What's the consensus on an average loop time around Cwmcarn? Assume riding on own and not stopping for too many breaks? I am asking as I was there the other night and did it on my own and it made me wonder how my training is coming along.
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Average loop time for Cwmcarn?
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Posted 1 year ago #
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Under 30 minutes is alright.
Posted 1 year ago # -
an hour or under is alright
usually get distracted by the 'freeride' section and end up doing a few runs of that 
Posted 1 year ago # -
I'd agree with LoCo, under an hour is good.
Does anyone know the actual length?
I know it's advertised at 18k but is this accurate.Posted 1 year ago # -
I did it Friday, it was bone dry & I managed 1h04m & GPS said 9.57 miles from start arch to finish gate.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Posted 1 year ago #
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thanks snaps.
that makes it 15.5k then!
Posted 1 year ago # -
I'd say about an hour is my average if I'm on my own. More like 1:15-1:30 in a group with waiting and chatting etc.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Did it in 51mins earlier today. Thats my fastest time to date.
Hard to imagine it taking any longer than hour and half with even the most shocking lack of fitness.Posted 1 year ago # -
Fastest (full) lap at BUSA 2008 was 45m18s
Posted 1 year ago # -
Under an hour for normal people is very good
You could ride around all day doing 1h04m's like snaps and hardley anyone would pass you. Most fitish riders seem to take 1.15/30m to get round.
Posted 1 year ago # -
a 37 has been done. he was an alien though.
Posted 1 year ago # -
56 mins for me, although on my 30lb Patriot.
Moorman that is quick.
Oggles, the lap record is 38 mins.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Agree that under an hour is a reasonable/ good time and tells me I am getting reasonably fit.
At peak fitness and in optimal conditions I have broken 50 mins three times.
I find getting to 55 mins relatively easy, after that it tends to be pretty hard to make incremental progress.
Wet vs dry can make a big difference as does wind direction (much easier if you get blown most of the way up!)
Posted 1 year ago # -
1 hour on my full suss 26er( i have to get off and walk the gnarly bits)
30 mins on my drop bar ss 29er ( but i have to get off and walk the climbs and any sharp bends)
now if i had a fatbike i reckon i could ride it all in under 45 mins but i wouldnt enjoy it cause theyre just the latest fad in biking and are crap so ive heard
Posted 1 year ago # -
It's also getting slower with time, so times set 3 or 4 years ago are invalid, I reckon.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Dammit, double post.
Anyway I've done 56 mins twice on different bikes, a year or so apart - On the 5 it was 30 mins to the FR bit (but didn't ride it) and therefore 26 mins down, on the Patriot it was 32 mins to the same point and 24 mins down.
Posted 1 year ago # -
38.5 minutes on my neighbours butchers bike
Posted 1 year ago # -
How quick do you do the second lap ? It should be quicker than the first right ?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Not tried it by myself, but I don't think our group has made it round in under 3 hours
A few laps of the freeride are compulsory...
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hard to imagine it taking any longer than hour and half with even the most shocking lack of fitness
That'll be me then! Been there 5/6 times and usually just manage 1.30.
Funny thing is though, only been overtaken once, but have caught up with 3 or 4.
All these fast people must go at different times.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I agree stgeorge, I think we've seen a lot of willy waving replies here. I asked for an average loop time and not the world record. I was after the normal time from people who ride. Hey ho. C'est la STW!
Posted 1 year ago # -
a 37 has been done. he was an alien though.
Who was it? I thought that other thread either suggested people had heard from people who had heard, or that it was done when it first opened and wasn't the same trail!
Fairly irrelevant, as I did a 22, would've been quicker, but I broke both my legs on the freeride area.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Magnus Backstedt, apparently close to when it first opened, I'm pretty sure Ant O'boyle did a similar time too, sure one of the other locals will confirm or correct me on this.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Ant O'Boyle will say he's done that, doesn't mean it happened, he's a nice guy, but can make some 'dubious' claims!
Backstedt when it first opened it plausible, but then it's a rather pointless comparator when it wasn't the same course!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Magnus Backstedt, apparently close to when it first opened, I'm pretty sure Ant O'boyle did a similar time too, sure one of the other locals will confirm or correct me on this
Correct, the course has changed a bit and it's FAR rougher than it was when it opened and I reckon it's a lot slower.
I take it you haven't been to set a time, njee?
Posted 1 year ago # -
I agree, a sub 40mins with the track as it is seems way quick. To put Ant O'boyle into perspective. I can just squeak under an hour, but if I'm in a cyclox race with A O'b it takes him about 5 laps to lap me. Not the 2 and a bit a sub 40 mins around Cwmcarn would suggest.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I take it you haven't been to set a time, njee?
I used to go all the time when I lived in Bristol, my quickest would probably have been in the BUSA race I guess, which according to the results here was 51:37.109.
It was a bit wet that day, and we'd already done a lap up the road, and had another lap to go, so I could probably do a 47-48 minute lap at a guess. Not ridden there since mind, so don't know what it's like now!
Posted 1 year ago # -
I'm no superfit XC racer but I've managed it in under an hour last summer on my charge duster. I know this as my wife was having a cup of tea waiting for me in the cafe with a stop watch. That was with 2 quick runs at the top section
Normally I ride the nomad so would expect to be 5-10mins slower.
I also disagree about it being harder/rougher - I think the climb has got quite a bit easier (still a real challenge to get all the way up without dabbing)
50-60mins should be easily doable - I have a gps now so will be interested to record the times this summer (I expect to be slower as I have half a stone to shift from a broken collar bone over winter)
Posted 1 year ago # -
I think the average is around the 1 hour mark on a good day.
Anyone who did in 30 mins, I bet they have no energy to do another loop afterwards! lol
Who cares about timing, just ride what you feel comfy and enjoy the ride, try get more than one loop, I always do aleast 2 loops before going home to make the drive worthwhile.
Posted 1 year ago # -
50 minute is very quick. When I did 56 I was flying.
Who cares about timing
Me. I like testing myself. Gonna tell me how wrong I am?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Ive done 58 mins. As above I think the climb is easier than it used 2 b. O'boyles past me like I was goin backwards. I think a sub 40 is possible 4 elite. I think an average time would b 1.10 - 15 there abouts
Posted 1 year ago # -
Who cares about timing
Obviously a few people as there is a thread of people saying how long it's taken them!
For the same reasons as molgrips I like to challenge myself when riding alone. When I'm in a group I don't bother.
I think my Garmin 800 is brilliant to motivate me on solo rides. I can race against myself and chase my best times
Posted 1 year ago # -
I've only done 54 and 55 laps back to back last year, I think my team mate did 49 and 50. I'd say we're both considerably quicker this year, but the route is again considerably more eroded in parts... hmm.
I'd be interested to see.... LoCo - fancy a race? I reckon I'd be faster on the ascent, but when you hit the top on that Ariel you'd be proper nipping at my heels.
Top Gear challenge?
Posted 1 year ago #
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