Trail conditions - Cwmcarn, Yer Tiz, Hopton Woods

mountaingoatimnot
mountaingoatimnot Posts: 185
edited November 2012 in Routes
OK, that's a diverse selection but i have the next two days off with my 10 year old, so we want to do one day in S.E. Wales/Bristol area and another in East Mid Wales as this ties up with another appointment Wednesday.

We normally ride the FoD, needing a bit of a change and having stopped by there today it looked a bit muddy judging by the brown riders at the cafe !!

So tomorrow I'm thinking either go west a little to Cwmcarn Twrch (30 minutes drive) or east to Yer Tiz/Leigh Woods

Wednesday I'm hoping for the XC in Hopton Woods, unless someones says Eastridge drains better.


So if you rode any of these recently , please give me the lowdown on trail conditions :shock: :? :lol:

Thanks

Comments

  • The Northern Monkey
    The Northern Monkey Posts: 19,136
    twrch drains well.. Pretty much zero puddles or mud on Sunday
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • mountaingoatimnot
    mountaingoatimnot Posts: 185
    Many thanks, looks like cwmcarn is a good bet then
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    yeah, as ben said. they'll be a few puddles but there's hardly ever any gloopy mud there it rolls well all year round :D
  • mountaingoatimnot
    mountaingoatimnot Posts: 185
    Thanks guys

    We dropped by this afternoon and did the Twrch

    Trail conditions were as you said, quite a few 3-6" deep puddles dotted along the whole trial but the rest was pretty good, certainly no boggy sections like the Verderer's Trail at FoD. There are some deep ruts in several sections from wear n tear and rain torrents, which make some of the singletrack very narrow, but we managed to keep the pedals away from the sides ;)

    First time round Twrch, enjoyed it a lot although we under estimated the amount of climbing (even after reading the guide books warnings !), and after 6-8 weeks without a ride it was tough going (certainly harder than the red at FoD ). But once up at the top we had a hoot on the downhill sections, and it was nice to feel the bike moving around controllably underneath me (something i struggle to do at FoD in drier conditions). And just got back to the cafe for a well earned coffee before they closed up for the day.
  • The Northern Monkey
    The Northern Monkey Posts: 19,136
    ha... climbing is tough for us locals that ride it most weekends :lol:

    Actually, I haven't done the main climbs in ages, I tend to bypass them on the fire road!
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    The Northern Monkey wrote:
    ha... climbing is tough for us locals that ride it most weekends :lol:

    Actually, I haven't done the main climbs in ages, I tend to bypass them on the fire road!

    No we don't Ben we nail that climb every time... Ahem :oops:
  • mountaingoatimnot
    mountaingoatimnot Posts: 185
    There's a lot to be said for parking on one of the mid/upper car parks on the Forest drive...

    > enjoy the downhill sections to the max
    > have a coffee and bite to eat
    > and then ride back up the tarmac road ;)
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    Or just ride over from my house :)
  • The Northern Monkey
    The Northern Monkey Posts: 19,136
    Or get the bus up to the top of Airstream... not that I did that at the weekend at all :wink:
    Santa Cruz Butcher

Categories