Review Date
April 13, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Reviewed by: dogsloweverywhere ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
This a review for the X-C circuit. I have yet to tackle the D' hill. I had started M'tain biking at the end of '05 aged 41. Bought a Giant VT1. This review is written April '06. I rode the XC circuit in Jan 06 for the 1st time and to be honest it was damn dangerous. Roots I can deal with in the pouring rain, but I got off and walked the steep down hill 3x. This is not a trail to ride in the wet! Last I rode her was in April and it was dry. OK this was my moment. I had trained for this day for 3 months. I do not say that lightly. Having done : Red route at Cannock Chase 5 times, riding 2-3 x a week, serious weight training, 3x Trail Quests, 1x Adventure Racing, 1x Dalby Forrest Black Run, and half a dozen others. I was finally prepared. Sh£t. Why is the climb sooo hard? I managed the downhill (albeit that I got off once, re-assessed what I had failed and re-rode the corners that had defeated me) and I tell you, my heart rate monitor was going silly. I now have this circuit down as my "'Home" circuit. I had my sights set on doing this circuit properly, in one hit. I have no problem telling you I got off 4 times. It's early days, I grant you. I WILL ride this route in 1x hit, no stopping. That's my aim. Believe me it will happen. And the guys here are excellent. Good bunch - tuition available too. Top stuff. Thanks Tim

Review Date
October 31, 2004

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Reviewed by: mini_death ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
this place rocks and a lot of had work has been put into this

Recommended Route:
stuff a route just look for cheep thrills on the 4x :P

Review Date
August 22, 2004

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 1 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 1 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Reviewed by: jimjam ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Just thinking, is the five pound fee for all day or do they operate an arm band policy like the ones you get in swimming pools?? Still quite annoyed that some people have chosen to take the freedom out of cycling by coming up with a pay per ride system. It sucks. Anyone fancy an egg-raid on the organisers? Failing that, a helicopter gunship or some napalm dropped on them and their clipboards and red and white tape.

Recommended Route:
The chopper should come in low on a south-west heading.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
I had more fun shopping for the eggs in Tescos.

Review Date
August 22, 2004

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 1 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 1 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Reviewed by: jimjam ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
You have to pay to use this course. I can't abide that kind of extortion. My advice? Go anywhere else but here, you'll find somewhere better and save money. Who came up with the pay per ride scheme/plot? I blame Bin Laden.

Recommended Route:
I recommend you go home and think again about going to Aston Hill.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
There is a whole world out there. Find something of your own.

Review Date
July 15, 2004

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Reviewed by: Paul Edwards ,  Downhiller

Summary:
This is the best downhil track in the South of England, which gives you some idea of how bad the South of England is for DH. Once again a track which is based on quantity rather than quality, I.E. how many turns can we get into the shortest section of hill possible?

This course flows like treacle.

Also the hillside at wendover is so greasy when it's damp it is like riding on chip fat (i'd imagine) and when it is dry it is unbelievably dusty.

This course is a dissapointment whenever I go, and it costs £5 to ride.

In future I will spend the extra fiver on fuel and go somewhere better.

Recommended Route:
The bombhole at the top is alright, and the DB switchbacks are OK in the right weather, the rest of it seems to be 3 foot radius turns with rooty braking bumbs, or off camber slime fields. I don't mind any of these elements appearing on a course but they shouldn't make up the whole thing.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Read my reveiw on Penshurst off road club!

I think that is crap too!