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Wasn't too long ago that you'd get scoffed at for taking an ebike there (we didn't actually encounter any dodgy looks tbf). Now they are promoting them as the future of Dyfi (not that surprising I suppose, considering the Atherton brand). Just seen an ad on FB, apparently they have an announcement about something on Monday.
Maybe they've built some new trails away from the drop off trail head?
Maybe they've built some new trails away from the drop off trail head?
They’re building e bike specific trails from the top of the ridge above the drop off point, opens at the end of August afaik, 600m descent back to the car park apparently
I took my eeb there a month or so back as it's now my only full suss.
It did strike me that there was a bit more hill available so it's good they are doing it.
In some ways though, unless the eeb trails are markedly different in character, then if I've already paid full price for an uplift then maybe I might just want to maximise uplift time and get the most run time.
If there was a route you could ride up from the very bottom and subsequently pay less on the uplift like BPW, then that might interest me more than just the top section.
Saying that, I'm sure it would be epic to go right to the top what with the views etc, so the option to do it once or twice on a visit is very welcome.
Would be nice to be able to eeb up at Black mountain CC too.
what's an e-bike specific trail?
I like the look of that
what's an e-bike specific trail?
There is a Greggs half way down up
FTFY.
Figure 8 loop with Greggs in the middle, FTFY again..
(but really, what is an e-bike specific trail going to be?)
Fun uphill stuff. Dan kind of mentions it in the video at around 3:29
Even at my local there are trails I wouldn't ride (or wouldn't enjoy riding) uphill on a regular bike, but they're great on the ebike.
(but really, what is an e-bike specific trail going to be?)Heavily armoured surface?
Substantial kerbstones to minimise/eliminate the taking of shortcuts?
Free chargers at Greggs?
Bit like a luge run but with jumps and steak bake/sausage rolls?
there is definitely a marketing/sponsorship angle here....
what's an e-bike specific trail?
In an interview he says that they're good for meat bikes too, it's just that they don't see many non-e-bikers pedalling up when there's decent uplift.
Personally I think that given the number of sales, all MTB businesses are going to have to be e-bike orientated or they're likely to die.
Last time I went to some uplifts I took my ebike because I’m not hard enough to survive four days of riding at the gnarlier end of my skill level on my hardtail, and I don’t have a normal full-sus anymore.
Ebike cons: Getting roasted for putting an ebike on the (rather high) trailer at Dirt Farm (but I did do most of the lifting).
Ebike pros: It’s better downhill than my last normal full-sus; I could get a headstart on the quicker riders so I had clear trails and wasn’t holding anyone up; I pedalled up a few times at BPW when the queue was v long.
I (mostly) like the climbs at trail centres, especially when there’s a tech rocky bit that needs skill and fitness to clean, that’s something I miss at the uplift venues! One of my favourite things about riding a singlespeed locally is that it’s made a whole load of climbs challenging (or currently impossible to clean) when with gears they weren’t that interesting. I guess ebike specific climbs may be a whole lot steeper!
: It’s better downhill than my last normal full-sus
this is more a sign you're part full sus was pants, then..... I'm yet to ride an e-bike where I've thought "wow, this is brilliant".
Have ridden a few bikes from various brands including Santa Cruz, Trek, Thok, Mondraker and some others I can't recall.
Recently got invited to go for a ride on a borrowed Trek Rail. 700m ascent in 35 minutes. Wow. Rode down on built trails. The bike was so "planted" it felt like it was glued to the floor.
My current bike is a 16.7kg (soon to be heavier) Raaw Madonna so it's not like I'm not used to a heavy bike.
E-bikes just suck the fun out of the descents. I would rather suffer more/have a work out on the climbs than have to ride an ebike*.
* I've an e-cargo bike. That, or a commuter makes total sense. An emtb does not, imo.
I watched that Vid up there and was a bit puzzled and concerned.
They obviously want to do something different yet they couldn't or wouldn't explain it.
I then thought it odd that they said they are going to the more natural mountain and wont damage it but then show Dan Atherton flying down a hillside with dirt flying out of a large created berm.
Talking about blue runs are part of the answer but they are not going to do blue runs, but keep doing what they have always done.
Oh and then they said we could do stuff down there, but for now we are keeping ebikes at the top of the hill. Right so ebikes have to be out in the worst elements the Welsh hills can offer
Was it a nod to the fact that 95% of people who can afford to buy their ebike will be old, like riding uphills, are not particular gnar etc, but they are going to ignore that and continue to dig up a beautiful hill side?
I am intrigued to see what they consider for wider Dyfi. Id love them to develop some nice blue / reds ups and downs, maybe even call it an XC loop, but with good down bits in it?
They are also talking about being able to open up new area's that an eeb would allow you to pedal back out of.
As for which descends best, I think it just depends on what you ride most of the time.
E-bikes just suck the fun out of the descents.
My current ebike (mid weight/power Orbea Rise LT) is one of the most fun bikes I've ever had on descents, and I've had my fair share of fun bikes. It's fast, it's poppy and it corners like a boss. Never fails to put a smile on my face.
but really, what is an e-bike specific trail going to be?)
Rather than going through the rocky, technical, interesting bit, it'll just plough through the easier but steeper heather/ mud to create a shortcut that doesn't tax the rider so much....
but really, what is an e-bike specific trail going to be?)
Rather than going through the rocky, technical, interesting bit, it'll just plough through the easier but steeper heather/ mud to create a shortcut that doesn't tax the rider so much....
*groans*
The Greggs references were funnier.
"this is more a sign you're part full sus was pants, then..... I'm yet to ride an e-bike where I've thought "wow, this is brilliant"."
It was a Banshee Spitfire v2, 27.5, 160F/140R with a Pike and DBair. Not heard many bad words about them and I thought it was a great bike. My ebike is a Levo gen 2, mullet, 170F/157R with a 38 and Super Deluxe - old but rides great.
Thankfully we don't all want our bikes to feel the same - when I have front and rear suspension I like how all that mass in the frame of an ebike makes the suspension work better. I also love riding hardtails, especially long slack ones with big forks, and some people hate them!
I watched the MBR and MBUK S.170E launch videos, possibly the ebike trail will be similar to the trail Dan took them on?
just plough through the easier but steeper heather/ mud to create a shortcut
I think you're describing the push-up for the non ebikes
E-bikes just suck the fun out of the descents. I would rather suffer more/have a work out on the climbs than have to ride an ebike
Meh, I've ridden Spesh Enduro's, YT Capra's, and my Kenevo ebike at BPW. I've ridden my Kenevo at Dyfi
I ride local White Peak stuff and Dark Peak trails on my 28kg Kenevo, 23kg Levo and 15kg Stanton, as well as my Ragley HT.
I have just as much fun on any of my bikes in any of these locations. Stop overthinking stuff
Yeah I've done dyfi on hardtail and enduro ebike. Just adjust your riding to the bike you've got.
Not sure I'd rush back on the hardtail tho
E-bikes just suck the fun out of the descents. I would rather suffer more/have a work out on the climbs than have to ride an ebike*.
I understand you. E-bikes' are so much more planted on descents, their suspension working well with their consistent low-down weight, they are much easier to ride faster downhill. Because they make the descent easier and smoother, some riders will like the "skills enhancement feeling" they provide, whilst other riders will feel that the bike is taking too much away; they want their skills to do the work!
I love riding both by the way.
And I'd love to ride one of those Atherton E-bikes on those trails 🙂
My "hot take" as the kids say...
More and more Enduro / DH riders are moving across to Ebikes. Ebikes do not really need uplift as much so they can now just session any number of "steep lines in the woods for winch and plummet" type rides, which are free. So places like Dyfi are seeing their target market no longer need them. So this is an attempt to pull them back in. Plus they have a load of Ebikes to try and sell.
I was following my wife (a reasonably lean 70kgs) today through Avoriaz, Linderets and Chatel on her YT Decoy (24.7kg/54.5lb) and it seemed to spend it’s time trying to pop and skip of even the smallest lip and jump, yet held it’s line through rough stuff, cornered like it was on rails and was stable in the air. Sh3 also didn’t have any problems muscling a heavy full fat e-bike around. So i’v3 come to the conclusion that people who complain their e-bike sucks to the ground, won’t get air and is too heavy to be fun either have their suspension too soft/crap and/or are just weaklings.
Her previous bikes were a Capra (2013) and TR450 and she seems to be as easy to pop and hit things on this as with them. Maybe it’s time for the boys to hit the gym?
Looking forward to this! The view from the top half and the long runs are going to be quite something…
I used to absolutely love my Tyee on the downs and at bike parks, but now I frequently find myself wishing I had taken my Cube eOne77, I’ve never had so much fun going downhill, it’s just brilliant 😀 and my 42 kg daughter pops her 24 kg ebike off pretty much everything and heads seriously skywards on bigger jumps, technique trumps trying to muscle it!
Fun uphill stuff. Dan kind of mentions it in the video at around 3:29
OK, like power climb e-enduro stages.
.. I remember when getting up the climbs was part of the challenge .. Hill Climb champs .. The Cwmcarn climb.. blahblah BITD...
tbh the power climb bits of the e-MTB race stages I saw online looked good. Not my thing but I always enjoy watching the motorbike trials in the woods not far from here, similar stuff (no not another 'they're just MXs' comment, you know what I mean)
More and more Enduro / DH riders are moving across to Ebikes. Ebikes do not really need uplift as much so they can now just session any number of "steep lines in the woods for winch and plummet" type rides, which are free. So places like Dyfi are seeing their target market no longer need them. So this is an attempt to pull them back in
Very good point. They're really going to need to make the trails special for people to travel that far.
It’s an interesting expansion. By the looks of it, the uphill sections to ride wouldn’t be much of a joy on a long travel/enduro manual bike which is probably the majority of what customers bring, as they alluded to being also open to ride. I do wish they would cater for the bimbler end of the market though, a few flow trails at blue/red level would be cool, almost getting alp like feel from a high set off point after an uplift then a ride up to a start point. Something like that would be great for me, on a relatively low power and short travel eeeb. The problem though, again from the video, is getting machines up there to make them. Seems like the eeb downhill line will be gnarly.
Ebikes do not really need uplift as much so they can now just session any number of "steep lines in the woods for winch and plummet" type rides, which are free. So places like Dyfi are seeing their target market no longer need them. So this is an attempt to pull them back in
Does anyone really enjoy spending about half an hour queuing up then sitting in a crowded noisy, filthy, bus, then unloading? In both cases you can ride up on an e bike in less time and they could make the climbs fun. You can also have longer runs that don't return all the way to the base and include some climbing.
So i’v3 come to the conclusion that people who complain their e-bike sucks to the ground, won’t get air and is too heavy to be fun either have their suspension too soft/crap and/or are just weaklings.
I definitely feel it in my shoulders more if I've ridden a heavier e bike but its dependent on the type of trail - you'll feel the difference a lot more on tight Singletrack than big open bike park trails.
And theres a range here - a decent Enduro bike might be 16/17kg. A light but capable eeb at 20-23 (in most cases at the more 'all mountain' than enduro. Heavy eebs upwards from there
I like the idea of what they are doing. The trails can be more spread out too, they don't all need to fan out from the same uplift spot and converge back at the start. Like a sort of mini portes de soleil / chairlift type thing, but self powered.
Does anyone really enjoy spending about half an hour queuing up then sitting in a crowded noisy, filthy, bus, then unloading? In both cases you can ride up on an e bike in less time
Blimey. Where are you riding that involves half hour queues? Sounds horrific. Not been to Dyfi but at Antur we comfortably averaged <20 minutes per run including queueing, loading,shuttling, unloading and descending.
Admittedly it's only half as high, but.....
Does anyone really enjoy spending about half an hour queuing up then sitting in a crowded noisy, filthy, bus, then unloading?
Actually, in the UK at least, an uplift day on my regular bike is still my favourite thing. The bus may not be the most hygienic environment but I don't think I've ever experienced half hour queues and on a fine day Dirt Farm's open air uplift can be rather pleasant (just need a cushion for my boney arse)
They are also talking about being able to open up new area's that an eeb would allow you to pedal back out of.
Now that makes sense to me. Even existing venues like BPW can be a pain in the arse getting back from the trails that don't end at the bus, that slog up from the bottom is orrible.
Most of my riding in the UK is tight singletrack or trail centres, I rarely get to ride bike parks now I have kids and school runs, etc.
I’ve always loved techy climbs on MTBs. But I’ve never looked forward to them as much as now that im on an e-bike. There have been several times where I’ve ridden down something, just so I can ride back up it. Techy climbs is one of the very best things about e-bikes imo.
Hving said that, the power stages in the ebike enduro events are just mental, and there’s no way I could handle one of those stages. (I’d still love a go at it though!).
regarding descending, I have a hardtail, enduro bike, a lightweight e-bike and a full fat ebike. Interestingly, on the lightweight e-bike, I’ve found that I prefer it with the added weight of the range extender - it just seems to handle even better (it’s a Mondraker Neat, and is simply the best handling bike I’ve ever ridden). And I notice that pro DH and enduro riders are often adding weights to their bikes to improve the handling. Who’d have ever thought that, back when we were all counting the grams to keep our bikes below the magical 30lb mark!
So if im riding uplifts or chairlifts, I ride my Lightweight e-bike (or even my full fat one), because they simply handle better than my normal bikes. Which is quite appalling, considering how much I paid for those normal bikes!
