Skyline Trail

Hillsta

I'm looking forward to riding the Skyline trail this May, but I'm not sure how much water to carry. I generally allow 1 litre / hour. The trail is said to take 4 to 6 hours, at best that would mean an average speed of 7mph and worst 4.6mph - is it really this hardcore?

I don't want to underestimate the trail, but is 6 hours about right?

sniper68

Trail name: Skyline
Centre:Afan
Distance:46km
Climbing:2000m
Time:4 - 7hrs

46km-28.5miles,2000m-6561ft of ascent!Thats over 2000ft more than Ben Nevis,i'd say 4hrs if you're fit,5-7 if you're average?Gauge it against other trail centres you've done,compare climbing etc.

gandhi

Hillsta wrote:

I'm looking forward to riding the Skyline trail this May, but I'm not sure how much water to carry. I generally allow 1 litre / hour. The trail is said to take 4 to 6 hours, at best that would mean an average speed of 7mph and worst 4.6mph - is it really this hardcore?

I don't want to underestimate the trail, but is 6 hours about right?

As said, it depends how fast you are. A decent racer would do it in less than 3 hours without too much bother.

ObscuraSky

A decent racer would do it in less than 3 hours without too much bother.[/quote]

Less than 3 hours? You'd have to be a hell of a rider to do it in less than 3 hours without to much bother! - I'm a decent rider and it took me well over 4 hours (with a lunchstop).

bungalistic

Hmmm well my plan of doing all the red routes at Afan in one day will not be happening, can anyone recommend which routes to do at Afan if i do spend one full day there?

BeardedDave

bungalistic wrote:

Hmmm well my plan of doing all the red routes at Afan in one day will not be happening, can anyone recommend which routes to do at Afan if i do spend one full day there?

You'd have to be going some to ride all the routes in one day! Have you considered the W2 route? It links up two existing trails, The Wall and White's Level, which in my opinion are the two best trails.

Map here: http://www.neath-porttalbot.gov.uk/pdf/Afan%20W2%20A1%20Mt%20Bk%20panel%202008.pdf

pjm-84

Just my aim Saturday week...

pjm-84

.....and failure...............

Tried it yesterday and failed in my attempt to ride all the routes. Started with Skyline and cleared this in just over 3.18hrs but was completely shattered by the bottom. I then did the Wall and the black run link (doh) but called it quits as I was struggling badly on the descents (Energy trail was bliss)

I didn't have the best preparation ( cold begining of the week) and made a few mistakes in bike set up and kit but I completely under estimated the challenge. Having ridden around the other routes the Skyline is deceptive and tough (plus quite windy and a little muddy at the top yesterday). The final few descents really hammer it home. I was doubled over with exhaustion by the time I got to the bottom. Only to then face the climb back up again.

Richard2118

My suggestion would be do skyline to the first short cut which basically cuts out around half the distance but you get the best bits. have lunch then do white's in the afternoon or vice versa.
Have done this frequently and is a fairly tough ride for a whole day plus a good food stop. Mostly singletarck with excellent decents and because the climb at the beginning is shared by each trail you get the chance to do the black run twice.. which for me is a result.
I would call this excellent cheating...as the whole skyline for me has 2 much fireroad and drags.

rhyko7

pjm-84 wrote:

.....and failure...............

Tried it yesterday and failed in my attempt to ride all the routes. Started with Skyline and cleared this in just over 3.18hrs but was completely shattered by the bottom. I then did the Wall and the black run link (doh) but called it quits as I was struggling badly on the descents (Energy trail was bliss)

I didn't have the best preparation ( cold begining of the week) and made a few mistakes in bike set up and kit but I completely under estimated the challenge. Having ridden around the other routes the Skyline is deceptive and tough (plus quite windy and a little muddy at the top yesterday). The final few descents really hammer it home. I was doubled over with exhaustion by the time I got to the bottom. Only to then face the climb back up again.

your nuts lol, cant believe you managed the wall after skyline - impressive!

i rode the skyline last summer and was in agony by the end, cramp in legs, really sore back etc, i only took a litre of water though becuase i have small camelbak, think it took me 4 and half hours including a luch break.
i will do it again this summer with much better fitness, much better bike and much more fluid as i was a newbie last year.
i would suggest taking at least 2 litres around

pjm-84

Well I've just ridden 260km across Flanders on my carbon race bike. Hitting cobbles at 30 -35kph on road tyres and I can say the descent off the Skyline is a lot, lot tougher!

I'll be back for another try this summer as my form seems to be coming back to me. I need wider bars , a good set of gloves and slightly softer forks.