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So next week I start on a new project and will be based in Bristol, home is Staffordshire (Cannock Chase area) and I'm looking for some riding in the area.
From memory this has be done before here but nothing is coming up in the first couple of search results pages so I'm asking again.
After a few weeks settling in I'm expecting to get a base in the city centre and will be back home at weekends so ideally I'm going to hunt out spots for weeknight riding through the year.
So, understanding that the riding scene is pretty strong in Bristol what are my best options?
Cheers.
Starting with the obvious, the official trails at Ashton Court and Leigh Woods are fun for a quick spin, and relatively weather-resistant. There's the volunteer-built stuff in 50 Acre which is pretty muddy at the moment. Pack your Magic Marys. There's an overview of all the local stuff here:
http://bristoltrailsgroup.com/local-trails/
Most of the really fun stuff is local knowledge though.
If it's properly minging then Cwmcarn is only a 45 minute drive away and is a good all-weather option.
There's a few of us ride every Tuesday night from the gatehouse at Ashton Court nearest the Clifton Suspension Bridge and you'd be welcome to tag along, if you can stand a 1:1 riding to faff ratio.
Mr A et al,
looking on that site http://bristoltrailsgroup.com/route-guide/bourton-and-beyond/ this seems promising for a ride out, does anyone know if its still rideable, some websites are rarely updated just checking there isnt a housing estate over it now!
Ashton Court and Leigh Woods have all weather trails, which are ok for a spin. Once the weather clears up there are loads of little 'off-piste', steeper fun bits to explore as well but they're either unrideable or just grim in the winter. I tend to ride either Monday or Wednesday nights at the moment. Rides get posted on the Cheesy Riders facebook page.
Just to echo the above, the very local trails in Ashton Court and Leigh Woods are all weather and fine for an evening blast or night ride. There's loads of good cheeky stuff off the main trails too, but only really worthwhile when dry. These are very close to the city centre, though. Its a shortish drive to some great other stuff depending on what you like: Cwmcarn, Wentwood, North Nibley, Forest of Dean, Mendips. All good for a longer evening ride or a downhill play although perhaps more suited to a day out. There's also a reasonable bridleway network to the South and East but nothing too special and needs quite a bit of road to make a loop.
I'm a regular Mendip rider, but due to a combination of tree felling destroying loads of good Singletrack, incompetence on trail reinstatement by the AONB and the terrible, terrible weather this winter, I've written it off until the weather is drier. I can't honestly recommend it, even to visitor's at the moment.
Just a reminder that Belmont is closed for the winter while they rebuild and repair it
Mr A et al,looking on that site http://bristoltrailsgroup.com/route-guide/bourton-and-beyond/ this seems promising for a ride out, does anyone know if its still rideable, some websites are rarely updated just checking there isnt a housing estate over it now!
The main track down the middle of Bourton Combe has a lot of trees down on it at the moment and is only about 75% rideable. There are alternative lines if you sniff around. Everywhere's very muddy at the moment too but I've ridden it a couple of times this year and enjoyed the change from the man-made stuff.
The main track down the middle of Bourton Combe has a lot of trees down on it at the moment and is only about 75% rideable. There are alternative lines if you sniff around. Everywhere's very muddy at the moment too but I've ridden it a couple of times this year and enjoyed the change from the man-made stuff.
Thank you, its on the todo list. If its anything like cranham in glos then i feel for you
Or get in touch with us;
www.thecheesyriders.co.uk
we're a nice bunch I ride AC / LW most nights and there are "organised" night rides during the week..........
Thanks all for the suggestions. I'll certainly be in touch once I've found my feet as I need to make sure the move doesn't kill off my already irregular mid-week riding.
I've spent time at Cwmcarn and FoD (uplifting) and like them both but reckon they're likely to be a bit too far away for evening spins out.
It's going to take some getting used to after a lifetime of popping out onto Cannock Chase whenever I get a chance.