The first day of March is dedicated to the Patron Saint of Wales, who we have to thank for more hills in Wales, if you believe the miracles.
We’re celebrating St. David’s Day with our pick of the very best of Welsh mountain biking. Despite being the second smallest country in the United Kingdom, Wales more than makes up for it with the second highest mountain and a variety of trails that is hard to beat.
Here’s Pete’s pick of the very best of his home country, Cymru.
Bike Park Wales.
Bike Park Wales has set the marker for privately-owned mountain bike centres in the UK, let alone Wales. Bike Park Wales has gone from strength to strength, and bar a play to lay your weary body at night, there really is something for everyone.
Sporting 2 Green, 7 Blue, 8 Red, 9 Black and 2 Pro runs, you’ll have your work cut out for you. Thankfully, there’s an excellent bike shop and cafe should you wear yourself and/or your bike out.
Red Bull Hardline.
Just like Bike Park Wales has set the marker for bike parks, Red Bull Hardline has done the same for pushing the boundaries of downhill racing. Dan Atherton’s brain child has scared the wits out of the cream of downhill mountain biking and driven them to up their game, while showing who can put the run together when it counts.
Truly one that needs to be seen to be believed. Hardline is nestled away in the wettest valleys known to Wales, high in the Dyfi Forest.
Rowan Sorrell.
It’s hard to overstate Rowan Sorrell’s impact on Welsh mountain biking and biking further afield. Currently a director of Bike Park Wales, but has turned his hand to a trail building company, smashing World Cups and races at home, building his own compound full of some enormous jumps, but more recently, doing a sterling job of smashing himself to pieces.
Rowan is currently recovering from wrapping himself round a tree while out riding in south Wales. Here’s to a speedy recovery Rowan!
Revolution Bike Park.
Revolution Bike Park in Llangynog, north Wales is another privately-owned bike park that seems to be on an upward trajectory. British Downhill Series rounds have put racing heritage on the hill and the tracks are certainly tough and long. More recently, the likes of the 50to01 crew have sculpted a chilled, big air line that has only added another feather to the cap of this north Wales gem.
Black Mountains Cycle Centre.
Sporting 5 blue, 4 red and 5 black runs, Black Mountains Cycle Centre is another one of the official jewels in the crown of Welsh mountain biking. Out the other side of a planning issue, this uplifted trail bike park is close to the English border and south Wales. Uplift runs from 10am to whenever darkness falls, so summer can see an awful lot of riding.
Manon Carpenter.
Yes, she may well have retired from downhill racing to focus on her studies but you can’t forget Manon’s 2011 Junior World Champs win in Champery with several crashes, her double World Cup and World Champs win in 2014, and taking the fight to Rachel Atherton.
Manon is proof that you can compete at the highest level in our sport whilst still getting the qualifications to back yourself up when the racing goes awry.
Snowdon.
At 975m, Snowdon is Wales’ highest peak, second highest in the UK, lends its name to one of the most rugged national parks on our shores, but most crucially, has a most excellent descent in the Ranger Path.
Snowdon is also unique for it’s voluntary mountain bike ban where between 10am and 5pm from May 1st to September 30th, bikes are not allowed on the mountain. This usually means sunrise or sunset missions for those who want to go when the wind is warm.
Nikki Whiles.
Cut through Nikki’s bones and it reads Welsh MTB like a stick of rock. Nikki has been racing bicycles and the sharp end in Wales since what seems like the dawn of time. Now on Marin’s books as an enduro racer, this former World Cup pinner can turn his hand to pretty much anything with two wheels.
Welsh Gravity Enduro Series.
Where would a principality be without its home enduro series? The Welsh Gravity Enduro Series has been chief proponents of the ever-popular mash-up style of enduro, keeping the racing fast and furious, and everything else chilled. Ride around with your mates until you start the clock, then all hell breaks loose.
The Welsh Gravity Enduro Series makes the most of what Wales has to offer the mountain biker.
#Letsavew.
Welsh enduro pinner and plumber Ajay Jones has started a movement behind Letsavew. From humble beginnings as a phrase thrown about with friends out on the trails, Ajay has started a brand, a sensation.
Not only that, Ajay has started a competition to win some amazing prizes to fund the Tirpentwys Trail Crew and their efforts. Check out our interview with Ajay here.
The Rest.
These are our 10 key picks, but there is a whole lot more to Wales and the mountain biking if offers than what appears above. You could burn a week riding all of the Forestry Commission trail centres.
There’s people and organisations working behind the scenes everywhere you look to champion cycling for everyone, not just for dirt merchants. Beyond that, spend your time with a map to link the bridleways of Wales together for some outstanding natural riding, and that doesn’t even include the countless unofficial trails that must litter the countryside.
