Popular mountain biking trails at Forest of Dean Cycle Centre have been given a major upgrade ahead of the summer, with riders being welcomed back to enjoy the improvements this May 2026.
Since early January 2026, specialist trail builders Velosolutions UK have been working to restore, maintain and improve four much-loved trails at the centre – GBU, Launchpad, Corkscrew and the Red‑graded Skills Area.
Led by Forestry England, around £65,000 has been invested in the works, including £10,000 from the Dean Trail Volunteers (DTV) group, to ensure the trails can continue to be enjoyed 'safely and sustainably' by the hundreds of thousands of people who visit each year.
The 'iconic' GBU trail, which can attract up to 16,000 riders each month, has been refreshed throughout to keep runs 'fast and dialled'.
Jumps and tabletops that had naturally worn down over time have been rebuilt; areas affected by braking bumps and worn landing zones have been resurfaced; and drainage has been improved, meaning riding continues even when the weather turns.
Launchpad, which welcomes an average of 7,500 riders each month, has also had a full refresh, with two sections redesigned to improve the experience for riders of all abilities.
Rollers near the start have been reshaped to increase flow and 'build on the rollercoaster feel'; a straight section has been changed to include turns and berms; and holes and braking bumps have been repaired across the full length to restore a consistent riding surface.
DTV completed improvements to the upper section of Corkscrew at the end of last year, before bringing Velosolutions UK back to work on the middle section, addressing drainage issues, repairing ruts and making small updates to increase the trail’s resilience.
In the Red Skills Area, the jumpline has been tidied up and the landing on the final jump resurfaced, with a new berm added to support riders looping back to repeat features.
Kate Thoday, recreation ranger at the Forest of Dean Cycle Centre, said of the works: 'We know how important these trails are to people both locally and nationally, so we take a lot of pride in looking after them.
'Large-scale work programmes like this show how much we can achieve when we work together. The experience of Velosolutions UK and the ongoing commitment from the Dean Trail Volunteers are central to keeping the cycle centre running safely and smoothly.'
