Bike park Wales day trip, worthwhile?

cubedean
cubedean Posts: 670
edited September 2015 in Routes
I'm really fancying an uplift day at bike park Wales. I have not doubt that it's a fantastic day but is it worth the 8 hour round trip for a days riding?
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Comments

  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,484
    Yep, definitely worthwhile as it's a great place, but you will be pretty knackered by time you get home.

    We have a 7 hour round trip and have done a day trip from Kent a couple of times but usually drive over the afternoon before, stay in a B&B and have a couple of beers. Makes it a good little mini break. Depends on how strapped for time you are I guess.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • cubedean
    cubedean Posts: 670
    Cheers, realistically at the time I would be leaving it would only take 3 hours each way so not too bad.

    Hmm let's find a date & get it booked.
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  • Dave_P1
    Dave_P1 Posts: 565
    Another yes vote, well worth the drive
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  • tlw1
    tlw1 Posts: 22,163
    well worth the drive
  • Mattharrier
    Mattharrier Posts: 173
    On a slightly related note, is it worth a visit for someone who is relatively new to mountain biking and only has a low end (Rockrider 8.0) hardtail? Or would this result in me getting broken into tiny, regretful pieces?
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    Stick to the blue trails and don't let the speed get away from you. The blue trails can get seriously fast! The reds could be a bit heavy going on an xc hardtail, they are tougher than your average trail centre red.
    If you can, let faster riders on to the trails ahead of you so they don't get held up and you don't have someone on your back wheel.
    And if you stop, remember to move off thr trail. You don't want to get hit by someone coming over a jump or around a bend at 40+mph.
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  • Mattharrier
    Mattharrier Posts: 173
    Fantastic, exactly the kind of answer I was looking for! Would you say the same is true of Antur Stiniog? I'm in that neck of the woods several times a year, and it's even more conveniently located than Coed y Brenin, but I don't to break myself, or even worse my bike, and neither do I want to be getting in the way of other riders because I'm out of my depth.
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    I have only done the black trails at Antur and that was a race. Evil and technical but fun.
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  • dusk
    dusk Posts: 583
    I've done a day trip with 4 hour drive each way and I'd definitely do it again. Unless you're seriously fit then more than one day at BPW is a killer anyway.

    For beginners the blue trails don't have anything particularly technical, IMO neither do the reds for the most part. They're probably some of the best "beginner" trails in the UK
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  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    As far as I can tell the difference between red and blue trails at BPW is the red ones are a bit more bumpy. The reds are just as easy as the blues and there are no committing features. The blacks do have some do or die gap jumps with no chicken lines. The pro lines are a series of good size jumps but quite nicely built and surprisingly easy considering how intimidating they look.
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  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,484
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19677145#p19677145]Mattharrier[/url] wrote:
    On a slightly related note, is it worth a visit for someone who is relatively new to mountain biking and only has a low end (Rockrider 8.0) hardtail? Or would this result in me getting broken into tiny, regretful pieces?
    For info the two forumites that have been to BPW with me on hardtails both had to pack in early on account of shagged bikes (brakes/spokes/multiple flats). It's quite tough on normal trail bikes.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • Mattharrier
    Mattharrier Posts: 173
    OK, useful info - I like my bike the shape it is! :mrgreen:
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    Have the braking bumps got worse? It used to be fine on a hardtail.
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  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,484
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19701065#p19701065]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:
    Have the braking bumps got worse? It used to be fine on a hardtail.
    Can't say I noticed braking bumps on last months trip. Where were the ones that gave you grief?
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    Mostly on the black trails and in places where you don't need to brake. It's strange to be pedaling through braking bumps.
    Melted Welly had quite a few braking bumps on corners at the end of fact sections. Sixtapod had quite a few braking bumps in the woods as well, especially in front of jumps.
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  • Thewaylander
    Thewaylander Posts: 8,594
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19705282#p19705282]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:
    Mostly on the black trails and in places where you don't need to brake. It's strange to be pedaling through braking bumps.
    Melted Welly had quite a few braking bumps on corners at the end of fact sections. Sixtapod had quite a few braking bumps in the woods as well, especially in front of jumps.

    My fault..
  • dusk
    dusk Posts: 583
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19705282#p19705282]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:
    Mostly on the black trails and in places where you don't need to brake. It's strange to be pedaling through braking bumps.
    Melted Welly had quite a few braking bumps on corners at the end of fact sections. Sixtapod had quite a few braking bumps in the woods as well, especially in front of jumps.

    I went in October last year and it was all alright, when I went in March this year it was pretty horrendous. The blues were peppered with holes even though you barely need to brake on any of the trail
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  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    Yes but didn't you see the wobblers going down at walking speed and dragging both brakes? After lunch they get brave and try the black trails and complain when people ride up behind them at a sensible pace.
    BPW has also started dumbing down trails. It will reduce accidents for people on trails they don't have the ability to ride but takes out the fun if you have the ability to ride them properly. They even made the Enter The Dragon road gap tiny.
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  • Thewaylander
    Thewaylander Posts: 8,594
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19707121#p19707121]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:
    Yes but didn't you see the wobblers going down at walking speed and dragging both brakes? After lunch they get brave and try the black trails and complain when people ride up behind them at a sensible pace.
    BPW has also started dumbing down trails. It will reduce accidents for people on trails they don't have the ability to ride but takes out the fun if you have the ability to ride them properly. They even made the Enter The Dragon road gap tiny.

    I hate trail taming..

    But I think the issue in BPW is they have no chicken runs for a lot of stuff, always should be an option for big features this allows skilled riders to hammer stuff, and less skilled riders an array of trails with the ability to have a look at bigger features and chicken out if not up for it.

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