[Closed] Penhydd trail opens today!

Looks like a lot of fun!

When is the 30km due to open?

April apprently[u]

Smart.
sidewinder... 😀

That would be fun on a cross bike.

Looks great, I really want to take the misses here.

Apparently I'm "nu skool" in my mtb persuasion, open, fast and flowy. Learn something new every day!

Anyone find Rowan Sorrel designed trails quite samey?
Not in a bad way.. more the way he puts rollers in.. almost like you can tell he designed a particular trail.

Rowans trails have always been known for flow and rolling jumps. Yes samey blues - I found BPW blues too much of the same, but good for a little while. Better for beginners, which is what they are aimed at really.

Looks like a bike path. Which I guess in a way it is.

Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

I saw the video in Cognation's fb page yesterday. It's seems forever since the original Penrhydd was closed. I thought it was better than the wall and not a blue back then either. I'm glad those sections have survived as they where some of the best but it's just not the same without the trees. Things change but I feel for the local businesses as IMO Afan has gone backwards.

Hidden Valley RIP 🙁

Was at Afan last weekend and and was dismayed that we'd missed the opening by a week. Having seen that video I'm kind of glad 👿

I think that looks great. My kids can cope with simple smooth family trails at the moment but give it a year or so and they'll need something to progress on to. They should put more of those sorts of beginner trails in as it makes the centres family destinations not just something for more experienced riders.

Edit +1 klunk

+ 2 Klunk

Had some great rides on the old trail, Hidden Valley was brilliant.

The Wall was very motorway like when it first opened, It's only 1/2 away from me but I'd rather ride Gower trails 🙂

Penhydd used to be amazing. Start with that rooty section at the bottom, then climbing forever through the tall dark pine trees, rain slitting down from cold grey skies. Finally reaching the top, turn right and then zipping along, slooshing through puddles, sliding and slithering over stones, then was it Sidewinder first? The grin as you realise how much fun it's going to be, bursting in and out of the trees, the secret silence of Hidden Valley , rain forgotten, cold irrelevant, brakes squealing, a small part of your brain wondering if there's enough pad left to be of any use, the rest not caring, and finally reaching the bottom, splattered in mud, soaked to the skin, snow starting to fall, pads worn to nothing, ready for a

nice
hot
cup
of
tea.

Looks like a good trail for young children. Could be a godsend, sent the non-mtbing wife around that with the nipper while you get a lap of the wall in.
I still miss the old penhydd. Any news on the blade trail? Will it be a proper south welsh trail or more of this smooth stuff? Wrecker doesn't like new school.

Rode both today, turns out the blue is more enjoyable than the red. Who would have thought it?

I've been so out of the loop on these trails, blessed (cursed?) by Scottish trail centres. 9feet trail was great, lent a hand in building it a little, got to know the characters around it, Phil Lee, Julian, Nick, the whole MTBWales.com thing that happened and then fell apart...

There was always a good vibe about the place, something I'd not experienced up the road at whites etc, but then back then it was in it's infancy.

Hopefully I'll get chance to visit when I'm next down south, really pleased it's coming back together. 🙂

there's a good chance i'll be there with my wife on Friday, is the caff open? A quick google doesn't bring up much beyond websites that look at least 5 years out of date...

I got the impression from my neighbour it was like Swinley but not as good... He didn't come back inspired that's for sure.

Swinley but not as good...damned by faint praise indeed! Looks very wide for 'singletrack', and the surface looks smooth as tarmac in places. No thank ye.

It's a blue trail in the main, so for beginners, also trail on exposed welsh hillside, it's going to weather pretty quickly so will get more character pretty soon if that's an issue.

and the surface looks smooth as tarmac in places. No thank ye. and the surface looks smooth as tarmac in places. No thank ye.

yeah this. any MTB trail that is smooth enough to ride on a BMX gets a thumb down for me 🙁

did both the blue and the red today on my cx - good cx loop. fine save that some of the rock steps were a bit of a challenge! braking bumps already in situe which does not bode well for the life span of the track.

I had a great ride today on the blue and new Penhydd red. The blue really works as a trail and is a great addition to entire Afan/Glyncorrwg centre as it's perfect for kids/beginners and good fun for a quick blast on the big berms if you're a bit faster.

It's nice to have the Penhydd but it has lost a lot of character due to I) the lack of trees, II) the lack of the hidden valley trail (which has been replaced with a decent section but still). The new sections are decent and the sidewinder bit is still there. Still a good trail and it will be interesting to see how the new sections wear in over the winter.

The centre at afan was nice and busy too, which was good to see. New pay and display is only a £1 instead of whatever it was before - bikewash is free.

.yeah this. any MTB trail that is smooth enough to ride on a BMX gets a thumb down for me

Really?

The blue at GT is awesome, *because* its smooth enough to ride a bmx on. In fact last time I was there I rode behind a chap on a bmx who was popping the most awesome tricks off the kickers. Material does not make a trail rubbish, design does.

Variety keeps things fresh and entertaining on a bike, instead of just riding the same type of trails all the time. Roots, mud, rocks, gravel, tarmac, groomed trails, steps.....

Might have to give it a whirl next weekend

Rode the new Penhydd red today. Didn't have time for the blue though. Have to say that although it was great fun it doesn't compare to Y Wal and Whites. Ironically the best bits for me were the old bits from the original - sidewinder and dead sheep gully, Sidewinder is classic Afan singletrack through the trees and rides so well.

The new bit at the start makes the initial climb ride well, but it's followed by a fair bit of winching up the fire road, but I suppose that gets you up the hill quickly!

I found the new downhill bits a bit too manicured and bike park like, very samey, very like the downhill sections at garw valley and bike park wales. Sad to say but all very Rowanish and not in keeping with the more natural flavour of Afan for me. I hope the new Blade trail isn't so bike park ish. We need a new proper natural feeling trail!

we're driving down tomorrow for a mid-week overnighter, prob going to explore the new penhydd side tmorrow, then check out whatever theyve done with W2/blade for a longer ride wednesday.

Am I the only one who thinks that boardwalk stuff will be lethal by next winter when the moss has grown on it?

Looks fun. Afan back on this years places to visit. Might be worth staying over again.

Heading up there on Friday to see how much we can fit in. Usually so W2 and then feel at a loss for what else to do. Might try to split it this time and then chuck in penhydd in lieu of the dull link section ride.

veedubdave - Member
Rode the new Penhydd red today. Didn't have time for the blue though. Have to say that although it was great fun it doesn't compare to Y Wal and Whites. Ironically the best bits for me were the old bits from the original - sidewinder and dead sheep gully, Sidewinder is classic Afan singletrack through the trees and rides so well.

To me it a good trail to add to the weekend (and the rest of Afan), but I wouldn't head up there just for that trail alone which I would for several of the Lakes/Scotland routes.

<To me it a good trail to add to the weekend (and the rest of Afan), but I wouldn't head up there just for that trail alone which I would for several of the Lakes/Scotland routes.>

Luckily I only live about 30-40 mins away, so not worried about having to go too far. Proposed up today as it was my birthday and the sun was out ( at least this morning), and I had the day off!

I hope Rowan gets the message and starts to put some more natural singletrack back into his trail centre builds...

I thought the same. It felt quite like BPW. It is billed as a soft option red though.

Isn't it designed as a stepping stone for the more technical Afan trails? Or to add something a little different? Sounds like it hits the mark. I loved most if the old Penhydd trail and was sad to see it go. Very much looking forward to riding Sidewinder again when I'm next over that way 🙂

Lots of trail in that part of the world are getting Rowaned. Not that its a bad thing but its always good to mix it up with the natural stuff too. Looking forward to giving the new Penhydd trail ago and the new stuff at cwncarn.

Hmmm, a step backwards from the original. Long fireroad climbs to access the singletrack (which they're trying to engineer out of The Wall with the likes of Elevator). Some fun sections, some very Sorrelled which is getting a bit samey. And Blimey its short, we haven't ridden off road for months and were rusty, we were back at the centre after 1hr 10 mins.

In other news, Whites Level climb and descent (we did W2) is totally open and exposed, totally different feel and will be grim in rain and wind (like this afternoon...). And Blade due to open Feb 14th.

Hmmm, a step backwards from the original. Long fireroad climbs to access the singletrack (which they're trying to engineer out of The Wall with the likes of Elevator).

My understanding is that the new trails are designed with newer riders in mind so fire road climbs, unengaging as they may be, make a lot of sense. The more technical climbs on the other side of the valley are great once you know what you are doing but would be a nightmare for the uninitiated to clean.

Hmmm, a step backwards from the original. Long fireroad climbs to access the singletrack

The original had a log fireroad climb to start, along with another one between Hidden Valley and Sidewinder so i dont think its that much different there.

I remember the original, and fully accept fireroad climbs are inevitable as building singletrack is so labour-intensive, my point being this seems to have more fireroad and less S/T than the original and I'd expect trails to improve with build/design experience.

My understanding is that the new trails are designed with newer riders in mind

We rode the red route, which by definition should be for riders with some experience (the techier sections of Wall and Whites are graded red).

The Wall is IMHO a terrific trail, and it has improved over time (with the addition of elevator, alpha, omega etc). Penhydd is worse than the original. A bit of a disappointment after years of wait.

The thing to remember when talking about "Rowanning" is that it's not a straight choice- machine built jumps-and-pumps trail is cheaper and faster to build, and generally lower maintenance when done well. So what you end up comparing isn't a mile of machine built with a mile of lovely handcut, it's a mile of machine built with much less handcut. Often what that really means is a choice between building a trail, and not.

I like a bit of rollercoaster from time to time, prefer "natural-ish" but being pragmatic I'd rather have a bmx track than no track.

I'd venture that perhaps riding is changing too....... "Technical XC climbing" seems a bit old hat in these times of AM & Enduro - bikes are now becoming DH bikes that can climb, rather than XC bikes that can descend. Fireroad climbs leading up to technical descents is probably the way forward I reckon.

andyrm - Member

Fireroad climbs leading up to technical descents is probably the way forward I reckon.

please, no.

I like a bit of rollercoaster from time to time, prefer "natural-ish" but being pragmatic I'd rather have a bmx track than no track.

This is where I differ, I see trail centres as a better drain alternative for the winter, I am very much old school in the way I ride.

Given the choice of travel to a rowanised track or road ride or muddy bridleway, i'll stick with the road.

I'd venture that perhaps riding is changing too....... "Technical XC climbing" seems a bit old hat in these times of AM & Enduro - bikes are now becoming DH bikes that can climb, rather than XC bikes that can descend. Fireroad climbs leading up to technical descents is probably the way forward I reckon.

I have spoken to a few people I know about this and I think those who were there in the early days were cyclists looking to ride off road. So things like fitness mattered, climbs were one part of the ride. It seems to have swung a long way now, and yes in the UK at least riding, as in pedalling, seems to no longer be the point, if that makes sense. I am talking the average rider, at the top in all forms of cycle sport fitness matters.

I have spoken to a few people I know about this and I think those who were there in the early days were cyclists looking to ride off road. So things like fitness mattered, climbs were one part of the ride. It seems to have swung a long way now, and yes in the UK at least riding, as in pedalling, seems to no longer be the point, if that makes sense. I am talking the average rider, at the top in all forms of cycle sport fitness matters.

Most of the climbing at a SuperEnduro is road based - so you need to be fit to get up a long old climb on a big bike, but you're not timed. The Enduro format recognises a shift in mindset where a climb is just something that has to get done, rather than of any value in the ride.

Plenty of natural trails there for those that want them. Trail centres can provide fast smooth swoopy stuff - tricky rocky stuff is out there in the hills.

It wasn't the weather for natural trails, I'm a +1 for trail centres being weatherproof options, not some limited/sterilised take on one sub genre of riding. There's lots of great trail centre rides in Wales, its just that Penhydd isn't one of them.

My Alpine 160 with bombers, coil forks and a smattering of Saint probably fits the Enduro bike bill, didnt think I was unusual (and other posts suggest I'm not) in finding Techy climbs rewarding and part of riding. You don't need a 22lb 80mm-travel whippet to be able to climb, or enjoy it.

I'd far rather techie climbs than miles of steady smooth switchbacks, like Whyte's.

Cwmcarn >> Whites.

One of my old favourite trails ruined by yet more smooth surfacing. At least it solves the 'what tyres for Penhydd?' questions.

Slicks of course.

Cool. Seems ideal for a visit with the HT next month.