Heading to Afan next weekend - Have never ridden Skyline. I've ridden Blade and W2 several times. So what's it like? Worth a look or better sticking with the tried and tested? (wasn't overly impressed with Blade tbh)
I quite like big days out on the bike, if that is in anyway relevant. Thanks!
I would say yes, but then I tend to like old school XC rides. it does feel far more remote than the other trails. less people I guess? It isn't overly technical, a fair bit of fireroad,
What didn't you like about blade?
I'd say it is equally as challenging technically as blade/W2, however those sections seem to be linked by more fireroad - which is predominantly uphill fireroad.
The only time I did it, was passed by two (spearate, solo) ebikers, who asked how much further as they were down to 1 bar of battery.
Including riding from and to the Afan lodge along the bottom, it took me and the girlfriend about 6 hours in fairly hideous conditions. (water running down trails, nearly gettin gblown over in places).
On a dry day, I'd say 4 hours from glyncorryg easily acheivable.
Blade seemed to be a lot of draggy boring link sections!
And we're staying opposite Afan Lodge... so will be using the path down to Glyncorryg.
We did 'new' skyline in January. Loved it, didn't feel like there was too much fireroad (lots more singletrack now). We also rode from Afan Lodge, it was about 56km. We were a group of 10 on singlespeeds (mostly rigid) and were out for 6h15m, including a very slow final descent due to worn out brakes, hands and a broken chain. So reckon a smaller group on geared/softie bikes would get round faster 🙂