Miss the Alps, want to book an Uplift - FoD or Cwmcarn?

Woody80

Back from a few days in the Alps and feeling that low when I look out of the window and the highest point is the roof of a house.......

Decided I want to get some DH runs in over the Bank Holiday weekend but haven't done much before so want to ease myself in. I've had a go at a run at the Forest of Dean (Sheepskull?) and bits of Stile Cop (Red Run, Ridgeline and part of Balboa), never been to Cwmcarn though.

Of the FoD and Cwmcarn, which is better/less intimidating for a relative newbie? Only using a trail bike (160mm) and not a big jumper so want options to roll if I can't MTFU first time round!

Majski

Forest of dean - less intimidating but just singletrack in the woods. Lots of runs to choose from but all very short. Push up takes about the same time as the uplift (or that's how it feels). Good place but I wouldn't uplift for the money.

Cwmcarn - Slightly more intimidating for beginners but more of a 'big track' feel that you may bet in the alps. All rollable, not steep etc. Rocky and aboslutly fine in all weather. Only one track though (with some variants). You can't push up as it'd take years so uplift is the way forward here.

Best place i've ridden upliftable DH for beginners is Blaenau Ffestiniog, nice length decent trails starting from very easy to fairly full on, all designed to be ridden on a 140mm bike upwards. But judging by the places you suggested I imagine this might be a bit far away

welshkev

i've never ridden the alps, but i'd hope that it was bigger and scarier than FoD

i love riding at FoD, but surely if you've ridden in the alps FoD will be childsplay?

Woody80

welshkev wrote:

i've never ridden the alps, but i'd hope that it was bigger and scarier than FoD

i love riding at FoD, but surely if you've ridden in the alps FoD will be childsplay?

I went on a singletrack biased holiday rather than true DH in Les Arcs. Did some DH runs though whilst picking up various trail heads. Didn't do any of the big drop stuff though. I've wanted to get into DH for a couple of months and the Alps has fuelled my appetite further!

Sounds like FoD would be a good days riding then. Was looking at South Wales as I could visit the family (ought to a couple of times a year ).

Blaenau Ffestiniog does look good from what I've seen. Didn't realise it catered for all levels though, thought it might be quite tricky. Sounds like its worth a trip though.

Majski

Blaenae has a lot of easy stuff there. The blue is like an easy trail centre descent and the red steps it up a bit from that. It starts to feel more DHesque when you get onto the black. All good fun though.

If you really want to 'try DH' get over to Cwmcarn over FoD I reckon

miss notax

Majski wrote:

Forest of dean - less intimidating but just singletrack in the woods. Lots of runs to choose from but all very short. Push up takes about the same time as the uplift (or that's how it feels). Good place but I wouldn't uplift for the money.

Cwmcarn - Slightly more intimidating for beginners but more of a 'big track' feel that you may bet in the alps. All rollable, not steep etc. Rocky and aboslutly fine in all weather. Only one track though (with some variants). You can't push up as it'd take years so uplift is the way forward here.

Best place i've ridden upliftable DH for beginners is Blaenau Ffestiniog, nice length decent trails starting from very easy to fairly full on, all designed to be ridden on a 140mm bike upwards. But judging by the places you suggested I imagine this might be a bit far away

I would agree with this

I think Cwmcarn would be my advice - nice, friendly and easy uplift and the trail is all rollable. Some different options too to make the trail a bit more interesting, and you always have the option to do the last bit of the xc trail too which is actually one of my favourites 8) As others have said it's also absolutely fine in the rain, whereas FoD can be sketchy as hell (I speak from experience here )! Not that i'm pessimistic about the Bank Holiday weekend weather or anything....