Discussion
Hi guys,
Just looking for your collective views on visiting Afan. I've got a couple of weeks off to do DIY but tempted to take a drive up there and give the trails a go one of the days for a bit of a change from my bathroom installation!
1. It'll be a few hours drive to reach Afan so really wanted to get a decent days ride in, which of the routes would you recommend?
2. Both Skyline and W2 look suitable but I've only been riding 8 months or so. I've done a couple of 26 mile organised offroad rides (through Evans Cycles) and managed okay if a bit sore at towards the end. Is Skyline or W2 a tough ride?
3. Are they going to be too technical given I've only been riding this year? They are marked as Advanced.
4. A couple of mates are hoping to get the day off and join me however if they can't is it okay alone? Don't want to end up in difficulty miles from anywhere/anyone!
Cheers,
Graham
Just looking for your collective views on visiting Afan. I've got a couple of weeks off to do DIY but tempted to take a drive up there and give the trails a go one of the days for a bit of a change from my bathroom installation!
1. It'll be a few hours drive to reach Afan so really wanted to get a decent days ride in, which of the routes would you recommend?
2. Both Skyline and W2 look suitable but I've only been riding 8 months or so. I've done a couple of 26 mile organised offroad rides (through Evans Cycles) and managed okay if a bit sore at towards the end. Is Skyline or W2 a tough ride?
3. Are they going to be too technical given I've only been riding this year? They are marked as Advanced.
4. A couple of mates are hoping to get the day off and join me however if they can't is it okay alone? Don't want to end up in difficulty miles from anywhere/anyone!
Cheers,
Graham
Probably a good idea to check which trails are open first, MTB Wales is good for that or somebody might pop up here. I think Penhydd is still shut, pity as it is a good one. If you're concerned about riding alone, best to go for the weekend, plenty of people about then and you'll probably find yourself riding with somebody eventually.
Skyline is pretty long and some say not worth the effort, with a lot of forestry road involved. W2 is not so long but takes in the Wall and Whites Level, I think you can find the routemaps on the aforementioned site.
There's also advice on here if you keep looking back for it.
Best advice is just take it easy and enjoy yourself.
Skyline is pretty long and some say not worth the effort, with a lot of forestry road involved. W2 is not so long but takes in the Wall and Whites Level, I think you can find the routemaps on the aforementioned site.
There's also advice on here if you keep looking back for it.
Best advice is just take it easy and enjoy yourself.
W2 includes, I think, Whytes and the Wall - you can do them individually or collectively. The climbs on both are pretty relentless (I've only been riding again since the new year and have to say the climbs were probably the hardest physical thing I've ever done before), I think we were climbing for over an hour on both, but it's worth it for the ride back down!
I'm hoping with a bit more training over the winter the ups might not be quite so savage next year!
I'm hoping with a bit more training over the winter the ups might not be quite so savage next year!
As I recall, I found the Wall like a never ending climb when I did the trail early this year. My fitness wasn't great at that point although I'd managed Gorlech at Brechfa without issue.
I thought the Wall seemed like a never ending climb! I remember seeing the 19km marker and thinking "what happened to the descent?"
When it comes though, it really was worth it! My arms felt buggered from gripping the handlebars and braking!
I know, I know. Braking? What a pussy!
I thought the Wall seemed like a never ending climb! I remember seeing the 19km marker and thinking "what happened to the descent?"
When it comes though, it really was worth it! My arms felt buggered from gripping the handlebars and braking!
I know, I know. Braking? What a pussy!
www.mbwales.com has all the info you need. i normally do two laps of the wall when i go there. its not a particularly hard trail, it has two longish climbs but in my opinion, the best singletrack sections outside coed-y-brenin and scotland. its a good ride and a nice adrenalin fix. you can go as fast or as slow as you like on the singletrack sections but if you are cautious, make sure you are last of the bunch as it gets narrow. the graveyard section requires some skill and caution if its wet but other than that its a lot fo fun.
the cafe at the trail centre does big portions of ham, eggs and chips and is an essential part of any visit.
the cafe at the trail centre does big portions of ham, eggs and chips and is an essential part of any visit.
The Skyline is an all day ride and to be honest it's ok but not amazing.. this route is shutting soon, i think later this year because of the wind farm. They have alreasy started tearing big sections of it out, so wouldnt plan to do this route.
W2, is the wall and whites linked into one ride, again this would take all day to get round.
My advise, if you staying up there (TBONES is fantastic for a room and dinner!! and only 5 minute drive to the entrance) is do the wall, and whites RED route on the first day and the next morning check out of TBONES and do whites again (but quicker and enjoy it as you know what to expect). Whites it tricky and even technical going up, but its a great route with lovely decent.
Penhydd is still shut, shame as this was awsome!!, but they have big diggers i nthere at the moment.
Whites and the wall start from different centres, best to drive to Glyncorrwg after doing the wall, its only 5 minutes.
Good luck and have fun!
W2, is the wall and whites linked into one ride, again this would take all day to get round.
My advise, if you staying up there (TBONES is fantastic for a room and dinner!! and only 5 minute drive to the entrance) is do the wall, and whites RED route on the first day and the next morning check out of TBONES and do whites again (but quicker and enjoy it as you know what to expect). Whites it tricky and even technical going up, but its a great route with lovely decent.
Penhydd is still shut, shame as this was awsome!!, but they have big diggers i nthere at the moment.
Whites and the wall start from different centres, best to drive to Glyncorrwg after doing the wall, its only 5 minutes.
Good luck and have fun!
Skyline is a great ride, very long and a lot of firetrack. I wouldnt do it on my first visit.
W2 consists of the Wall and Whites. First climb from the carpark is great fun and very beautiful. At the top of this you can choose to do the only black run. It is very good and watching the locals dive down it is great. It is easy to opt out of the black and continue on with the rest of the ride. W2 will take 4-6 hours depending of fitness and ability to tackle hills. The climbs are not bad just long. The exception is the climb up the Wall. That is fire trail and damn hard work though probably not so bad on fresh legs.
Penhydd is excelent and generally less traveled but seems to be closed for logging. Penhydd's only problem is the amount of muddy fire trails between the trails... but those trails are a joy! I am hoping that the logging has not destroyed them or thier character.
There are some brilliant trails my stand outs are Energy and Darkside (both on Whites) . If I were to choose one it would be Whites. If it was my first go at Afan and I was reasonably fit, I would do W2 but prepare to quit at the bottom of the Wall before the second ascent up the fire track.
The surprising thing will be how damn tired your upper body will become. It is very hard on your hands, arms and shoulders. If you are inexperienced you will use your brakes far too much. You will find that braking ruins the flow of most of the trails so try not to (easier said than done) and work the bike like you are on a pump track.
The drive home with limbs like lead is "interesting"
It is man made trail (but you would never know), it is very well done. The trails drain very well so mud isnt usually a big problem but in the wet, Afan will eat brake pads so sintered are a good idea for wet / winter riding. Carry loads of liquid and some good snacks and all the spares you will need. There is no place to get food or spares apart from the shop at the car park and if you are in trouble that can be a LONG walk.
We have seen a few riders leave in an ambulance and a couple winched off by helicopter so take it easy and know your limits.
W2 is about 25 miles IIRC. It will feel like 50.
W2 consists of the Wall and Whites. First climb from the carpark is great fun and very beautiful. At the top of this you can choose to do the only black run. It is very good and watching the locals dive down it is great. It is easy to opt out of the black and continue on with the rest of the ride. W2 will take 4-6 hours depending of fitness and ability to tackle hills. The climbs are not bad just long. The exception is the climb up the Wall. That is fire trail and damn hard work though probably not so bad on fresh legs.
Penhydd is excelent and generally less traveled but seems to be closed for logging. Penhydd's only problem is the amount of muddy fire trails between the trails... but those trails are a joy! I am hoping that the logging has not destroyed them or thier character.
There are some brilliant trails my stand outs are Energy and Darkside (both on Whites) . If I were to choose one it would be Whites. If it was my first go at Afan and I was reasonably fit, I would do W2 but prepare to quit at the bottom of the Wall before the second ascent up the fire track.
The surprising thing will be how damn tired your upper body will become. It is very hard on your hands, arms and shoulders. If you are inexperienced you will use your brakes far too much. You will find that braking ruins the flow of most of the trails so try not to (easier said than done) and work the bike like you are on a pump track.
The drive home with limbs like lead is "interesting"
It is man made trail (but you would never know), it is very well done. The trails drain very well so mud isnt usually a big problem but in the wet, Afan will eat brake pads so sintered are a good idea for wet / winter riding. Carry loads of liquid and some good snacks and all the spares you will need. There is no place to get food or spares apart from the shop at the car park and if you are in trouble that can be a LONG walk.
We have seen a few riders leave in an ambulance and a couple winched off by helicopter so take it easy and know your limits.
W2 is about 25 miles IIRC. It will feel like 50.
Please don't take this the wrong way, bt if you've only been riding 8 months, leave Skyline alone, plus dare I say it, it's not all that much fun. Lots, and lots, and lots, and lots of featureless fireroads linking up some pretty good, but under used, narrow single track, there's probably more singletrack on Whites.
I've been riding for 6-7 years now, Afan is 45 mins for me and I ride it every weekend that I'm not at Cwmcarn or Brechfa and it took 6 long, hard hours (admittedly on a poorly 6inch bike).
Whites Level is a ball, as is the Wall - they just opened two new sections on it last weekend and they're great. Ride one of those, or both as W2!
I've been riding for 6-7 years now, Afan is 45 mins for me and I ride it every weekend that I'm not at Cwmcarn or Brechfa and it took 6 long, hard hours (admittedly on a poorly 6inch bike).
Whites Level is a ball, as is the Wall - they just opened two new sections on it last weekend and they're great. Ride one of those, or both as W2!
Dimski said:
As I recall, I found the Wall like a never ending climb when I did the trail early this year. My fitness wasn't great at that point although I'd managed Gorlech at Brechfa without issue.
The first Gorlech climb nearly killed me (granted I'd done the green and the blue that morning, and had pie and pint for lunch).ParanoidAndroid said:
Thanks for the comments and advice, really useful. I think I'll give skyline a miss and have a bash at Whites. If I feel okay I may go on and do the full W2, but will see.
Looking forward to it now. Thanks again!
Graham
W2 is not Whites then wall. As far as I remember you go up Whites, across 2-3 whites levels, across to the Wall and down to the bottom across to the top of the hill on the Wall climb. Across the Wall levels you missed then finish up with the remains of Whites.....Looking forward to it now. Thanks again!
Graham
So the options are do Whites then do Wall (if you still have energy) or MTFU and do W2!
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