[Closed] Ashton Court! Brizzole

Found it fine on my early morning slighlty hungover lap at Bikefest.

It's you. And me...

It'll teach a few of us how to ride differently. Pumping, small jumps, riding berms the right way.

Just avoid the posse that ride round in circles all night timing their laps and ostentatiously skidding as they exit the last bend, tutting as they fail to beat their personal best.

I may have been overly relaxed due to the previous nights frivolity, so would probably ride it like a bag of spanners any other time 😉

It is a wee bit tight in places and nobody rides it like a pro - hence the bits wearing where people can't quite make the last of a series of tight turns etc. Obviously, riding a 29er like I do, I can't turn at all so just straight line the whole thing like it isn't there.

I find the new bit along the quarry fine but the new red section has some real tight twists and turns! Rode it a few times over the last week and never quite nailed it all in one.

Still practice makes perfect!

It's mint on a rigid big wheeler. Try locking your forks out or turning the compression right up - easier to pump without the bike squidging all over the place. Have only hit one tree so far, well below my usual average.

I am liking it. Been riding as they open it. I'm a yokel. Took the Pugsley up Saturday and yesterday, what a laugh and if I can get round on that, there's hope for us all. Just got back from a club ride there tonight, a few weeks ago I would have said it's not my thing, but now...I think it's brill........

There's plenty of flow for sure. I think most negativity will stem from people who are suddenly finding that their skill level isn't quite what they thought.

The less travel the better if you ask me. My Heckler is hard work round the new bits but my newly built Cove Sanchez (run SS) is pretty much perfect.

The final few rock drops towards the end of the New Barn Wood section are pretty unforgiving if you're not carrying enough speed.

I like it, although i wouldn't like to see Leigh Woods laid the same. Its tight in a couple of places up the quarry but that doesn't make it a bad thing... for me anyway. Overall its a lot easier but quicker than it used to be i reckon, especially the gradual climb up to the quarry section, that was a sapper for a long time! agentdagnamit hits the nail on the head though! ;o)

I like it, although i wouldn't like to see Leigh Woods laid the same

plus 1

LW won't be the same as they're unable to machine lay alot of the new stuff due to every thing being that bit tighter. Most of the new trail surface will be hand laid basically, as i understand it at least.

None of Ashton Court's trails were difficult anyway, just unpleasant to ride for most of the year. Given all the rain lately, i'd say it gives a good indication of how well the new trails will hold up over winter.

Anyone know why Ashton Court is in the direction it is when BBF seemed to be in the right direction?

Yep, it's trickier than the surface/gradient would suggest - great, as it won't get boring. Reckon this time next year we'll all be riding gods!

a few weeks ago I would have said it's not my thing, but now...I think it's brill

The sound of a mid ife radness!

If only people would respect the orange barriers and not just ride them down and through the unfinished parts - idiots.

Anyone know why Ashton Court is in the direction it is when BBF seemed to be in the right direction?

Planning restrictions. Something to do with the trail widening and encroaching on the ecology. I think there might be an interesting announcement about it soon.

Anyone know why Ashton Court is in the direction it is when BBF seemed to be in the right direction?

There was going to be a longer downhill to the bottom of the estate, but when the environmental surveys were done it became apparent that it was off the cards. That meant the only way they could build a decent length downhill was by keeping the existing direction. Swings and roundabouts though as the same surveys made it clear that it could go back into the woods for a lot of its length rather than plodding along the edge of a field in an uninspiring fashion.

LW won't be the same as they're unable to machine lay alot of the new stuff due to every thing being that bit tighter. Most of the new trail surface will be hand laid basically, as i understand it at least.

There's one section that will be built this way but the rest will probably be quite similar to Ashton Court. However the trail that's being rebuilt is the Ho Chi Minh loop round the top of the wood. This was running great a few years back but is now just a hole-filled mess, and anyone who mourns its passing is probably suffering from some sort of weird misplaced emotional attachment.

Yep, it was a struggle this winter to find anything to ride that wasn't soup.

Loving the new sections, makes me feel like a riding god! The walkers are also loving the new sections, saw 3 on the trail by quarry at different points, to be fair I couldn't see any signs saying it was a mountain bike trail by quarry.

A family tried walking the wrong direction on the trail, imo a 6" square sign saying no entry is not enough, people are muppets. Some of the sections haven't got the orange barrier, but its pretty obvious you shouldn't be riding, but that hasn't stopped some.

There was a lot of people going to the start of the trail and finding out it's closed. I couldn't see anything saying which sections are closed, but I didn't look very hard.

Signage aside, trails are looking good and looking forward to an all year round trail!

AC has always been an all year round trail. It just seems that people don't like to ride in mud. Pah.

There are signs on the board by the gate, showing what's open and closed. I don't mind riding in mud but longer term it does b*gger the trails so don't. LW / 50 acre etc are slightly better in the winter...

The quarry path is no longer a trail. It's a miniature bike park for the terminally unimaginative.

Still worth a visit, not as much as i used to though.

I've started using Ashton Hill Woods a lot more after coming through Tyntesfield from 50 acre. Need to find a good route back from Ashton Hill to Ashton Court without using the road or the golf course.

The quarry path is no longer a trail. It's a miniature bike park for the terminally unimaginative.

Stop with the negative waves, man. It's a trail that will be ridable all year round.

There are signs on the board by the gate,

Is it solely a bike path now? as the old TT used to be a multiuse trail, so you had to keep an eye out for runners and walkers.

Back to the OP imo the trail has far more flow than it has for year, the berms allow you to carry far more speed than before and can be ridden on a ht as fast if not faster than a fs. Previously riding the quarry trail was a reward for having suspension not skill.

Having said that I've got an old school 29er that is just too long and cumbersome to get round the tighter berms in New Barn Wood so the FS wins just by being more nimble. That's just an excuse for a new bike though 😀

I just don't understand those who complain, they obviously have rose tinted spectacles and remember the old pre TT days before hundreds of people used them. There are still plenty of 'natural' trails in LW and elsewhere and I'll continue to use them but its dryish but in the winter Ashton Court and the new LW section will be a brilliant change from plodding around in the mud and spending hours cleaning the bike or worse going on a winter night roadride.

I went for a 30 minute blast on the new trails in the pissing rain and I didn't have to clean my bike afterwards. That's a good thing.

I'm not mud averse but having proper riding near the centre of town and having to commute in that vicinity anyway, it's nice to nip in for a quick run at any time of the year and not have to worry about spending an hour or more in the garage dealing with the aftermath.

We've lost a great natural trail that's only fun to ride for a couple of weeks in the year, but gained a great obviously man-made trail that'll still be fun to ride on a miserable, rainy saturday in January.

And as CD says, plenty of natural stuff going untouched in Leigh Woods and 50 acre has been much better since the logging thinned the canopy. I probably rode these bits more than Ashton Court anyway. So it's win-win for me.

If anyone out there can hit all the drops, manual all the rollers, and clear all the jumps on the new bits of trail then by all means complain about how boring they are. Otherwise, get practicing. 😉

It just seems that people don't like to ride in mud.

It is the relentless plugging around in the mud that trashes the trails in AC / LW etc - the belief that somehow it is more mountain bikey to churn up an already wrecked muddy gulley all winter repeated 100 times a week made the Ho Chi Minh Trail what it is now - useless.

It's a miniature bike park for the terminally unimaginative.

It is a single length of trail that won't die quickly from the ever-increasing numbers riding there. There are always dullards who session the same 400 yards 20 times a night - but at least the trail can cope with it there now.

I for one am very much looking forward to trails that can be ridden in winter without the use of a snorkel.

The new quarry section is ace fun - a great addition to the trails in Brizzle. Nice one Architrail dudes!

Is it solely a bike path now? as the old TT used to be a multiuse trail, so you had to keep an eye out for runners and walkers.

Got to say when you combine this new (completed) all weather stuff with the remaining natural trails we are going to be very spoilt in Bristol.

Rolled through the Barn Wood section a couple of days ago just to have a look. It will be a nice challenge at full tilt 🙂

Top effort by all involved

maybe my Pitch was the wrong bike! 🙂 but its my only bike 🙁

Maybe the Pitch is exactly the right bike, but you are it's only rider?

Boxfixh: You're entitled to your opinions.....but you're wrong of course.

Having ridden the new stuff a couple of times now, I'm about 80% happy.

I like the new stuff. It's fun, and I'm crap at it, but I can't help but get better riding it once a week or so. And it won't be rubbish in the winter (or summer, or any other season when it rains for a week solidly).

That's the good 80%.

The other 20% mourns the passing of some good trails, which didn't (in my opinion) require such a high level of intervention. If you look at the kind of work the BTG do, it really enhances the existing trails whilst keeping the original feel, but this is just wiping out old and replacing with something totally different.

It doesn't really feel like mountain biking to me, or at least makes me feel as though I have wandered into an unfamiliar sub-culture.

I think I just wish we could have had both (maybe it's time to reclaim the old pr0n trail that was wrecked by the loggers a few years back?)

+1 Leon. The new stuff is great, but that doesn't stop me pining after some of the old stuff. wanting your cake and eating it I guess...

I have enjoyed the lack of mud recently though...

I was there on Sunday for the first time and quite enjoyed the bits I did. It made me realise how much I need to do to improve my riding!

I went out there last night to have a look, its very busy but not really what I like riding as anything that requires suspension has been removed (ie: all the roots and rocks), the doubles and drops were fun in a jumping off very small kerbs way, but my ride to Bath on the cycletrack has more technical bits now.

Lots and lots of people riding it though, and a few of them were even in control, I saw 4 crashes in around 5 minutes, as people couldn't do the turns?!?! and were moaning about it.

Are there any plans to put big rocks/logs on the corners to stop the straight liners? As I noticed that the corners are being cut already and the edges of the track are breaking away, and the track is going to be stripes of grey and brown when things start to get wet again.

Looks like a perfect green family trail TBH, so people need to keep an eye out for kids on the tracks.

but not really what I like riding as anything that requires suspension has been removed

I think that's a good thing. From what I'm told, riding it quickly now requires skill, rather than just crashing through and letting a full susser do all the work. It also opens up access to those who can't afford an expensive bike.

I don't understand why so many people are moaning about this. So what, it's a new trail, yes you dont need to be riding FS gnarly everything, but you can use it to train and get better skills as has been mentioned. It is a prime city location and is meant to cater for all. Even if people do call it a blue route, I've done good blue routes at Newcastleton and Whinlatter, and IMO if it gets people riding, all the better!

Ahhh, but it's not [i]technical[/i] if there are no dinky roots, or blown-out holes to ride round/over. A [b]flat[/b] trail like AC is only [i]technical[/i] enough for the trail gods here if there are enough surface imperfections for them to plough through on their mid-range, mid travel full sus bikes, while straight-lining any of those pesky corners some cheeky imps have been trying to maintain.

And surface imperfections are the [i]only[/i] measure of [i]technicality[/i] worth considering.

What arcitrail have done, is to practically [i]tarmacadam a motorway[/i] through the woods, and there is [i]no possibility[/i] of these eroding and evolving into much more technically demading interesting trail than the 6 foot wide mess that was there before.

None whatsoever.

ADH, with the amount of corner cutting going on the trail isn't going to last very long anyway as some of the trails are starting to fall away already.

Big rocks and slippy roots slow people down so they actually try and turn, even if the big roots are on the edge of the trail that would help, at the moment its a grey cyclepath, just without the white line indicating which side people should walk on.

I don't mind it being a green trail, as its great on my rigid SS however the speed some people are going combined with how easy it is, will lead to some nasty accidents with novices/kids.

Yawn.

I tend to find, even if people corner cut, the berm remains for people who want to ride it properly.

The trails are not finished. The lads know what they're doing. They're going to go back, see how people have been riding stuff and adjust if necessary. Normal trail building protocol.

Frankly, the sneering ill-informed criticism is becoming boring.

the trail isn't going to last very long anyway

They're going to be there for a while yet and they're making daily adjustments already. I think the fact they're opening it as they build it is going to make it evolve over the next months to prevent that.

I think they were initially a bit tetchy about people riding it too soon but if anything, Bikefest convinced them that there's actually a lot to be learned from letting probably one of the most used trails in the country just get on and be used, allowing tweaks to be made insitu.

Rumor has it they've even turned back on the decision to run beggar bush lane uphill and it will no be a descent. They're listening liek they have done right from the start. We may have a rose tinted view of the old trails but this is going to be great balance of what we need and want from Bristol.

I have to cycle past Ashton Court to get home, it's getting really hard to resist going in and being late home for the little ones bath time!

Fair enough, if it isn't finished and they will be going back to sections I will STFU, as if they know what they are doing as ADH says I am sure they will fix the issues that seem to be appearing.

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TBH I'm sure some issues will remain, but they'll be like nothing as compared to before.

popped up to AC at the weekend for the 1st time since the new trails have started to be built, having read the threads about it i wasn't sure what to expect but tried to be open minded. I rode through 50 acre to start and felt battered by the end - blimey it's rooty on a ht, then rode the quarry trail/s for a bit - i thought they were excellent, pumpy,jumpy, fast, tech (to ride fast) whilst still being doable for families and beginners - top job folks. Just need Still to re-open for Bristol to reach it's potential!

What's LW looking like at the moment is it all still blocked by felled trees?

Bits are, I (and others) are clearing bits when out walking.

Anyone know what's happening with Still?

Things have gone very quiet with Still - last time I spoke to the uni guys it seemed like a plan was coming together to reinvent it as an amazing riding spot that would also benefit the community, but no news yet. There is a possibility we will be able to get part of Ashton Hill set aside as a dh/gnarly xc area, particularly if a few older responsible types want to get involved.

I have a beard, and can pretend to be responsible.

I don't have a beard but I am gnarly and ride a SS

Send me an email and I'll let you know when things start to happen.

I don't have a beard but I am gnarl[s]y[/s]ed and ride a SS

FTFY Flashy 😀

to the Bristol trails group email?

I take my defence of architrail back - they're about to put a patio in 😐

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Just got back, it's "interesting" dry on the Pugsley........

i think the flow of it is great and soooo much fun.

You'd think we'd lost some sort of MTB mecca when you read some of the criticism regarding the new trails!!! AC and LW are, to me at least, flat but fun trails to get my commuting fix on. The weekends are for going further afield to ride more challenging stuff.

Some people seem to forget that this is public money to be spent getting more people into MTB not soley to appeal to a bunch of narrow minded, stuck in their ways, £"$%s!

The negative comments are soooooo predictable. One things for sure, come winter you'll be bloody thankful.

Will the haters give up riding AC and LW surfaced trails?.......of course not. They'll ride them, enjoy them, maybe even smile abit but still slag them off.

My take:

Summer - I miss the old rooty, rocky, Bristol-ness. Bring back the old trails.

Winter - interesting, challenging, bmx-y, not remotely my type of trail, dry, gloop-free trails. Superb.

I've had 20 years enjoying the old stuff, I could easily descend into grumpy old man "it was better in my day" nonsense, but overall - it's new, it's different, it requires the acquisition of new riding skills, it demonstrates a commitment to mountain biking for Bristol - bring it on.

Ant, am i gnarly and old enough?

The direction change has been formerly announced, finally!

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The direction change has been formerly announced, finally!

There is only one direction, my direction.

You mean I've been riding it the wrong way all these years......

A sensible call. It is really looking good. Just think small block 8's all year round......

You mean I've been riding it the wrong way all these years......

No pretty much as Archtrail have it, I still prefer the lower quarry trail in reverse, that said I haven't ridden any of it since the Bikefest.

Did it for the first time since the new build on wednesday. Wasn't too sure what to expect having read the comments on here, but I really enjoyed it. Yes it's on the simple side, but it's nice and fast and flowy and perfect for a post work blast. I think it'll be appreciated a lot more come winter!

Agree with the people above though, what happens in Still is the bit I'm most interested in.

I was out this morning and it is riding pretty damn well. I even managed the quad set of pump bumps in New Barn wood without almost endoing 🙂

I had a look at the downhill that will be in place to lead from NBW to the bottom and they've put in all those rocks from the pic above - it's certainly not smooth! Would be nice if they could do some of that elsewhere too.

I tried a few runs of all the new stuff and having tried it with fork locked out and not, I reckon I rode it better and faster with the lockout on. I definitly reckon the new trails are better on a hardtail now.

I tried a few runs of all the new stuff and having tried it with fork locked out and not, I reckon I rode it better and faster with the lockout on. I definitly reckon the new trails are better on a hardtail now.

My money (if I had any) would be on a 29er SS rigid now, in fact I may get some carbon rigids for the scandal.

Mike - you know that 29ers can't go round corners - why would you even try to ride the new trails? 🙄

Mike - you know that 29ers can't go round corners - why would you even try to ride the new trails?

Eh?

You know - the accepted wisdom that 29ers have wheels bigger than the moon and are impossible to get around corners and don't work in twisty turny places.

I see, I'm still open minded as I've yet to ride one, though I can imagine they will roll well over the new trails.

I was on my 29er this morning 🙂

I still think the 26" bikes are more fun on most of the new stuff (partly no doubt because it feels like riding a BMX on a BMX track) though the 29er absolutely flies on the more open, flowing stuff towards the end of upper quarry.

I must get up there and give it a blast when I get bored of the road bike, oh hang on I probably won't notice the difference. 😉

Good call to reverse the direction of the trail. The start won't be as obvious but it makes much more sense than finishing with a gravel track descent.

Rich, the trails group address is fine. That's why I have it there.

Ollie, you're welcome to get involved if your busy roller racing schedule permits.

I've ridden it 29er SS rigid (forks locked out) and 140mm FS 26er and although as Clubber mentions the 29er is fast in the more open sections at the end of the quarry it does get tied up a bit in the first section and on New Barn Wood.
I know TooTall has is tongue firmly in his cheek but for a taller rider IMO its not the size of a wheel that makes 29ers more cumbersome in the twisty stuff it's the longs chainstays and on older bikes (like mine) the front end geometry.
The FS is massive overkill but the geometry suits the new trails better.
I suspect at 26er hardtail will be the fastest or one of the more nimble 29ers like the Yelli Screamy or Paradox that I have my eye on now.
Ultimately though as long as your having fun it doesn't matter if you are the fastest or best suited bike.

I make my bikes more cumbersome - any bike - doesn't have to be 29er. Slinging this much pink squidgy stuff around the gaps between trees is hard work in itself - even tho I'm down to a svelte 240lbs these days.