They're putting in new, clearer signage too. You seem to think that no-one has thought of these issues...
To be fair Mr Agreeable, that was all you had to say in the first place 😕
If that's the case, then great - if someone gets arsey, we can at least have some form of evidential way of saying "RTFM"
Are the trails fully open yet and Is there a map at the start of the trail
Think the last time I rode there I went the wrong way! Quarry on the right hand side slightly up hill.
Has anyone got a route/map/gps/picture linking AC , 50Acre and Leigh woods together ?
GEOFF1, 3 posts above yours! 😉
For maps see www.bristoltrailsgroup.com. For news on closures and building, bookmark 1sw or Architrail on twitter. Easy!
Cool but all the trail names mean nothing to a non local and I didn't see any signs before the work started.
So I'll wait a couple more weeks then?
Work was supposed to be carried out March - June in AC, but didn't actually start until 3 May. I'd assume, therefore, that work won't be finished until August.
Read this over quite a few times now and still keep coming back to the same things about Ashton Court as a whole and not just the bike trail.
There's concern over SSSI's and land that needs to be protected. I would love to see a map of the whole estate to actually find out where these places are as there are no signs/maps I can ever recall seeing (and I've been a regular visitor for getting on for 40 years - South Bristol lad me).
The powers that be were quite happy to cut down the big Redwoods in front of the house (aren't trees protected) because it suited them. Oh and it made the views better from the outdoor seating area from the new cafe.
New car park at the top of Kennel Lodge road - next to cafe.
New family cycle trail- accesible from top car park - next to new cafe.
If I was being cynical I'd suggest someone has thought about where a new revenue stream could be generated.
I really do hope that when the new trail has bedded in it becomes more interesting beacause after 11 laps at the bikefest I was properly bored of the twisty lower quarry trail.
I'm also aware that it couldn't continue as it was and I don't think you can praise the Bristol trails group enough for the work they've done but at least with the old muddy trails you had to think and pick a line.
Sorry rant over.
The trails are going to be completed by the end of July, but will probably stay closed for a bit longer so they can bed in.
Geoff, the maps on our website use Google, so if you click 'show labels' and zoom out a bit you should be able to get an idea of where everything is.
Racemonkey, have a look at www.natureonthemap.naturalEngland.org.uk.
Having a revenue stream from the new trails is definitely a big part of the plan. The way things were previously, the trail was dependent on volunteers fixing it for free, over and over again. The new trails aren't going to need as much maintenance and hopefully when they do there will be a proper budget in place.
Well I like it. Give it a year or two to bed in a bit and it'll be ace.
The 'old' trails had all but diappeared under the relentless traffic anyway.
Still amused that a bunch of randoms on a forum are having to digest and regurgitate publically availible information for other lazier randoms.
Rode the trail again last night on my way home and once I got to the Upper Quarry I was pleased to see that some needed tweaks to the trail have been put in place - closing off the straight lines that had appeared and sorting out the first 'hill' into it (leveling it out, as you fell into the fence if you weren't concentrating).
Top work whomever did that 🙂
Although, it is disappointing to watch riders STILL riding around the closed sections and on the new unopened parts of the trail.
However, I like what I see in some parts of the new trails, but also am sad to see the really rooty rocky short DH section to the bottom of the Quarry has been smoothed over 🙁
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why did they do that! it was on only remotely technical bit in there!
I have no idea - I agree with you - it was a hoot to ride down and I saw some awesome slams in front of me down it on the Sunday at Bikefest.
However, I like what I see in some parts of the new trails, but also am sad to see the really rooty rocky short DH section to the bottom of the Quarry has been smoothed over
That is bad news, that section was excellent for making sure I had my forks set up right.
Quarry section shut this morning 'for maintenance'.
At the end of the day AC has become f*cked over the years just simply because of the amount of riders. The quarry trail used to be sweat single track trail instead of the diveted mudfess it was, even with all the sterling work of the trail building group. Not only was AC generally crap to ride it was looking a bloody mess which must have just wound up the AC authorities. We now have a whole bunch of cash and a brand new trail that might not be to everyones liking but doesn't half sort out the long term issues (drainage, mud). Leigh Woods is in an even worse state and looks terrible (granted them chopping a whole load of trees down hasn't helped). Mountain biking is meant to be about getting one with nature not wrecking the place. Hopefully the new trail in LW will divert people off the old trails and let them repair.
My view is that mountain biking in AC and LW is not possible long term wise with such large numbers of riders without these new types of trail getting built. I think riders that remember the old days with lovely narrow single track just have to take off the rose tinted glasses and realise that its no more and AC was just trashed. I also have a massive respect for everyone that has organised these developments as even if you don't like the trail style at least they are getting off their arses and doing something about it.
woody+1
Well said that man.
Woody...Thank you for prefectly summing up what i couldn't be bothered to type!!!
The negativity from some baffles me. Nothing in AC was remotely technical anyway IMO and all the really good stuff in LW will remain untouched so what's the problem.
In AC the council have an obligation to provide a trail that's fun and rideable for all, that's what's been achieved. If you don't like them, then go ride elsewhere. Simple as that.
If the new trails aren't your cup of tea, there is nothing stopping us from building more technical trails elsewhere. We've got free rein with 50 Acre Wood, and we're also discussing another site with the powers that be.
The problem is that we're not going to get much done if people's attitude is to moan on the internet and wait for someone else to do it for them. Other branches of our sport like DH and dirt jumping have a very strong culture of "if you want to ride it, build it" but for some reason only a minority of XC riders make the connection.
On a lighter note, the Quarry Trails are already open again and should be bedded in nicely after all this rain.
I think i need have a little test run on the new quarry bit tomorrow. Other reports say a mixture of opinions but ashton court is going the right way of being open to everyone and that 50 acre/leigh woods could be a bit more developed for cyclists who want something more technical. I like your thought Mr Agreeable about 50 acre and the possibilities of another site for a trail or something and I would like to help out with that if it came to light
Shame about that short downhill section, certainly was at least "remotely technical" if taken at speed. Not sure there was a need to smooth out that piece of trail, although I guess it is now more in keeping with the character of the other changes.
It's easy to forget how stuff looks to learner riders. We were out recently in Ashton Court with a guy from the forum, and his girlfriend (who hasn't done that much riding) refused point blank to do that section. I would also be surprised if whatever replaces it is totally un-fun.
Mr Agreeable, new area for development sounds exciting, where might that be? Always wondered why over the years no trails have been built to the south side of the lower quarry trail. Lovely bit of tapered hill side with loads of natural bomb holes, drop offs etc. A meandering cross hill trail, Afan esk, would be cool.
New trails actually look like they will be quite technical at high speed once they have bedded in and gone a bit back to nature. Give it a year and I think they will be sweet, right at our door and no need for the bridge toll for some cool riding!
Woody, we were taking to them last year about "formalising" the trails in Ashton Hill Plantation (also known as Failand) and building some new sections to make a continuous singletrack loop. Unfortunately due to staff cutbacks and the Forestry Commission sell-off proposals they didn't feel that they could to commit to it. Things are looking up again given that the FC are no longer going to be privatised out of existence and we'll be talking to them in the near future.
Always wondered why over the years no trails have been built to the south side of the lower quarry trail.
It's one of the more environmentally sensitive bits of the estate - badget setts, 500 year old oak trees, etc - so building a trail through there is out unfortunately. They did try and put something in when designing the new trails but it wasn't a goer.
Thought I'd give it a go this morning and I can report that the new trails are great on a CX bike 🙂 Even managed some half decent pumping...
So, forgetting all the bickering, What has been completed so far and what do people make of the new parts?
Well it appears clubber can't stop and won't stop PUMPING!!!!!!!
What has been completed so far
Upper and lower quarry, the bombhole and deer fence section, New Barn Wood.
Summary of new parts: very different, very BMXy, very smooth (though the rooty DH which isn't open yet is now the rocky DH), very mud resistant, good fun.
Once you pump you can't stop!
Just found this:
http://www.betterbybike.info/off-road-mountain-biking-route-announced-at-ashton-court
I hadn't realised the track along Beggar Bush Lane and down towards the gatehouse had been reversed! I always thought it was going to ride the same way round?!
