[Closed] Who's doing the bristol bike fest?

I'm trying to picture exactly where these new bits of the trail are. The nice rooty/techy bit through the woods...is that still there?

I'm trying to picture exactly where these new bits of the trail are. The nice rooty/techy bit through the woods...is that still there?

nope, not the bit near the start, it was further into the course...at least half way, more perhaps. Woody bit along the edge of a field I think it was.

Upper n Lower Quarry were closed last weekend, wouldn't surprise me if they are kept closed until after Bikefest.

No, they're aparently being opened at the Bikefest though it'll be interesting to see how they hold up to that number of riders hitting them straight away.

I'm doing it, solo SS lvis too to keep Kingtut company (hopefully wearing my new jersey Clubber 😉 ). Although if it lashes down with rain you might find me in the beer tent...

Just returned from a training camp in Italy so feeling suitably knackered.

I'll be there with three other members of the Berkhamsted Ameteur Pedalling Society (BAPS)!

I won't be riding, but I may pop up and take some snaps, and checkout the new bits!

@ Peteimpreza- email sent.

I'm doing it - really looking forward to it! 12 hr team of 4, Team Kingston. Look forward to saying hi to people I know, and meeting new folk. Prep recently has been having a cold, and working away from home without bike! Oh well, justa bit of fun...

rondo - I really don't think two people riding at walking pace, very conscious that the trail was newly-laid, being very careful not to lock the back wheels, leave a mark etc, would have made any difference at all.

Appreciate the signs etc, but no guilt here. Carry on being indignant if you so wish

Here's a little message from the guys responsible for building the trails:

Work at Ashton Court is going well and going according to plan so far. The Upper and Lower Quarry trails will be ready in time for Bikefest. Normally, we'd wait longer to allow riders onto new tracks, but as we will still be onsite after the event, we can fix any damage immediately and before it becomes a problem.

We have asked riders to stay off the newly built trails until Bikefest and then from after Bikefest is over, until the trails are officially finished and opened. Most riders have been responsible and kept off the delicate trails, allowing them to bed in and harden up. This is a great help. In fact I must say that when compared to any other build we've done, less riders are breaking the rules than we would normally expect. A big thank you to the Bristol riding community.

However, there are still some people trying to ride the trails, breaking down the red barriers and pushing the fences down. It would be great if you guys could help us spread the word that the trails need to be left alone. Any help with this would be massively appreciated and will help safeguard the strength of the trails in the long run. It will also mean we get to concentrate on the rest of the building, rather than repairing the stuff we've just built!

We hate to be spoil sports but in this instance it really is for the greater good. In any case, if you are around and you see us wandering about, feel free to stop and ask if you've got any questions or comments.

[b]Mema[/b] I'm also looking to race if you need another rider!!

Email me at my username with gmail dot com on the end 😉

The team (Loco BM Racing) will be there and I'll be about in the pit area [s]drinking[/s] providing technical support 😀

BAPS, love it!

For all the armchair experts, there's a really clear explanation here from the designer of the trail as to why they don't want people riding it yet:

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/inconsiderate-idiots#post-2613003

SimonB I would take the full susser, last years course was quite technical and was flipping hard work on my back on a HT and I did 6 laps. Mr MC last year bent his saddle rails on his HT!!
I am doing it as a mixed pair (scared!) aiming for 8 laps I would be happy with but going to try to push 10 .. although that's if Mr MC doesn't need to have surgery this weekend. So one of our men's 4 dropped to 3 on WEdnesday and is now a pair as Mr MC crashed at coed y Brenin on Friday and has broken his elbow.

So does anyone need a sport, we potentially have a space in a mens' team? If interested drop me an e-mail and i'll speak to the men's DT team as we are all frantically trying to find replacements as the guys left aren't keen entering as a pair!!!

Can't wait, forecast today went as far as Thursday and said sun 22 degrees, perfect not too hot.

I'm doing it, solo SS lvis too to keep Kingtut company (hopefully wearing my new jersey Clubber ). Although if it lashes down with rain you might find me in the beer tent...

Just returned from a training camp in Italy so feeling suitably knackered.

Keep me company? Tow me along more like..

I'm doing the 12 hour as a Solo Old Git, I'll be the one riding at a gentlemanly pace on an Orange Cotic Soul.

Noting all the posts above regarding not riding on the new trails, has anyone been around the complete course for this year's event and got a reasonably accurate GPS measurement of the lap distance? Just asking out of curiosity so I can work out how far I ride in total (something to keep my brain distracted from the agonising pain in my legs and backside).

last years course was quite technical

Tries not to laugh too hard.

Im now doing the 12 hour as a pair with my big brother, I think we will be competing against each other rather than everyone else! Just been making the best energy bars ever rocky road and macaroon! Im kinda nervous tho!

You can't do a full lap as upper and lower quarry trails are closed and the bit turning right into the woods after the gravel climb is either different from the course map, or they haven't made it yet.
I'm guessing it's longer than last year, almost on a par with the year before. So if last year was about 29 mins (for me) this year I'm guessing 38 mins - ish...

less climbing this year though so I'd expect a similar ish lap time. plus upper and lower quarries will be faster than before.

less climbing this year

How so?

down the zigzags then straight up rather than going all the way down to the pond.

Same as last year then.

was it?

Down the zig zags, go right then up the short sharp gravel climb.

Is that it?

that's it.

that was oktoberfest,bikefest went up the zigzags and under bridge it seems like oktoberfet route with maby difrnt exits ect

Same as last year then.

EDIT: Yes it's the Oktoberfest route, my apple ogies.

ah ok then. with the extra singletrack it'll be good fun.

Fun? I bloody hope not I want some serious self inflicted pain and misery. 😉

And a nice tan.

il be walking the course on sat so can jump out from the bushes now and then to add some extra fun

TAN?? have u seen the weather latley lol bloody hope it brightens up

Looking OK so far..

[url= http://www.netweather.tv/index.cgi?action=uk7dayx2;page=6;type=free;ct=4215~Bristol;sess=#forecast ]Not the met office but it will do for now.[/url]

indeed not to bad altho looks to sprinkle while im taking the tent down on sunday ...bugger

Same as last year with the zig zags but then further up the gravel climb and actually into the woods on the right, according to the map, so slightly more climbing. I'm going round what I can tonight, I'll let you know...

I rode it this morning... it's a bit slippy but I expect it'll mainly dry out by the weekend. Forgot that it didn't go down to the ponds last year so it's the same amount of climbing. The quarry trails will no doubt be quicker (since by the looks of it they're very smooth and bermed) but there is extra singletrack compared to last year - the first part of BBL is included (so you turn left after the start instead of right) and where you rode the grassy field after the first gravel climb, that's now singletrack. Reckon lap times will be very similar overall.

It was nice and sunny though
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I'm doing it too :D, along with the wife as a pair for the 3 hour event. I've never done the trail, how does it compare to cannock? From the course video it looks like sherwood pines?

Its our first competition bike event, does the track have many places to over take, get over taken?

Its our first competition bike event, does the track have many places to over take, get over taken?

The singletrack is very tight and you have to be patient letting people past or overtaking, thankfully the message has got through to some of the tryhards that used to push their way through *cough* Torque *cough*, apart form me, I'll shove you in a bush if you get in my way.

Plenty of opportunity for over taking on the gravel climbs though.

It's got a lot of singletrack this year - most of which is reasonably twisty. The new sections are smooth, the older ones quite bumpy. Overtaking may be interesting this year as some of the overtaking sections (the grassy field) have been taken out, replaced with singletrack and the new singletrack will be harder to overtake on I reckon as it's mostly quite narrow or at least only one real line.

I'm glad that field has gone.

I always thought it was quite a good spot to grab a drink and a gel if you needed it but the singletrack replacing it is much better.

clubber - Member
I always thought it was quite a good spot to grab a drink and a gel if you needed it...

Seconded. Especially when soloing as there are already very few places to refuel on the course...

Guess that you'll just have to do it at the end of BBL..

Wish i was doing it. First year in ages i've missed it but doing Mountain Mayhem instead and couldn't really afford both. Good luck DrP!

Will be there, should be doing solo old gits on Sat but a couple of busted ribs might put pay to any riding......