Bike Park Wales
Discussion
A friend has invited me to join him at the Bike Park Wales:
https://www.bikeparkwales.com/
Not sure. I have done some light mountain biking when we lived in Switzerland (there were some easy trails through the woods on the Zuriberg). I have a lot of experience on two wheels but in the past 20 years that has involved engines.
Anyone been to Bike Park Wales? I am going to end up on my arse/in A&E?
To be honest I am lining up some motorbike track days for this year, which I think might be safer.
https://www.bikeparkwales.com/
Not sure. I have done some light mountain biking when we lived in Switzerland (there were some easy trails through the woods on the Zuriberg). I have a lot of experience on two wheels but in the past 20 years that has involved engines.
Anyone been to Bike Park Wales? I am going to end up on my arse/in A&E?
To be honest I am lining up some motorbike track days for this year, which I think might be safer.
Been a few times now. There's always a chance you'll get hurt, I'd recommend a full face helmet (may be required?), knee pads and maybe some body armour if you have it.
Some of the blue trails are fairly tame but you can get up to a decent speed and the longer trails can be fairly tiring (melted welly from top to bottom gets the legs burning!), which is when crashes tend to happen.
It's a decent day out so I'd say do it!
Some of the blue trails are fairly tame but you can get up to a decent speed and the longer trails can be fairly tiring (melted welly from top to bottom gets the legs burning!), which is when crashes tend to happen.
It's a decent day out so I'd say do it!
One of the great things about BPW is that there is a qualifier feature at the top of all the red and black trails. If you can handle the qualifier, then you shouldn't find anything more challenging on the trail itself.
Personally, I was OK with the reds, but generally preferred the blues. I would've probably broken my neck if I'd gone anywhere near the blacks, based on the qualifiers for them!
It's a good fun day out, although rather to my surprise, I found I actually preferred riding Cwmcarn (including all the climbing) the day before.
Personally, I was OK with the reds, but generally preferred the blues. I would've probably broken my neck if I'd gone anywhere near the blacks, based on the qualifiers for them!
It's a good fun day out, although rather to my surprise, I found I actually preferred riding Cwmcarn (including all the climbing) the day before.
The trail ratings are a grade off from most UK trail centres. The blues are like most reds, reds are like a lot of blacks - there's obstacles that need some commitment and speed to clear.
But - you can have a great day just riding the blues. There's nothing that can't be rolled over so you can go as slow as you like and build up confidence. If you're concerned about getting caught up, there's only 16 people on each uplift bus and most go for red/black so hang back until others have gone and you have a good time gap before the next bus. The blues tend to just meander their way down (one even has a bit of uphill) so you can bimble along and enjoy it, then the bus saves you the climb back up.
Crashes are usually a mix of tiredness and overconfidence, often the people that feel they have to push themselves on the later runs in the day. They've wobbled down a red so are trying a black, or have done the same blue a few times and carry too much speed. Be realistic about your abilities and fitness, build up and you'll be fine.
But - you can have a great day just riding the blues. There's nothing that can't be rolled over so you can go as slow as you like and build up confidence. If you're concerned about getting caught up, there's only 16 people on each uplift bus and most go for red/black so hang back until others have gone and you have a good time gap before the next bus. The blues tend to just meander their way down (one even has a bit of uphill) so you can bimble along and enjoy it, then the bus saves you the climb back up.
Crashes are usually a mix of tiredness and overconfidence, often the people that feel they have to push themselves on the later runs in the day. They've wobbled down a red so are trying a black, or have done the same blue a few times and carry too much speed. Be realistic about your abilities and fitness, build up and you'll be fine.
I've been 6-7 times now and would say there's as much fun on the blue runs as the red.
BPW told me before I went to expect Alpine grading, as another poster has said, blue = red, red = black etc.
Give it a go, and just go at your own pace. Personally I usually wait until all the other riders have set off down the trails so I can just go at my own pace without worrying about holding people up.
BPW told me before I went to expect Alpine grading, as another poster has said, blue = red, red = black etc.
Give it a go, and just go at your own pace. Personally I usually wait until all the other riders have set off down the trails so I can just go at my own pace without worrying about holding people up.
Ive been twice - first time I did mixture of Blues & Reds, until I went OTB on the A470 Red - it was a stupid, incredibly low-speed accident just because I was tired and didn't notice it was a small drop-off ahead. Managed to knock myself out briefly!
From my mates camera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YphlqI3r3sQ
From mine!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sFgiMkHgFE
The next time I went I bought a full-face helmet, and mostly stuck to the Blues - partly because I was lacking in confidence, but mostly because the blues are just so damn good! I'm reasonably quick cross-country, but lack the balls for serious downhill, so the harder red (and deffo the blacks) would be outside my comfort zone.
Been wet each time (well, it is Wales) and you will eat up brake pads, so either replace before you go, and/or bring a spare set. In fact, you'll probably want to bring a maintenance set with you, and re-oil etc at lunchtime.
Make sure you book the uplift though - you should get 8-10 runs in over the day that way. Probably only ~3 if you have to cycle up each time...
From my mates camera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YphlqI3r3sQ
From mine!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sFgiMkHgFE
The next time I went I bought a full-face helmet, and mostly stuck to the Blues - partly because I was lacking in confidence, but mostly because the blues are just so damn good! I'm reasonably quick cross-country, but lack the balls for serious downhill, so the harder red (and deffo the blacks) would be outside my comfort zone.
Been wet each time (well, it is Wales) and you will eat up brake pads, so either replace before you go, and/or bring a spare set. In fact, you'll probably want to bring a maintenance set with you, and re-oil etc at lunchtime.
Make sure you book the uplift though - you should get 8-10 runs in over the day that way. Probably only ~3 if you have to cycle up each time...
Thinking back on it, the thing that frustrated me about the reds was that the drop offs and the like weren't particularly big, but they frequently came after a tight section through trees. I'm sure people with more ability than me wouldn't have been fazed by them, but I really struggled to keep enough flow and speed to feel comfortable making the drops.
If I go back, I suspect I'll keep to the blues, as I definitely enjoyed them more.
If I go back, I suspect I'll keep to the blues, as I definitely enjoyed them more.
Been a few times as local to me. Love the place, everyone is so friendly and we all help each other out. Usual go on my own as no friends close that are interested. I wear a normal bike helmet (not full face), no padding, and take my full suspension mountain bike. The wife has even done a few blue's on her hard tail so proves it isn't that hard, but you really need a full suspension bike to enjoy it more.
Definitely get the uplift as in a day I usual get 8 downhills without getting too tired. I normally stick to blues as they are fast and less technical = less chance of a big accident.
Definitely get the uplift as in a day I usual get 8 downhills without getting too tired. I normally stick to blues as they are fast and less technical = less chance of a big accident.
OP if you go stick to the blue trails. I posted up on here last week about my recent visit last week. I rode a blue at the end and actually ended up rating it as one of the best there even though it's 'the easiest' -it has flow where you can carry as much or as little speed as you'd like.
DanielSan said:
is it worth going on a hard tail or just full sus territory? Fancy going in the summer, but not sure how much fun it’ll be even with a more aggressive hardtail setup like my Orange Crush.
I'd say blues are fine on a hardtail. I'm thinking of taking my lad along on his for his birthday.You'll probably want full suspension on the reds though.
daddy cool said:
Ive been twice - first time I did mixture of Blues & Reds, until I went OTB on the A470 Red
Make sure you book the uplift though - you should get 8-10 runs in over the day that way. Probably only ~3 if you have to cycle up each time...
This mirrors my experiences *exactly* lol.Make sure you book the uplift though - you should get 8-10 runs in over the day that way. Probably only ~3 if you have to cycle up each time...
The blues are fine and *great fun*. If you're happy doing jumps and drops do the reds too. The qualifiers (right at the start of the trails at the top) do give you an idea of your skill level. Great place.
TheTrash said:
I can remember the first time I rode the trail to the uplift and thought "f**k me, I'm out of my depth". Thats probably the toughest blue, dont be scared off the reds. Vicicious Valley, Surfin' bird, insufficent funds is my current favourite way down.
Totally agree with everything you've said here! I went on my hardtail last year and it was fine. The rough sections are obviously more gnar than they would be on a full suss and the fatigue might set in earlier but it's all doable. I was riding a 140mm 456 and now I've got a 150mm Orange Five and still some of my times on the hardtail were faster... so it's not what you've got but how you use it.
I'd totally 100% recommend some decent pads though and probably a full face helmet. The speeds you can ride the Blue trails means that if you do come off you're going to do yourself some serious damage as the ground is hard and there are plenty of rocks. You don't have to do any pedalling up so no bother about overheating.
DanielSan said:
is it worth going on a hard tail or just full sus territory? Fancy going in the summer, but not sure how much fun it’ll be even with a more aggressive hardtail setup like my Orange Crush.
A mate did it on his Crush a few times and was fine, he did feel it by the end of the day though! BPW is really actually fairly tame in the grand scheme of things and is well designed and built, so the features, even the big ones generally ride well and easily. However, i think beginners can get caught out on the easier trails, as they flow well and hence have a high average speed. Combine that with a (necessarily due to the weight of traffic) hard packed trail surface, and if you come off, it can result in a significant injury.
For beginners, who haven't necessarily built up and perfected (to the point where it is instinctive) a good basic technique, the fast Blues can lead them to carry more speed than they usually would, and when they overstep the limits, the results can be bad. Add in tiredness, mental as well as physical after a long day concentrating, and it seems quite a lot of riders end up in Myrthr A&E ;-(
So, my suggestion:
1) ride at 8/10s max on your first visit, The two most important skills on the blues are correct footwork and braking. Get those dialled and then ramp up the pace......
2) Buy and wear suitable armour. Even basic (cheap) knee and elbow pads can make a minor off a lot less painful, and a cheap Full Face helmet IS better than pretty much any open face one, but if you don't normally ride in a FFH, i wouldn't get one just for BPW for your first visit.
3) "One last run" is the most dangerous suggestion. Quit before you are knackered, especially on your first time
and lastly
4) HAVE FUN! (everyone is super friendly, no one will mock you for not riding a £10k DH bike or wearing an open face helmet etc!)
For beginners, who haven't necessarily built up and perfected (to the point where it is instinctive) a good basic technique, the fast Blues can lead them to carry more speed than they usually would, and when they overstep the limits, the results can be bad. Add in tiredness, mental as well as physical after a long day concentrating, and it seems quite a lot of riders end up in Myrthr A&E ;-(
So, my suggestion:
1) ride at 8/10s max on your first visit, The two most important skills on the blues are correct footwork and braking. Get those dialled and then ramp up the pace......
2) Buy and wear suitable armour. Even basic (cheap) knee and elbow pads can make a minor off a lot less painful, and a cheap Full Face helmet IS better than pretty much any open face one, but if you don't normally ride in a FFH, i wouldn't get one just for BPW for your first visit.
3) "One last run" is the most dangerous suggestion. Quit before you are knackered, especially on your first time
and lastly
4) HAVE FUN! (everyone is super friendly, no one will mock you for not riding a £10k DH bike or wearing an open face helmet etc!)
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