BikePark Wales Launches New HotStepper Trail - Video

 Im still surprised (even after I mentioned it in an email and they said they would look into it) that there isn't a quick how to video on their site, on how to load your bike.

Last time I went the driver was getting pretty frustrated even to the point he turned around on the bus and said we're slowing them down, as they're having to re-do so many bikes.

 Staggered lunch has been running for months. And the wait is normally because people dont know how to load up the trailer properly.

 I don't know then, was there a few weeks ago and it seemed to be all stop at lunchtime. If the punters are holding things up then perhaps the system needs to be evaluated. Don't get me wrong it's great to have the resource nearby but each time I've gone it just feels like an age from standing right at the head of the uplift queue to actually setting off in the van, so it just needs some fine tuning around the edges. Perhaps it's to do with the passing places on the uplift road, so the vans have to wait at various waypoints which may cause delays.

 It takes the drivers a few minutes to check every bike on the rack to make sure none of them is going to fall off. Personally I would rather that than to get to the top and find my bike isn't there. I am also by about the third run so knackered that I am glad of the break.

 Many times I've been there and the driver has to constantly remind people that the bars have two straps not one. If the bike drops off he gets the bollocking.

 I'm playing Devil's advocate here and common sense aside, but are there actually any instructions on how to load and secure bikes correctly? I don't recall seeing any, but watching it done correctly I can do the straps myself, but they still need checking by the driver.

If punters are doing it wrong and causing delays, shouldn't the drivers do 100% of the loading and securing? I'm sure BPW are exempt from all damage to bikes if they were to fall off through their T&Cs that we all sign to ride there, but rightly so there should still be an onus on them for safe carriage of the bikes.

Whilst I would be extremely peed off if my bike fell off, especially if someone else were injured (pedestrian etc) by it falling off, there must be a happy medium somehow that means it can all be loaded safely but in a timely manner. But what I'm saying is if punters are doing it wrong then there should be a whacking great sign saying lift your bike on but don't do the straps for example.

I was just a bit miffed at spending £30+ on a days uplift, we were there for first run and I think we got 4 in before lunch with coming straight back down with minimal farting around and getting straight back to the queue. 4 runs in 3 or so hours was not great VFM in my books.

 We were there on on Sunday, managed to get 7 runs in over the day and that was with lunch break and a mechanical.

The staggered lunches have helped a lot and all the drivers were bang on to be making sure we were all loading them up properly.

Couldn't fault it, 7 runs was a good day, we could have got more in for sure!

Yes I have been there in the past where I have waited 20-30 minutes for a lift....but nothing but praise based on our last visit.

They had run out of ale though

 If the driver did all the straps then I doubt you'd even get your four runs before lunch. If everyone carried out the applying of straps correctly the driver only has to quickly check them. Granted it's a pain when you're chomping to get back up the hill, but for me most of the time wasting is down to punters not doing the straps correctly, and/or standing around in a trance waiting for the bike to miraculously do it itself.

A change to trailers similar to the Cwmcarn uplift design would be quicker, but I'm not sure if they carry as many bikes, definitely more efficient though.

 @dglobulator exactly and I agree if we all stood there like lemons waiting for the driver to do it all we'd get 3 runs in a day.

Something needs clarification though, whether it's instructions on correct use of the straps so that like you say all the driver has to do is one quick check and away, something needs to be done.

It's definitely not the first time I've been there and felt I was a bit short changed by the number of runs I had. Granted the previous visit before last was before the staggered lunches. What didn't help a few weeks ago is that vicious valley and 470 were shut. I must admit I didn't check the closure notices on the day, however I'm sure when we booked yonks in advance they weren't...

 To be honest Veero after the first run everyone should know how it's done, so every run after that should get quicker, but that's not the case. One of the drivers used to be a history teacher (he said) and he reckons it's just like being back at school, having to tell people over and over about the straps.

 When I went there just after it opened in 2013 we got 11 runs in and stopped for lunch,it was very efficient then.

 Biggest prob for me at BPW is weak armed knob heads stopping IN the underpass, I push when I go there and every f*cking time there is a heard of dudes there chatting crap.

Some of us want to do full runs ya know ? If your soft hands get tired pull over some where you are not a nuisance , at times it's just plain dangerous.

I tend to shower them with stones if I have to stop there, they still don't get the hint.

 Dunno what all the moaning is about. Uplift has been really efficient in my experience and we've been up there a couple of times a year since they've opened. Maybe learn to relax and have a chat with your fellow MTB riders or appreciate the scenery. First world problems...

 At Antur you have the opposite problem. Trying to force your body to do another run and another when it really wants a rest. Got to get your VFM.

 @dglobulator, yeah it's not rocket science and everyone should definitely pitch in to make it efficient for everyone else.

@RailingRuts, it's not moaning, just some positive critcism. Everytime on the way up it's great to chat to everyone else.

 a laminated instruction sheet by the waiting area would be a good idea, the last time i was there the driver shouted whos the idiot who put the straps around thier seat!!! its not that difficult to stand back and watch how everyone else is doing it then just copy.. but some people haven't got enough common sense for that

 From my childhood memories, The title of the track "Here Comes the Hotstepper" this is 1 of many millions of edits, so couldn't guess the artist.

 TR250!

 Damn it. My apologies squire