Bike Park Wales - what level of experience needed?
Discussion
I'm after some advice. I have just bailed from Le Mans for this year as apparently there's some bug going around and the rest of my party don't fancy going, so i am looking at using the time booked to do something different. I fancy giving Bike Park Wales a go but am little concerned it may be a step too far for a 50+ yr old like me. Currently ride QECP every week, not fast but not slow either and can ride all the trails there without issues and also have some road fitness. Am i likely to do myself some damage?
I have mixed feelings about BPW. Amazing trails, easily accessible, generally good uplift, but on the flipside it’s crazy expensive now (especially at the weekend), I don’t find the staff particularly friendly and haven’t found the place as ‘sociable’ as you would usually find in the mountain bike community. That said, I do go a few times a year.
It’s basically as easy or as difficult as you like. The blues can be ridden slowly or quickly, and everything on them is roll-able if you want. Reds all reasonably ok as well, and the board shows the difficulty rating which helps. What I always say though is it’s a bike park rather than a trail centre, so basically a step up. Trail centre red is more like BPW blue etc. Some degree of ‘aggresive’ riding ability is helpful, as most trails are a step above your average XC trail.
What bike are you on? I tend to take the DH bike but in all honesty it’s overkill most of the time (although I’ve not ridden the blacks), so next time will take the freeride-style hardtail instead. Best bike is probably a modern 130-160 ‘enduro’ or ‘all mountain’ bike, although you’ll have fun on anything. Although don’t take a gravel bike...
It’s basically as easy or as difficult as you like. The blues can be ridden slowly or quickly, and everything on them is roll-able if you want. Reds all reasonably ok as well, and the board shows the difficulty rating which helps. What I always say though is it’s a bike park rather than a trail centre, so basically a step up. Trail centre red is more like BPW blue etc. Some degree of ‘aggresive’ riding ability is helpful, as most trails are a step above your average XC trail.
What bike are you on? I tend to take the DH bike but in all honesty it’s overkill most of the time (although I’ve not ridden the blacks), so next time will take the freeride-style hardtail instead. Best bike is probably a modern 130-160 ‘enduro’ or ‘all mountain’ bike, although you’ll have fun on anything. Although don’t take a gravel bike...
Thanks. Yes I‘m on a 29er Cannondale Jekyll sp plenty of travel.
This will be my first time at BPW so I’m sure I’ll have a good time but following your feedback definitely start gently.
I’ll be going on a Thursday as still want to watch LeMans even if it’s only Eurosport! I will give feedback whether it’s friendlier midweek.
This will be my first time at BPW so I’m sure I’ll have a good time but following your feedback definitely start gently.
I’ll be going on a Thursday as still want to watch LeMans even if it’s only Eurosport! I will give feedback whether it’s friendlier midweek.
If you're happy with the blue and the "red" at QECP then the blues at BPW won't be any harder or the new long green "Kermit". They are longer but you can take a break if you get too much arm pump.
Start gently and gradually increase the pace and you'll be fine even including on the easy reds.
You'll have enough trails for a good day riding. It's a very special place which I find very good value for money.
Start gently and gradually increase the pace and you'll be fine even including on the easy reds.
You'll have enough trails for a good day riding. It's a very special place which I find very good value for money.
We went last year for the first time and it was brilliant - started on blues and the built up to reds. Felt that my skill level increased massively when I came back to the local trails which was great. Get there early and you should be able to get 6-8 runs in using the uplift.
PS. Don't have a curry the night before - I think I got KoM needing to get down fast to use the "facilities"
PS. Don't have a curry the night before - I think I got KoM needing to get down fast to use the "facilities"
As others have said it's as easy or as difficult as you want it to be. The Blue runs can be a proper white knuckle if you ride them fast enough as you have to 'squash' all the rollers to avoid flying into the scenery - equally you can tiptoe down the reds and (to some extent) the blacks.
Most of the reds and blacks have qualifiers at the start so if you can ride them then you can ride the rest of the trail.
They are amongst the best designed and built trails in the country so you can ride them blind at a decent lick as you aren't suddenly going to be confronted with anything surprising that you weren't expecting to encounter.
If you are avoiding the black runs then a modern 130mm trail bike is more than adequate - I've taken my DH rig a couple of times but it's overkill (although you are less tired at the end of the day on it but its less fun). I've ridden everything in the park on a 150mm travel AM bike.
As it's uplifted there isn't any reason not to have a FF helmet and a full set of pads - some of the trails are full of sharp edged rocks so it can be painful when ambition exceeds ability.
There are more trails than you can ride in a day there so build up slowly (Sixtapod into Willy Waver is a great introduction as they blues, nice long runs and have a bit of everything)
Most of the reds and blacks have qualifiers at the start so if you can ride them then you can ride the rest of the trail.
They are amongst the best designed and built trails in the country so you can ride them blind at a decent lick as you aren't suddenly going to be confronted with anything surprising that you weren't expecting to encounter.
If you are avoiding the black runs then a modern 130mm trail bike is more than adequate - I've taken my DH rig a couple of times but it's overkill (although you are less tired at the end of the day on it but its less fun). I've ridden everything in the park on a 150mm travel AM bike.
As it's uplifted there isn't any reason not to have a FF helmet and a full set of pads - some of the trails are full of sharp edged rocks so it can be painful when ambition exceeds ability.
There are more trails than you can ride in a day there so build up slowly (Sixtapod into Willy Waver is a great introduction as they blues, nice long runs and have a bit of everything)
You can keep it pretty sensible by sticking to the blues but they can also be pretty tough I’d ridden fast. In addition to the usual colour grading, the trails are split into flow and tech.
Personally I’m not a fan if the place. The trails are OK but they uplift is too slow, especially compared to other places like BMCC, Stiniog and Revolution. Revolution has it licked in my opinion for quality it riding as well as uplift speed.
The slow uplift means I don’t think it’s as good value as other places but it is popular so I’m in the minority for preferring others.
Personally I’m not a fan if the place. The trails are OK but they uplift is too slow, especially compared to other places like BMCC, Stiniog and Revolution. Revolution has it licked in my opinion for quality it riding as well as uplift speed.
The slow uplift means I don’t think it’s as good value as other places but it is popular so I’m in the minority for preferring others.
I’d echo what the others have posted, work your way up the levels, even the Blues can we ridden a lot faster than most other places and can go wrong quickly! If you can do the qualifying obstacles at the start you should be ok.
Only thing I’d add is make sure your bike is in top condition, it’s pretty rough on them, I always take a box of spares and tools, there is a shop there though if you need bits.
Someone mentioned wearing a full face helmet, I’d say that’s a must.
The terrain is pretty unforgiving to fall on. I hadn’t used to wear one, I had a big crash there last year and luckily I was wearing it there for the first time (and last as it’s totalled) I still ended up with mild concussion, smashed collarbone and ribs but I think it would have been a lot worse with my normal helmet.
Only thing I’d add is make sure your bike is in top condition, it’s pretty rough on them, I always take a box of spares and tools, there is a shop there though if you need bits.
Someone mentioned wearing a full face helmet, I’d say that’s a must.
The terrain is pretty unforgiving to fall on. I hadn’t used to wear one, I had a big crash there last year and luckily I was wearing it there for the first time (and last as it’s totalled) I still ended up with mild concussion, smashed collarbone and ribs but I think it would have been a lot worse with my normal helmet.
dibbers006 said:
Loved the trails.
Miserable, arrogant staff.
I've probably been a dozen times and always found the staff good fun and easy to have a bit of banter with.Miserable, arrogant staff.
dibbers006 said:
Merthyr is a s
thole too.
I started going with a bunch of lads who've camped together, skied together and had some very rough weekends away in Europe and the UK. I genuinely didn't think places like Merthyr still existed in the UK. Needless to say we had one night out and never returned.thole too.dibbers006 said:
Loved the trails.
Hated the slow, moist, bumpy, stinky uplift. Enough to knock the whole place down a few points in my total estimation.
Miserable, arrogant staff.
Merthyr is a sthole too.
But the trails, loved the trails... Something for all skill levels.
I’ve only been once back in 2017. Found the staff were spot on and friendly. A frame pivot bolt had come loose on my bike and I didn’t have a big enough socket with me. I nipped round to their workshop and the guys were happy to lend me a tool to tighten back up. Hated the slow, moist, bumpy, stinky uplift. Enough to knock the whole place down a few points in my total estimation.
Miserable, arrogant staff.
Merthyr is a s
thole too.But the trails, loved the trails... Something for all skill levels.
dibbers006 said:
Loved the trails.
Hated the slow, moist, bumpy, stinky uplift. Enough to knock the whole place down a few points in my total estimation.
Miserable, arrogant staff.
Merthyr is a sthole too.
But the trails, loved the trails... Something for all skill levels.
I did my first day on the Decoy yesterday, far better than the uplift which I didn't like either. The bike was better than my Mondraker downhill so a win win. The Brute of Burden is even fun to climb. I saved £22 by not doing the uplift which paid for the fuel there. Merthyr is not great but we don't stay any longer, easier to drive there first thing from Sussex before the traffic and drive back in the evening.Hated the slow, moist, bumpy, stinky uplift. Enough to knock the whole place down a few points in my total estimation.
Miserable, arrogant staff.
Merthyr is a s
thole too.But the trails, loved the trails... Something for all skill levels.
Never had an issue with the staff.
I've booked up with the fiance for September shouldve gone in April but had to rebook for some reason... Did it last year on a hardtail, it was hard work but good fun. Looking forward to it more on the full sus this time though. Doing a jump course on the Friday, mostly because she wants to learn faster than doing it on her own, but my technique needs some work so I'm having a crack at it with her. Kipping at the Premier Inn just over the road then doing a full day on the Saturday on our own. Can't wait.
I went with a friend yesterday with for the first time.
Got an Airbnb the night before & after.
It was absolutely awesome. Easily the best day I’ve had mountain biking.
My level of skill is usually red trails and 1 maybe 2 dot downhill stuff. But I’m usually quite slow.
I did 1 red run at BPW (wibbley wobbly) and made it down but not at any pace (should’ve started with an easier Red to be honest) I think if I did it few more times I’d have been a lot faster.
However the blue runs were great. I’ve managed to gain so much speed through corners, I managed to ride better than I ever have before.
For me I had no real desire to go back on the reds that day because the blue were so much fun.
Uplift is only running for half a day at the moment so we had to pedal up in the morning!
That wasn’t much fun, managed 2.5 pedal ups (some trails stop half way down so you can stop half way and then climb back to the top)
I think if we had all day up lift like they normally do I’d have done more reds.
I’d say it’s 100% made me a better rider.
Next time I’ll hit a few reds and hopefully gain more experience.
I would say their reds are harder than normal ones.
As for the staff and the set up I’d say it was great.
The odd uplift bus pulled up to ask if we were ok when we’ll looked lost pedalling up, They helped people lift bikes up if they were struggling etc
Also my centre lock adaptor came loose on my front disc and I didn’t have a BB tool with me to do it back up. The work shop happily tightened it for me for free so I could get back out.
Sorry for the long post but I think I’m still buzzing from yesterday! Haha
Got an Airbnb the night before & after.
It was absolutely awesome. Easily the best day I’ve had mountain biking.
My level of skill is usually red trails and 1 maybe 2 dot downhill stuff. But I’m usually quite slow.
I did 1 red run at BPW (wibbley wobbly) and made it down but not at any pace (should’ve started with an easier Red to be honest) I think if I did it few more times I’d have been a lot faster.
However the blue runs were great. I’ve managed to gain so much speed through corners, I managed to ride better than I ever have before.
For me I had no real desire to go back on the reds that day because the blue were so much fun.
Uplift is only running for half a day at the moment so we had to pedal up in the morning!
That wasn’t much fun, managed 2.5 pedal ups (some trails stop half way down so you can stop half way and then climb back to the top)
I think if we had all day up lift like they normally do I’d have done more reds.
I’d say it’s 100% made me a better rider.
Next time I’ll hit a few reds and hopefully gain more experience.
I would say their reds are harder than normal ones.
As for the staff and the set up I’d say it was great.
The odd uplift bus pulled up to ask if we were ok when we’ll looked lost pedalling up, They helped people lift bikes up if they were struggling etc
Also my centre lock adaptor came loose on my front disc and I didn’t have a BB tool with me to do it back up. The work shop happily tightened it for me for free so I could get back out.
Sorry for the long post but I think I’m still buzzing from yesterday! Haha
Edited by EddyBee on Monday 24th August 06:28
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