Bristol is one of the few cities lucky enough to have purpose-built trails on its doorstep, but they don't maintain themselves and the Bristol Trials Group is looking for local riders to help out with essential repair and maintenance work.

Set up in 2004, the Bristol Trails Group is a non-profit organisation that aims to supply volunteers with tools and materials, liaise with land managers and other user groups, and put the structures in place for mountain bikers of all disciplines to repair and rebuild the trails they ride.

Over the past few years volunteers from the Bristol biking community have been gradually weather-proofing the trails and making them more fun to ride whatever the season. Although they are fully supported by the land managers the sessions are rider-organised and run, and as well as repairing the trails there are opportunities to build new features and improve the flow of the existing tracks. All tools and materials are supplied and new volunteers are welcome regardless of previous experience.

The first trail day will take place on Saturday 7 February at Ashton Court and there is another session planned for later in the month. For more details check out www.bristoltrailsgroup.com or ring Antony on 0771 265 0857.