Afan forest

craighudson

i am going to Neath for a week next week and thought I may as well take the bike down with me, Anyone got any suggestions as to which of the trails is the best, W2, skyline etc. I want to have a good run at it so want one with a fair distance or can they all be linked easily enough to make a day of it riding them all.

Stormtrooper

If you park in afan forest centre you can do the Wall and Penhydd in one day unless you want to do a really long one it might be worth you doing W2.

craighudson

The W2 sounds good if that is the longest option as I am training for the 80KM Merida marathon at Selkirk. What is the normal time to complete the W2 route and is it clearly marked? Can the Skyline be linked to do the W2?

Stormtrooper

Have a look at this it may help you. Click on the maps for exploded views.

http://www.npt.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=347

craighudson

Thanks stormtrooper, that asnwered alot of questions.

podgeorge

Any opinions on the best routes there?? I am thinking of going later on this summer

stumpyjon

Best shorter route is White's level, best longer route would probably be W2 (although I've not done it yet but have done The Wall and White's seperately). Skyline is a long one, bit of a slog in places on the fireroads but some good singletrack never the less. Penhydd is the easiest but still good fun, The Wall is also good apart from the 3 miles of fireroad at the start.

rhyko7

i rode the wall and Penhydd in one day on the wkend and it was quite comfortable, took a total riding time of just under 3 hours, i had a 30 min break for some food imbetween.i found it a lot easier than two laps of cwmcarn which only takes 2 hours.

anyway i was wandering how much harder the W2 or Skyline are and how long they are likely to take?
i rode the skyline a year ago and did not prepare correctly or have the right equpment (bike etc lol)and really struggled with it, but i think im now ready for it now.

craighudson

Just done the W2 trail on Fri and the Penhydd trail on the Sat. Between the two of them I used a perfectly good rear set of pads!!! the W2 is stunning, it took approx 3hrs but what a stunning fast and technical ride. very impressed. makes the V trail at Glentress look average! the Penhydd is good although I felt that alot of the best bits were in the 2nd half of the trail, with lots of fireroad. do not be put of by the fireroad though the singletrack is really good when you get to it.

Thewaylander

for a short course do th july trail, shortened skyline way fun.

rhyko7

Thewaylander wrote:

for a short course do th july trail, shortened skyline way fun.

is tyhe July trail marked out-how long is it?

i did my own version of the W2 saturday-parked up at Glyncorwg, rode across to the wall fire road start (got lost for 15 mins lol) and did the wall trail, went back to the car had some food and then rode the whytes level, its much easier like that cos dont have to carry any food etc, cos im quite muscular i tend to get cramps without food after about 2 hours. but if i can keep the nutrients going in im fine.

will prob go back next wkend to do either same again, skyline or the July trail.

Thewaylander

Its marked yeh, follow skyline and there are little put in signs for the short cut on skyline its easy enough to follow

TonyWard

Did W2 last Saturday in a group. First time at a trail centre and was a fun ride and well marked - we weren't pushing it too hard but still stiff the next day (my normal ride is a weekly hour or so). Did the downhill black run as a loop off the W2 which was just the right amount of scary for my limited abilities - i.e. was delighted to get down without falling off as was riding clipped in.