I was writing a blog recently for the Visit Wales website. It pretty much summed up my thoughts on why people should be mountain biking in Wales.  As I put the article together I started to write a list of the upcoming developments that people can expect until the end of 2013.  I was shocked. It's HUGE!

So is it possible for the mountain biking scene in Wales to get much better? The short answer is yes.

Hard to believe I know as it’s already pretty awesome but there are plenty of new developments for you in store. Wales has always been a leader in the world of mountain biking ever since Dafydd Davies built the first purpose built mountain bike trail at Coed y Brenin back in the mid-1990’s. Since then the mountain biking scene in Wales has gone from strength to strength and development and investment keeps on coming. The next 24 months are no different and here’s a round up of what you can expect in 2012-13:

1) Third and final loop of the Minor Taur Blue Trail at Coed y Brenin will be completed in 2012 bringing you 10km of beautiful trail ideal for introducing mountain bikers to ‘singletrack’ off road cycling and designed to enable adaptive bike users to enjoy the challenge of off road cycling.

2) New Skills Park at Coed y Brenin to be completed by the end of 2012 containing features that you can expect to find on the forest trails. It will be an ideal area for having a go, learning new skills and gaining confidence.

3) A new building at Coed y Brenin adding to the visitor centre, which will provide a conference room, a much bigger retail area for bike shop and bike hire and 24hr toilets.

4) Blaenau-Festiniog DH Centre in North Wales will be opening summer 2012 which will boost two black downhill trails, two freeride trails, two pump tracks, a jump site and a visitors centre. All together providing more doubles, table tops and berms than you can shake a stick at!

5) Developments on the Marin Trail can be expected with possible new trail sections and definite rebuild and repair work.

6) Developments at Afan Forest Park from Cognation include a refurbished café, including the creation of an outdoor covered seating area.

7) A new Kids Skills Park & family friendly 5km green trail with optional 5km blue loop will also be coming to Afan Forest in 2012.

8) The Penhydd trail at Afan Forest Park is currently being rebuilt ready to be relaunched in 2013.

9) Cwm Carn is getting a bigger car park, some serious maintenance on the existing routes and brand new cross country and downhill trails by 2013.

10) All new bike park in Gethin Woods near Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales will be opening autumn 2013 which will have Downhill, cross country, singletrack, an uplift service and a visitors centre.

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