Review for Dirt Farm, Black Mountains

Ollie:

Visited the BMCC on an overcast Welsh Saturday and was immediately impressed with how grass roots the set-up was, this isn't an EU funded, bring your family along for overpriced coffees and cakes whilst you ponce about on your Orange 5 trail centre. This is a DH venue - There's a field to park your car in, a portaloo, and a couple of tractors. And that's it. What it also is, is one of the best trails I've ridden. Whilst not as long as some of its neighbours, its provides a decent workout for both bike and rider, and this coupled with the tractor ride back up (and the best banter from riders) proves to be a memorable days riding. The trail (with its various lines which link back into a central spine) is a floaty, berm ridden beast. There's a HUGE pro jump line if you feel good enough, or take the other lines back into the woods with various drops to keep you on your toes. One of my favourite corners was a flat left hander coming out of the woods that just begged to be taken moto style, letting the bike drift out towards the trees. It could have better signage on the trails (I swear I took a line 2nd run that I never found again), but given the target riders it doesn't really need it. I rode it on a short wheelbase 5.5 EVP (almost mini DH build) and it was fine. More travel would have been quicker in places, but don't underestimate the speed in a short travel DH set-up around the berms. I wouldn't want to push up (even though you can) and there is no ride up option - More to the point why would you want to ride up when there's a tractor! All in highly recommended. Its not BPW / Afan / Cwmcarn and doesn't try to be, its one of a kind and that makes it utterly unique in the S.Wales uplift scene