A Bristol resident has come up with the name for the Ashton Court Cycling Trail following our recent Name That Trail competition.

The main trail, which has proved very popular since it's opening on 22nd July, will now be called 'the Nova Trail'.

Dr Ceri Hughes and his son Noah (pictured right) came up with the name. They said: "Firstly, if Nova is spelt backwards it reads Avon (as in the river), secondly because it comes from the Latin for 'new', and thirdly, because in astronomy a nova is a cataclysmic nuclear explosion caused hydrogen igniting and starting nuclear fusion in a runaway manner. Sounds good doesn't it, you want to ride it!"

Better By Bike also found out that a local pub called the Nova Scotia was frequently visited by the trail construction team on their way home - another great reason for the Nova trail name. Thirsty cyclists are all part of the economic benefit of the trail!

Thanks to all who entered the competition. Paul Hawkins, 1SW project manager said: "Eight sections of the trail have been named using suggestions that were submitted in the competition. One section is even named after an individual, Antony De Heveningham of Bristol Trails Group for his outstanding work developing cycling in Bristol over many years."

Other trail names include Super Nova, the red-graded section through New Barn Wood, and Stella Nova, from the firetrail to the bomb hole near Redwood Avenue.

All eight trail name sections can be found on a display board outside the current cafe and golf hire centre in Ashton Court (pictured above).

The prize for picking the winning name for the trail was a session with Olympic mountain bike hopeful Oli Beckinsale. Unfortunately Oli broke his leg during September so pro rider Duncan Ferris stepped in, providing Noah and Ceri with some expert tuition in how to handle drop offs, rollers and how to master a manual. Below you'll find some pics from the recent skills session.

Noah powers up hill. Ben from Better By Bike struggles behind.

Duncan shows us how a manual over the rollers in New Barn Wood is done.

Jon Fairchild from 1 South West tries his best to splash the photographer.

Noah and Ceri getting a sneak preview of the new Leigh Woods trail.

More skills from Duncan that we struggle to emulate.

Mucky business!

Ceri and Noah up front with Matt Barrett (Bristol City Council), Paul Hawkins (1SW), Duncan (Architrail), Ben Hillsdon (BCC) and John (1SW) in the background 

Cycling facilities are continuing to improve in and around Ashton Court. Work is currently underway to build a new Golf and Cycle Centre and Cafe at the site and work on a new cycle trail in Leigh Woods will be complete during the autumn. A new pump track just off Festival Way cycle path (underneath Brunel Way flyover) opened earlier this month.

• Lots of local off road cycle routes can be found at: www.betterbybike.info/off-road-cycling

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