Best Afan trail for first trail experience?

underdog

As simple as the heading really

What's the best of the open trails at afan for myself and my mate to ride tomorrow to get our first (and safeish) tatste of trail centres?

mokl

You should be fine on any of the trails if you ride within your limits (ie don't go too fast on the descents unless you feel confident), although be a little wary of some of the steeper section and drops at the end of Whytes. "Penhydd" would be the obvious choice really, but as it's closed then maybe "The Wall" would be the next, least technically challenging trail (still great fun though!).

underdog

Thanks mate, had thought the wall from what I had read on their site, so probably will be that.

mokl

Trails were riding great today, so have a blast tomorrow!

patchesuk

If your're there for the day try to do the W2.. you get the climbing out of the way pretty sharpish and then get to hit whytes level to warm you up and get you in the mood. The route to the top of the wall isn;t too bad... almost feels like you get two downhill runs for the price of one uphill.... of course until you have to slog it out back up to base camp.... or clever money takes two cars and leaves on a the bottom of the wall!

If you're not too confident on the DH sections,, there is no shame in lowering your seat! Or is this an XC no no?

Either way... great choice of trails... I really enjoyed Afan last time I was there!

P-Jay

Nah seat down is par for the coure at Afan, in fact as they're pretty much a big-climb-followed-by-long-descents type of place it's usually seat down, forks up, propedal off and occationally tyre pressure down, pads out of the bag and helmet on

P-Jay

Oh and White's was FLYING this weekend, ground is super hard so rolling insanely fast.

Even with a 30+ group of stag partiers thumping around the place we came flying down.

underdog

Ended up riding Whites instead (missed signpost I guess ) had a blast, even had a trundle down the black section. Really good fun very much enjoyed it and can't wait to go back on my next days off.

matt748

Just got back myself. Rode The Wall and Whites. Great trails. We had a right laugh. Strangely (for me at least) the 4 mile climb at the start of Whites was quite enjoyable once the views opened up.

underdog

matt748 wrote:

Just got back myself. Rode The Wall and Whites. Great trails. We had a right laugh. Strangely (for me at least) the 4 mile climb at the start of Whites was quite enjoyable once the views opened up.

I also said it was the most enjoyable climb I have done, I didn't really notice it much, too busy looking about and avoiding rocks

dan shard

Im thinking of doing Afan in the near future. Ive done Llandegla Blue, red and black plenty of times and tried Cannock monkey once. I was suprised at how different the gradings are between the two centres, The black at Degla whilst absolutely briliant and my favourate all time place to be, isn't anything like as technical as the monkey which is graded red.

Id be interested to here how Afan compares to the two??

matt748

Sorry, I've not ridden where you mention. All of the routes at Afan are red, apart from W2 (black).
Of the three I've ridden, general opinion is (easiest to hardest): Penhydd, The Wall, Whites Level.

Matt

JustGoRide

I've always classed Llandegla as fast and flowing, right through to the black sections, its fairly easy going and you can ride it within your own limits. The monkey trail is the opposite as it has been built to be challenging with a lot of tight switchbacks and sections that need to be mastered

Afan is somewhere in between, kind of the best of both worlds. Far more climbing then the other two but the rewards come in the form of long downhills.

Afan is my favourite out of the three. Whites Level and Penhydd are two of my favourite trails.

andrewjoseph

Penhydd is closed for logging works, there are concerns in the area about some sort of tree fungus and there may be restrictions in place. if things turn bad the whole area will be closed to everyone.

underdog

matt748 wrote:

Sorry, I've not ridden where you mention. All of the routes at Afan are red, apart from W2 (black).
Of the three I've ridden, general opinion is (easiest to hardest): Penhydd, The Wall, Whites Level.

Matt

There was a short detour via a black section at the top of whites. Whites is the only one I have ridden but I enjoyed it very very much, going back this week to do the wall.