DH circuits at Cwmcarn

[mk1fan]

Spent the day yesterday using the Cwm Down up lift service and riding the 'Red' route. Awesome day - managed 10 runs - really enjoyed it. Shame the up lift takes so long!! Perhaps a third mini bus is the answer? Crashed twice - on the first and last runs. Hurt my thumb in the first one and 'twinged' my back on the second. Armour is a wonderful thing.

[atom111]

Was a very good day yesterday here are some helmet cam videos, I was mainly doing the black top section and did a couple runs of the red. Videos are from the Black. (you will see the corner I never nailed and where I wussed out on the drop after the fireroad!!) But I am happy to admit that

Agree with mk1fan a third mini bus would be awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfVZ9dYiJKM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIzBzWuX6j0

Edited by atom111 on Sunday 31st August 17:13

[pastrana72]

Wow, that looks cool.

Never been there, that will change now i watched that.

[P-Jay]

Nice vid! Looked sunny and dry for a change!

I try to get in an uplift day there at least once a month. Yeah that road drop bit is terrifying to look at, but it's a bit of an optical illusion because you can't see the landing until you're committed to it. You can jump/roll in on the rocky bit you handed your bike onto or just jump straight of the end and you'll think what all the fuss was about. Still took me a good fw days there before I'd do it.

Edited by P-Jay on Sunday 31st August 22:06

[GHW]

The worst bit about that road drop is nailing it a wee bit too fast and getting the fear of failing to make the off-camber drift to the left and hitting the fence...

[Chris71]

Haven't been to CC for a few years - are the DH routes completely seperate to the Twrch trail?

Also what's the deal with the DH stuff - is it one bike at a time or just a free for all? Are there any big jumps or drops which are unavoidable?

I'm heading down to Afan and Cwmcarn in a fortnight and thought I might have a go at it after the main trail, but I'm hardly a downhiller.

[mk1fan]

Watch the vid and you'll see the Black run.

The Red run has a different top section and is a bit longer but they meet up before you go under the road. Everything is rollable but I wouldn't ride it on an XC HT with the saddle right up.

The 'hardest' bit is the fireroad crossing where you have the option of a drop-in (harder) or a step-roll in rock section (easier). It's only hard because you're a bit blind until you get to the point of no return. If you're nervous about it, stop get off the bike and check it out. Then mtfu and do it. You'll be fine and then think why was I so bothered? Whilst thinking this you'll then end up in the catch fence about 50m further down the course. I just did the rock section. The step at the top is deep enough to catch your outer ring on the chainset so you need to loft the front wheel a bit.

It is seperate from the XC trail although you would have seen the drop-ins above as they used to be next to the entrance to the final section of the XC loop. The XC loop has been changed a bit now so they don't meet up.

There isn't anyone controling who goes down but the buses only carry 16 peps and are 15-20-mins apart so it all works well. If you're going to be taking it easy then just let everyone else on the bus go first. You should then get 15-mins to ride down the 1.9km course. At the top the left hand trail is the Black run and the right hand trail is the Red. The red also splits off just after the start - left is a rooty top section, right is a 'jumpy' top section.

I did it fine on my Hustler and to be honest my Stiffee would be great on it too. Although a proper DH / FR FS rig would be alot faster.

Edited by mk1fan on Monday 1st September 10:55

[-C-]

You missed the second black section after the tunnel under the road

Cwmcarn is a good introduction to 'my first proper uplift day'. The track is pretty easy, it runs well whatever the weather, you can take chicken lines round everything etc.

The sleeper drop off the fireroad is not really something to worry about, just make sure you hit it with enough angle to stay high on the long off camber bend. You didn't hit that but I did notice you hit the jump on the top of the black run?

We're off to Rheola for Rd4 of the Dragons this weekend, should be good, Its the first time i'm ridden my bike since we got back from France a month ago. I have some yummy BOS goodness to try out as well

[mk1fan]

In my mind I know that the drop off isn't that bad and I certainly was doing the stuff else where on the run that is 'bigger'. It's a case of mtfu and doing it.

It was good to have a couple of off's to gain some confidence in the armour.

Edited by mk1fan on Monday 1st September 11:28

[-C-]

Definately, and if you get it right, you can carry so much speed into the next few corners, its all about staying high on the off camber, then cutting down as close as you dare to the fencing, miss the obvious 'sheep' line over the messy worn out double, and stay right, then cut across the next section rather than washing out.

The sleeper drop isn't much fun however when you get a rear blowout on landing, in the middle of a race run. Off camber on the rim was certainly interesting

[P-Jay]

-C- said:

Definately, and if you get it right, you can carry so much speed into the next few corners, its all about staying high on the off camber, then cutting down as close as you dare to the fencing, miss the obvious 'sheep' line over the messy worn out double, and stay right, then cut across the next section rather than washing out.

#


Shhhhhhhh I've passed a few of my mates (and others) on that bend doing just that, I'll be screwed if everyone figures out that line! H aha

[neil_bolton]

GHW said:

The worst bit about that road drop is nailing it a wee bit too fast and getting the fear of failing to make the off-camber drift to the left and hitting the fence...

The road drop rocks - you can really nail it, however the new line to the right on the berm IS quicker, however much I hate it: You get it right and it really spits you at at warp factor 9

[neil_bolton]

I agree with -C-, Cwmcarn is a pretty easy track - something very much an indicator of the Forestry Commision pandering to the health and safety vests.

Theres nothing on it that can cause anyone to worry - its a great course to build skill on - however theres nothing to really push the more advanced rider - no particularly technical sections that really make it hard for a rider to get through without having to 'push' their skills.

I have a section at my local riding spot called Still Woods, where a line has been built through a set of trees with lots and lots and LOTS of pointy big rocks - and its about 20ft long: I can't get through it without being bounced off - and this is on a DH bike! I need stuff like that to make me keep coming back and wanting to 'get it right'...

I love Cwmcarn - its fast, and its certainly great fun if you know the course, however I do wish they'd grow some cojones and build a proper double black run that properly scares you!

[P-Jay]

neil_bolton said:

I agree with -C-, Cwmcarn is a pretty easy track - something very much an indicator of the Forestry Commision pandering to the health and safety vests.

Theres nothing on it that can cause anyone to worry - its a great course to build skill on - however theres nothing to really push the more advanced rider - no particularly technical sections that really make it hard for a rider to get through without having to 'push' their skills.

I have a section at my local riding spot called Still Woods, where a line has been built through a set of trees with lots and lots and LOTS of pointy big rocks - and its about 20ft long: I can't get through it without being bounced off - and this is on a DH bike! I need stuff like that to make me keep coming back and wanting to 'get it right'...

I love Cwmcarn - its fast, and its certainly great fun if you know the course, however I do wish they'd grow some cojones and build a proper double black run that properly scares you!

Have you tried the pedal arm (it's actually a welsh name that sounds like that but I don't remember it) course on the other side of the valley? It's much more of a natural trail, some pretty big drops, lots of off-camber roots and muddy as hell whatever the weather. it's shorter and you have to push up but more of a challenge.

[mk1fan]

I'd like to try some more of the 'Local' trails around CC. The Twrych Trail has become so samey over the years. I'm loving the DH stuff but, I suspect, after three or four visits I may start to feel the same at Neil.

There are rumours of more trails though Funding, however, seems to be the sticking point.

[neil_bolton]

P-Jay said:

neil_bolton said:

I agree with -C-, Cwmcarn is a pretty easy track - something very much an indicator of the Forestry Commision pandering to the health and safety vests.

Theres nothing on it that can cause anyone to worry - its a great course to build skill on - however theres nothing to really push the more advanced rider - no particularly technical sections that really make it hard for a rider to get through without having to 'push' their skills.

I have a section at my local riding spot called Still Woods, where a line has been built through a set of trees with lots and lots and LOTS of pointy big rocks - and its about 20ft long: I can't get through it without being bounced off - and this is on a DH bike! I need stuff like that to make me keep coming back and wanting to 'get it right'...

I love Cwmcarn - its fast, and its certainly great fun if you know the course, however I do wish they'd grow some cojones and build a proper double black run that properly scares you!

Have you tried the pedal arm (it's actually a welsh name that sounds like that but I don't remember it) course on the other side of the valley? It's much more of a natural trail, some pretty big drops, lots of off-camber roots and muddy as hell whatever the weather. it's shorter and you have to push up but more of a challenge.

I think I've heard of it, is that the one thats been there for years and suffers a bit from erosion and mud? I've not tried it, but it may be worth it

[P-Jay]

neil_bolton said:

P-Jay said:

neil_bolton said:

I agree with -C-, Cwmcarn is a pretty easy track - something very much an indicator of the Forestry Commision pandering to the health and safety vests.

Theres nothing on it that can cause anyone to worry - its a great course to build skill on - however theres nothing to really push the more advanced rider - no particularly technical sections that really make it hard for a rider to get through without having to 'push' their skills.

I have a section at my local riding spot called Still Woods, where a line has been built through a set of trees with lots and lots and LOTS of pointy big rocks - and its about 20ft long: I can't get through it without being bounced off - and this is on a DH bike! I need stuff like that to make me keep coming back and wanting to 'get it right'...

I love Cwmcarn - its fast, and its certainly great fun if you know the course, however I do wish they'd grow some cojones and build a proper double black run that properly scares you!

Have you tried the pedal arm (it's actually a welsh name that sounds like that but I don't remember it) course on the other side of the valley? It's much more of a natural trail, some pretty big drops, lots of off-camber roots and muddy as hell whatever the weather. it's shorter and you have to push up but more of a challenge.

I think I've heard of it, is that the one thats been there for years and suffers a bit from erosion and mud? I've not tried it, but it may be worth it

Not so much erosion, mostly because it's too soft to be worn away, ha ha.

Yeah it's total mud hell (I'm more scared of mud than I am of spiders though).

It's worth a go. When you drive into the Cwmcarn Ignore the carpark and drive straight up past the visitor centre, keep going until you see a little carpark on the right. Room for about 4 vehicles, if you get as far as the big black metal wheel you've gone too far. Opposite side of the road you'll see a big green gate. Climb over that (it's only about 1m high to stop cars not people) and push up the hill 100m's and you'll see a road jump, which is a total blast.

Push up from there to the top. There’s another route to the top on the left if there’s other people riding it. Starts steep and twisty, there's some shady man-made drops and jumps, then quite a big jump which throws you straight into an open sections with 2 lines that criss-cross on the way down, then the road jump which lands onto a short steep bit to the finish. It's usually empty there, but the guy that drives one of the lift vans and some guys from LBS's ride there on a summers evening. It’s completely unofficial and the land is privately owned so it pays to be subtle about it.

[P-Jay]

mk1fan said:

I'd like to try some more of the 'Local' trails around CC. The Twrych Trail has become so samey over the years. I'm loving the DH stuff but, I suspect, after three or four visits I may start to feel the same at Neil.

There are rumours of more trails though Funding, however, seems to be the sticking point.

There's been rumor of another full-time DH track at Afan ever since they built Cwmcarn. Personally I wish there was more of these full-time, any-eather, full-time uplift DH places. It's not the same as a DH race which tbqh is a bit of a stress out for me. Downhill Freeride as one person was called it.

[-C-]

The track on the ther side of the hill is worth a push up just to have a look, I wondered if the old DH track still existed there too.

Its a bit of a shame there is only one track, the hill is big enough for 3 or 4, of varying degrees of difficulty, Cwmcarn is a bit of a motorway thats obviously been toned down to satisfy various H&S rules.

Much like P-Jay, I wish there were more options with proper uplift facilities, it does frustrate me that the only way of riding some of the better Welsh tracks is on race days

We need more proper uplifts, and not the shonky Dragon style ones which leaves it a bit of a lottery whether your bike is still in one piece at the top...

[Chris71]

I love the Trwch - or at least I did last time I was there (few years back now...) however I can appreciate one reasonably short (publicised) XC trail must struggle to cut it against the likes of Afan and CyB. That final downhill on the Trwch is (was) immense though!

Hmm. See how confident I'm feeling on the day. I used to think I could get over just about anything on my Sub 5 even if I couldn't do it quickly. My last trip to a trail centre proved this was no longer always the case.