[Closed] First visit to Afan

I'm off to afan this weekend too - my second visit. Rode whites level last time and will do so the same again. Riding with my brother who lives nearby and he swears it's the best route there. It's a heck of a climb but very satisfying and the descent is fab! Would love to have a crack at the skyline trail too though. I would also recommend the cheese on toast or lasagne in the cafe afterwards. 🙂

depends how fit you are im not particulary fit but took loadsa food and did w2? its whytes level and the wall rolled into one and i really liked it. it might give you another day to a whole other trail ?

I'll be there too... Whites, lunch, Wall will be a damn good day out 🙂

I'll be doing Skyline too and hopefully have a day riding away from the purpose-built stuff with some knowledgeable folk...

Cwmcarn is close as well for a stop-off if you're passing - I'll be there on Friday.

The best bit's closed IMO - Penhydd, not really any help to you though is it.

Park at the cheeky free car park, set off to do the first part of W2, stop off at the caff for lunch, then finish the W2 off.

Job done, simples.

If you're coming in from the M4 there are a lot of 50mph average speed camera's, junction 24-28 is closed from 8pm to 6am.

Park at the cheeky free car park

I've only done Whites and would recommend that, or W2. Take spare innertubes, I went through 3 and had to walk the last half mile as I had run out of tubes!

Highly recommend the Lasagne with spicy potatoes! 😛

[i]But £4-£5 for parking is hardly expensive.[/i]

No, but it does save you from 10 minutes or so of tedium riding from the other centre, okay you've still got another 15 minutes or so of tedium before it starts going up. 😕

But £4-£5 for parking is hardly expensive.

.. and AFAIK some of the money goes into preserving the trails, it's a bit rude not to pay up.

stop off at the caff for lunch

Felt sick as a dog on the immediate climb out...

And let's you use the trails for free when all those idiots who pay are helping with the upkeep and maintenance of the trails 🙄

I'd do Whites in the morning and The Wall after lunch that climb with a drop off lunch in you is not good! There is a little bridge on the Wall after a mile or two, don't fall off that into the stream below for apparently no reason..

[i]"cheeky free car park"[/i]

its bad enough doing it, but posting it on a public forum rates as one of the most stoopid things ive read here in a long time.

and thats saying something.

Do your bit - pay for parking.

Don't over eat at the cafe. Second time up the sheep climb it felt like I had a rock in my belly! It's a good climb; makes you work at it. Not overly tricky, but with enough interest to keep you concentrating. There's still a steppy bit I fail to get up.

Eat massive cheese and beans after riding as everybody has said.
If you have time nip over to Brechfa.

Whites is definitely a good trail to do and a useful cycling work out. Make sure you include the new(ish) Energy section (starts at the bottom of the first proper descent from the top). Didn't do the black run from the top so not sure what that does but you should be able to do that then climb back up the fire road to the top and do the "standard" descent.

I'm also going to Afan this weekend!

[i]"cheeky free car park"[/i]

In my defence it's not really that cheeky as it's shown on the map.

Went to Afan last weekend. Rode the wall first,Descent is ok.Whites level is the Best track there,Excellent descent,Make sure you do the Black run,Its quite a short section but is lots of fun.Me and my mate rode whites 4 times in the weekend.Keep an eye out for the rock jump on whites that lands to flat if you hit it fast.

Park at Glyncorwg and pay the parking, it's only £2 maybe £3 and it keeps the trails maintained. Parking at Glycorwg you can then have some top grub when you finish. As buzz said don't eat there until you've finished or it will be tough on the climb.
The Whites climb is my fav , I'm not built for climbs but I actually enjoy that one(unlike some of The Wall).

Went earlier this year and did Skyline. It was a horrible day. Rode through rain & cloud/fog the entire ride. Didn't see a bloody thing! Still enjoyed it (apart from being soaking wet the entire time)

Park at the cheeky free car park

No. Do not.

Park at the car parks and PAY FOR THE ENJOYMENT! Paying for parking at trail centres is a part of the development of both the trails and the local community. If we go there and ride, we should at the very least contribute to the upkeep of the trails and if at all possible put some money back in to the local economy. Don't just turn up with all your food and kit, park somewhere where you don't have to pay and them schlep off home afterwards.

The trails are there to get people riding. They're great! £5 or whatever to ride them is peanuts so stop being a tightarse tw@monkey and pay up!

Had a burger at the Drop off cafe at glyncorwg, gal said "want some chilli with that?" I say "sure" thinking chilli sauce. Burger arrives. Big fat juicy burger heaped with chilli con carne!!! no chips in sight just spicy roast potatos. Man that was good food, I still salivate just thinking about it. Whites level is pretty good too.

Firstly thanks for all the advice - some great culinary advice and a few riding tips. For the record, although 48 I am still reasonable fit ( for an old bald bloke).

The really good news is that due to the lovely gentlemen ( Rob and Bill ) at Bigfoot Bikes in Bromley, I should be riding my brand new Transition Transam ( which I won in the ST competition).

So if you see an old bloke , on a white Transam, with a big grin - then say hello and thanks for all the advice.

HB48- I'm 48 too and the climbs are all manageable.

I live locally and I park in loads of different places. People- you can park wherever you are allowed to. However you may possibly find that the £2:00 charge for parking up at Glyncorrwg is your best bet because you get easy access to the showers, toilets, shop, cafe etc if you want/ need them. Alternatively, you could drive past the gates and park just along there a bit. Or in the village.

I hope that everyone suggesting parking should be in the 'official' parking places always parks in 'pay and display' carparks everywhere else, rather than try to find cheaper/ free spots when out shopping etc.

Howard

I'm very pleased that your optimism did translate into reality.

That Transition was an instantly likeable bike, hope you enjoy it.

Cheers

Bill

Call into the shop and ask for Kev.
I'll give you the best route that takes in all the best singletrack without having to climb on too much boring fireroad.
It'll get you back to the cafe with a ravenous appetite for the famous Welsh rarebit or Lasagne & spicy potatoes.
See you on saturday chaps.

Im wondering how long it will be before we see the Rhyslyn Car park being turned from free parking to a charged park.It's seeing much more action now Penhydd is closed.Also 'The wall is taking a battering too.

The July trail is a great one nad I don't think has been mentioned - its the same climb as Whites but you head off and link up with some of the last great descents of Whites - its about 21k in all, rather than the 46 for the full Skyline. It feels a bit less trail centery than Whites

What is this July Trail you speak of? ❓