[Closed] Cwmcarn trail centre. What to ride.

Cafall is currently shorter and easier, as the top section from marker 26 to 35 is closed for tree felling (well it was last Wednesday, don't know if it's reopned yet).

Twrch climb is quite technical in places, however you can cheat and ride the firetrails to the top of Twrch to make it easier and save more energy for the decent.

Cafell has always been the longer and dragged climb, but technically it’s pretty easy. Twrch is more technical and quite steep in a few places, but takes less out of your legs.

I’d say Cafell has the best / longest decent that swoops down the hill in several sections - and there is another more donwhill orientated route off the top of it called pedalhounds which is quite fun without being that difficult.

Twrch has a more varied downhill - and the top it’s more like a bike park section of berms and tabletops, then there’s a fast singletrack k straight section. The final descent is fun - really fast and swoops down the side of the hill.

Twrch is normally the shorter of the 2 both in uphill and downhill - but I haven’t ridden Cafell since the current diversions were put in place.

of the two I prefer the Twrch climb as it is more technical, rather than just being a plod with nothing to occupy you other than the pain in your legs and chest. Twrch gives you a few bits to think about.

I can't clean it, certainly not in one go, (has been a few years mind) and you can swap between the fireroad and the climb proper in places, but maybe he'd enjoy the fact it's 'proper' riding and if he doesn't, get on the fireroad anyway?

Personally, I cheat, I make the climbs as easy as possible by using the fireroads / forest drive because I'm not into climbing 'means to an end' and all that, and ride both in a loop.

Makes for a 22k lap, 2 hours (strava moving time - but I don't stop much) all the good descents and the fireroads are wide, smooth and not overly steep, perfect for a chat.

When I was there last month a fair chunk of Cafall was closed - a bit which is basically a loop so you actually miss out quite a lot of climbing (Quidzilla etc). The descents at the end are great fun though so still worth doing.

As above, you could easily miss out the singletrack climbs, you're not missing much if you don't like techy climbs (if you do though, they're pretty good esp. Twrch IMO). Check out a map e.g. Trailforks to see your options. At the top of Twrch you can do loops of the "black" (no worse than any red at BPW) which is short but fun.

Pedalhounds descent off Cafall is great (and relatively easy for a DH trail) however it's a very quick way down the hill so IMO a waste of climbing effort if you're going to mince it down. If you're gonna hit all the jumps & drops though it's worth doing.

Depends how long you got! Ride both!

If I had to pick one I think it would be cafell as I think the downhill sections are better than twrch. Not sure as I haven’t been while closures are in place.

Guessing the uplift will be running Sunday? You could always ride one trail and depending on energy levels the other trail or a pay as you go uplift or two?

I also think Cafall is much better than Twrch on the downs. Plus with the closures to Quadzilla, rocky valley and Hideout the shortcut climb is much easier. There's not a lot to catch you out either on the downs, mostly rollable fun. The shortcut climb and descent probably totals 5-6 miles at a guess if you start and finish at the main carpark.

I also think you are going to Love BPW on Monday!!! 😉

Cheers folks.

My lad is genuinely acting like a kid at Christmas, he's so excited about bpw on the Monday, it was all bought for my birthday as a surprise on tuesday. Very lucky that Mrs WS green lighted such an ace father/son weekend, especially as she'll be running a half marathon sunday and helping the daughter revise for gcse's 😍.

You should have 4 new trails open at BPW by monday!! 😀