I've been living abroad for 12 years now and used to come back every 2 or 3 years for a few weeks, visiting friends and family in the South East. Generally I'd get over to Bike Park Wales for a few days riding.
I'll hopefully be back over in June this year, but haven't been back since 2017 so am wondering if BPW is still the go-to bike park, or whether there are other options that I should be looking at?
Things I like about BPW are
1. I can hire a bike
2. Shuttles - not interested in pedaling up. I'm on holiday!
3. There's a good variety of trails (blues to double blacks)
4. There's a travel lodge just down the road - OK accom and easy to get a feed and a pint.
5. It's not too far from London
Any suggestions for anything that beats/equals BPW in all of the above that I should be visiting? Or should I just stick with what I know.
And just to reiterate, I haven't been back for 5 years so it's not like I'm bored of BPW - just want to know if any better / closer options have popped up since I've been away.
BPW has added quite a few more runs over the last few years, so probably even more fun and play, everything else seems to be smaller, or more dialled in for bigger features, or the likes, but everything tends to be measured by how it is against BPW, so that kind of tells you BPW is still the main one that everything else tends to be measured against.
You've got a fair few around, but Dyfi/Revs/Black Mountain/417/etc don't really tick all the boxes you have against BPW, they're all good, but either a bit too far, too small, too specific or don't really do hire bikes and the likes.
Following (well i would be if there was such a function here ... ahem).
I was going to post something similar. I haven't ridden in the UK since a lap of Ladybower on a rented bike in 2000!
If you are down at BPW check out Afan and Glyncorrwg as well. You should get most of that done in a day.
dont really enjoy BPW myself but the list of things you like about it make it undeniably the best option.... if you could rent a decent bike locally id be heading to Risca/Cwmcarn instead.
ive not been yet but the only bike park that appeals to me atm is Dyfi, but that only meets 1 of the criteria (shuttles) likewise Revs never disappoints.
In terms of bike hire and travelling distance I don’t think you can beat Bike Park Wales for your requirements. I haven’t been for a couple of years but planning on going in June as long as I get booked on the uplift ok.
I like Black Mountain Cycle Centre which is similar travelling for you - but it’s a lot less commercialised with stuff like welcome centres / bike hire etc. It’s a more chilled out vibe and it’s a lot more jumpy / bermy with less trails / less tech type stuff.
Flyup 417 doesn’t really compare - much smaller hill / less variety of trails. It’s good if you’re local but I’ve mostly pushed up and saved the money vs uplift there as it doesn’t take too long.
Dyfi has a few trails but they’re right up there in terms of size / tech - and it’s a pain to get to in the middle of Wales.
Revs is meant to be good - but that’s even further North than Dyfi.
Biggest thing to note about BPW since the op's last visit would be it's now half day uplifts for close to the same price as it was for a full day 4 years ago.
Flyup 417 doesn’t really compare – much smaller hill / less variety of trails. It’s good if you’re local but I’ve mostly pushed up and saved the money vs uplift there as it doesn’t take too long.
Push up is now £17? For the day - which makes it a bit expensive even for me as a local. When you compare to other bike parks. I'd pay the extra for an uplift now.
In June, check the summer hours listed on the website.
If you are able to do mid week, then do so. Summer weekends they now split the day into two "2/3rds" days so you dont get as much riding in.
Push up is now £17? For the day – which makes it a bit expensive even for me as a local. When you compare to other bike parks. I’d pay the extra for an uplift now.
Yeah it always used to be £7 or £8 which made it decent enough value. Then you could do £15 for 5 uplifts on top which you could split across different visits.
At £17 for push up I haven’t bothered since tbh. If Windhill is still £10 I’d rather go and do a push up there I think.
Antur Stiniog.
It's bloody miles from London, which is great. It's got the best shuttle service bar none. And it's miles from London.
Did I mention being miles from London is great?
😉
If you've got a few days in that area then BPW ties up fantastically with BMCC and the FOD. They're all within sensible driving distance of each other and very complementary, they each do different things well.
(BMCC doesn't have hire though).
Thanks guys, looks like it will be a visit to BPW then.
Antur Stiniog.
It’s bloody miles from London
Ha, I might have agreed before I moved to Aus. Now a 200 mile / 4 hour drive is chicken feed - there's farms over here with longer driveways than that 🙂
