I'm not trying to beat a dead horse here, but all the threads I found are 4-5 years old, so I wonder if things have changed at BMCC in the meantime.
The initial plan was to spend 2 days at BPW, but I end up pretty knackered after the first uplift day, so I was wondering if BMCC would be a good place for the second day, if it's less demanding but still fun, and if the features are not crazy gnarly (We ride blues and reds at BPW, no gap jumps though).
Thanks!
If you don't do gaps then BMCC probably isn't for you. There's a few blue trails without proper jumps but it's a fairly jump heavy venue. However I would say it's less demanding than BPW but you generally need to be willing to jump a little, nothing crazy though
I'm a novice but found it steeper and scarier than BPW. Probably due to the limited number of runs.
Why not do it first and then bpw second?
We did exactly this a few years ago. Yes there are big gaps at BMCC, but there was enough to keep our wheels on the ground crew happy for a good few hours. We treated the day a bit more chilled than the previous day at BPW, not always rushing to get back on the next uplift, hanging out in the car park, having a beer and some food etc
BPW has more trails and more variety but BMCC (or Dirt Farm) has the better trails imo. And no you don't need to be a jumper at all, it can give that impression but it has absolutely fantastic wheels-on-ground singletrack, and lots of bits where air is optional. And not just in a crappy "roll over the jumps" way.
IIRC Tidy Darts is very jumpy- and starts off with gaps so it's not a "get down it" option. And Bompah has a pretty confused mix of features, mostly I love it for stepdowns and such but there's at least one big honkin jump that I just can't make anything of. But they're both black. And Full Moto is the pro line for jumps, just say no!
But there's more than enough reds and blues to fill a day- I love Well Oiled Weasel so much I could easily just do lap after lap, it's one of the best blues I've ever ridden.
Yes there are big gaps at BMCC, but there was enough to keep our wheels on the ground crew happy for a good few hours.
This is what I'm hoping as I'm booked for my first visit in a fortnight. Very much a ground-hugging rider (hence the username) but my mates are airtime whores so anywhere that we can all end up at the same place at the end of a run is good. BPW is a little but too spread out for our liking in that regard so they've assured me that BMCC is better. Revolution is the best place we've found for us so far, easy to mix up all the way down and not get separated.
I love BMCC - it’s more chilled a d much less commercialised than BPW. There isn’t much steep tech - it’s more of a flow style venue I’d say. Loads of berms a d jumps and a few drops.
I like tabletops and there are stacks of those - but I’m not clearing large gap jumps. So I avoid the blacks with huge gaps.
There’s enough blues and reds to keep me happy for a day - at the bottom section there are loads of options to play around on.
Timely this as I'm off on Sunday with my brother and (very jumpy) nephew. Was a little nervous about the jump aspect but I can do a bit. Will build up slowly over the day.
For those of you who have been there: any tips on where to stay for a couple of nights nearby?
Cheers
PD: For some reasons airbnb prices have increased massive since 2019...
gotta agree 110% with northwind ...
plenty to do for groundhuggers in a mixed bunch for 1 day .... I'd choose it for 1 day over BPW any time.
I'd also say the atmosphere is much better if you like "grass roots" type stuff over "disney theme park".
If you have body armour wear it .. if only for the uplift though....
Main difference is that BMCC is more better-er
Seriously though it has a much better vibe to it, it’s a bikepark for riders whilst BPW is trying to be open to all. Which is also great, but I prefer BMCC by miles
Northwind Full Member
BPW has more trails and more variety but BMCC (or Dirt Farm) has the better trails imo. And no you don’t need to be a jumper at all, it can give that impression but it has absolutely fantastic wheels-on-ground singletrack, and lots of bits where air is optional. And not just in a crappy “roll over the jumps” way.
Northwind can attest that I am both a very wheels-on-ground rider who is more than a little nervous when I end up in the air and that I have enjoyed several days at BMCC and generally prefer it to BPW.
While there's basically only one or two black trails I am willing to ride at BMCC, between those and the red and blue trails there's plenty enough there to keep me entertained for a full day of riding.
stevextc
Free MemberIf you have body armour wear it .. if only for the uplift though….
Hah, yes, a back protector or backpack is a massive bonus for the trailer. ****in tractorz though, tractors are ace.
Echo everything said above and add it's a completely different experience to BPW and all the better for it.
Speed and flow are the name of the game at BMCC. You have to let off the brakes, trust how well built it is (massive scooped berms), really lean in (feels like you're pulling G) and pump to get the best out of it! For a northerner like me it's a refreshing change as we have no shortage of awkward steep tech trails.
The roughest track there is experienced in the uplift trailer!
The roughest track there is experienced in the uplift trailer!
Yeah definitely don’t sit on the very back of the trailer with the bikes!
@spaniardclimber wrote:
For those of you who have been there: any tips on where to stay for a couple of nights nearby?
Cheers
PD: For some reasons airbnb prices have increased massive since 2019…
You could always stay with me. Just 4 miles up the road....
Oh, didn't see it, I ended up booking near BPW... Saturday BPW, Sunday BMCC!
Arm pump day 1 and shattered quads day 2. The best combo what a weekend you're going to have!
You want a 10% refund from BMCC for that bit of push up after the drop off point!
@welshfarmer aw no pe(s)ts! To be fair we wouldn't bring the dog on a biking trip anyway, duly noted!
What a blast the weekend was.
BPW was great as always, the new Pandora Rocks trail was really nice, and the weather was unreal.
The big suprise was Dirt Farm (AKA BMCC), we absolutely loved it. I totally recommend the place and we will be back for sure, well worth it.
As @chestercopperpot said, I should have asked for a refund for that last bit of pushup, in the heat it pays it's toll 🙂
Also, bring your own food if you're not stopping for lunch, by the time we finished the food truck had left and we couldn't have the lamb wrap we were longing for!
Broke my arm at Dirt Farm last week, if I'd done that at BPW I'd probably hold a grudge but I totally forgive dirt farm, after all I got to ride the tractor back down AND they have baby birds in the office
squirrelking wrote:
no pe(s)ts! To be fair we wouldn’t bring the dog on a biking trip anyway, duly noted!
If you were to contact me in advance I am sure a well behaved dog could be accommodated. I just find it easier (and safer) to not have them with so many sheep around.
Broke my arm at Dirt Farm last week, if I’d done that at BPW I’d probably hold a grudge but I totally forgive dirt farm, after all I got to ride the tractor back down AND they have baby birds in the office
Story time?
Posted about it in another thread, but, just slightly missed my line at the start of brown pow. Luckily there's video, or not luckily, because I was going faster than normal because I knew there'd be video 🙂
That's very unlucky @Northwind, the fall doesn't seem that bad, hope you recover quickly!
Ouch, that does look like you were unlucky, I've had ones that look much worse and only hurt my pride. seems slightly ironic that it was on one of the techy bits of trail there and not the huge jumps.
Heal up soon!
