[Closed] Cardiff tech trails

Machen and Whylie are probably the most technical we ride due to steepness but there's plenty of trails around Fforest Fawr, Caerphilly Mountain and Draethen as well as the odd bit off the Ridgeway linking them.

You go south from the top of Machen Mountain?

Are the trails clear again after the felling?

South yeah. Not been since the felling but heard there's some stuff clear again. Whylie has lots to have a go at too.

Drop of death is just by the bottom of the cable climb. Not really very tecnical, just a very steep few seconds of complete terror 😨😨

Some good technica stuff in the woods beyond the Maenllwyd. Ask James about Garlic lane 😂

Drop of death

That's the steep thing with the large beech tree half way up? Never tried it myself, but now it's dry and I have some good tyres on the Patriot it might be worth a try.  Looks terrifying at the top as you stare into the crown of that big tree.

Yeah that's what refering to as Draethen as I don't know the name of the woods.

All the steep stuff in there is riding great at the moment... Bit less intense than in the slop of winter (any other point in recent history).

The one with the downed tree is not bad at the moment. Enough grip to allow for some front wheel braking.

I think James (Saxonrider) did Garlic Lane either on his arse or carrying the bike😂

There are a few versions of Garlic Lane over the Maen area - it’s like a warren of trails in that little wood.

I did a few new trails behind Wernddu and Rudry on the cx bike last week - not particularly steep like typical technical Machen/Wyllie trails ... but they flow nicely.

The Drop of Death has eroded to the point it’s lost its previous gradient ... previously in dry conditions and good brakes you were still skimming down there; I did it on cx last year ... your able to actually brake and slow yourself down now.

had some fun watching Taxi25 descending that few years ago😂

Indeed 😬😬

I was never comfortable doing it no matter how many times we went down. Went and had a look at it Tuesday, and thats all I did look 😖

If the Drop of Death is where I think it is, there are some more twisty trails down that slope to the East.  One you turn left at the top of DOD <span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">and go along the top of the steep for a bit then it dives down the slope, there is another which is an indistinct right off the singletrack that leaves and re-joins the forest road further along towards the Maenllwyd.</span>

There is some interesting stuff in the woods to the North/West of Cefn Carnau Lane off Caerphlly mountain.

Anyone fancy a tech day out?

Yep, up for a tech ride. I've ridden Wyllie and some of the stuff around Risca and Ponty but keen to explore more.

Depending on dates, would you mind if a few of us from Swansea joined you?

I''m up for a ride if I can make the date.

Possibly

Would be up for it.

Always up for a local explore if I can make it.

I was thinking a weekend soon, whilst it's dry (ish).  Preferably get as many people who know as many secrets as possible so we can share?  All welcome IdleJon.

Might not be able to link up Rudry/Machen stuff as well as Risca - bit far, depending on how much time we have.  But could maybe drive up there?

I'll be free the 19th maybe, not sure about the bank holiday, but the weekend after that should be good.

Also mooman - if you come I promise I will not mention the B word 🙂

I'm keen if free . . . though ambitions for a dry ride might be a bit late!

I not best person to lead ride nowadays - I not know them all anymore; the mtb been sitting idle in garage for quite some time.

i do however have a couple mates who will know what’s hidden away around here who could be pursuaded to lead.

molgrip - I am happy to give my opinions on just about anything; but the B topic is old and quite frankly embarrassing to discuss in public nowadays though ... it practically wearing a mullet and flared corduroys.

Mooman, the more the better I think, that way we can learn more secrets...

I'd also be up for this depending on the date. I could do with finding out about some more trails around here.

Would also be up for the trail maintenence you mentioned the other day, can't find the thread now.

Good stuff folks.

I'm riding 2-3 times a week locally, usually in the afternoons inc weekends, so I'll go with anyone - I don't know all the trails but I know quite a few.

I'm thinking the trail maintenance will be after work one evening next week.

I’m up for a meet. I usually ride Castell Coch, Pentyrch Quarry and the Garth. A couple of very steep techy trails have opened up and I was eating dirt a couple of weeks ago!

Ah, I don't know the Garth or the Quarry very well.

Just found the longest continuous section of sweet man-made singletrack in the woods behind the Maenllwyd.  Went on for ages, and I saw loads more too.  Someone's been busy.  There's also a proper trail from the entry to the woods down parallel to the access road.

Second one sounds like Fenceline. It's a great trail.

There's tonnes of stuff in there. We ride regularly and still finding stuff we've not done before.

I think James (Saxonrider) did Garlic Lane either on his arse or carrying the bike

A bit of both, actually, but mostly my arse. I’ve just seen this thread. I can’t believe my ears weren’t burning. Careful now, though, I can do more stuff on my b+ than I could on the old Fisher. 😉

Second one sounds like Fenceline. It’s a great trail.

Fenceline would surely be the one that starts with a C painted on a post, keeps the fence to the quarry on your left?

I was talking about the one that runs parallel to the tarmac dead end road.

Anyone want to come out and play this afternoon?

I`m about after 1pm today

Watch this thread then, I'll check in here. Probably two or two thirty. Where you riding from mooman?

Actually, might need to take the kids out first, so maybe three or three thirty.

Caerphilly - close to Van road jumps.

I shall be back home about 12.30-ish .. will look here before I head out.

Roger that

Off out now - will have to make another time.

Anyone else? Not gone yet.

Couple more trips to Llwyn Hir (the actual name of the woods by Maenllwyd).

Miles and miles of trails, like a flippin trail center in there in places.  Reminds me of the old Swinley with elevation.  Bit greasy in the wet mind, watch those roots.

Smilog is superb, shortish climb and loads of techy trails all levels. As close to Cardiff as Wylie or Machen.

There's a cool little descent off the ridge that cable run is on, "fiddlers corner" or something on Strava. Maenllwyd side of cable run on the south side of the hill, takes some finding. Short enough and not too arduous a climb so you can session it if that pleases you.

There’s a cool little descent off the ridge that cable run is on, “fiddlers corner” or something on Strava

Found that on Strava.  Ridden very close to it hundreds of times but never seen it.  Isn't that where the wartime bunker is?

Smilog is superb, shortish climb and loads of techy trails all levels. As close to Cardiff as Wylie or Machen.

From the West maybe, it's a half hour drive from me 🙂

Anyone have a chainsaw?

There's a tree down on the top of the Cefn-Onn descent aka Tennis Courts.  You have to crawl under it and drag your bike, it's a bit like potholing.

Anyone fancy riding some of these trails tomorrow? I know Machen a bit, and Wiley, but not the other stuff.