MTB - Afan / Neath
Discussion
Thanks for all the feedback on my previous thread ‘Cardiff/Newport Rides’, but I have decided to stay in Neath this week and am hoping to head up to Afan for a bit of off-road.
Now I am not the most experienced off road rider in the world but then on the other hand I am not a complete novice either, can anyone who has ridden The Wall Trail at Afan let me know if it is impossibly difficult or can it be ridden if you are sensible or let me know if there are any other areas to consider.
I have found a local hotel in Neath that has secure bike storage so will be staying there
Now I am not the most experienced off road rider in the world but then on the other hand I am not a complete novice either, can anyone who has ridden The Wall Trail at Afan let me know if it is impossibly difficult or can it be ridden if you are sensible or let me know if there are any other areas to consider.
I have found a local hotel in Neath that has secure bike storage so will be staying there
the wall is a grat trail, easily rideable on pretty much anything if you know both your limits and the bikes limits. the route is impossible to get lost on and really well maintained. the long drag up hte fire road from the start on the other side of the river fro mthe trail centre is a bore but need smust. ther eis only one other climb on the route of note and again its on fire road so no worries.
give the bike a good thorough check over first and just enjoy it.
www.mbwales.com for more info.
give the bike a good thorough check over first and just enjoy it.
www.mbwales.com for more info.
+1
In most respects I actually prefer the Penhydd anyway - short but sweet, with some great flowing singletrack.
Is Whyte's Level the one with the big rock steps at the end? That might be best avoided if you're not confident and I guess the singletrack climb at the beginning is quite tough (from memory, I might be getting the various trails mixed up).
Anyway, the Penhydd you can ride on anything and it's great fun.
If that wets your appetite I'd definitely head over to the cross country loop at Cwm Carn.
In most respects I actually prefer the Penhydd anyway - short but sweet, with some great flowing singletrack.
Is Whyte's Level the one with the big rock steps at the end? That might be best avoided if you're not confident and I guess the singletrack climb at the beginning is quite tough (from memory, I might be getting the various trails mixed up).
Anyway, the Penhydd you can ride on anything and it's great fun.
If that wets your appetite I'd definitely head over to the cross country loop at Cwm Carn.
Well I did Penhydd today, OMG the first 2.5 miles are a killer I thought the climb would never stop! But after 20 seconds on Desolation I forgot all about it, also Sidewinder is AWESOME.
Looks like i'll be heading back there as soon as I can
Thanks for all the advice
Looks like i'll be heading back there as soon as I can
Thanks for all the advice
Edited by spdpug98 on Wednesday 15th July 17:32
pablo said:
anyone up for a meet in Afan/Cwmcarn in the near future? can be evening or weekend as I am in Bristol and can be flexible at work....
I would be next time i'm in the area with work, but it would have to be a weekday/evening for meAs long as you don't mind waiting for me at the top!!!
pablo said:
anyone up for a meet in Afan/Cwmcarn in the near future? can be evening or weekend as I am in Bristol and can be flexible at work....
Could do a week evening but need to know the weekend before so that I can bring my bike down to my work flat.Really fancy hitting Cwmcarn again as not done it for a while.
Afan too far though for the week.
I loved the wall, was the second trail of the day for me, the first trail having been my first time riding offroad properly (on my new XTC A1). Was awesome, but as above, check all your bolts are tight, I managed to shake loose (off) 2 of the 4 bolts holding the front chain ring on and had to finish off the ride in my smallest gear (it's held on with different bolts 
). Fortunately it wasn't the end of the world and didn't spoil the trip 
). Fortunately it wasn't the end of the world and didn't spoil the trip 
I made a trip to Afan this weekend, the Wall and Penhydd on sat, then Whites yesterday. Not ridden Penhydd before but that definitely knocks The Wall into third favourite trail. After the long drag uphill on the fire track the single track downhill was brilliant, and the views of the sun on the Welsh valleys was incredible at the top (not very often you can use the words sun and welsh valleys in the same sentence!)
Whites didn't disappoint yesterday, even after 18 hours of solid rain. In my eyes it is the best xc course I have ridden. Classic single track all the way, and its technical enough on the way up that you don't really realise that you're climbing all the way.
And the best news of all... I took the girlfriend and she really enjoyed it and wants to go back! Wahay!
Whites didn't disappoint yesterday, even after 18 hours of solid rain. In my eyes it is the best xc course I have ridden. Classic single track all the way, and its technical enough on the way up that you don't really realise that you're climbing all the way.
And the best news of all... I took the girlfriend and she really enjoyed it and wants to go back! Wahay!
spdpug98 said:
Well I did Penhydd today, OMG the first 2.5 miles are a killer I thought the climb would never stop! But after 20 seconds on Desolation I forgot all about it, also Sidewinder is AWESOME.
Glad you liked it! That first climb isn't the worst around - from memory Whyte's Level has a slightly shorter, but rather more technical ascent to begin with and there's a section on the Red Route at Dalby Forest (admittedly a little further afield) which is even worse - it does get you warmed up though! But you're right, what comes after that is so worth it.
There's a shortcut which you can take after the first bit of exposed single track, which arguably improves it too. From memory: After you finish climbing on the fire road (having just left the trees), follow the trail along 'said piece of singletrack back to the fire road. Then shortly after that the trail goes to the left down a continuously boggy section of grassy doubletrack, which frankly isn't worth doing. Instead, head straight on along the fire road, down a bit of a dip and up the other side. This brings you to within a few hundred yards of the start of the proper (downhill) forest singletrack, cutting out what used to be a rather pointless trip down a muddy lane.
The only time I've been to Afan recently I just did that by default - I don't know if you the grassy bit is even part of the trail any more. Conversely, I guess they might have developed it into something worth riding now.
Used to be my local trail when I was at uni, but it's 5 years since I've been up there regularly, so maybe a current local can decipher what I've tried to say above!
"Any one else?"
Can I come? Would be down that way on the 3rd with bike and have ridden most of the trails at Afan/Glyncorrwg before but usually by myself, would be nice to have some company, and yes, you might have to wait for me at the top of the first climb but at 61 I reckon I've got a good excuse to dawdle up it.
As for missing the bit out after the "first" bit of singletrack (not counting the stuff behind the visitor centre), this was closed off last time I was there, but probably open now. The first bit is pretty good, like the previous bit but downhill. Unfortunately this leads to a pretty boring track through the woods and a long steep climb which more or less takes you back to the start of that bit of ST.....are you still with me?......and I can see the sense in missing it out anyway. Sidewinder is brilliant, one of my favourite bits.
Can I come? Would be down that way on the 3rd with bike and have ridden most of the trails at Afan/Glyncorrwg before but usually by myself, would be nice to have some company, and yes, you might have to wait for me at the top of the first climb but at 61 I reckon I've got a good excuse to dawdle up it.
As for missing the bit out after the "first" bit of singletrack (not counting the stuff behind the visitor centre), this was closed off last time I was there, but probably open now. The first bit is pretty good, like the previous bit but downhill. Unfortunately this leads to a pretty boring track through the woods and a long steep climb which more or less takes you back to the start of that bit of ST.....are you still with me?......and I can see the sense in missing it out anyway. Sidewinder is brilliant, one of my favourite bits.
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