New era for mountain-biking in Shropshire

Mountain bike enthusiasts in Shropshire can look forward to revamped facilities on the Forestry Commission estate at Eastridge Woods, near Shrewsbury, thanks to the newly formed Eastridge Trail Partnership (ETP). Working in conjunction with the Forestry Commission, this independent, voluntary group of enthusiasts aims to re-invigorate Eastridge and help it to become the county’s premier woodland mountain bike venue once again. Eastridge Woods is one of the best known and best loved mountain biking areas in the country and one of the first woodlands to host a national mountain bike event. The woods have also had some of the country’s finest riders grace the trails, including Jason McRoy and Steve Peat. However, as mountain biking has grown and developed, the gentle elevation of Eastridge has been eclipsed by larger hills in Wales and Scotland and has become almost outdated by today’s growing demand for super long and technical tracks. In recent years, the Forestry Commission and the Blue Remembered Hills Project has been working hard to bring Eastridge's cycling facilities up to date, cater for a wider audience and finance a way-marked trail system around the woods. Thanks to recent efforts, cyclists already have a choice of routes. Now, ETP hopes to take mountain biking in Shropshire to the next level. Dennis Moir, from the Forestry Commission in the Marches Area, said: "We're pleased to be supporting the Eastridge Trail Partnership and look forward to seeing the Woods cater for the demands of today's mountain biking enthusiasts. "Eastridge Wood is within the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the hill top location provides glimpses of breathtaking views over the surrounding countryside." ETP Project Coordinator, Alex Langley, explains: "Eastridge has been the focus of most local mountain bikers for the past two decades and was once seen as favourite race venue. As years have gone by the face of mountain biking has changed in the UK and now Eastridge finds itself in a position to re-establish itself as a mecca for modern mountain biking. Everything about Eastridge is perfect; the lay of the land, the variety of terrain and the underlying geology make it a perfect venue." ETP has already agreed and planned a new red route for expert cyclists around the woods, incorporating all the best existing bits of trail and linking them together more coherently. The group has put in over 500 hours of work from their core management team of 8 members and with their own insurance now in place they are set to embark on a volunteer based mission to modernise the already extensive trail network. Alex continues: "Eastridge already has some great trails, so what we are seeking to do is maintain and develop the existing routes and improve the flow between them. We have plans for a couple of new tracks in the future but the immediate aim is to make what we already have better. I want to make it clear that when we talk about modernising trails, we have no intention of surfacing anything. Eastridge has a superb underlying geology which makes it very hard wearing and with the correct love and attention there is no need to be creating motorways in the woodland." With over 150 members already signed up, ETP has a huge willing workforce and with support from local councils ETP hopes that the next year will see a step change in the quality of riding in Eastridge. The aim is to complete the red route by spring 2010 and have all the existing tracks fettled and sufficiently linked by the same point in time. There are also plans for a skills area to be in place by spring 2011. The ultimate aim is to provide visitors and locals with a coherent and accurately mapped network of trails that can be linked together as each rider sees fit. There will be no need to only follow the main way-marked route as there will be plenty of exciting little runs to link all your favourite bits together. Many trails will exist outside of the main loop and each rider can pick their own best means of navigating around the woods. The newest and now most well-known trail 'Topography Run', has been featured in a recent mountain biking film, 'The Tipping Point', so with this kind of interest and exposure Alex and the rest of the ETP see a bright future for Eastridge Woods. For more information visit www.forestry.gov.uk/marches.