How technically proficient do you need to be to ride Afan?
mdoubleu
Posts: 3
Considring a trip to Afan, I've never visited a trail centre before but have ridden a bit in the Forest of Dean, and ride Swinley on a regular basis?
Wanted to take my hardtail too?
Wanted to take my hardtail too?
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Depends what you plan to ride when you get there.
BUT you should be able to get around any of the trails even if it means you have to push or walk some sections. I'd say start with the Penhydd or the Wall and see how you get on.0 -
Afan isn't hard really, just a dam good blast! Only real technical section is the black section on whytes level. That is seriously good fun 8)
As said, i don't think you'll have any issues really!0 -
Cheers for the quick responses, I'm off for my first trip.............0
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I would say afan as its a purpose built centre is almost easier to ride as it is designed for bikes, rather than some god awful bridleway thats got boulders strewn all over it. Maybe I just live in the wrong place. When I went i would say that fitness was more of a priority than technical ability, especially for skyline! :shock:0
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Completely agree with the above. I took some complete novice friends who just took it at their own pace and enjoyed it. The better you are the faster you can ride it but there's nothing that most people can't get through. White's black run is a bit tougher so is better left alone if you're not sure about it. That said you can always push down anything you don't want to ride. Fitness is quite important too - one of my friends pushed up most of the hills but if you ride fairly regularly you'll be fine.
Oh - and i defy you not to be grinning for a week after you've been there!! 8)0 -
black run on whites level is also do able on a short travel xc hardtail, i found out by mistake forgetting i wasnt on my prophet, but all the same still do able.
just get over there and enjoy yourself, and walk any sections your not comfortable riding.0 -
You need to be better than me...
(Clavicle locking plate now in place, stitches out Monday...just another 2 months of non-riding to go...)0 -
ouch
which section was that on?? 0 -
I'd agree with most of the above, but add that the "energy section" of whites might surprise anyone not used to tabletops and a couple of steep drops.0
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Especially if like me you do it with your forks on their lowest travel setting and your rear shock locked after the fireroad climb :oops:
Thought it was bit hard, one of the table tops was a bit of a shock thought I was going to somersault of it backwards :shock:It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.
I've bought a new bike....ouch - result
Can I buy a new bike?...No - no result0 -
like me running round on my lighweight, flat bar'd, 80mm travel xtc. that was sketchy taking the table tops same speed i usually do on my prophet!0
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I found you don't have to be too skilled as long as you go slow enough
I imagine hitting some of the drop-offs and table tops (Whites/Energy) at speed would be interesting if you didn't have a clue what you were doing. Mind you going too slow is asking for trouble to especially on the last descent on White's level. 0 -
What is a table top?'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.0
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passout wrote:What is a table top?
A jump with a long flat 'top' - like a double that's been filled in.
Great for useless/clumsy jumpers like me, as there are far fewer consequences if you fail to clear them.0 -
type of jump. basically a box with sloped sides and a flat top.0
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I'm still grinningpittpony wrote:Completely agree with the above. I took some complete novice friends who just took it at their own pace and enjoyed it. The better you are the faster you can ride it but there's nothing that most people can't get through. White's black run is a bit tougher so is better left alone if you're not sure about it. That said you can always push down anything you don't want to ride. Fitness is quite important too - one of my friends pushed up most of the hills but if you ride fairly regularly you'll be fine.
Oh - and i defy you not to be grinning for a week after you've been there!! 8)
As Nick said any novice would be able to ride it all and have fun, as there arn't any really technical bits. You'v just got to know your limits when it comes to the downhills, especially the Wall and Whites which are verry rocky with a few sheer drops off the side. It was the most fun i have had on two wheels and i guarentee you'll love it, whatever speed you ride it at!
Oh and i did it on my Inbred 456 HT and had no problems at all, except when i just wanted to sit and spin up the climbs but got bashed out of the saddle by all the roots and rocks!0 -
Lol now the excuses come out for the climbs eh Andy?? If you were on a full sus would you have been the fastest uphill tooandyturner28 wrote:
I'm still grinningpittpony wrote:Completely agree with the above. I took some complete novice friends who just took it at their own pace and enjoyed it. The better you are the faster you can ride it but there's nothing that most people can't get through. White's black run is a bit tougher so is better left alone if you're not sure about it. That said you can always push down anything you don't want to ride. Fitness is quite important too - one of my friends pushed up most of the hills but if you ride fairly regularly you'll be fine.
Oh - and i defy you not to be grinning for a week after you've been there!! 8)
As Nick said any novice would be able to ride it all and have fun, as there arn't any really technical bits. You'v just got to know your limits when it comes to the downhills, especially the Wall and Whites which are verry rocky with a few sheer drops off the side. It was the most fun i have had on two wheels and i guarentee you'll love it, whatever speed you ride it at!
Oh and i did it on my Inbred 456 HT and had no problems at all, except when i just wanted to sit and spin up the climbs but got bashed out of the saddle by all the roots and rocks!
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