timH
November 22-2004, 12:58 PM
Forestry Commission Wales (FCW) has recently started clearance work in order to build the first ever official, sustainable downhill mountain biking course on Forestry Commission land in Wales, at Cwmcarn Forest Drive, near Caerphilly in South Wales, which will make adventurous off-road cycling more accessible to everyone.
http://www.mbwales.com/images/homepage/home_r2_c27.gif
The new course will attract professional world class events, and has been designed to accommodate large amounts of riders and spectators. The 3.5km long trail will be completed early next year for the official launch in March 2005, and will complement the existing cross country routes.
The £80,000 initiative is being funded by Caerphilly County Borough Council, FCW, Mojo Suspension (www.mojo.co.uk) and the Adwyfio grant scheme through the Countryside Council for Wales and the Wales Tourist Board (http://www.mbwales.com/?profile=NDpMT05fV1RCMTI0MDMxNTA6TE9OX1dUQjc5OTMyO TY6RU5HTElTSDpDQToxMTAxMTI0Mzc0OjExMDExMjQzNzc6Ojo =). As a pilot project for FCW, the downhill course may, if successful, be duplicated in other FC woodlands in Wales.
Project Manager Peter Cloke, FCW, said, “This new course will increase usage of the woodlands, attracting many more people to the area to ride the tracks or as spectators to witness the spectacular jumps and turns from the comfort of the visitor centre. We aim to encourage all levels of downhill mountain biker to the new track and have planned some really exciting routes for the more adventurous!
Phil Saxena, Full Contact Racing, will design and build the course for FCW to ensure that the track provides a thrilling 3 and a half minute ride from start to finish. Phil, who designs and builds tracks for UK and International bike competitions including World Cup Series events, has the expertise to design a track to suit all abilities.
Phil said, “There will be 2 runs – a fun one with lots of jumps that will appeal to both beginners and experienced riders and a daring, extreme downhill run which will be more challenging with lots of different routes, big jumps, fast turns and vertical drops, for national and international standard competitions.”
Local area Manager Marc Langley, FCW, added “We are also creating a unique asset for the track through an ingenious feat of engineering - an underpass that will take riders beneath the forest drive, a first for Britain. Bridges will be built to cross the existing bike trails and an uplift arranged for next year to take riders to the top of the course. Rowan Sorrell, a local elite level downhill rider will assist in an advisory capacity as a test pilot to ensure that the course measures up to international standards.”
Cwmcarn Forest Drive, managed by FCW, is a 1,300 hectare woodland block that currently offers seven miles of beautiful woodlands with staggering views, walking trails, a fishing lake and an exhilarating single-track mountain bike trail. In conjunction with the Cwmcarn Visitor Centre, managed by Caerphilly County Council, the area provides themed picnic sites and play areas, wood carvings and BBQ facilities. In a prime location, adjacent to the M4, Cwmcarn Forest Drive is easy to find and highly accessible to visitors from Wales and England.
forestry.gov.uk (www.forestry.gov.uk)
Article from southerndownhill.com (http://www.southerndownhill.com/)
http://www.mbwales.com/images/homepage/home_r2_c27.gif
The new course will attract professional world class events, and has been designed to accommodate large amounts of riders and spectators. The 3.5km long trail will be completed early next year for the official launch in March 2005, and will complement the existing cross country routes.
The £80,000 initiative is being funded by Caerphilly County Borough Council, FCW, Mojo Suspension (www.mojo.co.uk) and the Adwyfio grant scheme through the Countryside Council for Wales and the Wales Tourist Board (http://www.mbwales.com/?profile=NDpMT05fV1RCMTI0MDMxNTA6TE9OX1dUQjc5OTMyO TY6RU5HTElTSDpDQToxMTAxMTI0Mzc0OjExMDExMjQzNzc6Ojo =). As a pilot project for FCW, the downhill course may, if successful, be duplicated in other FC woodlands in Wales.
Project Manager Peter Cloke, FCW, said, “This new course will increase usage of the woodlands, attracting many more people to the area to ride the tracks or as spectators to witness the spectacular jumps and turns from the comfort of the visitor centre. We aim to encourage all levels of downhill mountain biker to the new track and have planned some really exciting routes for the more adventurous!
Phil Saxena, Full Contact Racing, will design and build the course for FCW to ensure that the track provides a thrilling 3 and a half minute ride from start to finish. Phil, who designs and builds tracks for UK and International bike competitions including World Cup Series events, has the expertise to design a track to suit all abilities.
Phil said, “There will be 2 runs – a fun one with lots of jumps that will appeal to both beginners and experienced riders and a daring, extreme downhill run which will be more challenging with lots of different routes, big jumps, fast turns and vertical drops, for national and international standard competitions.”
Local area Manager Marc Langley, FCW, added “We are also creating a unique asset for the track through an ingenious feat of engineering - an underpass that will take riders beneath the forest drive, a first for Britain. Bridges will be built to cross the existing bike trails and an uplift arranged for next year to take riders to the top of the course. Rowan Sorrell, a local elite level downhill rider will assist in an advisory capacity as a test pilot to ensure that the course measures up to international standards.”
Cwmcarn Forest Drive, managed by FCW, is a 1,300 hectare woodland block that currently offers seven miles of beautiful woodlands with staggering views, walking trails, a fishing lake and an exhilarating single-track mountain bike trail. In conjunction with the Cwmcarn Visitor Centre, managed by Caerphilly County Council, the area provides themed picnic sites and play areas, wood carvings and BBQ facilities. In a prime location, adjacent to the M4, Cwmcarn Forest Drive is easy to find and highly accessible to visitors from Wales and England.
forestry.gov.uk (www.forestry.gov.uk)
Article from southerndownhill.com (http://www.southerndownhill.com/)