Afan Bike Park

Distance: n/a
Climb: n/a
Grade: 1/3 & 2/3 (Red/Black)
Rating: 4/5

Afan Forest is widely known as one of the Gem's of welsh mountain biking and with the new Bike Park, designed and implemented by Cognation, it has s a very good addition to what the area already has to offer.

The new bike park is located at the top of Y Wal near to the Brynn Betws Lodge and sits adjacent to the new singletrack extension to the trail itself. There are several short routes of varying degrees of difficulty comprising big berms, jumps, drops and swooping trail, plus a couple of skinny log sections and a rocky loop that'll test your balance and poise.

Following the grueling climb from the Afan centre on the Y Wal trail the Bike Park will offer a welcome distraction and place to give those weary legs a little breather before embarking on the final descent. For those who don't fancy the trail first, it can also be accessed by car, with parking available literally 50ft from the entrance. Use the Post Code SA12 9SP.

Of the 7 routes available 4 are graded 1/3 and three are graded 2/3. The higher graded lines are the skinny log line, a series of large doubles and the big line. The jumps along this section, in particular, get pretty large.

Despite the scale of quite a lot of the jumps and berms here, they are all pretty much rideable for those wishing to keep both wheels on the ground.  Naturally, however, the faster you go the more fun it is and at speed each trail starts to make a lot more sense. The jumps become technically more challenging as you have to commit to a bigger or longer jump, making line choice more critical but more interesting.  The berms do a great job for speed retention making the jumps significantly easier.

I wasn't initially comfortable with the type of surfacing used. However, after a few runs, a more drift happy approach to riding was adopted which saw me picking up more speed with each attempt, committing a lot of speed to the berms off the back of each series of jumps. There is grip in there, if you're willing to look for it.

Although each individual line is relatively short, it does mean that a day's fun can be had without the need for an uplift truck. The venue is easily push-up-able for repeated attempts - just don't get complacent - and once you've had enough of the park there's the final descent of Y Wal to look forward to. What's not to like.

I was quite impressed with the Afan Bike Park and will most certainly be stopping off each time I visit Y Wal from now on. I do think it is a bit small on it's own but when combined with the trail itself I think it makes more sense and invigorates one of the original trails.

Twrch Trail, Cwmcarn

So, what has happened to cwmcarn?

Well, some of you may have read some threads over the last month suggesting that the Twrch had been irreparably amended during maintenance work to the extent that the natural, rough and rocky character had been ruined. This is, categorically, a load of rubbish...

Indeed, maintenance works have been conducted at various points on the trail. One section (between A and B) remains closed while Cognation, the trail design extraordinaire,  provide some much needed tlc. That is, essentially all it is. A bit of tlc to some of the more worn sections of the trail. Namely between Airstream and Odin.

Generally, the trail remains its fast and technical self. A challenge to those who ride it.

So, what is Twrch actually like.  In basic terms it forms an up, an across and a down, although there is a small down/up in the middle. The main climb is a mental exercise as much as it is a physical one. It is a long and enduring passage along technical singletrack (challenging in places) mixed with other fire road and double track sections. The inclines are constantly changing as is the trail surface. From root infested hard, packed earth, to loose gravel and flint to typical fire road. There are also large rock slabs placed conveniently about the trail for us to dodge/use.

At the top of the climb one is rewarded for all that effort with a quick freeride area incorporating a black and a red loop. Both lines can be repeated by riding back up the adjacent fire road. Both lines are fun with large berms and jumps/doubles. The surface here is typical trail centre fodder- made up of hard-packed base with loose gravel over. Where this has bedded in the trail gives good grip, however in other areas it still feels a little loose. But, then, it all adds to fun time hanging the back end out. The berms will catch you so get on with it. It is pretty much rideable in most conditions but does get pretty sloppy near the bottom in very wet conditions.

Some people find the final downhill a bit tedious but in my opinion, they're just not going fast enough. The final downhill is rough, tough and needs attacking to get the most out of. Simply cruising down, you are apt to be bounced about like a loose apple in an apple cart, and probably just as bruised.

Trust your bike and hit this thing hard, you'll thank me after. It's an edge of your seats hanging on roller coaster of a finish. It flows superbly and the ground has loads of grip. The only way I can aptly describe it is to say it is like being sonic the hedgehog in one of the special stages . There are berms and edges to support through every corner and the section gets gradually faster to the point that the moisture streaming from your eyes starts going backwards instead of down.

Cwmcarn is, to me, as good as it's always been. Long may it remain.

 

It is worth noting, also, that Cwmcarn has a newly constructed car park, which is a much more user friendly layout than it's predecessor and as part of the ongoing improvements a new toilet block and workshop is being built at the entrance of the car park.

Brockhampton & Whittington

Winchcombe mtb – take 2

 

Distance:            31km
Climb:                 1500ft
Duration:            3 hrs
Rating:               Red
Grade:                4/5

This route is a classic. In general, it passes through Sudeley, Brockhampton, Whittington and Cleeve Hill in an approximately 31km long loop through atypical Cotswold scenery. There are 3 ‘climbs’ and 3 ‘descents’ and plenty of winding singletrack in between. Skirting the escarpment of the Oolitic bed that is the Cotswolds, there are superb views on offer, in almost every location and direction. There are also some deep ravines, offering that feeling of seclusion, of absolute and complete remoteness.

The trails are well defined but not heavily used and so fair well during all seasons. However, there are places, as with any natural trail, that can suffer under prolonged spells and struggle to recover there after.

Generally, as with most XC trails, the single-track is linked together by a selection of road sections. These come in the form of quiet lanes or track (no main roads) so aren’t that bad and represent a very small percentage of the route too. The longest section being the climb out of Winchcombe.

There are other ways to tackle the climb, of which a number are of road. But the hill is so steep and long that it makes sense to conserve energy by utilizing the road.

The trail shares the first section with Winchcombe mtb (take 1), however, upon emerging from Sudeley wood, instead of heading in to Farmcote Estate, riders should take a right and follow the Bridleway across the open ground towards Hawling. Pass through the church and nip across the farmland to the style at the roadside. Here, cross the road and follow the twisting single-track as it shadows the dry stone wall. This leads all the way to another road and emerges approximately 100yards in front of a left hand turn on to a By-way that leads to Syreford (passing the red phone box - in the middle of nowhere). This is approximately 3km long and is predominantly downhill, it is relatively smooth but there are hidden rocky bits. Hit it fast and hold your speed all the way and it can still be fun.

Pass through Syreford and head towards and straight through Whittington following the brook as it heads in to the woods. This section is a reasonably pleasant climb. The gradient is not that steep and the traction is pretty good. Watch out for the old mine entrance on your right as you pass the quarry (noted by the incredibly steep hillside).

Pass through an open field, following the Bridleway signs as it navigates around the hill (keep the hill on your right) and you eventually arrive at a gateway. What follows is, unfortunately, more often than not, pretty sloppy. It’s only 150 yards though so stick with it. A pretty technical climb follows up a fairly steep incline. The loose rock make traction sporadic, technically minded riders will find it all too easy but ace it and you’ve done ok.

The route eventually arrives at the gallop on Cleeve common but heads back towards Brockhampton and in to the valley. It snakes through some superb singletrack that swerves through the wood around the trees before opening out and heading straight down the steep sided hill. This descent gets very fast very quickly and the terrain is seriously loose. If you have the bottle for a full on assault it can be great fun. My eyes are usually streaming by the time I get to the bottom.

A gentle spin through the wooded valley and a steep but easy climb at the back up precedes that fastest of the descents, the final descent. This passes Bellas Knap before heading down through managed woodland in to the Sudeley estate. It is incredibly fast and enough as a result. Not many corners just flat out across open field and tall pine forest.

A quick blast across some simple, flat (essentially) bridleway through Sudeley estate brings you back out on Vineyard Street in the middle of Winchcombe. Time for a well earned cake. There are plenty of tearooms that welcome bikers.

These are not as flowing as a manicured trail centre, but who cares this rocky, technical, fast and natural. Therefore I like it and I’m sure so will those who try it!

Blockley - Cotswolds

Blockley – Cotswolds

Distance:               23km
Climb:                    1640ft
Duration:               1.5-3 hrs
Rating:                   Blue
Grade:                   3/5

It is peaceful plod through tranquil settings that never really deliver any real technical challenge or visual treat but somehow it still delivers on the good trail indicator.

This route is not, by any stretch, a technical challenge nor does it offer unending views of the Cotswold Hills. Blockley is a large picturesque village, set within a small valley high in the Cotswold uplands between Broadway and Chipping Campden; rolling hills thick with the infamous (famous with locals anyway) Cotswold mud and loose limestone.

Although there are generally not very many vistas of note the route is not spoilt as a result. The enclosed nature of the trail instils a feeling of remoteness simply because you cannot see anything but the immediate context. For much of the first half of the ride, this is predominantly trees.

You do emerge from the woodland for a few prolonged periods in order to legally navigate between certain sections of Bridleway. This scenic route takes in a number of villages, which add to the charm of the ride. On a bright summer's day its hard to imagine this being anything other than a beautiful place to ride.

The valley encircles Blockley and the route navigates its way around the top of this ‘bowl’, making one or two sharp deviations in toward the centre (Blockley village) to descend the hill - before making you climb back out again.

Starting in the beautiful village of Blockley – the route proper begins at Dovedail as you follow Blockley brook in to the woods. The Bridleway navigates along an historical route named 5-mile drive all the way to the A44.  Following a quick blast along the road, you’re back in the woods. Head straight through the belt and follow the bridleway back across to the return leg of 5-mile drive.

The climb out of Blockley is a stony track. It never gets too steep and traction was always good - the 2-kilometre climb up this tame gradient warms your legs up nicely.

This route is adapted from the guidebook ‘Mountain biking in the Cotswolds’ by Tom Fenton and has been repeated in MBUK magazine (GPS download available). Their published route follows the bridleways, however my route took a slight detour, at this point, in order to take in a couple of additional features and lengthen the ride slightly.

Following my initial climb I am treated to a fast and increasingly technical descent back in to Blockley (almost) before I head back up through Northwick estate (ensuring that I stick to the public rights of way as this is a managed woodland with active shooting on a regular basis).

The pass starts pretty tame but the gradient gets increasingly steep as it nears the summit before levelling off as you approach a minor road. I hadn’t appreciated how closely packed the contour lines were when I’d checked the OS maps before I’d set off. Anyway, what goes up must come down and after crossing the road the trail continues down the opposite side of the ridge.

The descent is shallower but longer. Technicality is low but you can get some serious speed once the ground dries. At the time of riding the trail conditions were still pretty soggy so mud spots had the unending habit of slowing me down. Alas, it was still good to get out and the respite from the climbing was welcome.

My current loop finally emerged from Northwick estate to the north and re-joined the 5-mile drive and followed the bridleway all the way to Broad Campden. The route then meanders around the foothills taking in Paxford before climbing back up through Batsford and descending down in to Blockley.

All the rain we have endured has again, as with most places I'm sure, turned the Bridleway in to a mud fest. The descent in to Blockley was disappointing, however Its worth noting that if one can find a sneaky way of reaching the lower gravelled section then it should be fun. One possible route is to navigate from the hilltop down through Pasture Farm using one of the farm tracks until the trail improves. In good weather this should be a fast and fun finale to the ride.




The actual highlight of the ride was, in fact, the post ride rinse. Courtesy of the bloated river passing through Blockley we were able to chuck our bikes in at a little access point (holding on of course) and repeatedly dumped them, like the stereotypical washer woman, to clean most of the mud off.  A great way to clear the mud and cow sh*t before loading the car.

Christmas Common - Chinnor

Christmas Common – Chinnor, Chiltern Hills

Distance:                   18.1 miles
Climb:                        1935 ft
Duration:                    1.5-3 hrs
Rating:                       Blue/Red
Grade:                        3/5

Chinnor, near High Wycombe, sits on the edge of the Chilterns. This little hill packs a lot of riding in to a relatively small area. Mostly consisting of good natural singletrack, there are lines criss-crossing the hill in all directions - no two rides ever need be the same.

There is a circular bridleway around the foothills called the Ridgeway, which gives good access to a number of different climb points. Our route saw us head west from Chinnor to the locally named feature, ‘Widow Maker’.  The steep incline provides a fast and furious descent on many other route configurations but on our ride it was a steep and moderately technical climb.

There is a long and fast descent to follow (Kidney Breaker) down some single and double track.  The trail up to this point is generally chalky mud with loose flint and pine debris. It holds up reasonably well in the wet and sets quite hard in the dry. However, considering the excessively wet year we’ve had you’d best come prepared with skinny mud/winter tyres. When even the base layer is sloppy you know you’re in for a rough time.

A few kilometres of singletrack through low-level woodland precede another long and steep climb, this time up a farm track towards Turville Park Estate. The trail surface, at this point, changes to loose stone and flint gravel.

An opening in the wood at the top of the climb provides a welcome place for a quick break before you head back down through the feature locally known as ‘The Berm’; a fast and loose descent with a massive natural berm about 2/3 through the descent enabling riders to hold a huge amount of speed around the left hand corner. The trail surface and incline make this section the most technical part of the ride up until this point and, although over pretty quickly, is a highlight of the route.

The following climb is pretty standard bridleway stuff. The descent that follows this, however, is much more interesting. Starting off as a wide track through the immensely open forest floor of Great Wood, the trail quickly narrows and enters a natural half pipe. The sidewalls are high and in very close proximity to your pedals so commitment and concentration are required to navigate through the feature with pace and a smile.

The final climb is long and, on the particular day we rode, very wet and sticky. A quick stop was required to clean the tyres before embarking on the final descent in to Chinnor – ‘Route Finder’. It follows a familiar pattern to the previous descent in that it starts with a wide open fire track, this time along the edge of the wood, before taking a sharp right in to the wood using a huge rock slab berm. It allows you to carry good speed in to the following fly-off’s before a flat out race to the bottom.

Despite the appalling weather conditions the country has been dealt in the past few months this area of Britain has fared pretty well. There are patches of mud around, even some deep mud in places but nothing that would put you off riding the exact same route again.

Generally the bridleways and the Ridgeway have a good stone base, which limits the impact of the weather on these trails.

As we rode it, the trail around Christmas common in Chinnor offered a very satisfying ride. It has a good balance of singletrack and forest road (hardly any road riding at all).  The technical content is low but there are elements of interest. It is a good ride for most skill levels and an interesting place to ride in any case.

November Diary

Mtb Diary - November 2012

12 Nov

It’s always slightly depressing when you finally realise that summer has passed. No more dusty, loamy trails – baked dry by the sun and rolling faster than you can recall.  Not that we actually got any of that this year (unless of course you went abroad – I’m envious of you).

Today, however, I have been lucky. As I sit at the top of Bredon Hill I can see for miles across the Vale and Cotswolds. With the sun shining so warm and the sky so blue, one could almost mistake it for summer.

But as I sit and take in the views I am under no illusions. Following a tortuous climb to reach the summit I can remark that it most certainly is not summer. The sun may be out right now but it has been raining all week and the muddy trails are a stark reminder of this time of year.  They have been turned in to wet sloppy imitations of their previous selves and the climbs, as a result, have become an ordeal.

Still, with views like this it's not hard to see the advantage for getting out. 

It’s been raining all week and may not stop for a long time. You’ll be waiting even longer for the trails themselves to dry up. Try sometime next summer, if we have one.

But do not despair. It is this characteristic that is so familiar to the British, to all those who actually get out during the darker months. There’s no point sitting around and moaning about it – another typically English characteristic. It is these types of trails that are responsible for producing some of the finest professional riders to emerge from the UK.

The likes of Steve Peat & Mark Beaumont have developed their skills on these slippery, rooty trails. Getting out on this will undoubtedly make you a better rider too. By getting out now and pushing your limits you’ll be quicker come summer and better to boot.

For those of you who really do find it hard to get the enthusiasm to get out once it gets cold, think of it this way. It’s only going to get worse. And, you will regret not getting out now once the dark days of deepest winter really set in – not that it’ll stop me. I find that some of the best riding all year only materializes once the ground freezes over. Why not get out now and make the most of the last embers of warmth from the sun? The extra miles you put in now (and over the winter) will pay dividends next spring.

18^th Nov

Again, I have been lucky to get the sun. With the rain being persistent the climbs have become quite a challenge. I think it’s time for a tire change, my summer trail tires can no longer with the thick mud.

25^th Nov

Over the last month I have repeated my ride over Bredon Hill on several occasions. At first my thoughts were centred on the idea that it is sad to see the dusty trails disappear. What I hadn’t bargained for was that they would be literally subsumed beneath the water as they did this week…

…So, it’s floodin’ out there! So bloody what! Why should that stop you? It’s not like it doesn’t happen almost every year anyway, so we should be prepared for it by now. Although I will concede, it’s usually in the summer. In places, my trails have literally disappeared – they are impassable. But, rather than sitting around and moping, I have found alternative routes to link up the remaining sections that are still rideable and, this weekend, I ventured back up Bredon Hill for some slippery fun.

I have been having some issues with brakes this year after trying to ‘restore’ a hope mini M4, however that has been resolved by the fact that I no longer need them. I simply stop pedalling and I come to a halt quicker than if I apply them at all.

Tires have been a huge frustration though. My usually adaptable all-rounders simply cannot cope with the knee-high gloop. I get the feeling that I’m navigating a boat rather than riding my bike. New ones are a must do, despite the ‘gulp’ price.

Still, there’s a certain gratification at having been out. A typical ride is no longer just a ride but a full-scale expedition and it feels good to actually get back in one piece. I’m not even bothered with pace. Timing is out the window. Everything pales in to insignificance, I’m out and that’s all that matters to me.

Trail centres have revolutionized the way we can approach our winter riding. The man-made trails are quite often designed to be ride-able all year round without being any less fun.  So why not take advantage of the additional access you have to trails. Kit up and get out and stop moaning!

Verderers Trail, Forest Of Dean

Rating          4/5

Length         11km

Climbing      Not a lot

Time            40mins - 1.5hrs

Difficulty      Blue with Red options

The Verderer's Trail was penned by reputed designer Rowan Sorrel. It achieves an interesting brief by being simultaneously accessible for beginners and veterans alike. There are no hidden obstacles that will spark horror in the minds of novices. The distinction that allows both to enjoy this route is the speed at which you attack it.

Newbies can pootle around at their leisure without getting in to any difficulty and the more highly skilled riders tend to attack the trail at much faster speeds.

The Cannop Pedal'a'bike away centre has an array of mountain biking on offer. There are blue and red way marked xc trails, an collection of downhill tracks all accessible from the new uplift service (Fly-up Downhill). There's also a green family ride. The car park is quite often very busy but don't be put off as the trail itself is not usually very busy.

The trail itself is almost completely man-made surface with very few 'natural feeling' sections. Sitting within forestry commission managed woodland (there's evidence of this quite recently with a large area of tree felling about half way round - made the section feel a bit weird). However neither the character of trail nor the setting does anything to lessen the quality of the ride. It rolls pretty quickly and consistently even in severe wet weather and the trail is littered with loads of berms and dips/jumps to rail and pump.

The berms themselves are generally pretty good. Their construction, size and camber are all pretty much spot on for full attack. The trail gradually gains elevation through relatively slight climbs followed by flat pump sections. There are only 2 actual descents throughout the ride. The elevation gained is generally saved for the latter of the two, the final descent.  This is super fast and has great flow, in parts that is.

The final descent actually comprises of 3 smaller, manageable, sections. Each is split from the last by a small fireroad link. The first section is in the woods and it flows like a silk ribbon through the trees at a good speed. There are some off camber sections, but nothing to worry about. This part retains the close singletrack feel of the preceding climbs with the towering pines all still in attendance.

This character continues through section 2, although the trail gets slightly quicker and more technical. The introduction of some large berms towards the end prepares you for the moonscape that is the final section.

Emerging on to the fireroad you are presented with a wallride to set yourself up square for the start of the final descent. This section is made up of a heavily surfaced, rocky rollercoaster of huge rollers jumps (depends how fast you go) and berms that simply beg for you to go faster.

The route overall has an engaging character and as a result riders tend to attack it most of the way round. At 11km this is a perfect length for that kind of approach. My only gripe is the climb stuck in the middle of the final section of the final descent. In my opinion it has no place here, it ruins the flow of the, saps any energy you had left and almost spoils the flat out final final bit.

The link is needed to traverse some ground until you reach the amphitheater that is the very end and is probable exacerbated by the limited altitude available but come on! Sticking an up bit right in the middle of the down bit is bad form if you ask me. And, the rollers introduced right at the beginning of this climb prevent you from being able to power through with the momentum you've gained which makes it even worse.

I'm sure the relatively small altitude available to the designers hasn't helped but I'm sure there's a better solution to this section. Or, is this the bit that separates the men from the boys. Perhaps I should do some more training?

With the above in mind, I would (and have) still go round again! Although If I do I generally complete a loop of an off piste red trail (which links to the top of the final descent of Verderer's) to mix it up a bit.

GoogleMaps - Forest Of Dean