More Bristol trails (Leigh Woods)

Finally the trails in Leigh Woods have opened, well most of it anyway and flipping good they are too. Lots of variation in trail from jumps to berms to technical sections and a skills loop containing all that drop offs and rock gardens.

Some people apparently can't wait a few weeks for it to bed in!

On my way home for Christmas I saw that not only had Leigh Woods opened but a mate of mine who was passing through Bristol got to ride them before me. After his very positive verdict and knowing what Architrail have achieved at Ashton Court I was incredibly eager to check these new trails out.

As I mentioned in my last post I had a fairly large false start to the year but managed to get up there a few days later. When I entered the woods I was confronted with a section that wasn’t open yet but looked like a lot of fun, switchbacks descending a short but steep bit of hillside. I continued in to the woods my sense of excitement growing. With my bike feeling pretty dialled beneath me I was ready and raring to get stuck in to what waited for me.

I had seen the start of the trail when I’d been in on little rides through the woods before, though there’s not much that can be gleaned from that point. Setting off down the trail I discovered small jumps and berms which nicely warm you up for what’s to come. Continuing on, the jumps and berms grow including this lovely set that I am still yet to hit at full pelt.

The trail continues in much the same vein but with only a few larger jumps dotted throughout,  a couple of red sections shoot off to the right, which are technical with steep sections going both up and down, so far I’ve not managed to get through them without messing up. 

Beyond the dual direction path to the car park is the skills loop, which has rock gardens steep descents, berms, jumps and drop offs to practice, as well as a short rocky climb back up towards the trail. After this section you reach the lowest point therefore have to begin the climb back up fortunately this is interspersed with flatter sections to stop it being one big slog, this takes you back to the car park and from there back to the start of the trail on a fairly flat section again with a few features to keep you awake.

You're actually meant to ride up this.

It’s a cracking ride with very varied features and as designed is as hard as you want to make it. My only issues with the course are that some of the off-shoot features such as the rock garden before the car park are a little difficult to get on to without losing speed, though this may just be me. The trail is generally very flowy leading nicely from one section to the next however this is broken up by the crossing of paths for other users and the need to slow riders down before hand, an unfortunate necessity though one that is designed a lot better, with a series of sharp corners, than at some places where they just stick a gate in. I personally have one other issue due to me being 6 foot 4 which is over hanging trees, for most people these are fine but in one or two places I have to duck under them to hit the line.

All in all a great ride which has already become part of my standard route and which is doing wonders for improving all aspects of my skills and fitness.