Currently there are twenty of us going. At the moment Afan Lodge has got a little but more space, but not much. If anyone else does want to come you need to get hold of me no later than Thursday night (9th) and be prepared to pay your £30 deposit straight away.

Staying at the fantastic Afan Lodge Hotel we are planning another exhausting but exhilarating trip to the Welsh Valleys.

Plan is to drive down early on the morning of Tuesday 26th October to Cwmcarn Visitor Centre and ride the only but very good trail. Then we'll have some lunch, so you should either bring a picnic or eat in the cafeteria at the visitor centre, then we'll ride the trail again. The descent is definitely worth a second go.

After that it's load up and travel to Afan Lodge Hotel for clean-up, drinks, dinner and comfortable beds. This is a great place, too good for the likes of us, but I've stayed there three times so far, and we are made very welcome. Take a look at their website.

On Wednesday we plan to ride from Afan Lodge to the Glyncorrwg Trail Centre, ride the Skyline short route, then back to Glyncorrwg for lunch in the cafeteria. Don't worry about the 4 -7 hours the ride guide says it will take to do the route, the short cut we will take brings it down to a bit over two hours. The bits we don't do are mostly long and boring fire track, which exhausts you but doesn't provide much entertainment. I've done them once and that was more than enough. After lunch we'll ride Whites Level before ridng back to Afan Lodge.

On Thursday morning it's another ride from the hotel to take on The Wall before departing for home.

Whilst obviously the trip is aimed at mountain bikers and our older, fitter youngsters particularly, they will need to be transported there and back, so parents and helpers will be very welcome whether they are wanting to ride or not. Afan Lodge Hotel is a great place to stay, just to relax if you want, or there are great walks to be had at all the MTB Centres. Alternatively you could jump in the car and explore some of the local attractions. If anyone has room for another body and bike etc in/on their car it would be handy to know in case we have anyone wanting to come who has transport difficulties.

All the rides are graded Red, which means a certain level of skill is required, but there's nothing too much to worry about if ridden at a moderate pace. Mostly the descents only become dangerous if tackled at high speeds. Anyone who copes with our Sunday rides will be up to this. Climbs are long but not steep, but the ground is stony, sometimes rocky and very hard on arms and legs. The riding is great fun and the views spectacular. Newish tyres are needed to resist punctures, your bike needs to be in good condition because it's going to take a hammering, and it's best to bring plenty of spares. If wet (it's Wales and therefore likely to be) it's possible to go through a set of brake pads in one or two rides and we're planning five. Anyone who wants to come but doesn't feel they are up to 4 or more hours riding on each of two days plus a fifth ride on Thursday, you don't have to do every ride, ride as much or as little as you want to. You also need to bring plenty of cycle clothing to cover all eventualities. I don't want to sound over dramatic, but on one visit riding the Skyline route a few years ago, I set off with others in warm sunshine needing only shorts and short sleeved shirt, and experienced a blizzard on the highest section of the route. Alex Paton and Michael Butler will remember it well, we thought we might freeze to death! It's possible to experience all four seasons in one day at the top of the mountains. If all this sounds like I'm trying to put people off, far from it. I absolutely love the riding, the scenery and Afan Lodge. You will too, but to get the most out of it you do need to be properly prepared.

We've negotiated a special rate of £95 per person for two nights, dinner, bed and breakfast, which is only just above the room rate with meals thrown in. For our younger members aged 17 and under we will charge only £50 with the balance being met from Junior Section funds.

Names and money to me or Steph as soon as possible please. Anyone who wants to book up but can't raise the full amount in one go, we'll take a significant deposit. We just need a decent commitment before confirming rooms etc. Apart from the cost above, not a lot more money is needed, just enough for lunches on the three days you'll be away from home.

Hope a good many of you will come. I don't think anyone will regret it, the riding, the hospitality and the scenery are great.

Loads of videos on youtube to get a flavour, this one of Whites Level Black Run Section . If you watch this and the ones below you'll get the opportunity to look at loads of others.

Whites Level Windy Point Section

This one's good of the best bits at cwmcarn

Richard Wood