[Closed] Antur stiniog uplift

Not been to BPW but have done Antur. Had a blast. I'm no super fast super skilled rider, but managed to do pretty much everything apart from the tricky double diamond on my trail bike. Wasn't much slower than the majority of people on their DH rigs so don't worry if you're on a trail bike - I think you need the skills to get the best out of a DH bike.  There was a wide spectrum of abilities from the sh1t hot, to the very good amateurs and the low skilled 'have a go hero's' like me so I started off really intimidated, but soon got up some courage and confidence when I realises I wasn't the only average trail rider there. Got a few pinch punctures though so if you're running tubes take a few spares, and bust a spoke or two but thanks to heavy and burly wheels it didn't cut my day short. It's completely knackering as well. Ended up packing up an hour or so early because I was beat.

You'll love it.

Id say the blues ant Antur are like the blacks at bpw. if you hit a blue expecting a bpw blue you'll be in for a shock. it is great tho, i really enjoy it there. just keep your fingers crossed its not windy. rain is not a problem there, but the wind can be brutal.

I'd stay they're all a grade up from the bpw equivalents. The blues are generally quite flowy but the top half is very pedally, would recommend doing a red then linking on. The reds aren't tooo bad but take it steady as there's some decently sized drops and rock gardens dotted throughout them.

The black isn't too much of a step up other than some big rock gardens which all have lines of varying sillyness down them. The double black is a proper track though that's above anything at bpw for technicality.

Also bring your own food ime the cafe is grim.

the trails are chalk and cheese

stiniog is brutal on both bike and body

the black powder is my limit and I enjoy that and prefer it to the red

they have plans to tame the double black as only 4% of visitors (can) ride it

I still find a trail bike more fun there than a full on dh bike which ive used both there

plus by 2pm at stiniog everyones had enough so you can keep going racing the uplift

19 runs is still my best

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I've only done this once, only the season it first opened (on a Boardman HT ... Somewhat under-biked!)

Has it changed / developed much since? Seem to recall there were only 4 or 5 lines down, have they added any more?

I quite enjoy Stinky Dog - it does kick the shit out of you and your bike though. By the end of the day I'm pooped - the uplift is so bloody efficient.

The double black is just about doable aside from one rock garden to corner to drop thing by a fence - I always balls it up. The black is good and I find it kicks me about less than the reds and blues.

I'd say it's a step up from BPW (although Fifty Shades is pretty good / hard).

There's no shelter from the wind at Antur,so best to keep it low on windy days.Recommend Full face,some body armour and DH tubes. Hard going on the body,so it's best to take a break.

I've ridden there over a 100 times, absolutely love the place,great cafe,good banter and testing tracks.

Enjoy!

I've been to Antur three times to once at BPW - I prefer Antur. It seems friendlier (staff and other riders), I could run the main red all day and not get bored. Sore yes, but bored no. I think the uplift is better too, but that could just be because its shorter. Cafe's fine for what it does, gets overstretched at lunch break - but so does BPW café.

I've not been for a long time so there's new trails, the road's been tarmacced since etc. But even when it was just opened it was really good so I'm sure it's better yet.The speed of the uplift road makes things much smoother than say BPW

Arguably the riding lacks variety, just because of the location, it's inevitably all rocky, slatey, and very manmade. But I had a fantastic time, and really felt like i was getting the most out of the place.

When we were there some of the group weren't too happy, not so much because of the difficulty/consequence but because of the way it was advertised, there wasn't the range of riding they expected- and I'd agree tbh, if you're not up for riding the full range of trails it could feel a bit short.

But it is ace- and deserves a lot of the credit for the newer uplifts since it really showed how good vehicle uplift could be.

I've never done BPW but have done Antur Stiniog twice. Sunday (very busy, not as enjoyable, uplift felt crowded), other time, Monday (much quieter, only 6 people  there, much more enjoyable)

I managed 15 uplifts each day which is equal to about 3,500m (11,500 feet) of elevation loss per day. No comparison between how much practice you get here, compared to a more conventional ride where you have to ride up the hills.

The Blue is easy to get down, suitable for beginners, not a technical trail, I think almost anyone could get down it slowly. However if you want to ride it very fast and get air on every jump, it is far harder. The corners (mostly flat corners) are hard to get round at speed, there are several (optional) jumps and even a double. Plenty of potential to get hurt if trying to do this run fast.

Two Reds  - similar to the Blue except there are a few sections that are techy, and there a few steep sections.

Black (Black Powder) - Much harder, unavoidable techy features, much more slippy and dangerous in the wet than the dry, for a novice it would be a challenge just to get down it at all. Small drop offs and optional jumps.

Double Black (Y Du) - Much harder than the Black. A novice would be walking sections, and/or crashing a lot. Intermediate rider would probably manage most of it, especially with a bit of practice / repeat runs. Much rockier, steeper and more techy than the Black. Several really awkward slate/rock features to get through. The trail also goes very steep, loose and bendy in places.  Some small drop offs, some optional jumps, and an optional 15 foot cliff drop, which seems to be the hardest thing here. If you avoid this however, the whole trail is rollable if I remember correctly. Seen plenty of crashes on this one when I watched youtube vids of it before I did it.

Make sure you have some down tube protection- your bike gets smashed to bits riding at Stiniog (cracked my Jekyll riding there).

Proper grim when it rains due to the exposed location.

Absolute brilliant place though.

I'm a real mincer and I found it pretty easy but tons of fun. Other than the mad double black, it's all really flowy and there was nothing that fazed me. It's really well built and as someone who doesn't feel comfortable with wheels off the ground, I was jumping for fun down there and clearing doubles with ease. We did it in the height of summer but I can imagine it being a different proposition in the wet.

stiniog is brutal on both bike and body

Yes.

There’s no shelter from the wind at Antur

Uh-huh

Arguably the riding lacks variety, just because of the location, it’s inevitably all rocky, slatey, and very manmade.

Not an unfair comment

Great uplift, genuinely friendly crew and an impressive achievement to have got the place set up there. Personally I like riding in the trees, but there's fun to be had.

https://m.pinkbike.com/videMo/436025/

Here's footage of my son at Anur,,mixture of tracks in the video,that shows what to expect there.

Brilliant! Proud Dad moments!

Off to check pricing on the Commie!

Here’s footage of my son at Anur,,mixture of tracks in the video,that shows what to expect there.

Humiliation, by the looks of it 🙂

Wow, what a composed and fearless rider he is.

I've been to Antur Stiniog a few times,luckily the weather was dry each time we went,

As a middle aged mincer I really enjoyed it,so different from what I usually ride.I'm not one of the 'Rad' crowd but I enjoyed getting my wheels off the ground there.I only do the blues & reds and I find them really enjoyable.

I've seen a few people get cut up on the slate when they've fell off,the terrain's not very 'bounce friendly'.

I'll spend a day there again this Summer.

Cheers for the info guys👍

Time to dig out the full face I reckon...

yep, full face a good idea at Antur great place. Echo all the comments above, at first quite intimidating, but after a while when you've got your eye in, it's heaps of fun.

It's an awesome place, however if the forecast predicts high winds then don't bother, last time on a 40lbs dh bike and I ended up having to pedal downhill that day.

A definite type 2 day

I like Antur, would echo the above comments regarding trail grading . The black is my favourite run there as it still fairly flowy if you stay loose and you don't have to try too hard unlike the double black.

DH tyres and tubes are order of the day and a couple of extra psi in them wouldn't go amiss. I managed to snap my mech hanger last visit (2nd run) and had to spend the rest of the day freewheeling down.

I've done 30 runs there with a Butcher Grid and Slaughter Grid tyres and never had a puncture. I've got a DH tyre with Double Down casing but never even bothered putting it on for AS.

Anyway, Elbow Pads, Knee Pads and Full Face helmet are recommended just to make it more "forgiving" if you make a mistake. There is no reason not to wear them, because there is hardly any climbing to do.

Anyway if you haven't been to AS yet,  this vid is worth watching:

Plus the follow up:

I found these to be more appropriate for me than watching some pro expert fly down all the runs at mega speed, gave more of an impression of what it's really like if your not that great