Riding around Bristol

[lukesdad]

Very interesting I ll be in Bristol for a week in Feb. Up by the zoo somwhere any suggested routes would be welcome the longer the better.

 

[summerdays]

Very interesting I ll be in Bristol for a week in Feb. Up by the zoo somwhere any suggested routes would be welcome the longer the better.

You could start by leaving... - well if you are in that sort of area you are near the Suspension Bridge which means you can head out into North Somerset easily and then you have a choice of roads that go up and down or into Ashton Court if you are on a MTB (not that I've done the trails but they are meant to be good I think), or you could use the closed Bridge Valley Road just beyond the zoo to get down to the Portway, or for a very short ride there is always the loop around the Downs - good view of the Suspension Bridge from there.

If you go down to the Portway you can do a loop over the M5 bridge and then back down the other side of the River Avon either on the flat on the cycle path (most of the way, not all) or returning by the roads - which would be a loop of 15-25 miles plus depending on which roads you took.

The Suspension Bridge is free for cyclists ... there is a little diversion up onto the pavement to take you around the payment barriers.

 

[Spinney]

... you are near the Suspension Bridge which means you can head out into North Somerset easily and then you have a choice of roads that go up and down or into Ashton Court if you are on a MTB (not that I've done the trails but they are meant to be good I think)...

You can cycle through Ashton Court on a touring bike (mine has moderate tyres, not ultra-skinny) - following the road from the entrance near the suspension bridge and then SW to come out on Longwood Lane (near the quarry). I haven't tried any of the other tracks on a tourer. Helps to avoid a bit of road (but the road isn't that bad).

 

[summerdays]

You can cycle through Ashton Court on a touring bike (mine has moderate tyres, not ultra-skinny) - following the road from the entrance near the suspension bridge and then SW to come out on Longwood Lane (near the quarry). I haven't tried any of the other tracks on a tourer. Helps to avoid a bit of road (but the road isn't that bad).

Sorry I nearly added that bit in ... yes - I do go through Ashton Court on my bike sticking to the tarmac'd bits normally. I want to try the MTB trail some time, a friend has offered to take me when the weather is nicer.

Here is a link to a booklet that is produced by the Council:
http://www.betterbybike.info/cycling-bristol
which you can send off for or download the individual routes themselves.

 

[adds21]

Sorry I nearly added that bit in ... yes - I do go through Ashton Court on my bike sticking to the tarmac'd bits normally. I want to try the MTB trail some time, a friend has offered to take me when the weather is nicer.

I had a flat on my road bike this morning, so jumped on the MTB instead... As it was such a lovely (albeit, cold) morning, I decided to "do" the Ashton Court MTB trail on my way to work. It's mighty fun, even when totally frozen.

I also went though Leigh Woods to meet the Pill cycle path down by the river, and can recommend that if you're on a MTB, or feeling brave on a Hybrid.

...and I was only 10 minutes late into work

 

[mgarl10024]

I also went though Leigh Woods to meet the Pill cycle path down by the river, and can recommend that if you're on a MTB, or feeling brave on a Hybrid.

In the Summer, my Girlfriend and I did the Ashton-Pill path, shown here (pinching from Summerday's booklet) http://www.betterbybike.info/sites/default/files/attachments/CyclingBristol - 6 - Ashton - Pill.pdf

We did the bit to the South of the river, from underneath the Suspension Bridge through Pill, and we then crossed M5 bridge at Avonmouth.
Our bikes are both hybrids, and we managed fine (I was fully loaded with panniers). We just took it steady (about 6mph) over the bumpier bits. If you're wanting to go at speed then a mountain bike is probably better suited.
My girlfriend wasn't too keen on that section though - she didn't like the occasional backwheel slip on the mud, and I suspect that at this time of year (when the ground isn't frozen) that things could get a little messy/hairy.

 

[mgarl10024]

mgarl10024 ... I've posted a route I sometimes take between Henleaze and Avonmouth, though I more often go through WOT, but it seems relatively quiet to me - but then I'm used to these roads. If you want to avoid certain roads I could see if I could come up with a route avoiding them.

You're like a taxi-driver of Bristol (in the knowing-the-roads sense!). Thanks for the map, much appreciated.

 

[adds21]

Our bikes are both hybrids, and we managed fine (I was fully loaded with panniers). We just took it steady (about 6mph) over the bumpier bits. If you're wanting to go at speed then a mountain bike is probably better suited.
My girlfriend wasn't too keen on that section though - she didn't like the occasional backwheel slip on the mud, and I suspect that at this time of year (when the ground isn't frozen) that things could get a little messy/hairy.

Yes, you're absolutly right. I've done the Pill track several times on a road bike (although the bit at the Pill end can get a little bumpy). It's the downhill though Leigh Woods which joins the Pill track mid-way, which is probably better suited for a MTB.

 

[summerdays]

You're like a taxi-driver of Bristol (in the knowing-the-roads sense!). Thanks for the map, much appreciated.

I like maps, and I go exploring .. I once tried colouring in every road I had cycled on in Bristol on those council maps and pretty much all of the main central map and the NE map and quite a bit of the stuff to the south, I had cycled on including lots of the dead end roads (as you never know if there is a convenient short cut etc.

In the end it can seem a bit of a hindrance as I can get myself in a muddle over which route is best.

 

[campbellab]

Cycle over the Severn to Chepstow Castle is a nice day out with sandwiches