Afan forest 8th aug Options

[Kerr]

Going to afan forest 8th aug. Details sketchy as of yet.
Definatly there and back same day. Early start.

takers?

kerr

[mbElf]

Going to afan forest 8th aug. Details sketchy as of yet.
Definatly there and back same day. Early start.

takers?

kerr

yes, if i can sort out the transport.

[Orange Al]

A maybe, I reccommend doing the W2 from Glyncorrwg, up Whites down as far down as far as the new energy section then across to the Wall descent and back up the wall climb and then across to finish off Whites.

[Kerr]

A maybe, I reccommend doing the W2 from Glyncorrwg, up Whites down as far down as far as the new energy section then across to the Wall descent and back up the wall climb and then across to finish off Whites.

You wouldnt happen to have a gpx of that?

Kerr

[mbElf]

You wouldnt happen to have a gpx of that?

Kerr

Kerr, have you checked out this website

http://www.mbwales.com/

[Kerr]

Kerr, have you checked out this website

http://www.mbwales.com/

Yes

Loose plan is to do the wall and whites ...

skyline ... hmm Thats prob a weekend job.

Have been told I must do the wall.

The Wall

Kerr

[Warren]

My personal opinion only but I would say The Wall is perhaps the worst of the rides at Afan and if you have been told to do it for the single-track back to the bottom of the trail I can show you a short cut that will enable you to do this very quickly.

I would say you have to ride Penhydd as its a great trail to use as a warm up and then go over to do the first half of skyline taking the first shortcut which will then enable you do the black run at the top and the best bits of whites level.

I could show you on a map if you like but only when i get home.

[DrBike]

I would say you have to ride Penhydd as its a great trail to use as a warm up and then go over to do the first half of skyline taking the first shortcut which will then enable you do the black run at the top and the best bits of whites level.

Penhydd and Whites are my favourites, I'm not wild about the "Energy" section but it's better than scooting round on the fire road as you used to have to do (unless it's pouring with rain like it was when I was there in May).

[huw]

I'm not wild about the "Energy" section but it's better than scooting round on the fire road as you used to have to do (unless it's pouring with rain like it was when I was there in May).

you weren’t meant to tell anyone about that.

[Kerr]

Penhydd then first part of skyline - whites then shortcut out at energy (W2 black) then the wall.

Is thats whats generally recommended?

Kerr

[Warren]

Thats one hell of a lot of riding to do in one day and would say see how you go....i am soo tempted to join you guys as the wife is away and i dont feel like slopping around a wet swinley but all that way for one day and im not sure im quite fit enough after some time off the bike.

[DrBike]

Kerr,

The trails there have big and steep hills (certainly compared to Swinley).

I'd say you should be able to do Penhydd and the Wall ok in one day or W2 (but that's quite a long & hard ride).

Bear in mind that the Wall and Penhydd start from one car park/visitors centre and the other 2 trails are several miles up the valley. Whites Level and the Skyline share the same initial climb which I would say takes a good 45 mins to conquer at a steady pace (by steady pace I mean twiddling in the granny ring for most of the climb). You'll probably want to stop at the obvious break points as you go. From the top you can opt to follow Whites, the Skyline or the Black run - your choice.

Penhydd is a looong climb with a few bits of singletrack, then a long, flat-ish singletracky section to another climb and then (mostly) downhill from there.

Can't remember too much about the Wall - I bailed last time due to having a damaged thumb, torrential rain and a loose crank that finally came adrift on the transition back to where we were staying. I do remember some long and steep fire-road climbs but the final singletrack section is really good.

Kerr,

The trails there have big and steep hills (certainly compared to Swinley).

I'd say you should be able to do Penhydd and the Wall ok in one day or W2 (but that's quite a long & hard ride).

Bear in mind that the Wall and Penhydd start from one car park/visitors centre and the other 2 trails are several miles up the valley. Whites Level and the Skyline share the same initial climb which I would say takes a good 45 mins to conquer at a steady pace (by steady pace I mean twiddling in the granny ring for most of the climb). You'll probably want to stop at the obvious break points as you go. From the top you can opt to follow Whites, the Skyline or the Black run - your choice.

Penhydd is a looong climb with a few bits of singletrack, then a long, flat-ish singletracky section to another climb and then (mostly) downhill from there.

Can't remember too much about the Wall - I bailed last time due to having a damaged thumb, torrential rain and a loose crank that finally came adrift on the transition back to where we were staying. I do remember some long and steep fire-road climbs but the final singletrack section is really good, with an awesome descent.

[snaps]

I did Whites & Penhyd today - Whites was great, they've just finished strimming back all the weeds & brambles, cleared all the drainage gullys & generally fixed anything that needed fixing, but Penhyd was crap, overgrown with brambles, washed out in loads of places & more puddles than all the other trails put together - it needs some serious work & as its taken 2 weeks to do the Whites, I can't see them finishing it by the time you're there.
I'm doing Brechfa & Afan on the 22nd/23rd & won't bother with the Penhyd unless I hear its been sorted.
Probably do W2, lunch @ GC then July.

[Kerr]

I did Whites & Penhyd today - Whites was great, they've just finished strimming back all the weeds & brambles, cleared all the drainage gullys & generally fixed anything that needed fixing, but Penhyd was crap, overgrown with brambles, washed out in loads of places & more puddles than all the other trails put together - it needs some serious work & as its taken 2 weeks to do the Whites, I can't see them finishing it by the time you're there.
I'm doing Brechfa & Afan on the 22nd/23rd & won't bother with the Penhyd unless I hear its been sorted.
Probably do W2, lunch @ GC then July.

Cheers, We will leave Penhyd out and stick to W2.

Kerr

[Orange Al]

Hi Kerr, if you click on my Bikely link on my siggy there is route of W2. Last time it took my and a mate about 4hrs to do W2 without climbing back up the Wall to do Whites descent. Obviously the Black section is a must for a rider of your standard Kerr.

Have been told I must do the wall.

You must as the final descent is hooningly great.

[Geoffmbr1]

My twopeneth worth from East Yorkshire's flat lands.

Angie and I were down at Afan to'ther weekend and noted that there are now route arrows (W2) which will guide you from either end ie Afan or The Drop off cafe around the route whites and the wall . It didn;t take us too long in the rain wind/sunshine of the day to complete this interesting ride , it seems a well marked route from our last visit the year before.

Sorry it's too far to come for a day so enjoy it and do't foget to the "black " section just loverly

[Kerr]

Hi Kerr, if you click on my Bikely link on my siggy there is route of W2. Last time it took my and a mate about 4hrs to do W2 without climbing back up the Wall to do Whites descent. Obviously the Black section is a must for a rider of your standard Kerr.
You must as the final descent is hooningly great.

Thanks! download the GPX.

Watched a youtube of the black loop (whites) looks good.

Roll on saturday.

Kerr

[Orange Al]

Are you going to add it to the New Rides section?

By the way I have just checked and my W2 route on bikely isn't 100% correct as the real W2 is riden in a figure of 8 rather than two seperate loops joined at the top rather than the bottom.

[Kerr]

Ride added.

Meeting aprox (very aprox) 8:30am at car park/visitors centre Below The wall Here ... SA13 3HG

Anyone know where we can get a hearty breakfast?


Kerr

[DrBike]

Kerr,

If I were you I'd park at the Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre SA13 3EA, have something to eat at the Drop Off Cafe and then start with the climb up Whites before heading over towards the Wall. It means that you'll finish off at the Drop Off cafe again and also means that you'll cut out the boring bit of old railway line that you have to ride to and from the visitors centre at Afan.

Andy