I remember going my first time to CYB and riding all the trails over successive weekend. I can't remember anything particularly technical and I was a far worse rider then. I went again after the renewals and it was okish again.
For me its
The Lakes
The Peak
Drumlanrigg
Dalbeatie
then the rest
But I live in Canada now do I don't really give a **** anymore, theres better, gnarlier descents within 5 mins of my fornt door. You're welcome to come and check them out
Zokes, I am not a BMW/Audi driver and I spend lots of time in the 'real countryside' - and I thought it was great. I did it with a few mates, some of whom don't bike that much, including my gf, who found the MBR actually a bit too tough. Perhaps I should have berated her and explained how easy it actually is compared to the glory days of the past.
I can see that there perhaps should have been more consultation and attempts to keep in some of the more challenging elements, but I think the level of negativity you display is way over the top. It's still a great facility for biking, just obviously not to your taste any more. I don't think it's that unreasonable to make trails that the vast majority of people will enjoy and many will still find challenging in places, rather than appealing just to an elite few. I would say it still compares favourably to pretty much any trail centre I have been to except Kirroughtree.
Given the number of trails there, a 'proper' black run would be nice though.
Still going... can see everyones' points but still agreeing with Zokes on this one.
Theres no doubt in my mind that most of the UK trail centre have been made more mass-market in the last five years.
The style of trail has changed too, from a more technical micro terrain to lovely smooth wiggly bmx tracks in the woods that go up and down a bit as they go along. Theres also more emphasis on jumps and drops than there were in certain locations.
IMO CyB remains the most technical of the welsh trail centres but has been sanitised since the early days to satisfy the aforementioned mass market.
I've got no problem per-se with trail centres. In the depths of winter, you can't beat getting away from the mud and getting some quality riding in, but for me in general its much less satisfying than 'natural trails' - whatever they are.
Going mass market will just force those riders that don't find the technical challenege they're after back to what they used to do - ride the wilder places.
who found the MBR actually a bit too tough
/Bangs head against wall/
I've said that the MBR is the least changed, with the most notable exception being what was possibly the best descent at CyB being removed (Pink Heiffer). So...... Take the rest of the MBR as an example, and that's a bit more like what the rest of the place used to be. For the best feel, Snap Crackle and Pop, R74 and Flightpath are all still there on the other side under the re-branded Red Bull (now Tarw). Now compare those bits to what's replaced 1) The Pink Heiffer, 2) The Adams family, 3) Herman, and you will either see where I'm coming from, or I'm never going to get the point across.
Whilst I accept that erosion was a problem on some of those descents, the main issue was water erosion that could easily have been fixed with some proper repairs and drainage. The main reason that most were changed was H&S. As I've said before, you could get yourself into much more serious trouble as a beginner at most red routes of the the more recently built 7 Staines trails. So why dumb down one centre because of "'elf 'n' safety innit", whilst making man-made jumps, drops and obstacles such as those found on the final descents at Inners and Ae? Mountain biking is a dangerous sport - that's why most of us do it. Best not go outside then.....
Snap crackle and pop are a shadow of what they were before they were armoured, but that was a good while ago.
/Bangs head against wall/I've said that the MBR is the least changed, with the most notable exception being what was possibly the best descent at CyB being removed (Pink Heiffer). So...... Take the rest of the MBR as an example, and that's a bit more like what the rest of the place used to be. For the best feel, Snap Crackle and Pop, R74 and Flightpath are all still there on the other side under the re-branded Red Bull (now Tarw). Now compare those bits to what's replaced 1) The Pink Heiffer, 2) The Adams family, 3) Herman, and you will either see where I'm coming from, or I'm never going to get the point across.
Yeah but why does it all have to be like the MBR for it to be any good? What's wrong with a bit of variety? My gf loved the nice smooth, swoopy bits, and I enjoyed them as a contrast to the techy sections. Maybe you're not going fast enough? 
I will let you know next week what I think, me and a few fellow members of the Clent Duffers (tm) are going as part of my 40th celebrations, we will be armed with 5" full sussers and a sense of humour, can't wait to get going 
this thread has made me want to go back
After having said last year, following a day in the Peak District, that I would never go to a Welsh centre again, I've been to CyB twice this year.
Last Friday we did half the Tarw (rode straight up to Flightpath and came back down, missing out all the fireroad stuff) then did The Beast (missing out the stupid fireroad climb by taking a left just after the cafe and getting straight to Gomez.
Yes, bits have been sanitised but most was excellent. Pink Heifer and Big Dug are great. For max singletrack action, add Dream Time into the loop as well, but this requires map reading skills, combined with looking at the posts.
When you get to the point of saying to yourself "Oh No - not another fast rocky technical downhill section" you know there's enough good stuff.
theres a walking trail that runs from above big doug to the fire road 
Votchy, you don't need big bikes. I did it on a singlespeeded Soul. Perfect. And Pete Sampras won his first Wimbledon when I was 40.
I hope your not encouraging people to ride on footpaths Jedi? 
im not encouraging anyone, just pointing it out
I did some walking between Big Dug and Gomez though. But it wasn't on a footpath. 
BigJohn - we aren't proper mtb'ers though, we all only have 1 do everything on it bike each
wait a sec, am i reading this thread right? herman, pink heifer and the adams family trails have gone? :/
Gone, or are unrecognisable from what they once were.
Votchy - I'm not and so do I
Richtea - All still there and still worth riding.
Yeah if only I had more than one bike, then people wouldn't laugh at me on internet forums when I ride on the tarmac like surface of CyB on my 6" travel Pitch.
HAHAHAHAHAHA
Sorry.
Maybe next time I'll take my full-face helmet and pads as well.
Yeah if only I had more than one bike, then people wouldn't laugh at me on internet forums when I ride on the tarmac like surface of CyB on my 6" travel Pitch.
I'm not laughing at you at all. There's no need to take any of what I've said personally, it's not intended that way at all. Debate, the exchange of opinion. amazing...
Sorry I was only joking really, forgot the
I might feel the same as you if I had been riding it for years, it's just that from my perspective it's still really good, and I would love to have a big trail centre like that local to me.
And apparently the rocky new sections like Pins and Needles are waaaay to hard. I want my money back... oh, wait.
That's the thing, it's a pretty amazing facility to provide basically for free - even if it's no longer to your taste I think being so negative about it is a little harsh.
Think of how much you would have to pay for any other purpose built leisure facility on that scale.
Now if you were slagging off the North Face Trail in Grizedale however...
OS map anyone?
Even better than that - download the pdf of all the trails
http://www.mbwales.com/en/content/cms/Centres/Coed_y_Brenin/Beast_of_Brenin/Beast_of_Brenin.aspx
even if it's no longer to your taste I think being so negative about it is a little harsh.
Fair point. Just annoyed at the cynical way it was done focussing on H&S and £££ - somewhat contrary to the original ideas of the people who gave the FC the opportunity to make their £££ from the trail centre concept throughout the UK in the first place...
Anyway, I may pay it a visit again - if nothing else a long catch up with Adam in the bike shop is probably long overdue anyway!
100?
Pins and needles to hard?!
I'm surprised at that - where did you hear that?
This topic came up on the old forum more than once, and there were a couple of pretty vocal people saying that the new rock slab sections were too hard.
Crikey.
I had the best Welsh Rarebit I've ever had in the Cafe at CyB last year
Started MTBing about 14 months ago and have ridden Tarw (inc Pins and Needles) ~5 times over the period. Had to walk and push bits first time, rode with a few dabs second and then ridden completely with increasing confidence since.
Similarly on other rocky sections at CyB.
Seems to me that they have it exactly right. The route descriptions, advice and 'qualifiers' all match up to the trails.
Though obviously all *way* to sanitised for some...
Paul
PS Have always found the tea and cake at the cafe very nice..
This topic has been closed to new replies.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
