Dan Atherton can often be found on the “world's most stylish rider” lists but he’s probably as famous for his trail-building skills and his incredible work ethic as for his riding skills. This has never been more apparent as in this latest project which has seen him create two amazing lines in his beloved Dyfi Forest.
Dan said: “The tracks that you see in this edit have been a ridiculous amount of work, but you only get out what you’ve put in. This project will never really be finished, there are two tracks featured in the edit but they are definitely a work in progress; we’ve been working on these trails for a year and stuff’s already great fun to ride but there is loads more I want to do."
"The forest is awesome it’s got the same elevation drop as Fort William or Hardline but there are places where the terrain is relatively mellow, that meant we could build these cool flowing jump lines that you don’t have to brake on." He added.
"Some of the projects I’ve worked on like Hardline or the 4x3 Quarry line have been so intense that you can only ride them when you are right on top of your game, this time I wanted to create something that was fun to ride every day and that we could ride with friends, not just for me, Gee and Rach, but for all the guys who were out in all weathers helping to dig it.”
Video: Robbie Meade of Mount Creative. It will be the first in a series documenting Dan’s project in the Dyfi Forest. Watch the film in 4K on youtube!
@medievalbiking: you're kidding right? Hammers is tiny mate, it's good for what it is but there's not much room for expansion. The uplift is utterly soul destroying aswell.Seems to take forever.
@wesob7: No this is not open to the public. Yet. The best easily accessible DH trails in Wales are Antur Stiniog, Revolution and Cwmcarn (all with uplifts). Also try to get to Fort William in Scotland. I don't know the north of England, but in the south near London, try Aston Hill for DH, albeit with a push up, but worth it. Where are you staying?
@LemonadeMoney: awesome, thanks for the suggestions. I think I'm moving to greater London early next year for work and will be there for 2+ years. Can't wait to ride it all.
If you have any suggestions of places to live just outside the m25 I'm all ears. Requirements are: I have to commute around the north half of London for work so need train access. Most importantly, need a yard and ideally access to some kind of AONB or parks for my dog and my sanity (I'm coming from boise, ID). Any good places around chiltern hills? Thanks!
@Ziph: Didn't do Danny any harm though did it. Yeah it's short but having spoken to him, Danny says that the bottom half isn't far different than many WC tracks, all be it just shorter.
haha...true.
For what it's worth, I hit something similar to this last year for the first time, and if you have someone to follow into it, it really isn't bad at all.
Purely mental...then again that applies to so much of this sport. Once you know what speed is necessary the rest just follows.
Doesn't mean it is any less impressive, but I think a lot of people don't give themselves enough credit!
@nvranka: Agree with you, i was hesitate to take a bigger feature on bike park. But once i followed a more skilled rider in front of me, adjusting to his speed and suddenly that big feature just flow to my rhytm. Hit it twice behind someone skilled enough and you're just good to go by yourself. Maybe that technique also create Rachel as a great rider as she's now.
@zulki-fly: absolutely! When I went to whistler my buddy and I met a local on the chair and rode schleyer/lower whis DH with him for the first time. After it became evident he knew what he was doing, we were blindly hitting features at speed mirroring his lines and it felt effortless.
Can never forget the importance of following people on trails/features you aren't familiar with. It really speeds up the progression process!
@si618: oh my god I know...watching some of the days leading up to rampage finals for example...building insane lines and hitting them for the first time...not something I've ever done nor will I!
One word, BRILLIANT. Just shows the talent of Affy as both a trail builder and rider. Is it any wonder that both Gee and Rach are as good as they are with Dan as a big brother? Defo going to have to take another trip Dyfi. Good work Dan.
@glasvagas: I had exactly the same words man :-) They are training harder than we think it's possible, but the big brother influence is just there so that's why both Rach and Claudio are right.
You can take a trip back there to try and find this magical trail, but I bet nobody will ever find it! Dan hides his trails so well. p.s. If you have found it please let us all know!
Rode there in July. Can't wait to see the place open to riders and for Dan to get some return on all the massive effort and cost. Build it and they will come.
Holy crap, Dan is da man! that looks epic! awesome looking trail and riding! This trail has it all, flow, rhythm and tech sections, berms, doubles, tables, drops and gaps, its all there and by the looks of it anyone can have fun on this trail.
Great camera work and editing too!
Looks awesome, maybe he should head south and put his skills into re-vamping places like Cwmcarn, only ridden the cafel trail lately, but the DH always seems dead!
Up lift only operational on a weekend these days. It took a bit of a hit when they swapped sides of the valley due to tree felling. Back to the Y Mynydd side now, which is still a great track, but you're right, if the forestry weren't so difficult to deal with (in this instance) then another track on the same side would definitely do the place a big favour and get the uplift numbers up again.
@dglobulator: @ompete I hear Darryl has been struggling to get the local authorities interested in putting any work into Cwmcarn and they are now loosing out hand over foot to places like BMCC or BPW.
Apparently they have taken it upon themselves to get a crew of guys up there and start digging but it is all unofficial and the amount of time it would take would a small crew and hand tools would be immense
@dglobulator: I think the local government in wales are wising up to what resources we have when it comes to new tourism opportunities. BPW woke everyone up. We are not blessed with lots in Wales but we do have lots of land and gradient to go with it. Heres hoping the next decade takes care of the old trails while developing new ones - good for UK bikers.
@Norski: The national parks in Wales are run by idiots mate ! They have just closed the mountain centre in the Brecon Beacons , which is/was the main tourist information hub for that area ! Not good for cyclists, walkers and the poor people who worked there !
i would like to attend one of your manual classes Dan, let me know when the next one is. You make it all look so smooth and easy, best kind of style there is no matter what the sport. The best always make it look effortless. well done to the Athertons
Kudos to you Mr. Atherton.....amazing trail and amazing riding........thanks for filming this as I haven't had a video make me wanna ride this much in a very long time. Keep it up!
Holy crap!!! This is my dream to have a space to do anything I can imagine with and this track just about has it all. Never had Dan near the top of my list as stylish riders, but this vid definitely just put him on the map for me. Time to re-watch.
So this looks totally rideable and fun with rollable tabletops and easy out options with some serious builds for crossings and drops... so is it private land with public access or just Atherton and friends access?
Wow, such a cool, fun track!! Well done, awesome work. But did he really build it all himself with only a mattock and a shovel?? Personally l like to have a wheelbarrow handy, just in case, you know?
awesome work and great riding but Dan is a bit of a grumpy dude no? i ran into him and Rachel in Whistler Bike Park, she was nice and friendly, Dan not so much. i grew up in North Wales, i'll have to bring my bike with me next time i go home.
This looks amazing. I'm supposed to move to England in the next few months and would love to ride this. Is it open to public? Specific location? Thanks!
Great British trail building. Affy your a legend, great rider, trail builder and I'm sure a very important and much appreciated sibling, keep up the inspiration
Yeah, Dan! It's been so long since we last spoke, you remember when we met at bikepark whales and we went for coffee together? We should meet up aGAIN sometime, PM me!!!!!!
@Beicpinc: Given the scale of the work so far it would suggest this will become open to the public (bike park and entry cost). A lot of earth moving gone on just to be a private park.
It's different styles of riding. Dan has always been powerful (in 4x) and stylish and is a very good rider but Gee has the edge in pace on a proper technical DH track.
Additionally, anyone have any good links to trail info of the U.K.?
The best easily accessible DH trails in Wales are Antur Stiniog, Revolution and Cwmcarn (all with uplifts). Also try to get to Fort William in Scotland. I don't know the north of England, but in the south near London, try Aston Hill for DH, albeit with a push up, but worth it.
Where are you staying?
If you have any suggestions of places to live just outside the m25 I'm all ears. Requirements are:
I have to commute around the north half of London for work so need train access. Most importantly, need a yard and ideally access to some kind of AONB or parks for my dog and my sanity (I'm coming from boise, ID). Any good places around chiltern hills?
Thanks!
astonhillbikepark.co.uk
"Oh man, a pro who makes trails for people like me?"
*40 foot road gap*
"Damn, maybe I just suck.
Can never forget the importance of following people on trails/features you aren't familiar with. It really speeds up the progression process!
They are training harder than we think it's possible, but the big brother influence is just there so that's why both Rach and Claudio are right.
Apparently they have taken it upon themselves to get a crew of guys up there and start digging but it is all unofficial and the amount of time it would take would a small crew and hand tools would be immense
And with no cleat pedals hehe
Dan's Park is on private land though, in the middle of the Dyfi forest area.
Has around 600m drop in the park.
www.visitmidwales.co.uk/Machynlleth-Dyfi-Forest/details/?dms=3&venue=1030612
There's many forests owned by private landlords and private companies in Wales.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9RbnC7TrH4