AIR PORTALS

three ace welsh riding spots for taking off

VAN ROAD TRAILS

Van Road Trails in Caerphilly is a community-run labour of love for local riders and the Van Road Committee, who put in the many hours of fundraising, spadework and paperwork needed to keep the spot alive. The land is leased from Natural Resources Wales and NRW MTB ranger Bob Campbell has been involved in the project from the start. Jason Carpenter (father of world champ Manon) from RampWorld Cardi was also heavily involved.

The trails comprise six pump tracks, dirt jumps and a dual slalom track.

Fundraising happens annually, and the team run enduro and dual slalom events along with dirt jams. You can help keep this fantastic venue going by donating through their website. www.vanrdtrails.co.uk

MOUNTAIN VIEW BIKE PARK

Mountain View Bike Park is one of the newest in South Wales and is steadily growing. Based in Caerphilly and run by

Sunset Cycles, it’s home to two pump tracks, two dirt jump lines, XC trails and some longer red and black flow trails.

The crew at MV were busy during lockdown and created a new line, which they reckon will put them at the top of many riders’ to-visit list. It’s called

Seventh Heaven and features – you guessed it! – seven of the biggest jumps in South Wales, with views across to Garth Mountain. This pro line begins with two whale-tails and continues over progressively larger jumps, with the final two tabletops measuring a massive 32ft and 35ft.

It was masterminded by local trail-building legend and heavy-metal guitarist Huw

Lloyd-Lewis, who was given the keys to the digger and told to create a proper monster! Huw says: “I’ve never made a line this big before. My goal was to make something riders didn’t have to pedal at all for and could just float over, getting massive air and doing tricks!” We can verify he did a darn good job. The park has a great vibe thanks to an open layout, quality co ee and a thriving bike shop. www.mountainviewbikepark. co.uk

BIKEPARK WALES

BPW opened its doors in 2013 after the Sorrells (Rowan and Liz) and the Astleys (Martin and Anna) secured funding from the European Regional Development Fund (via the Welsh Government) and local councils, and leased the land from Natural Resources Wales. Thanks to their vision, it’s grown beyond all recognition

and put Merthyr Tydfil firmly on the mountain biking map.

Now, with further outside investment, BikePark Wales boasts a fancy new visitor centre, two types of uplift vehicle (how cool is the army truck!?), tool stations for riders and – its raison d’ être – a plethora of excellent, wellmaintained trails

from green all the way up to doubleblack pro lines.

It’s become an international destination o ering a full service including bike and kit rental, a bike shop, cafe, coaching and bike wash, and, of course, uplift,

although there is a singletrack climb if you prefer, aptly called the Beast of Burden. www.bikeparkwales.com