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1. rickon - Member

   Right then,

   Did Y Wall on Friday night, and did a W2, Skyline + local trail ride today. The singletrack to Y Wall is a total mess, looks like someone is de-marking the trail, but has done a dangerous job of it.

   Stones litter the path, half on half off the trail. These are bigger than head-sized blocks. They have been moved from well established positions, and are a real hazard and could be the cause of a serious accident.

   It's nigh-on impossible to ride the trail at a decent speed, as you have no idea if you're going to come across a massive rock in the middle of the path.

   I completely understand the need for a well mark trail, and a guide to stop people eroding the trail further - but this is ridiculous, and down right dangerous.

   Someone has put a lot of effort into moving the rocks, and trees into place - but this is causing more erosion than leaving the stones in place.

   Does anyone have any further information on what's going on? and who people should be contacting when they have a bad accident caused by this mess?

   Not much riles me up, but this is dangerous and a huge disappointment and will discourage visitors to Afan and Glyncorrwyg.

   Cheers

   Ricks

   Posted 11 months ago #
2. flow - Member

   Rocks on an MTB trail, who'd have thought.

   We should draw up a petition right away and get these dangerous rocks removed!

   Posted 11 months ago #
3. fadda - Member

   Are these trails not tarmac'ed over?!!!

   I'm staying right here, then...

   Posted 11 months ago #
4. rickon - Member

   Rocks on an MTB trail, who'd have thought.

   Some people....

   Right, these are in the middle of singletrack. Think about a foot wide, by about foot high.

   About every 10 feet.

   Then a random collection of rocks, which would have fallen over in the wind - or by someone knocking them over.

   Think about riding your usual singletrack, at a descent speed, only to be greeted on a blind corner by a massive rock in the middle of the track.

   Not nice at all.

   Posted 11 months ago #
5. Skyline-GTR - Member

   Which sections are these on Rich?
   I've not ridden there since I left the shop at Glyncorrwg, but spoke to Dave Williams on Monday, and he mentioned something about the final descent being closed for removal of the felled trees out through Gyfylchi and a diversion back up onto the top after Graveyard via the natural trail alongside the 4X track to 373 and then back to GC.
   It's not great up there at the moment, but it's paving the way for the Centre of excellence and new trails.
   So we'll need to be patient.

   In the meantime, I'm off up to Llandegla again in an hour, that's why I'm posting at this time of the morning.

   Brechfa's riding well these days too. Went there last Sunday.

   Posted 11 months ago #
6. rickon - Member

   All sections of singletrack until graveyard. Theres forestry work going on by the final descent, but it doesn't affect the trail.

   I'm posting out of genuine concern, as the sections with the blocks in the path are all fully open, with no diversion or warning signs.

   If it wasn't for the amount of time required to move the rocks I'd have said it was vandalism.

   Posted 11 months ago #
7. MaD - Member

   Imagine having course markers at a race cutting across the racing line on a bend...that's what it's like, the rocks are all in the wrong place (or the right place if the intention is to purposely slow you down!) They also jutt out into the trail at the exact right place for pedal strike to occur when carving round a bend.....

   Posted 11 months ago #
8. allthepies - Member

   With the cafe debacle and now this it sounds like Afan's turned into a crock.

   Posted 11 months ago #
9. float - Member

   Rocks on an MTB trail, who'd have thought.

   Did you only read the first two paragraphs before making that hilariously witty remark?

   Youre a tool.

   Posted 11 months ago #
10. MaD - Member

    
    

    Posted 11 months ago #
11. rickon - Member

    Afan's a great place, and the trails are fantastic. Some of the new sibgletrack that is about to open looks absolutely amazing, proper swoopy berms and sweet looking twisty tracks to replace the fireroad climb for y wall.

    I want people to be encouraged to come to afan, but the current wall singletrack needs someone to sort it out.

    Posted 11 months ago #
12. snaps - Member

    Didn't they have a similar problem @ Cwm carn a few years back?

    Posted 11 months ago #
13. chvck - Member

    This thread needs pictures!

    Posted 11 months ago #
14. brakes - Member

    are you sure the trail isn't closed off? sounds like the only reason why they would do it.
    maybe contact those responsible for the trails and let them know your thoughts.

    Posted 11 months ago #
15. rickon - Member

    This forum is full of skill-less wannabe MTB'ers.

    Nice.

    My concern is not for myself, but for the novice riders that ride Afan all the time.

    I have ridden it just the other day, there is no problem, just the OP's skill and your mouth.

    I don't see why there has to be animosity directed at me, or at my 'skill'. I'm raising a genuine concern.

    And it depends on when you rode it. I was there on Friday and Saturday. Just to put this in perspective, I'm a local and ride Afan all the time, so do know what the trails are like most of the time.

    I will be contacting the ponds to see what's going on, but I raised this thread to see if someone knew a bit more than I did... I'm surprised at the reaction from some people, when all i'm doing is trying to look out of others.

    Posted 11 months ago #
16. garth - Member

    Morning all, I too noticed new rock placement in some of the sections (rode the trail Friday night)

    Tbh didn't think much of them... trail Is still awesome.

    Fun - "now with added rocks"

    Posted 11 months ago #
17. hugor - Member

    Cheers for the heads up Rick.
    I regularly ride Glynncorryg and occasionally do the Wall when I do the W2.
    The descent is fast, narrow and often on the edge of a deep ravine. Any rider (novice or otherwise) could easily come to trouble if they ride there regularly and come across an unexpected large boulder on the trail.
    I certainly bomb down that descent as I know it well and wouldn't expect to see something like that.

    Posted 11 months ago #
18. Scamper - Member

    Rode Whites and the wall via the link y'day. Didn't notice any rocks?

    Posted 11 months ago #
19. IdleJon - Member

    rickon - Member
    All sections of singletrack until graveyard. Theres forestry work going on by the final descent, but it doesn't affect the trail.

    I rode the whole of the trail EXCEPT for the last descent about 8 days ago and didn't notice anything more dangerous than normal..... Could have changed since then of course.

    I will be contacting the ponds to see what's going on, Pointless, it's got nothing to do with GC ponds.

    Posted 11 months ago #
20. daznal - Member

    If its that dangerous,stop and move the rocks your self.Stop whinging on this forum and spend your time fixing the trail.If the log/rock gremlins have been at work on the trails i ride,i stop and move them.(sits back tries to think calm thoughts)

    Posted 11 months ago #
21. rickon - Member

    I would have loved to have moved the rocks, but as I said its all sections, it would take hours to sort, and there could be a very good reason for it... signs may have been removed etc...

    Considering the unsympathetic attitude, and general lack of respect people are giving on this thread, consider this thread closed.

    I'm not whining, I was asking for further details on the current state of affairs.

    Last time I try to find out what's going on, where something looks dodgy.

    Posted 11 months ago #
22. eatsdirt - Member

    I rode it on Saturday, it ruined tramway and I very nearly come to grief when I thought it was an isolated bit on the climb, only to nearly wipe out on one half across a tight corner. I don't think it was sanctioned\intended - looks like dickheads at play. Car park boys have passed the info on to the rangers, who will go and have a look.

    Posted 11 months ago #
23. rickon - Member

    Cheers Eatsdirt,

    STW seems to be very cynical today, so it's nice to have someone confirm that I'm not:

    a) skill-less
    b) blind
    c) a clunge

    Cheers for getting in touch with the rangers, I will be doing the same tomorrow, just haven't had the time to get it sorted.

    Ricks

    Posted 11 months ago #

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