Twrch-Newport. South Wales

shx8000
shx8000 Posts: 222
edited April 2011 in Routes
Trail name: Twrch
Centre:Cwm Carn
Distance:18km
Climbing:300m
Time:1.5 - 2.5 hrs

Managed to finish work a bit early today, so seen as in south Wales for a few weeks, decided to make the 35 mile drive.
Initial climb is a real killer, very technical as well. Had to wind the travel on my fork right down (110mm-150mm). Freeride park at the top is loads of fun, but the trail back down is a real fast suspension punished :). My forearms were pumped by the time I got to the car park.
Well worth a visit, just watch your feet, as some of them rocks a very close, and bashed my feet a couple of times. Think next time I'll remove the big ring and fit a bashguard as well.
Says 1.5hrs-2.5hrs, but I was taking my time and it still only took 1hr 15min to complete, so probably easily done in an hour for those with average fitness IMO.

Comments

  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    shx8000 wrote:
    Trail name: Twrch
    Centre:Cwm Carn
    Distance:18km
    Climbing:300m
    Time:1.5 - 2.5 hrs

    Managed to finish work a bit early today, so seen as in south Wales for a few weeks, decided to make the 35 mile drive.
    Initial climb is a real killer, very technical as well. Had to wind the travel on my fork right down (110mm-150mm). Freeride park at the top is loads of fun, but the trail back down is a real fast suspension punished :). My forearms were pumped by the time I got to the car park.
    Well worth a visit, just watch your feet, as some of them rocks a very close, and bashed my feet a couple of times. Think next time I'll remove the big ring and fit a bashguard as well.
    Says 1.5hrs-2.5hrs, but I was taking my time and it still only took 1hr 15min to complete, so probably easily done in an hour for those with average fitness IMO.

    fook me!!!!! i ride it at least once a month and my best is 1hr 20...around an hour for whose reasonable fitness?!? :shock: :lol:
  • shx8000
    shx8000 Posts: 222
    Oh, maybe I'm quicker than I thought lol. Deffo only took me an hour and fifteen though. That included a stop for a little chat with some other riders and quick stop before the freeride section, just so others could get a good head start.

    What tyres are you using up there, I found my bontrager xdx's were crap for climbing, due to spinning on roots and rocks. Was thinking of using minions instead. I know they have quite high rolling resistance, but doubt that would matter given the rocky terrain. What do you think? Maybe even high rollers!???
  • Thewaylander
    Thewaylander Posts: 8,594
    Solo i'm back to an hour 7min at the moment on my 6" i could do near an hour on the old stumpjumper if i still had it.

    Depends on your bike as the time is made on the climb there big style.

    As for tyres in the summer a 2.5" minion on the front and a 2.35" highroller at the rear :) sometimes a 2.5 on the rear :)
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    yeah that's my problem is that i'm crap at climbing. that's my target for this year to improve.

    i use conti verticals atm, i was running maxxis ignitors. but tbh anyone who knows me will tell you i'm not really bothered about bike set up or tyres or anything i just ride my bike so i may be running the wrong things :lol:
  • Thewaylander
    Thewaylander Posts: 8,594
    The bi time saver for it Kev which is easier solo, is not stopping :s that cuts out alot of time :p

    I know you love a good gossip with who ever you see lol :p
  • shx8000
    shx8000 Posts: 222
    I'll stick the minions on for next week then.
    Really enjoyed it.
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    where you coming from if you're driving 35 miles?
  • shx8000
    shx8000 Posts: 222
    St. Athan. Near Cardiff airport.
  • Silversladey
    Silversladey Posts: 450
    shx8000 wrote:
    Oh, maybe I'm quicker than I thought lol. Deffo only took me an hour and fifteen though. That included a stop for a little chat with some other riders and quick stop before the freeride section, just so others could get a good head start.

    What tyres are you using up there, I found my bontrager xdx's were crap for climbing, due to spinning on roots and rocks. Was thinking of using minions instead. I know they have quite high rolling resistance, but doubt that would matter given the rocky terrain. What do you think? Maybe even high rollers!???

    1 hour 15 really respectable, The last time i rode it solo i dit in about 1hr 15 also.I am looking at getting under the hour this summer which is the benchmark for the Twrch
  • Thewaylander
    Thewaylander Posts: 8,594
    Lol i used to live in Llantwit major.. literally accross the road.
  • shx8000
    shx8000 Posts: 222
    Yeah, llantwit hasn't changed much in the 15 years I've been coming here. Gonna make the most of being down here, especially if the good weather stays :)
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    you're in the middle of cwm and afan, the wall is a good ride at afan if you fancy a change albeit with the diversions :D

    you just there in the week or on the weekend aswell? we're riding cwmcarn this sunday if you fancy joining us?
  • shx8000
    shx8000 Posts: 222
    I'm down for another 8 weeks or so. Off to Cannock this weekend, gotta pick some bits up, but cheers for the invite.
    My missus is coming down next weekend, she's just starting out, so Twrch is definately too much for her.
    Any ideas? She likes less techie singletrack, smooth and flowing, but with some smaller jumps/drop offs.
    I want to do brechfa whilst i'm down here as well as Afan.
  • miss notax
    miss notax Posts: 2,572
    shx8000 wrote:
    I'm down for another 8 weeks or so. Off to Cannock this weekend, gotta pick some bits up, but cheers for the invite.
    My missus is coming down next weekend, she's just starting out, so Twrch is definitely too much for her.
    Any ideas? She likes less techie singletrack, smooth and flowing, but with some smaller jumps/drop offs.
    I want to do brechfa whilst i'm down here as well as Afan.

    Up the road to the top and then down the Twrch descent? I did that loop loads when I first started MTBing - in my oinion the ascent is much more technical than the descent (where you can roll everything and take it slowly etc) :D

    Failing that, the Wall at Afan. Don't ride Brechfa with her if she's new and likes flowy singletrack!
    Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the number of moments that take your breath away....

    Riding a gorgeous ano orange Turner Burner!

    Sponsor the CC2CC at http://www.justgiving.com/cc2cc
  • Thewaylander
    Thewaylander Posts: 8,594
    Climbing the road unless ill or injured is cheating, take the pain... embrace the pain it's doing you good :P

    But yeh reccomend afan the wall for your misses. thats as flowy single track as you get, with a sensible fire road climb. Use the trail a bit if my legs aren't feeling up to much as it's relatively easy to spin round even feeling awful and the downs are great flowing fun :p
  • Silversladey
    Silversladey Posts: 450
    shx8000 wrote:
    I'm down for another 8 weeks or so. Off to Cannock this weekend, gotta pick some bits up, but cheers for the invite.
    My missus is coming down next weekend, she's just starting out, so Twrch is definitely too much for her.
    Any ideas? She likes less techie singletrack, smooth and flowing, but with some smaller jumps/drop offs.
    I want to do brechfa whilst i'm down here as well as Afan.

    Mrs Slade and I have ridden the Forest Of Dean at the Pedal Away centre near Cannop cracking little red route there.
  • shx8000
    shx8000 Posts: 222
    Cheers for the recommendations. Gonna take her to afan next weekend. I'll do the wall with her. Is it a green or blue trail? We're gonna be camping there over the may bank holiday as well. She can clean the tent and chill out (make my lunch) whilst I ride :)
  • Stanners79
    Stanners79 Posts: 81
    the wall is a red I believe, it's all perfectly rollable and you can take your time on it.

    The only bit which I can never do is the series of rocks in the graveyard section. Only about 15m of stuff but just can't get over them!
    Orange P7 2007
    MOTM on first appearance 10/4/11
  • shx8000
    shx8000 Posts: 222
    Cheers.
    Think I'm becoming obsessed. This time last year I was driving a Subaru impreza sti, and spending a fortune on it. This year I'm driving a bloody diesel van and spending a fortune on my bike :). It's damned addictive this MTB lark.
    Doing follow the dog and the monkey trail today at Cannock chase. Then tomorrow afternoon I'm driving back to Wales, dumping my kit off and off to Afan. Hoping to be there for about 2. Is the terrain there similar to cwm carn. As in, will the minions be better suited than the bonty tyres I have fitted at the moment?
    Thanks again.
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    the wall is rollable but if your other half hasn't mountain biked that much it's not an easy trail :?

    there is a new visitors centre up near merthyr on the a470 called garwnant, it has 2 blue 3 or 5km routes designed by rowan sorrell for beginners 8)

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