Rode it today for the first time. Loved it. Really cannot understand some of the mediocre reviews it’s had from some people. How can anyone find the descending boring, it’s as demanding as you’d want from an XC trail, and beautifully varied, I thought, mixing rooty singletrack, almost DH style sections and a little bit of smooth, swoopy, bermy stuff. The climbing was long, and steep in parts, but I liked the fact that that gives us something a bit different from other trail centres in S. Wales. I also like it being in two halves, like Twrch, with most of the climbing in the first half and the descending in the second.
Even though it was busy today I didn’t find it a problem; not difficult to pass and everyone seemed aware that there would be people coming up behind and were pulling over (as did I a few times; I’m not particularly awesome myself).
Did it in 1 hour 40 today – quite pleased with that – then up to do the final bit of Twrch descent.
Beautiful weather made a difference; maybe it’s been the crap weather that’s caused some of the underwhelmed opinion.