Just posted this on the actual story itself, but relevant here.
If your typical run down Cwmcarn is say 4-5 minutes then the runs down FOD will be around 2-3 minutes tops.
It’s a completely different type of venue to Cwmcarn. There are many more lines down and more options for mixing those up. The feel is mostly smooth and mellow, the surface is mostly natural, loamy soil, rooty singletrack, some techy rooty sections, a few rock gardens but nothing you couldn’t ride fast on a HT.
It’s the perfect beginners DH venue or the perfect, ‘messing about in the woods with mates in a chilled fun atmosphere here you’re never likely to really hurt yourself unless you get really lairy’ venue.
I love FOD for that reason. You can ride a DH bike, trail bike, HT, **** in a unicyle. You can go explore some seriously steep sections, or just keep it pinned on the lovely bermed and swoopy jumpy top sections.
Now is DEFINITELY the time to go; i.e. when it’s dry, dusty smooth and fast. In the wet and mud, it gets a little less fun.
On a typical push to the top day, you could happily do 10 complete runs and some small change messing on the jumpy bits.
On an uplift, who knows, maybe 15-20?
Go. You won’t regret it.