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and I'm not very impressed, rode the wall and the only good bit was the zig zag descent. didn't do w2 as this is my first ride since breaking my hand but is there anything better there?
I did w2 3 weeks ago and really enjoy it, every bits of it, includeing the cappucino at the dropoff cafe. What kind of stuff do you like riding then?
Wall is pants, whites is better.
The Wall has that big drag up from the car park that always put me off.
If I did park down there always found Penhydd (currently closed) a better option.
Put if you're only doing one ride then I'd have driven onto Glyncorrwg and done the Whites Level.
I did the W2 today, starting at Glyncorrwg which feels like a good way round to do it. Missed one turning which was a bit annoying and the link road between the two routes is a bit dull, but it makes riding the Wall better.
Also there was a dirty big detour around some of the technical climbing on the Wall today, definitely too much fire road.
Yeah there was a lot of firewall, I live smack bang on the pennines and ride lee quarry and the like. I was contemplating doing w2 but with it saying black I didn't want to risk my hand.
W2 is black only cos of the distance rather than anything technical.
Whites is a good ride, a lot less fireroad and the singletrack climb makes it more interesting. (Was there today demo'ing some bikes)
Went to Afan for the first time last sunday and rode whites level with a friend ,both finish the trail feeling a bit unsure about it ...
I know its a fairly short trail but didn't seem to have a good flow to it ?
Think we'll have to try on of the others. 😕
reply to philfive:
Your kidding right?
The final two sections are awesome!
The open section of the zig zags is good, but then when your back in the woods heading down the valley you go through some great sections.
What didn't you like ?
Like others say,W2 is a a great ride.
Flat out is the only way to hit the wales trails,be there in a few weeks[code]
i just thought it didn't flow, those gates at the start and end are shite, carpa diem - 2 sections don't make a good ride, kirroughtree was great from start to finish. i think i should of picked whites or W2
philfive - Member
Yeah there was a lot of firewall, I live smack bang on the pennines and ride lee quarry and the like. I was contemplating doing w2 but with it saying black I didn't want to risk my hand.
Not sure what this means?? "Firewall" s'pose you mean fireroad!
Anyway all trails are different.... personally I don't feel the need to spout off saying how crap certain trails are and making out you're from the place where the greatest trails on earth exist!!
Chill !! it's all riding sometimes it's just nice to do something different
where did i say it was crap? and i didn't say i was from the place with the greatest trails.... you been drinking?
IMO the Wall best sweetest singletrack section would be -Graveyard and ZigZag. That's it. The better suggestion is to ride Whites as it's much better, then have a lil brake at Glyncowrg and head for the last sections of descent -Skyline. Big smiles guaranteed.
I rode W2 yesterday and went back up to do what was open of the July trail too(training for Afan monster). Trails are definitely in need of some TLC but the state of them makes them more interesting.
Between those 3 trails I think you've got some pretty awesome descending.
Guess it's a matter of personal preference though as I stopped off at Lee Quarry on my way back from the lakes in June and was entirely dissapointed. I can see how it's a good local spot but it ain't worth the drive.... Afan is!
Good point yet, think I choose the wrong ride, lee quarry isn't everyone's cup off tea and if I'd of driven 4 hours then I probably wouldn't of enjoyed lee quarry.
I cover South Wales for work so get to ride Afan all the time, have always enjoyed it. Last week however I got to ride up at GT, my god do they know how to build good trails up there.
I rode with a mixed ability group in some awful weather but every trail was still brilliant, you could mix and match sections to make up a ride, those of lesser ability could stick to the blue whilst the rest rode the red and met up further along the trail.
I haven't been to Afan since, but something tells me its going to be a bit of a dissapointment now.
I went to Brechfa a couple of times this year and thought it made Afan seem very tame. In my opinion Brechfa's well worth the extra 45 minutes drive over Afan, but you do need your climbing legs there. After the recent weather I'd expect it to be wringing wet there so fit a crud catcher and rear guard.
+1 for Brechfa
I lobe brechfa, spesh red trail, but ridden it a bit much this year so been going to afan lately for a change. So far done skyline (too much fireroad), and the wall. Tried to do whites on friday but ripped my rear mech off 4 miles up first climb then lost rear brake pads on way back to centre, to top it off i was wet through! I personally like the centre as a whole, nice atmosphere etc. But the trails at brechfa definately flow better and its quieter.
Another vote for Brechfa. Laugh out loud.
I am with Keiran. Recently did a trip up to scotland to ride some of the 7stanes and have to agree that they make afan and cymcarn where I have ridden a lot look very shabby indeed. I too am a little gutted that it will be quite sometime before I get to ride trail centres of the same quality again and have to make do with local stuff and afan/cwmcarn.
I actually really like the Wall. Nant-y-bar is a lovely nice bit of flowy trail, then from 373 onwards, through the Graveyard and down to the bottom is one of the best bits of trail at Afan.
Brechfa and Cwmcarn are both much better than Afan imo. And if you are at Afan, do Whytes 🙂
EDIT: or some natural trails, which is by far the best option I reckon.
Only the newer stuff at Afan is worth bothering with really. White's level is still one of the best man made trails in Wales imho. Brechfa is also superb rode it when it was bone dry for the first time in June but I can imagine some of it's a bitch when it's wet.
Much Love for the Marin Trail and Penmachno as well tho!
Everyone has their favourites.... living in Warwick anything that isn't flat is good for me!
Personally I never warmed to The Wall. My Afan choices would be Skyline for a big ride and Penhydd for a quick blast. Rarely seems to be mentioned here but I love the flow of it and quite a good night ride all year round too.
Andy
philfive - Member
and I'm not very impressed,
philfive - Member
where did i say it was crap? and i didn't say i was from the place with the greatest trails.... you been drinking?
Not impressed or Crap means the same thing in my book
Yep i've been drinking
Penhydd closed at the moment- and yes, it's a great night ride. As is first Whites descent, The Wall, July, - in fact most of the place is great at night although a few people have said that they find it a bit spooky :0
Bored the crap out of me
Been there twice now and all that effort to climb and no reward
No long flowing sections at all
Probaly a XC paradise