Afan trails – I know nothing, please enlighten me before my trip

Booked in for a weekend next month. I’ve never been to any trail centres before, it’s all been surrey hills singletrack (although lots of it). I’m mostly a wheels on the ground rider (ie nothing much above a 1ft drop) and I’ll be taking my turner flux. What are the trails like – rocks / roots / dust etc? I’m basically trying to work out what tyres to use without starting a “what tyres” thread. Currently loving having my 2.1 Maxxis Ignitors back on, but I suspect they might be a bit fragile for anything rocky.

Nothing too hairy mate, flux will be fine. Never had ignitors but I’v never had many probs with punctures there.
Weekend maybe a bit much, only 2 1/2 trails open. Stop off at cwmcarn on the way.

Without knowing anything about ignitors, they look perfect. I don’t remember thinking that Afan is that rocky anyway. Have fun!

[edit – what ^ said]

There is a lot of work being done with tree felling at the moment in Afan, so its hard to say what is open and not. Although no doubt Penhydd will still be closed.
The Wall and Whites are both excellent ST and will keep you occupied for the w/e especially as its your 1st time. Maybe Skyline will be open (although with a number of closures), it has a great final descent to make up for all the fireroad.

You wont get thorn punctures, its pinch punctures you need to worry about. Lots of rocks, esp the black run. I take nice and fat tyres, and run tubeless so no pinches.

Did it for the first time the other week and LOVED it, although I understand some good parts of the final descent were shut. In a ride that took about 3 hours, maybe a bit more, we did a combination of Whites and then the W2, all signposted. First 40 mins of Whites is steepish rocky singletrack climb, loads of fun, then when you get to the top there’s a fireroad connection to W2. I’d park at the Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre rather than at Afan visitor centre, because it’s closer to the start of Whites and (i think) the downhills beneath it are closed anyway – you might wanna ring to see what’s open.

Lots of rocks, lots of bumps, switchbacks and supfast singletrack downhill. Not that rooty. I rode on fairly bald Maxxis High Rollers with lowered tyre pressure and had no trouble – even put a couple of full-suss pals through their paces. Dialled my Cotic Soul up to 140mm.

But i mainly ride bridleways myself and there wasn’t anything I couldn’t do (maybe one corner, but I’ll get it next time).

http://www.mbwales.com/en/content/cms/centres/afan_forest_park/afan_forest_park.aspx

Have a great time.

I wouldn’t say it’s very rocky but it depends what you’re used to I suppose.
You can get around whites and the wall in a morning quite comfortably.
Penhydd still closed, expect singletrack closures to the already singletrack deficient (IMO) skyline.
Great riding though, just not enough of it anymore.

was there on the marriage bank holiday – stuff is shut – so check before you go – also someone there said that Afan will be shutting down for 3 years so that the Windfarm can be extended and that it’s future after that is in the balance – anyone heard that too ?

The MTBing in Afan brings in a lot of income to the local economy. I was chatting to the Green Lanterns owner a few weeks back and she was saying that the MTB’ers were a godsend (some of them lol!) to the area. Most of her B+B income was MTB now, when her place was originally for Horsey stuff.

Thanks. Might just go with a slightly tougher sidewalled tyre then, but it sounds like I’ll probably be ok, I run mine tubless anyway so should be fine on the pinch flat front.

I’ve been there quite a few times. The only tyres to have given me problems were 2.1 Maxxis High rollers. I think the sidewalls were just too thin to prevent pinch flats over the rocks. That and my cack-handed riding style.

Ride there most weekends. My mate has had ignitors on the back of his zesty since winter, and loves them.

Afan is not shutting for 3 years, there is a lot of uncertainty about skyline as it will be impacted by the windfarm.

There are over 4 different forestry contracts on the go now, penhydd very shut, work on the wall – looks different but trails all open, same diversions on skyline that have been there for over a year and work on whites basically closing off the last 2 descent bits, diverts back up the hill to come down skyline. The work on whites is meant to be in the week only, but it’s been hit and miss.

But they are also in program to build new trails over the next couple of years, and have already started a nice new bermed link down to the start of the wall to stop us flying down the shared bit and hitting any walkers.

If you are down for a weekend, then brechfa is also well worth a trip (only another 50 mins west)

There are more rocks to rattle your bones than you are used to on the Surrey Hills, but still fast and flowy. The grip seems equally good in the wet or dry, whatever tyres you use (within reason). It’s more down to riding style – the more you rag it the tougher the tyres needed. Don’t miss out the “black” addition starting at the top of the Whites/Skyline sheep climb above Glencorrwyg. It’s short, not esp. hairy, but good fun whizzing around the rocky berms – rpt rpt.

ok eatsdirt – thanks for that – glad to hear it !
as regards tyres we had maxxis advantage high rollers minions and crossmarks – only the crossmarks had punctures – twice 🙁