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What's open/closed and running well up at Afan currently guys? Obviously a bit damp, I get that.
But looking at Wednesday over there.
Anyone else welcome to join me too
Just in case we still have forum weirdness
Big Dipper, sidewinder, jim crow, widow maker all good, some logging going on at the top on that side so a diversion is on for the bit at the top there.
whites got about half of the boardwalk closed, zig zag, corker and bike park all good and the rest of the stuff down to the river too. they were making some little skills area by the bike park too, might be open now?
All riding well even though had some torrential rain just a few puddles, have a good day!
Was there doing W2 a week or so ago and the place felt very tired and unloved.
It was just after the heavy rain we had and lots of the drainage channels were blocked up (and looked to have been for a while) so there were lots of the trail acting as streams - almost as wet as Penmachno on a summer's day - and signs of plenty of trail erosion. It was still riding well but nowhere near as it was pre-pandemic. In addition to the closed boardwalk on Goodwood there was a few broken/rotten planks on the other bits, the Black option is closed too. Zigzag on Y Wal is different after the felling but running good, very rough but fun if you carry speed.
rough and unloved is just what i fancy 🙂 I've got BPW days and FoD day in the coming weeks, so a bit of unloved and natural is just what i fancy 🙂
Wednesday 2nd i meant.. lol.. sorry.
Hoping to head up Friday for an early ride - info is thin on the ground, Ranger Bob's Twitter & FB pages haven't been updated since the wild fires five weeks ago but caerphilly.gov.uk pages have diversions from Jan 2018!
Ranger Bob’s Twitter & FB pages haven’t been updated since the wild fires five weeks ago
Bob has been redeployed I think, he will still occasionally post stuff about diversions, but I don't think it's his Job anymore sadly.
As for Afan, I've only ridden The Wall, Penhydd and Blue Scar recently.
Penhydd Sidewinder was closed 2 weeks ago, there's a diversion around it, which is easy to miss.
Wall is all open, yes it's rough AF, there will likely be tress down too at the moment.
Bluescar is mint.
Frankly it is a bit unloved at the moment, the brilliant Afan Trail Volenteers haven't be able to work since Covid (I assume it's covid related) and, it seems at least, they do the bulk of stuff nowadays. They've been working on the 4X track I think as it's not NRW.
On the other hand, Cwmcarn is be lavished with Love, Cafal got a pretty decent refresh after more logging work, Twrch has some new bits and lots of the existing bits have been cleaned up post-lock down. There's even a lot of new trail that been built, and is in fact all bedded in etc, but there's been a delay with signage so it's not open yet. You can't poach it either because it's gated and covered with logs. It will be interesting to see where it goes, I walked around the edges of it at the weekend and scoped it from the Cafal side, it's quite a long section, even if, at least from afar it doesn't really make much sense.
I was on Blade and White's last week. Running great. No complaints.
I've never ridden Blade. Worth riding it over Whites?
Just been watching videos... i reckon i'll do Blade... 🙂
I’ve never ridden Blade. Worth riding it over Whites?
Not really, unless you like tough climbs, endless flattish sections, and boneshaking descents.
Then again, that's just my opinion 😉
Not really, unless you like tough climbs, endless flattish sections, and boneshaking descents.
Then again, that’s just my opinion
What would you ride instead ?
Probably White's Level, although I haven't been there for a year or two so I'm not sure what's currently running.
Ah damn... i've done Whites plenty... Although i must admit i've probably not ridden it for 6-7 years now as we've done Y Wal more in recent years.
In that case, why not do Blade. It starts with the White's climb before branching off, has some nice enough sections on top, and the final descent is fun if you like rocky stuff (and are a sadist, if you own a hardtail). When are you thinking of going tomorrow, and from where?
Nah, week after mate, going from Berks, but heading there on the way to St Davids to the MiLs for the day... i may even go back on the Thurs on the way home and do Y Wal as well.