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We'll be on a family holiday an hour away from Dyfi bike park in the summer, the week before Hardline.
My 12 year old loves the idea of going, but I'm trying to work out if there's much he can ride. He's pretty competent, happy on most BPW more flowy reds and a bit of tech. Looks like Luvi Dyfi and Super Swooper may be viable for him, but I want to make sure there will be enough for him to enjoy, and equally, that he won't be a rolling road block for everyone else. (Although his trail etiquette is very good)
He's on a 130mm bike, full face etc.
Anyone had experience of similar? My gut feeling is it's a no
I have ridden there with a few different levels of rider, no kids but adults who were borderline red trail capable. Only you know his limits but if he is flying down BPW reds like AC/DC and Roots then he will no doubt be OK. The difference with Dyfi over BPW to me is that pretty much every trail has an element of tech associated with it wheras at BPW you can find flow trails that you can just roll down at any speed with little consequence if you know how to use your brakes. At Dyfi, both Super and Lovey start with slatey, rocky, entries and then sort of turn into a very rough version of a flow trail, they are so fast and so fun but as long as your lad has the speed modulation dialed, he would be fine. 50 Hits which is the big jump line (black) is totally roallable from where you join at the halfway point, only thing you need to make sure of is that you have enough speed to actually get up the face of the jump 🙂 I can't jump for toffee, I just roll it all.
There are newer reds this year that I haven't ridden yet and I think they might be a little tamer than the originals. Another thing to note is that riding Dyfi is as much about the experience of being there as it is the riding. Sitting on the uplift or having a coffee in the cafe area and you will be mingling with MTB royalty both past and present, it's just a really cool place to be. It also isn't intimidating, they have managed to capture a very relaxed vibe about the place.
Final point before I descend into my usual "DYFI IS THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD EVER" rant. Holding people up is not an issue, people are very chilled and as you leave the uplift vehicle just let the other riders go before and you will be fine. There are enough trails to spread everyone out so although it may look busy down the bottom, it thins out at the trail head. Thursdays are a great day to visit as they are less busy, but as you are going in holiday time, this might not be as noticable.
Enjoy if you do go, it is an amazing venue.
Can't comment on your lad but Dyfi is pretty chilled out in my experience. Just get off the uplift and wait to head down the trail last or if people are faffing just point out your lad is going to be ahead and keep an eye out. I only ride on weekdays there but always very relaxed.
Based on no experience of Dyfi and zero knowledge of your son’s abilities I say go. You’ll both have had a day at Dyfi, hopefully be in one piece and maybe buy a T-shirt and sticker as a souvenir. In fact will you take me too 😀
Thanks all!, really useful I'm not sure if day he's flying down ACDC/RM, RM is probably at the top of his comfort level/ability. He's definitely more at the flow stage at the mo.
@Rubber_Buccaneer is kind of where I was at earlier with him, tbh 😀 I think he mostly wants to go so he can get a t-shirt and tell people he's been.. my wife said she'd be more than happy to sit on the cafe with a kindle and then take him somewhere else when he's bored 😀 but no, sorry, no room for you in the car :p
I've been to Dyfi once. I'll be going again. I think folks have summed it up well. I only rode the reds. The idea of balking on an unavoidable feature on one of the black runs and tumbling into the abyss didn't appeal that day. Folks were chilled there with a range of abilities. Some rocking the trails from top to bottom. Others, like me, pausing after sections to talk themselves into the next bit. Once you've gotten used to the relative steepness and the way that makes you pick up speed it starts to come together.
Oh, and definitely this
only thing you need to make sure of is that you have enough speed to actually get up the face of the jump
On one run I'd slowed down to recover from some spicy moments and then I just didn't have enough to make it up the face of one ramp. No one was close behind as I'd hung back at the top but those who did see my ignominy were good humoured.
Dyfi have tamed 3 of their runs, making the park far more enjoyable now
I just didn't have enough to make it up the face of one ramp.
I had 2 occasions where i didn't make it to the top and ended up clinging on by my fingers as I slid down the face of the jump. One was my fault, the other was due to someone else in front doing what I had done previously, and we both ended up in that rather embarassing activity.
Dyfi have tamed 3 of their runs, making the park far more enjoyable now
Interesting, @weeksy, is it now more aligned with other bike parks?….I’ve fancied a day at Dyfi with my lad but we are both very average so feared we would be out of our depth.
Also good to hear it is quite chilled,
Just been for the 1st time on Friday and Saturday, the trails are graded as single or double red and single, double or triple black, all of the red and the majority of the single black trails can be rolled but as already mentioned some of the jumps are steep and do need a bit of speed just to get up the takeoffs. There was a wide mix of abilities on the trails but I got the impression a lot of people were happy to stay on the reds, and there's a new red opening from the lower drop off at the end of June. The trails and jumps are so well built it's the perfect place to progress and I was easily clearing stuff I'd usually bottle (always been more into techy stuff than berms and jumps) by the end of the first days riding, I'll definitely be going back