South wales routes

paulus69
paulus69 Posts: 160
edited December 2010 in Routes
Hi all,

I am relatively new to MTB, although I have ridden a fair bit on road. I am looking at getting my MTB skills up by doing some routes (ideally without roads!). I am based in the pontypool/cwmbran area so it puts me very close to Cwmcarn, but would like to build up a bit (its rated as red) on easier/less demanding routes.

I noticed there is the Crickhowell loop but not much detail on it, the MTB wales site just has a small thumbnail of a map with a route on.

Any suggestions??
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Specialized Secteur 2012 / Carrera Vulcan v-spec

Comments

  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    hi mate,

    i live in pontypool and i ride quite regulary with silversladey from here who lives in cwmbran.

    sladey's super fit, i'm a little bit lardy but feel free to come out with us if you'd like. i'll probably be going out next weekend.

    BTW, on the cwmcarn route there's nothing too hard on it that you can't just roll :D
  • The tourist information office in Crickhowell sell all the routes for the Brecon Beacons listed on MB Wales (for about £6)

    There is some good riding in Pontypool Park which will help get your confidence up, i would love to show you around but currently suffering from broken ribs. :cry::cry::cry:

    If you start by the cafe and cycle up the track under the ski slope towards the Grotto you can venture off and explore the woods there is plenty of UNNOFICIAL stuff.

    Also you could climb up to the Lamb inn and follow the natural track towards the Mountain Air pub. Then climb from the car park up a Rocky Road and you can either go right on to the top of the mountain or follow a track to Blaen Bran woods (above Cwmbran).

    Enjoy,

    I should be fit within a few weeks so i could show you a few routes

    Silversladey
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    The tourist information office in Crickhowell sell all the routes for the Brecon Beacons listed on MB Wales (for about £6)

    There is some good riding in Pontypool Park which will help get your confidence up, i would love to show you around but currently suffering from broken ribs. :cry::cry::cry:

    If you start by the cafe and cycle up the track under the ski slope towards the Grotto you can venture off and explore the woods there is plenty of UNNOFICIAL stuff.

    Also you could climb up to the Lamb inn and follow the natural track towards the Mountain Air pub. Then climb from the car park up a Rocky Road and you can either go right on to the top of the mountain or follow a track to Blaen Bran woods (above Cwmbran).

    Enjoy,

    I should be fit within a few weeks so i could show you a few routes

    Silversladey

    shit dude, i did pm you. have you broken them?
  • Silversladey
    Damn, was that on your off last weekend?

    welshkev
    Let me know if you are out next weekend... gonna be snowy all week though so its likely that Cwm will be closed again :(
  • Yeah. Cwmcarn boulders hurt

    I have felt good all week ready to get back on the bike, but the last couple of days have been bad i cant touch my bottom two ribs.

    I feel part of the club now my first real injury :twisted:
  • Yowch :(

    You had them seen to?
  • Yowch :(

    You had them seen to?

    I've tried grinning and bearing it but it is time to go tto the docs (1st thing in the morning)
  • craker
    craker Posts: 1,739
    paulus69 wrote:
    I noticed there is the Crickhowell loop but not much detail on it, the MTB wales site just has a small thumbnail of a map with a route on.

    Any suggestions??

    The Crickhowell loop (presuming it's the red one that heads into the black mountains) is 25 miles or so and not for the unfit and unprepared. Not technical but you'll have sore legs if you haven't done the miles before.

    I'd give Cwmcarn a go - it's good to be nervous, it's the overconfident who end up hurting themselves.
  • paulus 69 ---- where in ponty are you??? im in pontymoile. and as luck would have it my usual riding partner has bust his ribs (cant believe hes left me lol)

    im relatively new and still getting to know cwmcarn.... whens best for you to ride??

    Sladey
    take it easy brother and let me know how u get on tomorrow.

    welshkev
    if you need a replacement tempory till my boy recovers let me know im not as fit and not as good at the tech stuff but i try lol
    RockHopper Expert ---- (the bike not me)
  • Hi Paulus.

    The first trail I rode was at Cwmcarn, a bit of a baptism of fire using V brakes and Suntour forks but it's all do-able. The only thing that makes it red is the nasty never ending climb, which shouldn't trouble you and the many technical parts, roots, rocks and step ups which needs good bike control and soft tyres (I run my tubed at 28psi). I am still to do the whole trail without stopping a few times on sections, but have seen these done by my mate.

    Although I haven't been to all the other centres in the UK, after Cwmcarn I haven't found any red trail as difficult. It's a challenge which makes it rewarding. The up is definately harder than the down.

    Hope this helps.
  • paulus69
    paulus69 Posts: 160
    Thanks for all the responses guys, you all seem really friendly and welcoming.

    itsmygame
    I live near the wetherspoons in Ponty

    sladey
    Thanks i'll give those a go, i live near the park so its not far for me.

    adzsubtract
    Suntour forks and v brakes, your describing my current bike (a carrera vulcan)

    Before I join any of you lot I shall have a go on my own (don't want to slow you down) on some of the routes suggested. However what with christmas I'm not free now for the next two weeks.


    I'm really surprised how small a world it is, it seems the NP4 postcode is the centre of biking!
    Me on Strava
    My cycling blog
    Specialized Secteur 2012 / Carrera Vulcan v-spec
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    itsmygame wrote:
    paulus 69 ---- where in ponty are you??? im in pontymoile. and as luck would have it my usual riding partner has bust his ribs (cant believe hes left me lol)

    im relatively new and still getting to know cwmcarn.... whens best for you to ride??

    Sladey
    take it easy brother and let me know how u get on tomorrow.

    welshkev
    if you need a replacement tempory till my boy recovers let me know im not as fit and not as good at the tech stuff but i try lol

    yeah, that'll be good. i'm nowhere near as fit as sladey either so it'll be good to go out and plod along :D
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    paulus69 wrote:
    Thanks for all the responses guys, you all seem really friendly and welcoming.

    itsmygame
    I live near the wetherspoons in Ponty
    sladey
    Thanks i'll give those a go, i live near the park so its not far for me.

    adzsubtract
    Suntour forks and v brakes, your describing my current bike (a carrera vulcan)

    Before I join any of you lot I shall have a go on my own (don't want to slow you down) on some of the routes suggested. However what with christmas I'm not free now for the next two weeks.


    I'm really surprised how small a world it is, it seems the NP4 postcode is the centre of biking!

    one of my mates who rides lives in afon llwyd close :lol:

    try the ski slope ride in the park, ride up the trail that goes up the side of the ski slope up to the grotto, there's a really good down hill back down or you can ride over to the folly and then down. i think it's about 8 miles from my place (the tranch) but it's a nice hours ride :D
  • kev message me your number and we ll try and sort something out
    RockHopper Expert ---- (the bike not me)
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    [quote="The Northern Monkeywelshkev
    Let me know if you are out next weekend... gonna be snowy all week though so its likely that Cwm will be closed again :([/quote]

    i will do mate, if it's bad and the road up to cwm is closed would you be up for doing a local loop by me?
  • But Cwm hasn't closed, and there unlikely to close the trail. It's just road access that was closed this weekend, you could go round the housing estates and easily go ride.
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    But Cwm hasn't closed, and there unlikely to close the trail. It's just road access that was closed this weekend, you could go round the housing estates and easily go ride.

    yeah i know they don't close the trail, just the road. but i try and stay away from cwm on the weekends unless i go early. so i just do a local loop usually - which ironically usually includes the freeride section of cwmcarn :lol:
  • But Cwm hasn't closed, and there unlikely to close the trail. It's just road access that was closed this weekend, you could go round the housing estates and easily go ride.


    +1

    http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=cwmcarn ... CBkQ8gEwAA

    turn off the high street and follow nantcarn road, it runs parrallel with the forest drive and your there,

    plus it will be quiet :D:D:D
  • plodtv
    plodtv Posts: 40
    yeah make sure you put some electrolytes or something in your camelbak, mine froze yesterday morning before I even got from my car to the downhill bridge you go under on Twrch, which was a pain!
  • paulus69
    paulus69 Posts: 160
    plodtv wrote:
    yeah make sure you put some electrolytes or something in your camelbak, mine froze yesterday morning before I even got from my car to the downhill bridge you go under on Twrch, which was a pain!

    Why not use anti freeze, its cheaper!
    Me on Strava
    My cycling blog
    Specialized Secteur 2012 / Carrera Vulcan v-spec
  • Cos it's poisenous to drink?
  • paulus69
    paulus69 Posts: 160
    Cos it's poisenous to drink?

    Fair point!
    Me on Strava
    My cycling blog
    Specialized Secteur 2012 / Carrera Vulcan v-spec
  • are you free on friday morning kev
    RockHopper Expert ---- (the bike not me)
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    itsmygame wrote:
    are you free on friday morning kev

    unfortunately not, i'm very rarely available for mid week rides :(
  • kev are you about on friday morn? and or sat? yeah up to the grotto is it?
    RockHopper Expert ---- (the bike not me)
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    itsmygame wrote:
    kev are you about on friday morn? and or sat? yeah up to the grotto is it?

    saturday might be good, but it'll have to be early, as in about an 8.30am start :shock:

    that any good for you?

    EDIT* saturday is no good, i forgot i'm working until 5am friday night/saturday morning. i don't really want to be going for a ride at 8.30am :lol:
  • joshtp
    joshtp Posts: 3,966
    not really that near you... But I'm in Swansea.... all the lads that ride around here are pretty cool guys, Clyne is good at the mo, and I'm sure one of us would happily show you round out local stuff... Afan is pretty close too.
    I like bikes and stuff