We head to Dyfi Bike Park in Mid Wales to see if you need the skills of Dan Atherton to ride his latest creation
Loaded with technical descents to be taken at serious speed, Dan Atherton’s vision is inally brought to life
Jamie, Al and I stand at the bottom of a section of trail in nervous anticipation, muttering about Dan’s chances of success. I cautiously suggest that I reckon he’s got it, Al’s hoping Dan doesn’t smash his back wheel to bits so early in the day and Jamie can’t make his mind up whether this is a good or a bad idea. The only person without any reservations is Dan himself, who’s pushing his way back. At the top of the trail – a triple-black-diamond run named Slab Track – is a gap jump that nobody’s hit yet. This is unsurprising, as the run-in is over a technical rock drop where speed isn’t exactly abundant, but desperately needed to avoid coming up short on the sharp bedrock that looks poised to destroy any wheel that cases it.
Dan drops in, squashes the rock drop on the rollin and hits the rock face take-off. A small buck from the back wheel kicks it a little higher than planned, but he nails the landing and rides out to dropped jaws and loud cheers. Well, that’s given him the day’s bragging rights then – none of us is willing to try and copy that! We blame the trail bikes we’re riding (Dan’s on a downhill bike), but we know that in truth we lack his talent and crazy streak.
Park life
Dyfi Bike Park has been around for four years or so, in one form or another, during which time it’s been the exclusive stomping ground of the Atherton siblings and a select few locals. Now finally open to the public, the trails are the same ones these guys have refined their skills on for years. Dan has purchased the entire forest, along with the sawmill that operates there. He even lives in a caravan in the woods, where he’s only recently got hot water. Dyfi isn’t just a new bike park for the 37-year-old; it’s a whole way of life. He lives and breathes it. It’s refreshing to see how happy he is to – quite literally – welcome people into his home and ride his yearsin-the-making masterpiece. Getting a private tour of the trails is something we couldn’t turn down.
The perfect blend
There are four main tracks, none of which is graded less than black (not yet, at least). We decide to start at the top of Original Downhill, which was the first trail built here. On this long run back to the car park, the excellent blend of natural, technical downhill sections with well-built and perfectlysculpted jumps makes it clear how several different riding disciplines have influenced Dan – a theme that runs through all the other trails too. Chasing the guys off the natural rock drops at the start is a shot in the arm that sets me up for what’s about to follow – a fast-flowing straight of rock drops, jumps and pumps. This leads into a
SLAB TRACK INCLUDES STEEP DROP INS, TIGHT CORNERS, ROCK DROP SAND, OF COURSE, THE EPONYMOUS 60 FT BED ROCKS LAB, WHICH HAS OUR HEARTS POUNDING( IN A GOOD WAY)