Caerphilly trails (AKA Goldtec) Under Threat

Caerphilly trails are due to be bulldozed unless we can persuade both the Council and the Forestry Commission that they are worth saving. Send an Email putting forward your opinions on the matter to both:

fcwenquiries@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
countryside@caerphilly.gov.uk

This would be another great loss to the South Wales mountainbike scene and im sure there is a load of us out there that would be totally gutted to see them go. There is also a facebook group "Help save the Goldtec Trails aka Van Road Trails" Time to get involved and stop another awesome location getting shut down.

...Read more!

Dragon Rd3 - Rheola

Rd3 of the Dragons was back to Rheola which inevitably meant the end of all this nice hot sunny weather and the onset of heavy rain and high winds. Luckily the forcasters were a bit keen and sunday ended up being dry, although the track was thick with mud from rains the previous night. Being a cheapskate I missed qualifying and so only hit the sunday.

Getting to the venue I bumped into Ian Woodley from Hardtail Nation. It seems Hardtail DH has moved up a level since I last tried with Lee Husky setting an insanely unfeasable qualifying time of 3.43 which considering the fastest qualifying time set by our own Sion Whitecross was 3.25, is absolutely bonkers!! Ian also let me know that the infamous starwars was no longer an issue as the trenches had been filled in, first practice run lead to me confidently approaching starwars hitting a root and getting flicked over the bars towards a tree, ha no longer an issue!!

Lee was on fire again come race run following him off the start was going to be tough and I knew there would be little hope of catching him!! First run was a little too calm and in control but set a reasonable time leaving me ranked 3rd in hardtail. 2nd run was full on and absolutely mental, I managed to scare myself a lot on the top section but was hanging on. Reaching the gulleys near the half way point and my wheels got ripped out from under me sending me into a slide under the tape and down the side of the hill. The run finnished with a huge grin but unfortunately no improvement in time.

Swansea boys did really well this weekend. Will Soffe made the podium in expert showing some impressive consistency and outright speed. Sion Whitecross won Juniors and as ever is looking insanely quick and stylish on a bike.

Photos are courtesy of Ian, he also has a full report up on Hardtail Nation that is a well worth a check. I really enjoyed the hardtail scene at the Dragon. Its small and definately not as serious as racing a big bike but loads of fun with friendly competitiveness and a load of banter. This is how racing should be in my opinion so thanks to all the hardtailers making it a wicked weekend.

Check out Hardtail Nation its a new but quality resource for the hardcore hardtailers!!

www.hardtailnation.co.uk

...Read more!

Swansea Uni Bike Club - Update

Half the term has flown by already! I thought it would be a good point to post an update on the uni club. I think we are really set to achieve a lot this year and so far have had an absolutely awesome start. The more "pedally orientated guys" went up for the Student Hillclimb Championships on the weekend and absolutely rocked, taking the team win for Swansea. Pete Greenwood won the individual despite being new to racing and riding a mountain bike! Some serious props being handed out to those guys, that is some real bravery/insanity racing up a hill, from what I have heard the celebrations after were equally impressive! The bar has been set though and definitely a challenge for the rest of us to keep Swansea high in the BUSA rankings.


The Downhillers were also out in force with the final round of the Dragon held up in Caerphilly. The welsh weather played its part as ever to provide interesting conditions for the weekend. Will Soffe and Jack Malone were representing for Swansea. Will ended up taking 5th in the senior, we should see him dominating the podiums next season!

We had a club ride up at Cwmcarn the weekend before last which was a great blast. The riding was dominated by hangovers thanks to Alex throwing one of the best house parties I have been to the night before. This definitely left me Jack and Sion farely well written off for the morning! Once the head had cleared though the riding was awesome. CwmCarn definitely has to be one of my favourite tracks in terms of sheer fun. All in all it has a perfect combination of flat out sections, switchbacks, that tight techy black run through the trees and then of course the jumps. I think I have finally got over my fear of jumping a full suss, mainly thanks to turning the rebound up to a sensible level! There was some good banter going on, I have to say Monet winding Jack up on the bus was absolutely classic, I am not sure I have ever seen a grown man that embarrassed! The uplift service up there is running really well they were fully booked up and yet the service was still slick and we still got loads of riding in, well recommended.

...Read more!