I'm thinking of going to BikeParkWales in a couple of weeks.
What trail centre should I go to beforehand to check that I'm not going to be too out of my depth? Is there something similar (I'm in the south east, so can probably reach most of Wales, and up to the Midlands). I kind of hope that it's similar riding to at home, I don't want to travel all that way to find stuff I don't understand.
I'm a bit nervous really, but want to make sure I'm correctly prepared. How much stuff should I take in my Camelbak? Do they take cards in the cafe? How do I strap my bike on the trailer? Will the seats in the van be clean?
Or should I just throw the bike in the back of the car, and take it as it comes?
Beauty of BPW is there is no out of depth. You go as deep as you want.
carry normal spares
yes
they'll show you
no
yes
Will the seats in the van be clean?
Genius!
You should ideally go to every trail centre in the UK to earn your stripes, ideally you'd be achieving a KOM on at least 3 segments, one on a climb, one on a descent and one on an enduro specific trail.
Spares wise i'd save weight by not taking anything, everyone else will no doubt be on enduro specific bikes and will have enough 650b spares to help you out. The shop will have a clinometer you can borrow for final tweaks.
Uplift is fully booked for next 5/6 weeks!!I'm thinking of going to BikeParkWales in a couple of weeks.
You forgot to check what type of logs they use in the wood burner in the cafe. I really hope they're hardwood, preferably oak.
If not it really puts me off going TBH.
I generally just use a lemon flavoured one
Take your slippers for the van as they are trying to keep the carpets clean in this wet weather.
Don't forget the mud is a bit different in Wales.. can be a bit weird at first
Don't forget the mud is a bit different in Wales.. can be a bit weird at first
Now you mention it the mud is a bit....
Then again i wouldn't want to spoil the surprise.
BikeParkEngland, obviously
otherwise known as The Calder Valley
You should ideally go to every trail centre in the UK to earn your stripes, ideally you'd be achieving a KOM on at least 3 segments, one on a climb, one on a descent and one on an enduro specific trail
+1; I heard plans are afoot that they make you give your Strava username on the gate and then they check whether you are rad enough to be allowed in.
I don't want to travel all that way to find stuff I don't understand.
All of the signs carry a full translations from Welsh to Proper...
Wales isn't really all that different to the rest of the UK, they just talk a bit funny...
OP don't worry, It's just the same as riding anywhere else, ease into it, the trails are meant to be fun, start with the blues.
The up lift is booked until the end of time now I believe, but the pedal up isn't too bad and the drivers do operate a loose "PAYG" arrangement if you turn up and there's spare spaces...
Start with the blues, which are smoother and easy enough to ride at whatever pace you like, let the brakes off, pump a bit and your find you can go down them like a rocket once your feeling confident... maybe move on to the reds if you find you want to try a little bit more rough and technical riding (still mostly wheels on the deck stuff)...
Even if it's busy, it's not actually all that busy, there's enough trails that you can get from top to bottom without seeing another soul on some runs...
The thing to remember is nobody is actually trying to catch you out, the trails are labeled and described appropriately, ride what you are comfortable with in a way that you are comfortable, They want riders of all ability and experience to enjoy themselves and then recommend the place to others and come back again...
Just go, there's no need to find a [I]"pre-trailcentre, trailcentre"[/I]. You'll have a good time, Honest.
No need for a monster tool kit either, just Take a couple of tubes, a pump and a multi tool with you up the hill... at any given time your car will always be downhill from wherever you are, so long as you can roll, you can get back to the motor to fix a mechanical without too much bother IMO, leave the other spares in the car and try to travel as light as you can, its a trailcentre after all not a "Proper" ride...
Yes they take cards...
cloudnine - MemberDon't forget the mud is a bit different in Wales.. can be a bit weird at first
That's a bit racist. The mud is normal down here - you've got the weird stuff.
😆
As cookeaa said basically - riding is good practice for riding. You'll get more all round skills riding challenging normal trails, riding trail centre trails mainly just makes you better at riding trail centre trails...