Aston Hill Pumptrack Off to a Flying Start

Frankie flys round Aston Hill's new Pumptrack
Aston Hill Bike Park celebrated 16 years as one of the South’s Premier Mountain Bike destinations with a day’s racing on the Parks infamous Black Run Downhill and the opening of a new Pumptrack funded by Cycle Chilterns.

The new Pumptrack compliments the 5 downhill trails, a 4X track and the 5 mile Cross-Country Trails already on Aston Hill providing a much needed facility for younger riders visiting Aston Hill to get into mountain biking. That’s not to say that the Pumptrack is just for kids and it was great to see riders of all ages and abilities putting in laps of the track on the opening evening.

With the next generation of mountain bikers in mind it was fitting that four year old Frankie Morehouse was the first rider to break the ribbon and put in a lap of the track on his balance bike. “He loves the Pumptrack and he will not stop talking about it. It’s a great addition to the trails on Aston Hill and it's so good to have somewhere for the younger riders to get into mountain biking,” said Frankie’s Dad, Scott.

The Pumptrack build was funded through the Cycle Chilterns Project, project managed by CTC MTB and built by Olie Burton of Track Lines.  “It’s great to see so many people having fun out on the Pumptrack, Cycle Chilterns know the tourism benefits that cycling can bring to the Chilterns and Aston Hill is a clear favourite for mountain bikers from across the South of England and beyond. We wanted to continue to build the visitor numbers and provide a great facility for riders of all ages and abilities to develop their skills and to come and hang out on Aston Hill. From what I’ve seen this evening it looks like the Pumptrack is going to be the perfect way to do that,” said CTC’s Sara Randle the Cycle Chilterns project manager.

For Aston Hill Mountain Bike Club the Pumptrack is a great addition to the existing trails within the Bike Park. “We’ve had a Pumptrack on our wish list for years and we couldn’t have done it without the funding from Cycle Chilterns. The Pumptrack will become the much needed meeting place for the community of mountain bikers that use Aston Hill. The project team have done a great job and we are really looking forward to the boost that the Pumptrack will give us as a club and a cycling destination in the Chilterns,” said Gary Dudley Aston Hill Mountain Bikers Club Chairman.

For more information on Aston Hill Bike Park, its trails and the new Pumptrack click over to the website www.rideastonhill.co.uk To ride on Aston Hill you need to be a member or day-member of Aston Hill Mountain Bike Club. Memberships and Day Memberships are available online and Day Memberships can be purchased on site from a Forestry Commission Ranger for £7 per day.