[Closed] BPW Full face lid required?

I've never ridden in a full face and I'm still a dashing Jimmy Nail look-a-like.

Need a picture of your head to properly advise.

No, not needed. Unless you want to, that is.

The trails are very much like CC or Afan, just longer, and less climbing. Apart from the black stuff, it's trail centre trails with an uplift, not a DH park.

If you have one, use it. If not a normal trail lid is ok. This year I took my full face and the only problem I had was getting a bit hot and sweaty. BPW blue's and reds are similar to parts of afan, but I would say its alot faster overall.

The blues are rollable stuff, but the reds have features most regular trail wouldn't though or would otherwise be classified as black.

Also generally everything runs faster, even the blues, and you aren't tired from climbs so you make take more risks. Come off fast head first into rocks and you might appreciate a full face.

The blues kick you in the air without effort also.

There's not much to be scared of on the Black's to be honest and you'll be missing a lot of fun. The blues and reds are not challenging - far more technical stuff in the Dark Peak

I bought a cheap 661 full face which has only seen use at BPW so far. There's enough opportunities to whack my head & face on things that I find it reassuring - the usual reason to not wear one (too hot) mostly goes away with uplifts.

You see everything from XC lids with no pads through to robocop impersonators though. Ride what you're comfortable with.

I've been a couple of times and still quite happy with the Reds and Blues to be honest, not dare try the Blacks! I've only ever used my normal trail lid but last time I was there I bought myself a Bell Super 2 lid as I couldn't justify a full face but wanted a bit more protection from the enivitable rock impact due to over confidence. That's the thing for me, rocks and lots of them. If you come off there then there is a high likelihood of a face/rock coming together.

For the same reason I also ride with knee/elbow pads.

I've worn an open face there a few times but after a mate went face first into a tree stump on vicious valley I had a rethink and wear my full face now. He had a carbon full face and goggles on and still knocked himself out and ended up with the side of his face swollen up like a balloon and one eye completely shut, lid destroyed too. Of course that could happen anywhere but he's a much better rider than me and as others have said speeds are higher than average at normal (non-uplifted) trail centres. So if you have a full face or can get a cheap one I'd use it but otherwise chances are you'll be OK.

If you aren't pedalling why not throw a full face on?

You'll still be pedalling on the reds and blues if you want to go fast. I'd still wear a full face though

Entirely up to you tbh, I rode all but a couple of the blacks (and the pro line obvz) with an open face, never felt like the wrong choice. If I'd had my fullface with me I'd have probably worn it but it's pedally enough to make it not an open and shut thing.

My first trip on the 2nd. You bastards have got me shitting myself now! I've got another window open on crc, frantically checking out cheap full facers.

Wouldn't fancy 50 shades without full face tbh...

In my experience it's more likely that I'm going to bin it massively on the Blues as they are so flattering that you end up taking them absolutely flat out. There's just the odd little detail here or there that can catch you out, a little kink in the trail, or a slightly sharper than the rest roller. Nothing particularly difficult per se but I think if I got it wrong on them I would be going down bloody hard so I wear armour (back, leg & arm) and a full face since I already have one.
On the Red & Black my speed it more like normal 'fast mince' so I'm less worried, if that makes sense?
I'd probably not buy one just for a new trip, or if I did it would be one of the £40ish 661 ones on clearance at CRC but if you're uplifting it why worry about being sweaty.

id say wear a full face, the more runs you do you get either quicker or more tired or both, ive been about 7 times, come off twice, there is hardly any uphill pedalling, and its getting cooler now anyway, so id say why risk it 🙂

Since I generally 'ride with commitment' at these kinds of places, I think I'm going to hit up one of those clearance helmets.

And thoughts on the differences between the 661 comp and the fly racing default? Reading so far suggests that the fly is the slightly better helmet.

If you're buying new and its something you will use a fair bit then i'd suggest something like the MET parachute or Bell Super 2R would be perfect for BPW. Also the Urge Enduro if they still make it.

If you're riding the uplift all day then a F/F makes sense. Don't worry about getting hot, its October in Wales...
A buddy has the Fly, rates it quite highly. And he falls off all the time.

Sounds just like me! 🙂

i tried the fly, it seemed really well made, and great value. i use super 2r for bpw.

As above, all the trails are fine in an open facer (isn't everything these days?), but the speeds are a fair bit higher than most trail centres. I've ridden in both and I felt far more comfortable in a full face.

If you're not getting the uplift, bear in mind that you're required to wear a helmet at all times, even on the climb, so open face/two helmets/weird hybrid jobby is a good shout.

It'll be occasional use for me, so it'll be a 40 quid special. I can't justify anything more spanky.

I tried a Fly Default on at CRC and it was really nice for the price. It's the same helmet as the IXS Metis.
Unfortunately, they've now sold out of my size 🙁

I swapped over to my full face halfway through the day last Sunday (mainly as the trail lid was now stinking) and it kept my ears warm as the temp dropped and the wind picked up.

I probably wouldn't bother to buy one specially for the trip.

There's no reason not to wear it it will all depend on how you feel and what you like. I'll happily ride in Morzine in my pisspot, but what's the point when you don't need to sweat it out uphill?

Tom KP

Having a mincecore lite riding style I've never remotely considered a full face lid.

Rode BPW for the first time a few weeks back and loved it, heading back in a few weeks. Felt fine in open face lid and no pads , but as I'm booking the uplift next time I'm mighty tempted by those cheap lids at CRC just to play safe. As has been said, the trails are fast there and the Reds are pretty rocky.

Awesome, looks like a trip to CRC for a cheap 661 lid for me then