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Taking my Brother in law to Afan on Thursday. He's just bought a Giant Yukon FX2 and wants to give trails riding a go, having previously only cycled on the road. Don't want to scare him too much, just enough to get a bit of adrenaline flowing.
What do you reckon:
Whites (full)
Whites (no Energy)
Whites climb, skyline shortcut.
Y Wal
????????
personally I didn't think Energy rides too well, the "flow" just didn't seem to work, maybe I just hit it wrong?
I'd take him to Cwmcarn, tell him the climb is going to be hell but let him have a go, then be merciful and take the road up half way, the pay off on the way down will have him hooked for life.
I'd say Mr Nutt is right. From what I remember of Afan energy and my experience with new riders (which is quite a bit), Afan on the whole would be a touch difficult. It's amazing a lot of the things you sail over without noticing them that are terrifying to a first time offroader!
When you say he has only ridden on the road before - do you mean he is a roadie and has strength and stamina or do you mean he cycles down to the pub ?
If he only cycles to the pub then he is going to struggle on any of the climbs and terrain in Afan IMO.
Thought about Cwmcarn, cos I live about 4 miles away and ride it all the time. But the climb always makes me cry and I didn't want him to see me breathing out of my arse on the way up. 😳
And he's a mountain walking/running/outdoorsy type so will be cope with the strength/stamina bit ok. I also thought the Cwmcarn climb might be a bit technical, especially if it rains between now and then.
In that case then I would go for Whites over the Wall. The long fireroad climb in the Wall would probably kill hte excitement of his first ride.
At least the Whites climb can be a grind but interesting at the same time.
It's less demoralising pushing up techy bits of climb than walking down bits of DH.
Are the DH bits of Afan that tough (the Energy excepted)? I was only worried about the north shore bit of Whites. and some of the steppy bits on the final descent. and the rock drops at the end of the first descent..... 😕
Have only ridden the skyline shortcut once, cant remember much other than that there were a lot of little kickers on the last bit.
Looks like it might have to be Cwmcarn then. Just hope the lung shop at the top is still open. 😥
First beginner ride I thought "it's not that tough, it'll be fine" and it literally ended in tears. Lesson learnt- even if it's only 2 easier rides then on to Afan. Beginners improve very quickly but the first ride is not the time to go scaring them off. No doubt they'll cope with Afan fine but they'll enjoy it more after a couple of tamer rides.
I think Cwncarn climb does that to everybody, well everyone except the freak on a singlespeed that minced gayly past me as I was whimpering like a little girl on that very steep slate section (third bit?), that was not a high point in my riding career 😀