ANTUR STINIOG

Mountainbiking’s past rolls through into present and future.

There’s another. It’s still many months before many of us leave for the higher pastures and braking bumps of the Alps. Up until recently the British downhiller has weathered on the south Wales slopes. Classics such as Mynydd Ddu, Gethin (Bike Park Wales in future), Rheola or Cwmcarn. It could be argued that the last decade has slowly seen a shift of focus north – Moelfre, Nant Gwrtheyrn, Bala and Llangollen stick in the mind more than the south Wales coalfield challenges of which the Dragon downhill series launched the first upliftable series on man’s tracks. But whatever the direction, Wales north, south or central is very much the proving grounds. And there’s money in two wheels.

The standard of terrain in north Wales is unquestionably world class. Little doubt that some of the topography used by the ‘Famous Five’ (or Atherton Racing as it was once known) is an ultimate test for many riders, yet out of bounds for most.

But more of that later, because really there’s something for everyone in this land of jagged peaks and swirling mist. And it comes in the strangest of places. Blaenau Ffestiniog, who’d have thought that these dark streets where men in dark wool suits, ruddied of hew and always on foot, would have been replaced by the ubiquitous VW T5 and Troy Lee.

South and west facing, the lower slopes of Moel Bowydd offer an excuse for anyone with an appetite for slashing some turns, an unparalleled environment in which to rip down a proper hillside. Immerse yourself in amongst some majestic views; lose yourself in a warren of twists and turns, before piling in to pie and chips and a night on the town you’re likely never to forget.

But how long before we see bigger rides linking in to Nant Gwynant to the north or Coed y Brenin to the south. It’s more than likely that with a bit of vision and Euros that Blaenau becomes the hub of everything two wheel. It has the infrastructure, now it needs those ancient beads opened up to offer a foil to Antur’s gravity. Even on the wettest day dullest day in Blaenau you can ride some killer singletrack.

ADRIAN ‘BUD’ BRADLEY AT ANTUR STINIOG

My story? Adrian Bradley aka Bud. 41 years young, swapped protein shakes for bikes in the mid 90’s and not looked back since! Been racing DH for around 10 years, can’t get enough of it, had a few podiums along the way – won the Welsh and English Champs in 2011, and third in the Nat Champs with a crash! A bad injury in 2012, so I didn’t ride all last year, back on it now for this year.

Lived in Blaenau Ffestiniog all my life, worked in a slate quarry since I was 17, ended up managing it for six years. I now manage the Antur Stiniog MTB Centre and couldn’t be happier.

Ffestiniog is a great base for riders with Coed y Brenin, the Marin, Penmachno all within 15 minutes of Blaenau, and Llandegla only 45 minutes away.

There seems to be a lot more MTB’ers up North, or down South, I think mid Wales is more of a motorbike enduro heartland than DH territory. Just an opinion.

Blaenau is a great place, as I am sure Merthyr is, both have suffered social and economic problems in the past, but I have already seen the positive impact the bikers have had on Blaenau’s economy and things will only improve when more and more visit the area.

We have had groups of riders (10–20 strong) have a great night out here and integrated well with the locals with no problems, even getting away with calling the locals bro’ and dude! Happy days.

It is a unique venue, a mix of hardpack trails and gnarly rocks, but it also a great place to learn and improve your riding. We have four trails at present (with planning for another two) and there is a good progression to be made from Blue trail to Red, Red trail to Black and so on. So we cater for everybody, from trail centre boys to full on DHers. It is also the best all–weather track in the UK, and rides well in the wet, and more importantly it drains well in no time. It is a testament to the great work from track builder Mei Black from Xtreme Track, and Simon Williams from Antur Stiniog, who has been involved from day one on the project.

We have been open now for six months, and the trails are coping well with the crazy weather we have experienced this year. Only minor repair work has been required and we plan to add some features to the trails over the winter ready for this coming summer.

I think that Antur is already seen as a bike park rather than a trail centre, with four trails of various difficulty, the jump park is now open and it’s great fun, we will have a 9km XC loop for later this year and the visitors centre will be completed for the end of March.

We have a mix of riders, say 60% are all–mountain bikes/XC bikes, and the other 40% DH rigs. Not one bike stands out as being more popular than others. It is the usual suspects, Trek, Spesh that seem to lead the way.>>