Hit the Bristol trail

Thanks to a partnership of organisations, Bristol is to get some of the best mountain bike facilities in the country. The project to develop eleven kilometres of mountain bike trails around Ashton Court and Leigh Woods will cost around £400,000 and is due to be completed by July 2011.

Better still, Bristol has been able to call on the services of Phil Saxena to design the trails. Phil has worked all over the world designing mountain bike courses including those at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Phil, who is a Bristol resident, loves the uniqueness of the Bristol project. Although mountain biking is gaining in popularity, most courses are hidden in the countryside he explained. These courses are on the Bristol doorstep and will make Bristol the envy of many cities.

As with all sports, the rule is “no pain no gain” and mountain biking is no exception. Great for overall fitness, the pain comes when wondering just how to clean all those muddy mountain biking clothes. Even though the courses are being designed to turn the existing muddy waterlogged tracks into all weather trails, clothes will get muddy and flicked up and ground in mud is the worst kind to remove.

Our top tip is not to plunge the clothes straight into warm or hot water. Hot water will set pigments in the mud into a permanent stain which will be hard to remove. If you do have to wash the clothes straight away then start with a rinse in cold water to remove as much of the mud as possible. This will reduce staining and stop your washing machine from clogging up. Once the clothes are free of mud you can wash as normal.

Alternatively, the best solution is not to rush into washing at all. Allow the mud to dry and you can usually brush most of it off with a soft brush or even by shaking the garment. If you do need to peel mud away then carefully use a plastic knife to ease the mud from the clothes. Never use a sharp knife or you might damage the fabric. Once the mud is clear, a cold rinse will remove any last ground in particles and you can then wash as normal.

With the problem of cleaning mud solved, all you have to do is enjoy the experience. For those without a mountain bike, don’t worry. As part of the redevelopment a “trail centre” is being built at Ashton Court. With a café, toilets and bike hire, there is no excuse not to have a great day out.