Ashton Court! Brizzole

there was ALOT of riders out tonight was doing some teaching to a fellow rider on the bikefest camping fields.

Having ridden there tonight, I now feel qualified to comment.

What a superb little route! The trail surface is very flat at the moment, and generally represents all I detest about trail centres, but it’ll weather in. It compensates by having smashing little features all the way round, all the time.

I think they’ve done a superb job. New riders can ride it and chicken-run the features, and more experienced riders can rag the crap out of it. We did an exploratory circuit and a half (the half being a bit of a tootle), but by the time we finished the loop, we were grinning like idiots and completely mashed.

I do reflect on the former trails with a little sadness, but theres so much natural stuff in the woods, I think the new trail is complimentary to those.

Thumbs up from me. Just ride it at full whack.

AC was immensely busy tonight, it was insane! The car park was full! Lots of people out, but not many on the trails, I just seemed to see them hanging around at the entry to each section.

The best thing about these new AC bits? LW is practically deserted. The LW trails are so dry and flowy at the moment, they bring an even bigger smile to my face than anything in AC can. I just keep getting lost over there!!!

I was there tonight, first time I’ve been since everything’s been open. Maybe you saw me if you were one of the many, many other riders up there tonight; I was the overweight and overbiked guy on a Specialized SX Trail, looking like I may suffer cardiac arrest any time…

Anyway, I loved it. The guy I was with was riding my HT (hence my use of the silly bike) because he’s totally new and doesn’t have his own bike yet. He’d ridden off road twice in his life before tonight and came away grinning like a fool. Mission accomplished there!

I think the trails will get better as they wear in a bit, and with the amount of traffic up there at the moment, that shouldn’t take too long.

I just seemed to see them hanging around at the entry to each section.

Thats only the riders that are having a rest so if you think about it there must be heaps more riding in a different part of the trail or resting in a different part of the trail. Theres lots of people up there these days with more to come no doubt!

I go up every morning on the way to work, i saw one rider this morning!

I only manage to get up during the daytime and if I’m really unlucky I get to see one other rider. 😀
Virtually the whole trail to myself.

Suprisingly it’s also completely empty in the morning from around 5:30 to 7am though I do occassionally hear someone clattering down the red rocky section at around 6:30 🙂

I do occassionally hear someone clattering down the red rocky section at around 6:30

Might be me!

Could be 🙂 I’ve definitely seen someone a couple of times who looks like they’re on their commute – IIRC I did speak to someone at the start of the red section a few weeks ago to say that it was open.

The best thing about these new AC bits? LW is practically deserted.

Very true the LW gorge side trails were ace last night. After this mornings rain though I imagine it will be AC tonight.

Could be I’ve definitely seen someone a couple of times who looks like they’re on their commute

Say hello if you see me, i’m on a red superlight. 🙂

And isn’t that just brilliant – instead of churning up LW/50 acre/etc, people will tend to gravitate to the new trails when wet which can actually take it.

Ah, no, the bloke was on a hardtail but I’ll keep an eye out for you now

Auuw, I sense a bromance developing..

Their eyes met over the smooth flowy singletrack at dawn!

How about a photo of our bikes? So we know what to look out for?

I’m usually up Ashton Court on a weekend morning on this..
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My Mountain Bike[/url] by MilkieKula[/url], on Flickr

Shout out “Milkie” and I will look around and scowl at you 😉

I am early morning lurker also. You will recognise me as over dressed & over biked (Nicolai & ‘soft’ body armour) 🙂

In my defense I usually do AC with my mate from 6 ish to 7 ish then I head either to Leigh Woods for the steep stuff or Still for the jumps for the 2nd hour, before heading off to work

Trying to get the HT back up and running as I reckon the AC stuff will be great on a HT

You’d know if you met KINGTUT. You’d just know.

The riding in Leigh Woods last night was just sublime – lovely fast singletrack at the witching hour, dropping back down to the river & then on to the Nova for ales… lush! Hello to the rider on the Orange Prestige – I forgot to return the ‘nice old steel bike’ compliment.

Only downer was the trail saboteur who had resorted to breaking live saplings in an effort to block the trails – hopefully our paths will cross soon. 😈

The riding in Leigh Woods last night was just sublime – lovely fast singletrack at the witching hour, dropping back down to the river & then on to the Nova for ales… lush! Hello to the rider on the Orange Prestige – I forgot to return the ‘nice old steel bike’ compliment.

Only downer was the trail saboteur who had resorted to breaking live saplings in an effort to block the trails – hopefully our paths will cross soon.

Were you on a Bontrager?

Still for the jumps for the 2nd hour

So has stuff started to be rebuilt at Still?

No. Still is still closed. Everythign was flattened. It’ll be back some time in the next decade …

Were you on a Bontrager?

I’m always on a Bontrager. Except when I’m at work. Or asleep. 😀

I was the girl with the guy on the Orange Clockwork 8)

I’m assuming it’s him you are talking about anyway 😆

And I was at the back with them!

the guy on the Orange Clockwork

Ah, it was a Clockwork – it’s been a while since I’ve seen one of those glorious paintjobs…

Nice meeting y’all (twice!) – Brizzle riding at its best. 😀

And you! Hi cplater1! *waves*

heya! *wave back* Still a bit achey from that ride, so much fun!

Glad you enjoyed it. Will probably do the same next week.

I’m up for that cos can’t make monday due to work.

Only downer was the trail saboteur who had resorted to breaking live saplings in an effort to block the trails – hopefully our paths will cross soon.

We came across a VERY angry dog walker last night who was insistent that the trails we were on “weren’t cycle paths”. I’m sure the point that they weren’t dog walking paths either and wouldn’t have been there were it not for riders would have been lost on him, so I didn’t argue.

He struck me as a potential for one of LW’s stickmen.

I wouldn’t like to walk a dog down Picnic Bench, that’s for sure!!!

We came across a VERY angry dog walker last night who was insistent that the trails we were on “weren’t cycle paths”. I’m sure the point that they weren’t dog walking paths either and wouldn’t have been there were it not for riders would have been lost on him, so I didn’t argue.

I’m afraid this is likely to increase as the dog walkers will also want to enjoy it’s all weather surface.

I wouldn’t like to walk a dog down Picnic Bench, that’s for sure!!!

My dogs followed me down there many times!

I wouldn’t like to walk a dog down Picnic Bench, that’s for sure!!!

I’ve walked it, done a cart wheel down it, slid down it, minced down it, I don’t bother trying to ride it anymore..

I keep saying ‘Still Woods’ but sounds like that is not the correct name.

Whatever the woods near Failand are called?

Ashton Hill/Plantation

My dogs followed me down there many times!

Mine too, he does keep looking back and me, wondering why I am so slow 🙁

The bastard does cut the corners though.

I’m afraid this is likely to increase as the dog walkers will also want to enjoy it’s all weather surface.

The old TT was sold as a multisport trail hence the dog walkers got used to using it, so its kinda hard to get people off it now.

Basically if you can’t stop, your are out of control.

twundred!