Having been defeated by the real world challenge of the Doethie Valley we were desperate for some good riding on the last day of the Wales trip. Luckily we were in the perfect place to get it with a day that was lined up to include both the Whites Level trail at Glyncorrwg, and the Twrch Trail at Cwm Carn.
We woke up in the campsite at Glyncorrwg early having had an early night to avoid the rain and the most boring man in Wales, both of which were stalking the area. With the bikes in secure storage we fought the midges and were ready to roll well before it opened at 9am. This meant a start as soon as we could get on the bikes and a chance to grab a flapjack breakfast in the carpark.
Whites Level is, in the opinion of this blog, the best that the joint centres of Afan and Glyncorrwg has to offer. We’ve mentioned it before, but it’s always a joy to get onto the flowing climb and rise over the valley on switchback singletrack. It’s a climb that barely lets you realise you’re going up, keeping your attention without being too technical. At the top the fun really starts with a detour into the short black-rated area that mixes boardwalk sections with some steep rocky drops and then makes you pay it all back with a fire-road drag back to the top. After this the trail flows predominantly downhill over technical man-made sections, some nice flowing jump-options and one of the best contouring downhills we know of, with slabs providing drop-offs again and again. Last time we were there we did it in the pouring rain, and even then we were left grinning.
This time the rain held off until we pulled out of the carpark with the bikes loaded up, and then it crashed down in a display of lightning and an effort to turn the road into a river. We pushed on along the M4 towards the well-known delights of Cwm Carn, in the end outrunning the storm.
The weather caught up with us as we arrived at Cwm Carn and we elected for a lunch-break in the car as we waited for it to stop. As it cleared we rolled out on the trails which were scoured in places by the recent torrential rain. I’ve written about Cwm Carn too many times to do it in detail again, but it was, as ever, a joy to ride, even with the earlier riding in my legs. Tired, but dialled in to riding a bike the climb fell away, with every technical section dealt with well, and the chance to mix it up a bit by racing the top section (in conclusion the freeride route is either faster, or I am). From there it’s the usual plummet to the valley bottom with the added bonuses of ripping through a woodland tunnel where the steam from the wet ground mixed with the sunlight cutting through the holes in the canopy, and, best of all, rattling down into the carpark with the feeling of a tough day’s riding in your body and a massive smile.
Back in the car we cruised out of Wales with the trip done. We’d seen a number of sides to the country and some great riding. It left us wanting more and ready to go back, if not just to get the Doethie Valley ride right. It had also rained a lot, but in the end we had managed to ride while staying mostly dry.
For your own Welsh riding check out MBWales.com, or go and look for all the rest it has to offer.
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