Review for Afan Forest Mountain Bike Trail Centre

Dan:

My first weekend at Afan/Glyncorrwg. We rented a house in Glyncorrwg so that was our base and where our days riding for 2 days started from. We had a 1mile ride down the old railway line to the bottom of the climb at Glyncorrwg. Great technical climb over rocky terrain that switchbacks along the mountainside. By the time you reach the fire road at the top you've covered about 2 miles of climbing. Unfortunately there is no releif as its then onwards and upwards for another mile of climbing! Day 1 we did some kind of hybrid of Skyline/Blade trail. I think alot of Skyline is shut atm for the windfarm so its only about 16miles atm but that was plenty for our first afternoon of riding. This route features the best bit of single track I've ever ridden. You get up to a fireroad at the top where some trees have had to be cut down and then drop into the deforrested area into berms, switchbacks and fast flowing harpack with a moderate downhill gradient which allows you to get some decent speed and flow - this then drops into the forest with a much steeper downhill gradient with berms, switchbacks, roots, mud, rocks and a rock garden before dumping you out onto a fire-road with some serious arm pump and a massive grin. Grin soon disappears when you have to ride the fire road back to the top - LOL! The route continues with some more good dowhill sections and a ride down a stream before you eventually take in the final rocky drop off ridden descent down the side of the mountain finishing where you started off. Day 2 we did W2 and Whites Level. Again we had the joy of that lovely climb from Glyncorrwg. Lots of technical red and black graded bone rattling descents before you pop out at the Afan bike park and cafe. We had a little play in the bike park before heading off to complete the route to the Afan visitor centre. Having ruined a tubeless valve (I can only assume I knocked it on a rock leaning over in a corner) and subsequently having 3 punctures when converting back to tubes I decided to invest in a new tyre that had better side wall protection than the utterly crap XC orientated Rocket Ron I had been running. I got a high roller 2, stans tubeless valves, enough stans fluid for the tyre and the guy set it up for me on the compressor (imagine trying to seat the bead ona mini pump?!), and 2 new tubes to pay back my mates for £55. I thought that was pretty reasonable and not much more than internet prices. The climb out from the visitor centre takes you up the escaltor before you eventually hit what seems like a never ending fire-road. Very thankful to have the granny ring to grind up this! Was just starting to get a bit miserable when we finally hit the top taking in some more down hills with a great little northshore section before finally finishing with a great run of single track down to the valley floor. IMO you need to be a competent rider to do any of the above trails!

Loads of trails Epic descents Great variety of terrain Amazing views at the top