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News about Cwmcarn

Stevo_666Stevo_666 Posts: 56,828
edited September 2014 in Routes
Anyone seen this?
http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/gwentnews/11228275.Cwmcarn_Forest_Drive_____39_Nothing_has_hit_British_forestry_like_this_before__39_/

Article says the bike trails will stay open and according to the Cwmdown website the uplift will carry on - phew. Apparently the road closure only affects the scenic tourist route, but looks like the DH tracks are going to be a bit exposed in the not too distant future.
"I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]

Posts

  • The Northern MonkeyThe Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
    yeah heard quite a few things.. may stay open, but it depends how intensive the machinery is apparently.

    Uplift reckon they will have to run 1 hill for a while.
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • welshkevwelshkev Posts: 9,690
    Plus I've heard that due to the cost of the felling they might not have enough cash to continue the upkeep of the trails :?
  • Stevo_666Stevo_666 Posts: 56,828
    Hmm - didn't think they could just carry on completely as normal given the FC will be pulling trees down by the trails at some point. Hope that new Bike Park near Gloucester that the Flyupdownhill lot are building opens up on time (and is good)...

    Best get some CC uplifts in before November!
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • welshkevwelshkev Posts: 9,690
    from cwmdown:

    "We have temporarily stopped uplifting the new Pedalhounds track. Due to the uplift road becoming very rough, we have decided to postpone uplifting over on that side of the valley until we can get a new bespoke "offroad" trailer. This will take a little while as it will need to be designed, manufactured and then type approved before we can use it. My guess would be August ? So in the meantime we will continue to uplift on the existing Y Mynydd track. Sorry for any confusion"
  • Stevo_666Stevo_666 Posts: 56,828
    welshkev wrote:
    from cwmdown:

    "We have temporarily stopped uplifting the new Pedalhounds track. Due to the uplift road becoming very rough, we have decided to postpone uplifting over on that side of the valley until we can get a new bespoke "offroad" trailer. This will take a little while as it will need to be designed, manufactured and then type approved before we can use it. My guess would be August ? So in the meantime we will continue to uplift on the existing Y Mynydd track. Sorry for any confusion"
    Balls.

    I'm going there a week on Friday and I was looking forward to trying the new track :(
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • welshkevwelshkev Posts: 9,690
    Stevo 666 wrote:
    welshkev wrote:
    from cwmdown:

    "We have temporarily stopped uplifting the new Pedalhounds track. Due to the uplift road becoming very rough, we have decided to postpone uplifting over on that side of the valley until we can get a new bespoke "offroad" trailer. This will take a little while as it will need to be designed, manufactured and then type approved before we can use it. My guess would be August ? So in the meantime we will continue to uplift on the existing Y Mynydd track. Sorry for any confusion"
    Balls.

    I'm going there a week on Friday and I was looking forward to trying the new track :(

    you can push to the top in about 15 mins if you really want to give it a go. that's pushing up the trail though, I've only pushed up it at about 8am on a sunday morning, I'm not sure what it'd be like in the day.
  • Stevo_666Stevo_666 Posts: 56,828
    welshkev wrote:
    Stevo 666 wrote:
    you can push to the top in about 15 mins if you really want to give it a go. that's pushing up the trail though, I've only pushed up it at about 8am on a sunday morning, I'm not sure what it'd be like in the day.
    Probably hot and sweaty if the current weather keeps up. I've paid for an uplift so will just do the old track, nout wrong with that. Will be back Aug/Sept when they've got it sorted.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • welshkevwelshkev Posts: 9,690
    When are you there mate? This Friday? As in the 20th? I may try and sneak off work an hour early and grab a few runs :)
  • Stevo_666Stevo_666 Posts: 56,828
    Yep, this Friday coming (20th). Will be giving the YT its first proper shakedown :) I'll keep an eye out for you in the afternoon.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • Stevo_666Stevo_666 Posts: 56,828
    What Darrell didn't mention 'till we got near the top on the first uplift was that he can't go all the way to the top of the old run as it's too rough there for the trailer (as well as on the new track). So we got dropped off about 300 yards from the top in baking hot sun and had to push the rest of the bl00dy way to the top in full armour! I'll wait until he's got that sorted in late August before I go back.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • welshkevwelshkev Posts: 9,690
    Bloody hell he's not having much luck is he?!?

    But it is censored that he didn't tell you. That's a long way to the top!!
  • Stevo_666Stevo_666 Posts: 56,828
    welshkev wrote:
    Bloody hell he's not having much luck is he?!?

    But it is censored that he didn't tell you. That's a long way to the top!!
    Yep, not happy about that, I was absolutely knackered after 9 runs and got through well over 3 litres of water during the day - 4 litres if you include the cans of Monster I necked :)

    That said, I reckon he's getting screwed around by the Forestry Commission on several fronts - like building a new DH track without thinking about whether the access road was up to the job :? . He's got to shell out for a trailer that can handle the rough bits now. But he couldn't commit to investing in anything that 'till they awarded the new contract which was only very recently. Expect more grief when they start chopping the trees down - look like he'll be restricted to one of the runs at a time when they're lopping stuff near the tracks.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • Stevo_666Stevo_666 Posts: 56,828
    Has anyone heard whether Cwmdown is now uplifting to Pedalhounds? And whether he's gone back to dropping off at the top of the old track? Both depended on this new trailer getting sorted.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • The Northern MonkeyThe Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
    Probably worth emailing, I habent heard either way tbh.

    Although, the liftime of Cwmcarn is under threat as it sounds like they could close the hill because of tree felling.

    In other news, Y Mynydd is running sweet. Its properly cut up and the chicken runs are pretty much gone on the middle section!
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • Stevo_666Stevo_666 Posts: 56,828
    The Northern Monkey wrote:
    Probably worth emailing, I habent heard either way tbh.

    Although, the liftime of Cwmcarn is under threat as it sounds like they could close the hill because of tree felling.

    In other news, Y Mynydd is running sweet. Its properly cut up and the chicken runs are pretty much gone on the middle section!
    A mate already tried contacting direct but no joy so that's why I'm asking - probably not a good sign.

    Bad news if they close the whole lot, though I thought they'd be able to keep one side of the valley or the other open as they will be only felling in certain areas at any one time.

    BTW - what chicken runs on the middle section? From when you come out of the road tunnel down to the road drop I can't remember any chicken lines? Will be there end of next week.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • The Northern MonkeyThe Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
    You used to be able to cut out a few drops or take them to one side as is was lower (not that I did!)!

    Some nice cut up sections to clear after the big right hand berm after the tunnel..
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • Stevo_666Stevo_666 Posts: 56,828
    The Northern Monkey wrote:
    You used to be able to cut out a few drops or take them to one side as is was lower (not that I did!)!

    Some nice cut up sections to clear after the big right hand berm after the tunnel..
    I see what you mean - semi-chicken :)

    Cut up stuff should be a bit easier on the Panzer compared to on the Bruiser - looking forward to it.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • welshkevwelshkev Posts: 9,690
    I have a feeling Darrell is on holiday as I saw a pic of him on instagram in his camper in cornwall.

    I've asked a mate of his though and I'm waiting for a response, i'll let you know.
  • Stevo_666Stevo_666 Posts: 56,828
    welshkev wrote:
    I have a feeling Darrell is on holiday as I saw a pic of him on instagram in his camper in cornwall.

    I've asked a mate of his though and I'm waiting for a response, i'll let you know.
    Nice one, thanks Kev.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • welshkevwelshkev Posts: 9,690
    Stevo 666 wrote:
    welshkev wrote:
    I have a feeling Darrell is on holiday as I saw a pic of him on instagram in his camper in cornwall.

    I've asked a mate of his though and I'm waiting for a response, i'll let you know.
    Nice one, thanks Kev.

    sorry mate, I don't know is the honest answer. have you heard back from Darrell?
  • Stevo_666Stevo_666 Posts: 56,828
    AFAIK my mate has hear nothing back. Will find out on Friday for sure :)
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • Stevo_666Stevo_666 Posts: 56,828
    Update. Still no uplift to Pedalhounds and they're still dropping off a few hundred yards short of the top of the old track as the trailer isn't ready yet - Darrell reckons it'll be a few weeks yet before it gets made. He's also talking to the FC about getting the access road resurfaced but that will probably take ages.

    To be fair to him my mate hadn't bothered texting last week to ask...
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • The Northern MonkeyThe Northern Monkey Posts: 19,174
    Think there is a meeting next weekend to figure out exactly whats going to happen with the de-forestation. It gonna change Cwmcarn completely!
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • Stevo_666Stevo_666 Posts: 56,828
    The Northern Monkey wrote:
    Think there is a meeting next weekend to figure out exactly whats going to happen with the de-forestation. It gonna change Cwmcarn completely!
    Let us know if you hear anything...

    One other thing Darrell mentioned - he reckoned the tree felling was not going to hit the old track until 2018.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • wmorgswmorgs Posts: 113
    Just seen this on the beeb:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-sout ... s-29241545
  • Stevo_666Stevo_666 Posts: 56,828
    wmorgs wrote:
    Just seen this on the beeb:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-sout ... s-29241545
    If Forest drive closes then it's a problem for the uplift, whatever they say about the trails staying open. At least there are 2 DH tracks now so potentially they could keep one or the other open while the logging is going on.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
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