TRAILCREW FLYUP 417 BIKE PARK

England's biggest privately-run bike park punches well above its weight when it comes to fast-paced, uplifted downhill fun

- Nick Bentley

Leaving the M5 and heading up the A417 towards FlyUp 417 Bike Park, you can see the yellow limestone ribbons of the trails carving their way through the stunning Cotswold hillside. This alone is enough to boost the excitement of any rider, but add to that greeting Jimmer, MBUK's hyperactive art editor, in the car park, when he's buzzing to ride, and the hype is off the charts. It's a good sign that the day is going to be a great one. Plus, staff writer Will has been handed his new long-term bike this morning, so it's fair to say everyone is up for a good session.

After the obligatory car park faffing, we head down to the uplift to be greeted by FlyUp team riders Molly Ruskin and Kieran Calver, alongside 417's little legend, 11-year-old Henry Ruskin, general manager Dave Webb and Tom Gethin, the grounds manager and trail builder. The crew is assembled and ready to ride.

Build it and they will come 

FlyUp 417 is the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Simon and Angela Ruskin. Before opening the bike park, they launched their first uplift service in the Forest of Dean. Later, in 2013, the opportunity came to purchase and develop a 100-acre farm on Crickley Hill in Gloucestershire, and so the bike park was born. It's now the biggest privately-owned mountain bike facility in England, and caters for a range of riding disciplines.