Nant yr Arian or Coed y Brenin?

Nant yr Arian will suit you perfectly I'd suggest. I enjoy both of the centres. CyB is a lot rockier and more technical, NyA has a more XC vibe to it, especially further away from the trail centre.

Thanks, Nant yr Arian definitely sounds like the best option 🙂 Which of the trails do you think would be a good choice for a 2 or 3 hour ride?

Once you have climbed away from the carpark pretty much whatever route you take will return you to Spaghetti Junction, close to Llyn Rhosgoch and Llyn Blaenmelindwr. You can pick and choose where you fancy going next. The red return to the trailcentre (High as a Kite) is a marvel. Try to time your visit with kite feeding time, 15:00hrs I think. It is very, very impressive indeed.

I've not been since Covid became a thing.
But in the past Nant yr Arian always put a big big smile on my face whenever I went there.

As Ambrose says, seeing the 3pm red kite feeding is worth going for on its own, if you're into that sort of thing (and it's certainly floats my boat).

I've a day or two hols to burn up this year, and hoping to use one day to go to NyA with a mate.

I think (but check) that "mask of Zorro" is still closed (has been for ages) and therefore you miss a great descent and the "leg burner" climb. Shame.

I'm avoiding going to Nant yr arian again until that is open.

You could head down the "reaper" but it's gnarly.

As above, Nant yr Arian every time for the riding you're used to.

If you can get out and do the full Syfydrin loop it is much more like natural trails once away from the closed in forest bit.

I've done it a few times and it always leaves me smiling. (We stay in a log cabin up the road from CYB and ride that a fair bit too but, prefer NYA)

Echo the above re: NyA, worth going even with the closures (if they're still in place). I like to knock out the full Syfridin loop when I'm in the area (28km, 675m climbing, 2.5hrs last time in March, according to the tracker). Feels like big country, and if you can read a map you can tie it into the abundance of existing stuff taking you over to Machynlleth (and even south to Rhayader and the Elan Valley).

I’ve only ridden 2 of the blacks at CYB and I felt battered after riding them either side of lunch. That was on a 170/160 travel enduro bike too.

The whole place is quite rocky.

Not ridden Nant Y Arian but I think on my hardtail I’d head for there - a few mates say it’s great

I’ve only ridden 2 of the blacks at CYB and I felt battered after riding them either side of lunch.

I find it takes a day/ride to get used to the welsh rocks, being from the midlands. It's the first two section that I find the worst (& the fourth down to the bridge?), all the rest is just look intimidating but flow pretty well.

I would also add Penmachno surprised me as being a fantastic trail(s) & maybe a similar travel time? Just expect to come away with very wet shoes.

You could head down the “reaper” but it’s gnarly.

Not 100mm hardtail territory, really. Well, certainly not for me.

Any closures at NyA tip the balance in favour of CyB for me. Last time I went the last couple of sections plus The Italian Job were closed, and it was a bit of a meh visit.

CyB following the Minotaur out of the visitor centre, moving onto Dragon's Back after the switchbacks, missing out the boring fireroad bit by turning left at post 119. Bits of it are quite bumpy, but I always had a great time on a 100mm hardtail.

I did 3 days at CyB on a 100mm hardtail back in about 2005. I survived and it was my first trail centre experience. I hope to go back again someday. It's definitely doable

Glad you said it @martinhutch, I was about to reply and say judging by the description of the OP's riding DO NOT ride down the reaper. You'll not stumble upon it by chance any way.

I was at Nant yesturday being local. I can confirm that the mark of zorro descent and resultant legburner climb are still closed. Everything else is open.

CyB is more of a trail centre experince probably, wider selection of trails and the skills park is considerably bigger than at Nant.

CyB is rockier and depending on how my 'flow' is on the day i sometimes don't get on with it, then other days i have a blast. Slippy in the wet on some of the rocky sections so that may change my recomendation if rain is forecast. But you will be fine.

I've ridden both Nant and CyB as a beginner on a 100mm hardtail, i've ridden Nant on a gravel bike with a kiddy seat on the back, think i might even have ridden it in the early 00's on a halfords £100 rigid as well. So you will defiantly be fine.

Kite feeding is at 3pm upto the clock change and worth either being down by the lake for, or half way up the first climb overlooking it.

CyB is rockier and depending on how my ‘flow’ is on the day i sometimes don’t get on with it,

Went a few weeks back and felt like it fought me the entire route. I have a soft spot for it but man, bits of it are hard work

Glad its not just me nickc! some days it just feels like its pummeling me.

I'd flip it on it's head - go Brenin before Nant. If there are closures at Nant I'd deffo go Brenin.

Last two times I went to Brenin I took my hardtail. Love it.

Thank you all for the advice, I've got the bike in the car and will be heading out to Nant yr Arian in the morning 🙂

My technical skills aren't much above zero so the trails sound better suited to me until I've had chance to work on them. I think I'll wing it with the route and see how I get on.

CyB is rockier and depending on how my ‘flow’ is on the day i sometimes don’t get on with it,

It used to be much more flowing, but they kept adding in completely pointless rock obstacles which didn't really add anything other than giving people with suspension something to bounce up and down on a bit.

I always used to ride all the trails quite comfortably on a hardtail single speed with a 100mm headshock fork.

Personally, I think they've spoilt it as most of the technical stuff has been specifically built and isn't natural to the surroundings, it also doesn't fit in with the other 95% of the trails there which are rock obstacle free.

In 2007, the last round of the NPS XC series was 5 laps of the old Redbull trail and most people were on 100m XC hardtails with 71 degree head angles and other than a load of flats it all went pretty well.

The NyA long trail (can't recall what it's call) is lovely on a nice day - much more natural and the built bits fit in much better with the overall feel of the place.

how did you get on?

I did CyB a few weeks ago with my son. The beast loo, aside from that pointless fire road loop halfway round.

I rode it a couple of years ago and the strava title I gave it was “wet but loads of fun”. This time, it felt like a chore, what I though was going to be flowing sessions with the necessary climbs was just a rock fest all the way round. I couldn’t put my finger on what had changed but I’ve no appetite to make the journey down there again. It was just hard work, the fire road climbs are plentiful but the effort/reward balance seems to be lost. Strava title, “rocks rocks rocks” sums it up.

Haven’t done the other one but Penmachno is a good shout. That’s pretty fun.

I've been to CyB quite a few time over the years, generally always on a short travel hardtail. Went back for the first time in 5 years the other week on a 110mm FS and I won't be rushing back. Was pretty brutal, I'd rather ride some epic natural stuff in Wales for a more "out there" experience.

As an aside, it’s quite reassuring to learn hear other riders’ views on CyB. I thought it was just me, my bike, or my mojo.

Contrary to some opinions on CyB, I love it because of all the rocks. I wouldn't want to ride it on a hardtail mind you, but I've a mate who does and he also loves it. You can always choose some of the less rocky trails there and the good thing about it is the abundance of choice.

Nant Yr Arian îs great too. We usually ride both when in the area. The long trail there (Syphilis or whatever it's called) is a tough ride, properly out into the wilds. Shame the descent before the leg burner climb is closed as that's the best one. Must have to check that before riding it again.

@davespike1981 i just messaged you ref some info if your able to help please 🙂

I went to Nant Yr Arian and decided to do the Syfydrin Trail. It was great but the back tyre started to go down by Nant y moch reservoir, I'm running tubeless and couldn't see any sealant leaking anywhere. Tried pumping the tyre up but it kept slowly going down so had to cut the route short and headed back via roads to the car park. Wasn't that happy but I really felt like I was in the middle of no where so decided to play it safe. I really enjoyed the bits of trail I did though although I need to get the confidence / skills to do the little drops that were on the trail.

I replaced the valve on the wheel on Saturday and found a tiny thorn had gone through the tyre that hadn't sealed. There was hardly any sealant in the tyre and I don't know what type of sealant the shop had used, it was really thin. I replaced the sealant with muc-off and put recommended 120mm in which was masses more than was in before.

Rode CyB last week as I was over that way with the missus. Dragons Back in the morning and MBR in the afternoon (on a mid travel trail 29er) The rockiness didnt bother me but Dragons Back felt like endless fireroad with some 'OK' bits of singletrack to break it up (great views though) Enjoyed MBR though, especially False teeth.