BACK TO MY ROOTS – ASTON HILL

Words by Josh Lane
Photos by Simon Nieborak

Aston Hill Bike Park, just outside of Wendover (Bucks), is very much part of British mountainbiking’s history. It has had the odd nip and tuck over the years, but it remains very much part of our heritage. Josh Lane returns to one of his old stomping grounds to see what’s up.

For me Aston Hill has always been more of a training facility than a bike park. Its carpets of roots and blown out corners have served as a wake up call, a reminder of what real downhill feels like, a bit ratty around the edges and steep enough to warrant my slack head angle and massive disc rotors. Perfect for dialling in some mini race runs and developing my downhill skills, but in the end that’s why I left the place alone. My local spot is Woburn and for the last few years I have had head my freeride head well and truly on, tunnel vision for smooth turns and carpeted lips, but recently something changed…