Chris S rides there a lot as he lives round the corner he might be able to help. Will be bog fest up there after the rain.

Hi Fi, as Hwe says, I know the area really well, so would be happy to show you a route sometime. It does get really boggy in places though so its worth going when its a bit drier than it is right now. Have you considered the Quantocks? Its only an hour drive from Bristol, and probably some of the best natural trails around, plus doesnt seem to get as boggy in the winter. Lots of club rides over there, mainly Sundays.

HI

Thanks - I would love to take you up on your offer of a guided tour. Can you do non-weekends ever?

I come from the Quantocks so know them like the back of my hand. I want somewhere where I can leap in the car and be on the trails in 20 minutes. Living in Clifton I have the best of from-the-doorstep riding but need to branch out!

Thanks

Fi - jonandfi at blueyonder dot co dot uk

Maybe Fi should be leading a ride in the Quantocks then? Anyone out on Sunday?

Fi, we do go riding during the week but after work, so its night riding now! Its so gloopy at the moment that I'm sticking to the road bike for now, but I'll give you a shout if you're up for a night ride. Failing that, there is a downloadable mendips route map somewhere which I'll try to find the url for. (Mike P, do you know where to find it? Cheers)

Hi

Happy to lead a Quantocks ride any time. I generally ride up there every fortnight or so with a bunch of lads from the area - will post it next time to see if we can share a few secret trails!

A downloadable route map would be superb. Thanks... and I'll be around whenever you think the trails in the Mendips are less 'gloopy'. I'm hitting the road bike pretty hard at the mo too - heading over to Wales on Friday - but need to keep the mtb skills in order over the winter. Night riding is absolutely fine - love it.

Stay in touch

Fi

Hi Fi,

Saw your note. I did the Mendips on Sunday afternoon and it was incredibly boggy but very good fun. Some fun down hills also from the top! There is a downloadable map but it's quite vague. Park at the burrington and oposite the garden centre is a road. Follow it up (quite steep) and at the top you can choose a couple of loops that bring you back to the same place - difficult to get lost. It all links up quite easy.

Have fun.

Louise.

Thanks - I'll give it a go. But I have to warn you that for an adventure racer I have the most awful sense of direction ever. Would much rather have a map!

I did one ride in the Mendips and went up the road behind the garden center (as in on the same side of it going left before you reach it on your left). We shot up a double track and soon came out in the glaring sunshine for a lovely heathery ride roudn the side of hte hill and eventually up to the top. At one point we climbed Cheddar Gorge as well. IT was about 3 and a half hours in total and I loved it all. But can I remember where we went?

No

Fi

I think that this is the map that people are on about. As Hwe said it is vague but here we go:
http://www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk/publications/up_160057_bd_bikecard.pdf

I have spent quite a bot of time riding in the Mendips but do not recognise any of the photos in the club gallery so I am obviousely missing the good bits. I think that this map misses them as well.

Anyway i hope it is useful

Take it Easy

Nige B

Yep - that is the map that we used - very vague indeed! Go straight up the hill opposite the garden centre (it takes you round a bend and past 2 houses and over a cattle grid) then you reach the nice muddy bit once you've gone through a gate. you can follow the forest round and then you reach the top of Black Down. Once you get to the top you have a few options of down hill (the black routes on the map). You need about 2 hours to do the whole thing.

Cheers Nigel,

I've just copied the OS map of that area for a spin tomorrow and can highlight all the routes now.

Got any others?

K

Hi Karl

How were the mendips on Sunday? Muddy by any chance?

I do not have any other routes around the Mendips but have a look at these websites as they have quite alot of routes eslewhere in the UK.

www.offroadadventures-online.co.uk
http://mbruk.co.uk (some free maps but a lot you have to buy)
www.moredirt.co.uk
www.ridetheclwyds.com (maybe a bit far away)
www.mtbbreconbeacons.co.uk

It depends where you want to go really. Other people at the club probably know of a lot more than I do on the subject.

I hope these are useful

Take it easy.

Nige

Cheers Nige,

Was a bit, nice day though, but I'm on a learning curve at the moment....

Thanks for the links as well, I often go away on weekends (activity stuff). Mountain biking's a new passion so alwys on the prowl for some route info where I'm going.

Nice one

Karl