This was a rather impromtu trip to Wales and the first time either Grahame or myself had been there riding (well apart from the Kona 100! and that was'nt really a recreational ride!). We decided on Cwmcarn as it's the closest to us!. After a quick looksee around the visitor centre we unloaded the beasts and started on the singletrack climb, not too steep but quite technical -- we did notice our apparant lack of technical abitity mainly because our normal routes don't involve this sort of terrain. On the climb the switchbacks were of such a camber that it was a bit of an effort getting around them, especially when the front wheel is trying it's hardest to lift because of the gradient and gear selection!
When at the top we stopped to admire the view - bloody fantastic is all I can say (oh and I forgot the camera :0( again). After a brief flat section over the peak it was mainly downhill or flat from now until the end and riding on nothing but singletrack was great we're already planning the next trip to Wales and perhaps Afan park!.
One thing I learnt from this ride was that my technical skills were, well shall we say -- lacking! and I don't keep a very tight line on the downhills. But by the end of the ride I had noticeably improved and my concentration was more focused, lets face it you don't have a choice when you've got a 200 feet drop just over your left shoulder!
The Welsh forrestry commision has done a superb job and I learnt an awful lot about riding skills - it was probably one of the best rides I've ever done. All in all a great day was had by all and I really do believe we'll be going back ASAP.