Discussion
Off to Afan at the end of October (not for the first time), however all other trips there have been earlier in the year, and given I need new tyres front and back, was wondering what others use when the conditions could be wet, slippy and a wee bit muddy...
(ride a Five, if that makes any difference)
Your input appreciated...
Cheers
(ride a Five, if that makes any difference)
Your input appreciated...
Cheers
Just back from Afan. I have been many times but the place is not at its best. Because of some tree disease large areas are closed off (W2) it seems we spent so much transitioning across fire trails. It has been very wet and there is a lot of exposed rock. The members of our group with tubes were dogged with punctures and the only way is to have tubeless. The usual climbs up whites and wall plus a third climb back up to the top of whites to decend the skyline drop.
4 or 5 trails were closed so there was just huge amounts of fire trail transition and fire trail climb. Also the trails are showing a bit of wear and they are really holding the water and it is quite hard work.
Go, have fun but be aware it is less fun than usual.
4 or 5 trails were closed so there was just huge amounts of fire trail transition and fire trail climb. Also the trails are showing a bit of wear and they are really holding the water and it is quite hard work.
Go, have fun but be aware it is less fun than usual.
Gooby said:
Just back from Afan. I have been many times but the place is not at its best. Because of some tree disease large areas are closed off (W2) it seems we spent so much transitioning across fire trails. It has been very wet and there is a lot of exposed rock. The members of our group with tubes were dogged with punctures and the only way is to have tubeless. The usual climbs up whites and wall plus a third climb back up to the top of whites to decend the skyline drop.
4 or 5 trails were closed so there was just huge amounts of fire trail transition and fire trail climb. Also the trails are showing a bit of wear and they are really holding the water and it is quite hard work.
Go, have fun but be aware it is less fun than usual.
I was there yesterday, too, and I'd agree with what you've said. Lots of good singletrack is closed off and there's a diversion halfway up White's Level initial climb that is a real mudbath. The final descent into Glyncorrwg (Darkside) is also closed. 4 or 5 trails were closed so there was just huge amounts of fire trail transition and fire trail climb. Also the trails are showing a bit of wear and they are really holding the water and it is quite hard work.
Go, have fun but be aware it is less fun than usual.
Interestingly there were seven of us but no punctures.
Depends what else you have near you. Me and the boys just got back from Brechfa this weekend, and I have cannock chase which is a shorter journey rated higher. Only just mind you.... by like 5% or something, and mainly for the rock gardens. Have always wanted to try afan so intrigued to hear comparisons..
Justin S said:
Heading there on Saturday, is it worth the 300 mile round trip?
probably not given the trail closures which do appear to take a good chunk of the nice stuff out of the equation, try a lap of the twrch trail at cwmcarn which is a bit closer http://www.mbwales.com/en/content/cms/Centres/Cwmc... then a quick look at the os map, there are loads of trails off piste as it were.NIIKME said:
Depends what else you have near you. Me and the boys just got back from Brechfa this weekend, and I have cannock chase which is a shorter journey rated higher. Only just mind you.... by like 5% or something, and mainly for the rock gardens. Have always wanted to try afan so intrigued to hear comparisons..
How was Brechfa? As the plan we had was 2 days at Afan, with one at Cwmcarn or Brechfa.... Already have the house booked in Afan, so we are going, its just a case of where to spend the most time... I went to Brechfa a couple of weeks ago for the first time. I wouldn't rate it as highly as Afan even with the closures. I did both the red and the black and both were really suffering from standing water, especially the black. Neither trail is particularly technical but the black has some tough climbing. There's also nothing there in the way of a cafe, changing facilities or bikeshop so you need to be self sufficient.
Personally, if I had known about the closures and huge amount of detour, I would not have gone. However, I did really enjoy the diverted decent (the final skyline decent). But you could do it any time.
You are also taken around the tombstones. That has been on my list to conquer for ages and I didn't even see them....
You are also taken around the tombstones. That has been on my list to conquer for ages and I didn't even see them....
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff