There’s quite a bit of mis-remembering on this thread.
Firstly, AFAIR Penhydd was instituted as a formal trail somewhere around 2002 as the 9feet.com trail, by which time all of us except the special ones were riding hardtails at the very least, and there were plenty of FSs around. There were few rigids on the trails by this time.
Secondly, anyone remembering what Afan was like in the early noughties is entirely wrong in there assesment of what it’s like to ride now. It’s been re worked and repaired and added to on multiple occasions since then.
It’s undoubtedly still a trail centre in the truest sense of the word, with plenty of smooth roller coaster sections, but it’s quite a bit rougher in many places than those groomed fresh trails from even 10 years ago. It’s better for it too, much more interesting and rewarding now it’s worn in/eroded.
I had a hoot the last couple of times I’ve taken the hardtail despite being a bit battered at the end.