[Closed] Ashton Court! Brizzole

My cross bike did a nice job on the quarry trail the other week, but that was before NBW opened. I don't think it would be much good there!

Agree with clubber though, my 26er SS was better with the forks locked out. Even the new rock descent looks like it will be fine on rigids. Looks rocky, but controlled, so think it will be fine. Time will tell.

Rode it today on my FS (Giant Anthem X, 26"), and rode really nicely. I've got a shorty stem on it to speed up the handling, and the suspension allows me to hammer over the stutter-y-roll-y bits nice and quickly, but overall, it's definitely overkill for those trails.

Tyre choice is a funny one too - these trails need low pro fast rolling tyres, larsons, small block 8's, etc, but the trouble is, the rest of Bristol doesn't (well, not in the winter). I want tyres with retractable knobbles....

Looks like a perfect green family trail TBH,

exactly what it is- perfect for getting the younger ones into the idea , all perfectly rollable, nothing stupid. I think they've done a splendid job if that was the remit. What it isn't is a C-y-b or Cwmcarn with lots of techy stuff. Reckon a nice 4x bike would be just about perfect to thrash it.

Went on Sunday, tried out the new red route through the wood, hoping it becomes a lot redder but liking it very much! Found this on YouTube:

Still not enough signs, 3 groups asked me which way to go and had to tell someone they were going the wrong way. A few no entry signs would be good, and a watch out sign by the roundabout, saw a few bikers n walkers nearly coming together. Also noticed there aren't as many signs this week as last, a few no entry signs missing.

When will the bit by the mini railway be open!?

Any movement forward with the new trails over the last week or so? Can't wait to ride them. When will they be starting on Leigh Woods, or have they already started?

rode a/c on monday had the place almost to myself and worked on a few sections that i was unsure on now fully confident beggerbush was still closed and second section of red still closed
had a awsome time tho.

Quite a bit has been done in LW now. Havn't been up to AC for a few days but it was wearing in nicely. It's getting a bit busy out there though ;-P

Yeah i had a look up LW this morning walking the hound, looks like they're making the same sort of trail as AC near the main car park.

In other news, i ran over a baby rabbit up Ashton Court yesterday!!! 😥

ETA for the Ashton Court trails is end of July. Apparently lots of people are poaching the new Beggar Bush section already, which is a bit premature as it turns into a pile of gravel half way down! And before anyone asks, there are signs and barriers galore. The Leigh Woods trails are going to be finished by late October.

Head to [url= https://twitter.com/?lang=en&logged_out=1#!/architrail ]@architrail on Twitter[/url] for the latest - you can just bookmark the page, you don't have to join and start sucking up to Stephen Fry

yeah when i was there all the restriction posters and barriers were riped down y cant anyone see that its not just being a pain in the ass its there for a reason

So, following my recovery from an injury sustained in March, I had my first blat around the new Ashton Court trails today ... and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Whilst I liked the ‘rutted rootyness’ of the original it had deteriorated into something attritional to get round (despite the fantastic work & commitment of the Bristol Trails Group) and clearly was no longer a sustainable route.

The new resilient surface, small berms, twist, turns and all that make for a decent streamy ride. I reckon that it will increase the average rider’s skill level – to ride quickly and efficiently. It adds something to the scene and compliments the more natural stuff at 50 Acre and LW’s. I noticed a number of blokes pootling along with their young off spring – which was good to see.

All the best.

I went up on Saturday on the Pugsley, ;still enjoying it and it rode well, despite the rain.

The Timberrland trail, (not open yet) looks pretty good. Can't wait.

It gets more fun every time I ride it.

I've only ridden Ashton Court and Leigh Woods a couple of times, but before the new trails were built.

Thought I'd ask the question, how are people incorporating 50 Acre in their loops of Ashton Court? With the trails running anti-clockwise like they used to it was fairly easy to include it in a loop, by cutting through the wall and heading down and around 50 Acre, then climbing back up the lane and hitting the Quarry section. I don't tend to like repeating trails so the new direction is making it difficult to include 50 Acre now.

It's not a moan, just wanted to know what others did? I also don't want to miss any decent parts out.

Once its all open, I'll be starting in [url= http://www.bristoltrailsgroup.com/maps/aston-court ]Keepers Wood[/url], then when I get to the hole in the wall do 50 Acre wood, then back in to AC and finish off the loop, then maybe Leigh Woods.

At the moment I'm doing Keepers wood, Lower / Upper Quarry then up Barn Wood to the start of the red downhill, then generally repeat until bored/tired, with a couple of Cheeky Trails along the way 😉

How do I find out the names of the Cheeky trails!?

I don't understand why they don't drag some big logs over the trails every 100M or so, that would reinforce that they shouldn't be ridden yet.

T hats what they have to do on the Welsh trails, to stop the VERY important people from riding trails that aren't ready yet..

DJ, it's easy to turn it into a loop if you turn rightinstead of left at the end of the downhill with the drop offs in 50 acre, then ride back out via the entrance. If you want to do a longer loop you can also link to Leigh Woods via tracks in Fishponds Wood, behind Abbots Pool.

Rich, they are very restricted as to how much they can disturb the ground around the trails. Besides, people would just go round the logs.

Cheers Milkie and Mr Agreeable.

Mr Agreeable - just been looking at the map on Bing and think I see where you mean for a larger loop. Are the tracks fairly easy to follow. need to have a good explore around there. Where would you enter Leigh Woods if coming from Fishponds?!

Just on the off chance, a couple of months ago I lost the battery cover to my action cam... Anyone found it!? I think it was lost in 50 Acre Wood Area...

Are the tracks fairly easy to follow. need to have a good explore around there. Where would you enter Leigh Woods if coming from Fishponds?!

Here's a rough idea of the route:

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/map#userroute/E57A08B74D809AC6FD3B167876A9B84E,354108.75,173607.5,3

Or you can just keep straight on up the bridle path after leaving 50 Acre and enjoy a nice bashy doubletrack descent down the other side.

When you get to Leigh Woods, you can leave the fire road just after Paradise Bottom and do the Ridge trail in reverse, although the first bit is quite vomitous. Or just stick to the track and you should find yourself in familiar surroundings soon.

, a couple of months ago I lost the battery cover to my action cam... Anyone found it!? I think it was lost in 50 Acre Wood Area...

No but I can guarantee we'll dig it up on a trail day at some point. Hint hint!

current sunday route stands as.....
golf hut down road to first gravel climb for warm up - left into t/trail to join with lower quarry - out quarry gate allong to wraxle come out by lights follow road to plantation(ashton hill) do a loop then wraxle backwards,loop 50 acre ither top or bottom first back up the road from bolders into quarry gate, upper quarry,gravel climb in to red section do a few laps then into begerbush when its opend again round to golf hut
beans on chips
done

Thanks Mr Agreeable. I'll have to drag myself up there again.

They've done great work in Ashton Court, no doubt - a really good use of the space.

BUT... I have to say, I am pretty sad to see some of the LW stuff go. I notice that the interesting stretch of slanty, fractured bedrocky stuff on the corners just beyond the 'rice bowl' section has disappeared - having been completely smoothed over.* I usually climb up that bit of trail, and it was always nicely unpredictable in the wet ( I [i]like[/i] that kind of stuff). I doubt it was in much danger of wearing out, either - shame it couldn't have been incorporated into the new trail.

*I didn't ride it, btw.

If it's been covered over rather than dug out, it'll be back at some point, no?

I was suprised by how far through LW the trails are going - they seem to be doing stuff as far over as Picnic Bench. And from looking at the map of the intended route it seems that Teacups and Don't Look Down will both be incorporated, which will be a big shame if they're smoothed over into a blue trail.

If it's been covered over rather than dug out

Judging by the spoil heaps (I knew the archaeology degree would come in useful), I'd say that some of it has been dug out.

I don't want to come across as a moaning git, because everybody knows that LW is seeing heavy traffic & there needs to be a solution (though, IMO, the felling work at the top of the woods kinda dwarfs anything tyres could do). But I can't pretend that I'm not sad about seeing some of the natural stuff go (and besides, I tend to climb [i]up[/i] many of the sections that are being built to run in the opposite direction!) I know they are working hard & I guess it will need a while to settle in - but the following (from the [url= http://www.1sw.org.uk/experience/trail-hubs/bristol/ ]1SW website[/url]) did amuse me:

We wish to
positively ‘draw’ riders onto the trails by giving them a great experience, not force them. A
boring trail will not do this, but conversely a very rooty and slippery trail doesn’t either.

I like rooty, slippery trails! Hell, it's why I got started. 😀

I think it would be a great shame if the LW trails are turned into (or easy-ficated) a glorified pump track like Ashton Court has been. I guess we'll just have to forge some new, more interesting trails instead.

I realise this goes against most of the posts on this thread. I've watched the these local trails evolve over the last 20 years and in my opinion their character will be forever lost to the current vogue for flowy-pumpy-smoothy bmx tracks.

Still, give it 2 or 3 winters and I'm sure the lovely mud and roots will be making a reappearance.

the current vogue for flowy-pumpy-smoothy bmx tracks

I'm looking forward to thread-the-needle singletrack and awkward technical climbs coming back into vogue. One can but hope...

It's personal preference but I happen to like the new trails - some cliche about them wearing in rather than wearing out springs to mind. I like an awkward techy climb too, but the trails that are getting the facelift are pretty much flat, with nowt to keep riders on the line, so any "techy" bits just get ridden round and the trail widened or braided.

The Mug trail and Don't Look Down are ditched-out zombies of their former selves to me. I remember clearing the former with Matt the Muppet and patting ourselves on the back (my original name for it was "Poke in the Shin" as the spindly trees we were moving had a tendency to twang back on you). After a couple of months we were watching with distress as it rapidly turned into a succession of wheel-gobbling holes and mud pits. The Mug/tea cup trail was christened "Phantom Menace" by a mate, as apparently it was just a substandard replacement for the "Return of the Jedi" trail that used to be there before the clear felling, so it's a strange feeling to hear people referring to it with affection.

As for the "smooth flowy pumpy BMX track" feel, it isn't really something you can avoid when a trail is being built from pre-sorted grades of stone by machinery. Despite the mode of construction being quite literally a blunt instrument, we seem to have been gifted a twisty, turny trail with lots of neat little features. I've ridden crap, straight line-happy featureless man-made trails like Sherwood Pines and the stuff we're getting in Ashton Court is far superior.

Perhaps all the weekends spent filling the holes and blocking off the braided lines have smeared my rose-tinted specs, but I'm not going to miss the old trails much - they were worn out and it was time for something new.

I wonder, are there parallel discussions on skateboarding and BMX forums where people mourn the loss of shagged-out rotten plywood ramps, or pothole-filled parks that are crumbling back into gravel? I'd hazard a guess that people are just excited about having something new to ride.

I think the new trails in AC are great. I'll like them even more when it's winter, and they're still rideable.

Embrace the new stuff. It will be brilliant in Winter. I'm sure that there will be opportunties to develop other off-piste trails for those who want something more challenging, as there are already. There are loads of little cheeky trails running through and bisecting LW. Not so many in AC.

i have to say tho is it me or can nobody rail a berm or hip a corner? quarry is already showing really bad signes of straightlining and cuting inners of corners

Perhaps all the weekends spent filling the holes and blocking off the braided lines have smeared my rose-tinted specs

Heh heh, I certainly intended no disrespect to the sterling work of the BTG over the years. I was just registering the, uuuh, shock of turning a corner & finding that part of a regular loop had disappeared. In a previous life, I always avoided LW during especially wet periods & stuck religiously to lines (not least because I'm a mid-90s era luddite with shagged-out '95 Rock Shox Judys). Apologies for the slight storm/teacup interface. 😀

For sure, hard-wearin' is good - and as you say, the trails need time to bed in. I suppose my concern is that LW is a very different kind of environment from AC & I'm not sure how one would enforce any notion of directional riding, or what that even means in a moderately sized area of woodland. I'd often ride 'up' the Ho Chi Minh/[i]Faux[/i] Chi Minh (& variations thereof) - and much of the appeal of any network of singletrack is being able to re-route your, er, route. Or even better, getting lost in the process.

I noticed on the Better by Bike website that AC is due for completion at the end of the week. Looking forward to doing my first lap although debating whether to wait for Leigh Woods to be complete too. Anyone noticed if the trails are more popular? It says on the website that usage is up.

Way, way more popular. I was out in the pouring rain on thursday evening & saw more people out than I had on dry days on the old trail.

LW build has only just started, so you might be waiting a while.

Is it Ok to go on them when it's wet now then? How's it all holding up?

According to the trail builders it helps bed it all in. And really well, although the grit on the new bits make your drivetrain sound like you've spent the day at a welsh trail centre.

usage is definitely up - saw approx 20-odd riders (not all together) at around 8 a.m on Sunday.

They are open to ride but go easy on them as they're still bedding in. The official snipping of the ribbon won't happen until later in the year as they are still putting in final touches like signage. Popped in for a look at the Leigh Woods trails the other evening and they have only just got started over there, nothing is anywhere near ready to ride yet.

Apparently the counters they've installed in Ashton Court recorded about 20,000 passes over the past 6 weeks - a massive amount of use, even if a lot of that is just the same people doing laps.

Edit: In reply to Rondo101's post above, the designer told me that a bit of riding will help it bed in, but loads of people hammering it may not do it any favours. The Quarry Trail is still mostly looking good after 18 hours of solid abuse at Bike Fest though.

They're also looking for names for the new trails:

http://www.betterbybike.info/name-that-trail

There were a lot of people about on Sunday afternoon, the lower section of New Barn Wood is now open (a lot rockier than the top section), with Beggar Bush Lane due to open this week.

LW is not due to be finished until November.

Did 2 laps this afternoon. All the sections are open and running superbly. Love the revamped 'downhill' section after New Barn Wood. Loads of people out enjoying the new trails.

Is everyone going the same way now? Given the increased traffic you'd hope so...

Nearly ploughed into two people coming up from the Suspension Bridge end....despite the fact they had cycled past the 'No Entry' signs 🙄

Cyclists and signs are like dogs and the word "no" - you've just got to be patient with them and eventually they get the idea. 🙂

For those that love the rootyness, we've having a trail day next Sunday in 50 Acre Wood. The aim is to patch up the trail without losing the character, no machinery involved. See www.bristoltrailsgroup.com for more info.

i'm with boxfish - i used to enjoy the roots and rocks of the south side of the quarry track in AC and I see the diggers are in at the rooty and rocky sections in LW now - boo!
still the trail in 50 acre woods is like a motorway compared to what it used to be like - times change I guess
but I reckon that after a couple of winters and the probable huge increase in traffic the infrastructure will start to break down again and I bet those blokes from Asterix trails won't be back unless there's money involved 🙂

I reckon that after a couple of winters and the probable huge increase in traffic the infrastructure will start to break down again and I bet those blokes from Asterix trails won't be back unless there's money involved

There's an established volunteer trail maintenance group here, it looks like the organisation behind the developments is going to be around in one form another for the foreseeable future, and the head honcho from "Asterix" actually lives in Bristol. But why let that spoil an ill-informed rant eh? 😉

I'm glad you said they still have to sort out the signage!

Is everyone going the same way now?

I saw about 4 groups going the wrong way, most turned around when I told them its one way only now, most were very surprised. The one's that ignored me were the ones with kids! Most of these were along beggar bush, but there were no signs at the end saying about it being one way, no entry and things.

I do have a couple of questions... Which bits are shared trails? Down by the quarry meeting area, there were various people walking dogs along the trail back towards the roundabout. Met a couple of horseriders on beggar bush, by the train bit, had a word and they said the bridleway sent them on to the trail, I could see what they were saying, and were a little bit concerned with a trail of mtb'ers behind them.

LW is not due to be finished until November.

I thought Leigh Woods was due to open at the end of September?! Or has it been pushed back now?

How technical is the red section in AC?

Theres defo a pair of no entry signs at the end of BBL at the gate house yesterday.

I was out this morning and am feeling much happier now that I've seen the 'new' BBL section - yes, it's smooth but it's basically how it was before with much less of a pump track feel and hopefully just much more weather proof. I enjoy the quarry stuff but nothing but pump track style trails would have been a bit too samey for me. I'm looking forward to seeing the LW stuff too..

There's a short section of Beggar Bush which is shared with the gee gees. It's about 20m long and is next to the model railway.

The rest of the trail isn't officially shared, but bear in mind that it's a busy park right next to a city, so expecting the unexpected is a wise move.

It might be advisable to put some signs up letting the MTB'ers know you could come face to face with a massive horse, I was a bit shocked, and so were the horses.

All in all, I'm very pleased with it all, the main problem was signs and people not knowing where the trail starts or which way to go, and I'm hearing they have put up more signs since Sunday afternoon. I'm hoping it will be a lot better once the building is built, every week someone asks me where to go.

Hopefully there won't be people pushing prams along the trail and people with dogs being shocked next week! Loving the BBL, love the 3 little drop/jumps. 🙂

I told them its one way only now

I still don't think this is going to be appropriate in LW. Plus, I'd like to know what route the new trail is going to take along the bluff (Rim Trail). That's a sweet spot in the woods.

Anyway... it's nice to see so many people out riding bikes, that's for sure.

Right, so how long is a lap of AC taking, just cruising around and not pushing it?! I guess it's a bit quicker than it used to be?!

Might be worth sticking a copy of the map in this thread to refer to:

[img] [/img]

So is the new TT no longer a multi use trail? As it always used to be, hence the walkers/joggers/dog walkers and on occassion horses you would see.

Had a quick blast on Monday night, agree the new trails have turned out really good. But[u]there are now hundreds (literally) of people queuing to get on them. Came across a group of around fifteen riders on the BBL section who appeared to be having some sort of tuition by a mate. They were causing serious hold ups which resulted in i reckon nearly thirty riders strung out at walking pace along the trail. And at every intersection it was a similar story.

I think this will sort itself out eventually, but right now everybody with any old bike in their garage are heading to AC at every opportunity:<

Edit: in fact i actually came across a couple of guys on old road bikes trying to get through the section after the stony golf course climb.

ups which resulted in i reckon nearly thirty riders strung out at walking pace along the trail. And at every intersection it was a similar story.

I think this will sort itself out eventually, but right now everybody with any old bike in their garage are heading to AC at every opportunity:<

Treat it like a race, politely ask to move on by to the left / right when they are ready, then if that fails push them in a bush.

KT- i dont usually take long to get by slower riders. The old racing "on your right" nice and loud usually scares the bejesus out of people as my s/s is almost silent.

It has to be a good thing having loads more people doing healthy stuff, just not on my trails 😉

KT- i dont usually take long to get by slower riders. The old racing "on your right" nice and loud usually scares the bejesus out of people as my s/s is almost silent.

I prefer 'Elite rider to your left' It scares and belittles them at the same time, winwin.

I find "Arghhh No brakes!!!" works really well

Rode the full thing this morning for the first time. Lots of new signs have appearred. Like all of it and loved some bits

What a great resource to have on our doorstep. Coupled with 50 Acre, New Leigh Woods & Off piste Leigh Woods we are very, very lucky.

I personally preferred the old AC when dry but I reckon the new trail is great and very happy to have a weather proof trail.

Also can take the kids there at the w/e's. Time with kids, time on bike, brownie points at home = happy Taz

Good to hear about the signs, Architrail did say they were doing them this week.

Its going to be soo busy once the new building is up... When is it going up!?

As above, we are pretty damn lucky to have this on our doorstep... Well 20 minute drive for me!

Its going to be soo busy once the new building is up... When is it going up!?

April, according to the 1SW website:

[url= http://www.1sw.org.uk/experience/trail-hubs/bristol/ ]http://www.1sw.org.uk/experience/trail-hubs/bristol/[/url]

Went to the Quantock's enough said 😉

I have changed my mind on my opening post after riding AC and Leigh woods with some locals tonight.. WELL DONE TRAIL BUILDERS and big thanks to the guys that showed me around !
MINT as they say round here!

Loving the new trails at Ashton Court - although have noticed quite a few people riding the wrong way despite the direction signs being stuck up last week.

Then noticed that the signs had been ripped off in several locations (vandals or pig-headed old skool riders?).

Does anyone know why the signs have been ripped off the posts?

Does anyone know why the signs have been ripped off the posts?

Quite possibly pissed off dog walkers.

IMO if they can be ripped off, they ain't good enough signs! I also think some of the signs need to be a little bigger.

Saturday was a great day, didn't see a single person going the wrong way.. Apart from one guy carrying his blue ht up new barn wood rock garden, a huge improvement over last weeekends ride.

I was out this morning and looking at the signs, I can't see them lasting long - they're just much too easy to vandalise and unfortunately time has shown that that will happen if it can...

I have been wondering what the small blue flags either side of the trail are ? Sections that need repair? Just most didn't seem to be anywhere near damage.

Little blue flags are to knock out with your back wheel as you go past...5 pints each.

Back to the original post, I've found that it actually quicker to go slower and straighter through the very twiddly bits.

I'm not sure about everyone saying it will improve their bike skills. The old "Wall" track had some amazing lines over tree roots and rocks that required a real level of skill to keep carrying good speed. There were multiple lines and reading these took real skill. Now you just need to be good at berms and rollers.

I'm bored of it all already!

5 pints or points? if the former then the post-ride pub visit is going to be interesting this evening...

Call it a positive typo!

Ride today took in 1.5 laps of new AC trails, 50 Acre woods and some of the Gorge side, Leigh Woods stuff (Knicker Trail, Picnic Table, Rocky Horror).

That is some fast smooth bermy, pumpy stuff. Some rocky, rooty singletrack and some steep tight technical riding. In future I will add in a trip to Still Woods for the bigger jumps to get a complate set. 🙂

Reckon no other UK city can boast of such a variety of riding within such easy reach of the city centre. 🙂

Looking forward to ridng the new stuff. When you say Newbarn Wood Rock Garden, how rocky is it?

Can't undersatnd why certain neanderthals would pull down the signs. I suggest that everytime you see someone going the wrong way then mention it to them and if we all start doing it they'll soon change!

Started using my Superlight for my commute bike now, a quick detour from home up Ashton Court, around and about the trail and into town/work. Might get sick of it after a few weeks but it beats going to the gym!

Someone in my club did the NBW rocky section on a CX bike and lived. Not to recommended but should indicate the rocky-ness.

Still woods is still out of bounds isn't it?

The old "Wall" track had some amazing lines over tree roots and rocks that required a real level of skill to keep carrying good speed.

I miss those sections - and the 'woodchippings' bit (which was nice and fast) - but I accept that it's all for [Hot Fuzz] "The Greater Good" [/Hot Fuzz].

Thing is, you can build nicely bermed & roller'd trails almost anywhere - you could build 'em on a gently sloping sports field. Trails in the woods tend to have their own particular character, hence my concern at some of the stuff in Leigh Woods. I've got no problem (indeed, I welcome) a 'blue' trail running around LW, but I really hope they don't smooth over the interesting bits along the Rim Trail/Don't Look Down. 😕

I rode up through AC from Failand to the Clifton archway on my evening road ride, my god I have never in the 10+ years I have been riding AC seen so many mtb'ers around the area, there was one group of about 30!

Of course as I was riding a road bike so I treated them [u]all[/u] with the contempt the deserved.