyone's about over the weekend I'd be happy to tag along
I ride Aston quite a lot but agree that it's not ideal for a first visit when it's wet. I did a great 18 mile loop from Wendover on Wednesday which I've not done before with a mate who's more local than me and liked to study the maps. Saw a few MTBers out and about (said hello to a guy on a Canyon when I stopped for a pee! - anyone from here?)
Makkag, Goldigger & creepy - another local here in chipperfield.
Very keen to meet up for some local rides, have been here for couple of years & still trying to firm up some loops. Through the woods & down the valley behind bucks hill, drop onto the canal & then a little play in whippy is as good as I've got so far. Got a garmin for crimbo so it's my mission to fully explore this year out & beyond local trails.
Will be sure to drop you a line, mail in profile!
Austinburner, makkag, creepy
I'm in bovingdon, we could all meet early Sunday morning and brave the slop?
I'm the other side of Aston Ti you guys out in Kins Lsngley but interested to know a bit more about Whippy ie where's it at and what's it like.
Would be happy to hook up for a few Chiltern and beyond rides too at b some point as our group has reduced in size over the last few years.
Paul,
whippendell woods is behind the grove and backs on to Cassiobury park..it's not that big, but you can include it easily with a ride from Chipperfield.. come down bucks hill from the common, towards Chandlers cross and that's the start of whippy
Whippendell Wood
Chilterns / AH local here, I often head out from near Hemel / Berkhamsted for an hour or so in the Ashridge area, drop down to Tring via a nice byway cut-through and then up to Wendover / AH hill area, looping around Cadsden is as far as a normal longer days goes this time of yr. Not as far as it sounds and loads of variations on the trails you can include once you know the basic direct links between the areas. Very little tarmac apart from Tring town centre. Happy to bias a ride to the stuff closer to Hemel and Berkhamsted out to Ivinghoe Beacon if you want to join me, plenty of stuff there for a 2-4 hr ride.
@ carbonfiend
Welcome to the Chilterns! This is our local club, about 150 members, loads of local rides and a good bunch too… 😀
Be nice to do a ride at some point as we are all pretty local to each other. I'm up in Wendover Woods 3 or 4 times a week but head out to Swinley & Woburn too. Work in Watford so can make whippy/chipperfield etc no hassle. Was lovely and quiet out and about this morning, lots of digging and work going on up at Aston when I passed
[i]Very little tarmac apart from Tring town centre.[/i]
Check the maps, as this can be avoided too.
Come off Ashridge via Tom's Hill, 150m of tarmac then take the left parallel to the railway, right over the bridge then right to the canal bridge.
Thru Cow Roast, under the A41 and then right (across the field, footpath) thru the wood and onto Wigginton. There are loads of ways then thru/past Wigginton/Tring park along the ridge.
from hughenden valley, you are blessed with from the door riding, literally any direction
Indeed. Once you're in the area, OP, I could be probably be persuaded to show you some lovely ckeeky stuff that's hard to locate without a little local knowledge.
Are CTC still insuring Aston hill, Rogate & tidworth. I thought they have drop it. So do you still have to pay etc..Yeah you are supposed to pay on the day 7 quid if the rangers are braving the cold
http://www.rideastonhill.co.uk/about/membershipfees/
there is nothing cheeky round here teasel, nothing at all.
Yeah, sorry. My mistake - this isn't the thread you're looking for...
b r , that's one way I go, use a similar route on the return leg that descends the footpath from the stables that ends near to the turning you describe nr the A41. Or use that as a climb on the way out but only in summer. Then onto the short bit of Ridgeway near Wiggington or the woods near the off-road centre.
jameso
Also the cheeky route back across 'the Twist' and the high-level A41 bridge, which then runs along Pendley Manor to Tring Station.
tbh Once you've explored the Chilterns and realised just how much (fun) riding there is I can't see why anyone would pay to ride the XC course.
That's basically the Ridgeway isn't it, with a few gates along it? Haven't used that as a route back if so. I know most of the routes in that area but few by place name w/o a map to refer to. There's loads of options. Too easy to get into habits of using the same routes on my usual loops, so I was reading this thinking that a few social rides would be good to mix things up.
Goldigger, Sunday morning ride sounds good.
May only have a limited time window as have plans on the day.
What time & how long a ride are you thinking?
Are makkag & creepy up for it also?
@summitchilterns - I have actually ridden with a few of you guys a good few years back. In laws were living in Penn at the time & I met a few of you one Xmas rode for a few hours in some woods ? Then went back to a guys house for a cup of tea was all very nice. Was gonna get in touch again soon as I move there.
Austinburner,
looking out the window I'm rather reluctant to go out in the morning at the mo..
what's your time window?
Goldigger, is bloody grim out there!
Will find out when we are meeting friends & get back to you.
Is it best to reach you on email?
Goldigger, I'm good up to 11.
Up for a couple hours in the mud?
Will try you email also.
Sorry op for the post high jack, will keep an eye on this for any group rides as am keen.
Cheers
Sorry for the radio silence. I did indeed have a hangover so drunk through it again! Went round a very wet tunnel hill yesterday. Grown up stuff to do today. Will def be up for rides soon though. It's Creedy btw 😉
Aston is a fun place to ride
If you like your downhill , Gravity Enduro runs then pop over to us at Tidworth Freeride MTB Park