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Dont know if people are aware (a quick search didnt pull anything up so apologies if its been mentioned already) but work is currently in progress to build 10.5km of trails in Clayton Vale (next to the velodrome) as well as a skills area and pump track in Philips Park (across the road from the velodrome).
Think its fantastic that more of this is going on. I ride through the Vale all the time either having a quick one through the trees after work or on the way to/from bigger rides elsewhere, plus it was also the site for the Midweek Madness races British Cycling held.
Anyway more info if anyones interested...
http://www.nationalcyclingcentre.com/p/mtb-trails-2
Nip into the velodrome there is a map up there with what graded trails are going where. It's going to be good the velodrome are going to be renting mountain bikes from there as well. It's also going to be managed so hopefully it will keep the chavs with motos off.
Yeah I've seen the maps, they are posted up at several points around the Vale as well. Some of the spots they've picked are lines I play on anyway so it should be a good little play area when finished. Was having a run in there earlier and they have begun to lay some section down already and a lot of clearing has been done in others, just seeing it forming is rather exciting as I'm only around the corner so it'll be great for quick ones etc and perfect (hopefully) for introducing kids to mtb.
Are you local yourself Matt?
Just seen that they are advertising for a development coach in relation to these new trails, they will be offering coaching as well as just laying out the tracks.
There are a few new pictures in the galleries and they actually look half decent for an urban location. Looks like this could be a really good fun blast for those of us who are Manc based.
Some more new pics on their (Architrail) Facebook.
Looking good for what and where it is, can't wait to take the brats!
Great news, did my first race at Clayton Vale in the Summer of last year.
Are there now purpose built trails in Philips Park over in Salford or did I dream that up?!
Purpose built trails at Philips Park Prestwich I know that, good fun they are too.
Cool I dont work far from there.
Edit: even betterer, just looked at it on a map, rideable from work at lunchtime!
Philips Park over in [b]Salford [/b]
how very dare you.
Ha sorry terrahawk, I've just had a look on Google maps and tbf it's nowhere near Salford really 😆
yeah but almost though
still better than being classed as in Bury
Work is progressing at a great rate in the Vale and is starting to look very good, think people will be surprised at what they are doing especially for a site that is 15 minutes from the centre of Manchester.
Some pics from a walk with the dog...
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One to catch out the wide bar brigade!
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Locals seem keen too!
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Although to be fair this is old and from when the mx'ers were chewing the place up.
Work has just started in Philips Park too on the kids/skills area...
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Great news! This is on my commute route.
Looks great. There any dig days or anything?
justatheory - MemberGreat news! This is on my commute route.
Snap! Can't wait for some extended commutes home 🙂
eightyeight - MemberLooks great. There any dig days or anything?
Sadly not. It's all being being undertaken by Architrail who are also doing the work on the Glasgow Commonwealth XC course.
http://www.architrail.co.uk/index.html
It would be helpful if one or other Philips Park was called something else!
I propose we call this one Clayton Vale. Any idea when it will be finished?
This is brilliant news!!! How fantastic! Thanks for the info OP. will deffo go for a peek as soon as Im able to 😀
It's nice to see the local germans welcoming The Bikers.
Clayton Vale it is! Can't wait, it'll make the commute miles better. Hope it's rideable for summer.
STWer meet up when it's finished? It's 5 minutes if that from me.
Estimate for the Clayton Vale main trails is May.
Estimate for the 'Philips Park/Clayton Vale' part is March.
Cant say whether those dates will slip, but they were given to me from one of the workers I was talking too. They are working on it Monday - Friday so good chance it will be pretty close to being completed on time.
buck53 - MemberSTWer meet up when it's finished? It's 5 minutes if that from me.
I'd be up for that.
So, just to sort out any confusion, there are two Philips parks? One is in Phillips Park, Prestwich and the other isn't. And they both have MTB trails?
I rode the one in Prestwich near Sedgley Park yesterday and it was great fun. I shall look forward to the other one too.
Yep this one is within the 'Sportcity' area with the Velodrome etc
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=387272&Y=399126&A=Y&Z=115
The other is as you've said in Prestwich.
The Philips Park in question here is not having trails, they are in Clayton Vale which is across the road. Philips park is getting a pump track and skills area.
Bit more info...looking at May bank holiday for opening. Was walking through the other and its coming along nicely.
Skills section in Philips Park opens this Sunday if anyone is interested.
Saw it earlier today and it looks great for the little and big kids alike!
http://www.nationalcyclingcentre.com/a/clayton-day
I was going to go Gisburn on Sunday, but think I'm going to go here instead.
Anyone else coming ?
I was going to go Gisburn on Sunday, but think I'm going to go here instead.
If you were after a full/big day out Gisburn may be better as this is only the smaller skills area opening, the main trails across the road in Clayton Vale are not due to be finished until mid May, although when they are finished they will be well worth a visit, as they are coming along great with some very nice sections already 😀
Anyone else coming ?
I'll be taking the kids before they go back to school.
Was just after quiet day TBH and Gisburn is likely to be rammed and I don't do crowds 😀
Didnt manage to go on Sunday, plis kids eneded up being at grandparents...piece!
Had a nosey today though and it looks great. All obstacles are in 3's and you can choose how difficult you want it. Looks like an excellent play area and skill builder for kids and beginners alike.
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They're ready to run! 😮 Checkout the link for info / photos on the new clayton vale trails..
[url= http://claytonvaletrails.org ]claytonvaletrails.org[/url]
see you on the trails 😉
Will pop down tomorrow aft
This is ace.
Any new updates?
The skills track is really good bit of everything for all levels. The last tabletop is near vertical though 😯 so take the first or second to start with, same with the rock gardens, the last is really aggressive the first 2 not bad.
I have had a look at the trails, but I was put off by the noise of crossers.
Don't be put off Simmy, I've been using the trails nearly every day for a few weeks now and not seen or heard a motorbike! maybe it was the trail builders with chainsaws ?? The developers are making a really good effort at keeping crossers off the vale, they've even designed most of the trails near impossible to ride on a motorbike!
A word of caution though, don't just go bombing down them without doing a slow run first coz you might get a bit of a surprise when you turn a sharp corner an realise that your on an unfinished trail and your heading straight for a pile of rubble. this happened to me the other day;)
All the trails on the Newton heath side seem to be finished. The best ones though are on the clayton side of the vale but some off them aren't finished yet so watch out!
I think I noticed a pattern last time I was there, the finished trails all have large white stones at each side of the start of the trail and the unfinished ones didn't, maybe this is how you can tell if they're ready?!
Anybody found a trail map yet??? I've got one for the skills track but not the vale. Might have to see if I can blagg the trail builders to to let us get a photo of the plans;)
It was defo motorbikes as it was the other Sunday when they opened the skills area and the people there said they had always had motorbikes on that area.
The trails do look good so I'm looking forward to heading down there when they are complete.
trail map at velodrome....in foyer
where exactly is the skills area then?
@simmy - the vale has always been a victim to yobs on moto's for as long as i can remember! lol
@Margin Walker - I've just found the original planning application for the trails and the grading of each trail:) will defo pop in the velodrome for a look though, thanks for the heads up.
@Junkyard - here's a link for the skills section,
[url= http://www.nationalcyclingcentre.com/p/mtb-trails-2 ]http://www.nationalcyclingcentre.com/p/mtb-trails-2[/url]
Oops forgot about this existing topic. I went today. Its good if your in Manchester. Worth the visit.
Yes I knew of th ewebsite but thinking of taking my young kids to the pump track practice bit so is it next to The national cycling centre or at Phillips park?- ie where should i park?
Is it suitable for young uns 7 & 6 for a play/learn?
Does anyone know?
It's literally over the road from the velodrome, on google maps its across Fairclough Street so you should be able to park at the velodrome but it would be easier on the bottom car park, not the one near Evans so go past McDs, straight ahead at the roundabout follow that road to the car park on the right.
You can't miss it but follow the old viaduct and its right by that. In terms of the little ones, on the open day there was lots of kids on the pump track as it can be separated from the rest of the track so they don't have to do the tabletops etc.
It's great that Manchester is getting a mountain bike play area, but does anyone care about the mxers, i mean they have been around a long time and never get anywhere official to ride and are just hounded but dont you think its time that the council made some time to allocate some where that they could ride legally instead of simply chasing them around?
It's the same in Leeds and Id like to see some of the old sites where they used to ride be opened up properly for the mx lads to enjoy themselves.
It's a good idea, but most of the casual MX'ers don't have road legal bikes, insurance, or the means to transport those bikes legally to the places they ride.
The legal MX'ers, trail riders and trials competitors are not the problem - it's the scrotes who cause us problems.
And in all honesty, I think a nice big crusher and increased enforcement is the only answer.
Here's the trails map taken from the manchester council planning portal
http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/associateddocs/selecteddoc.aspx?100329-dpp-0009.pdf
This is the planning application, there are loads of plans and info on there to waste a lunch going over, they may have changed slightly since submission but it gives a good overview
Was out there yesterday and the trails are great, even though I was probably riding in the wrong direction. Still a fair bit of work to do by the opening date, will be superb when finished. The skills section is completely done, looks spot on and was being well used already, though I didn't have the desire to go round it on my narrow-tyred commuter boneshaker.
And thanks to STW reader Chris - we had a word while rambling round the new tracks and he pointed me in the direction of some other interesting trails nearer to me - nice one!
This site seem to have been updated with a map and some good images if your interested [url= http://claytonvaletrails.org/ ]http://claytonvaletrails.org/[/url]
some of you guys seem concerned about the local riff-raff, I can honestly say I've never had a problem, everybody seems to busy having fun:) loads of places to park etc, get down on your 3k rig or your halfords special, ride what you bring it really doesn't matter, you wont be disappointed 😉
Cool. Not too far from work, might give it a go
Went today and very impressed. Don't think we'll be heading to Lee Quarry for a while
Went and had a look at the new bits today, got to say i prefer the 'red' sections to the 'black' as they flow better.
As for direction of travel its clockwise from the arches although Imo after riding it once you should get an idea.
For those worried about scrotes, as se7en983 says, i wouldn't worry too much, been going through for years and had no bother, the scrotes are on there having a laugh as well.
I'd say its money well spent already, the amount of families out trying the easier sections is fantastic, if even a small proportion get more into it then that'll be great.
Give it another week or so and they should be finished and onto sign posting.
As for mx'ers, this was discussed at the beginning and iirc and from talking to the builders, new gating os supposed to be going in at the access points.
The waymarking needs work, I assume that'll come once all the trails are finished?
Official update on the site...
http://www.nationalcyclingcentre.com/p/mtb-trails-2
/p>
Opens 27th May 12-4pm.
Local riff raff? I dressed in jog pants, socks tucked in and struck up a conversation with two british cycling wearing guys, one blanked me the other looked bored.
So wearing locals stuff works and with the arrogant ****s 😆
Amazing place, but motorbikes are going to be an issue I was up there the otherday and some lads were going round the wrong way on a motorbike.
They need to do somthing about it before someone gets hurt, possibly look at building something they can use, or someone patrolling the area and stopping them and introducing them to mtbing. Get them to hire a bike so they can use it for what it was built for and they fill find it will be more fun get them involved.
@phila77 the motos are an issue but i'm sure it will be sorted soon..(hopefully)