Getting back into Mountain Biking around South Wales

[SwissJonese]

Love mountain biking, but been out of it for last 3 years due to having twins and relocating back from Switzerland to UK. Currently living in Cardiff and visit Cwmcarn Forest with the kids so see so many mountain bikers, that I get the need to be back in saddle.

I have an old Specialised Rockhopper hard tail which works fine but should I get a full face helmet, pads? Looking at all the local websites Cwmcarn might be a little too difficult for me getting back into biking, so maybe Bike Park Wales which is just as close might be better? I'm thinking trialing the Intermediate trails like Sixtapod would be a good thing?

Might give the coaching sessions a go in Bike Park Wales, also is the uplift a good idea as my fitness is great, but not amazing yet?

[SwissJonese]

Thanks all for the information. I know Castell Coch very well as I grew up as a teenager in Tongwynlais so spent a lot of time biking around that area and up and down the Taff Trail.

I am just wanting to take advantage of these uplift service at these bike sites to enjoy a bit of free riding and try to get my aerobic fitness back up to strength. Did a few runs in Switzerland taking a cable car to 10k feet and long trails down, so got into the easy way of life.

We are living in central Cardiff just off Roath Park so great for my wife to run, not so good for mountain biking.