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Hi all,
So me and a bud have 3 days mid-week riding planned in the first week of August - where should we go?
We've done Degla to death, and coed-y-brenin plenty of times, plus 2 uplift days at Stiniog, so was looking for some other suggestions...
Is Cadair Idris worth a look?
Any other must-do natural trails?
We haven't done Snowdon, so might look at that if there's a good evening forecast (morning ruled out as not getting up that early on a holiday!)
We'll be in tents and pretty flexible with location, just need to be in Machynlleth by Friday to meet up with families.
Where's good then? 3 hour rides with good views and some challenging descents ideally...
I enjoyed Penmachno, it has all your requirements if you do both loops.
[url= http://my.viewranger.com/route/details/MTQ2ODU= ]The best route in Wales[/url]
Drum Mnt is great. Worth the up n' down slog to the summit. The descent is fab.
CliMachX or Mach 3 trails? Lots of riding in mid Wales, not necessarily tech riding but loads of forest trails etc to ride on. You can link part of the Nant Yr Arian trails too
NYA is my fave in mid wales recently.
Loved it on the SS.
Mach trails are good for some "out there" riding, if not that tech.
I prefer walking Cadair Idris persoanlly.
Never done snowdon though.
Go to Rhayader and see Clive Powell at Elan Valley Cyclery and ask him for a route. Longish day ask about the Monks Trod alternatively ask him for a route that includes the Black run, Bonk Hill and the Links. Elan valley is full of great routes that are almost all single track, you'll love it.
we were up there based in Mach a while back, did ClimachX Harder and Cadair Idris, both on the flattyres site. both excellent.
did three days a few years back...ended up with Nant yr Arian / Climacx on day 1, Pont Scethin on day 2 and Snowdon on the evening of day 3
great weather and beer in Dolgellau campsite / Torrents Walk (they allow fires as well)
I like the new bits of the Marin trail
Penmachno has always been a great favourite
Drum descent is a near 4-mile-long hoon. Not particularly demanding but great fun.
Llyn Cowlyd loop for something a bit more natural and spectacular, although I think there's a 300m tarmac drop
Snowdon Ranger is a must
There is so much more to Dyfi than Climach-x. Personally I'd spend the entire time in that forest.
Another for the "Monks Trod" ,tefi pools provides wild camping too if your sensible about times etc.
Another vote for Elan Valley.
I'd avoid he trod though as it's just a slog across the hill and not much fun. Golf links, Garreg Ddu and the chapel descent are much more fun.
@mt Where are those trails/routes? I've done a bit in the Elan valley but don't know names. Some arrows on Streetmap would be useful.
Camp in/at/near Dollgellau and one evening, as the sun is setting, ride down the path to Barmouth, in flip flops or other unsuitable shoes, have chips from the chippy, then a couple of pints and gently meander your way back.
Take torches/bike lights.
Stop at the pub on the trail.
It's ace.
Smashing- plenty to go at then.
Cheers all!
Three days? Trans-Cambrian surely !
@Whitestone, those names are those used by riders who spent any time with Clive Powell. singlespeedstu has the correct names. The "black run" is the decent to the chapel. Just get an OS map of the area and look at all bridle ways. The Elan Valley is still to me one of the best places to ride an MTB, I am biasd though.
The Monks Trod should still be done, it right of passage for some.
The classic Wayfarer?
Nant yr Arian black
Marin
Snowdon down via ranger
Ceriog valley/berwyns (not the llawnt though - sanitised)
Personally cant stand penmachno. Liked cadair idris but it's over in minutes once you start descending
no mention of Revs!?
Anyone got a route for Pont Scethin they'd care to share?
that Drum Mountain looks great but dont wanna drive up to conway (we stay in Porthmaddog) looking for something new myself.....
Drum gets my vote
Bit more detail then....
We're coming from Manchester so might stop off to do Drum Mountain on the way out. How long would you allow for 2 reasonably fit fellas on day one of what will surely be a sunny, dry and dusty trip? 🙂
Will probably play the rest by ear, maybe finishing at ClimachX on the Friday morning as we are stopping nearby - thanks again for all the tips!
Drum descent is a near 4-mile-long hoon. Not particularly demanding but great fun.
Indeed. Its all about the speed. There was a thread on here a few years ago asking whats the fastest you'd been off-road. It was just a list of what speed everyone had hit on the Drum mountain descent. 45-50 mph was about right. So make sure you've plenty of meat on your brake pads. You'll need 'em 😀
It has to be said that the views from Drum are pretty spectacular. And while you're hooning down, you've the Welsh coastline in front of you. Its like a video game!
45-50[i]kph[/i] surely?
phuckit, im driving to conway...
maybe get an afternoon at Stinky on the way back....
Re DRUM LOOP
is it definitely worth doing the last bit past across Mynydd Y Dref over to Conway or would you just cut back to the carpark along Sychnant Pass Rd?
Mach trails are good for some "out there" riding, if not that tech
Thers plenty of tech over there
The Athertons moved there for a good reason
Getting a local to guide you helps, some of the best mtb trails in the UK
45-50kph surely?
Nope. I've just googled Drum Mountain and STW. The first thread that came up was from Lowey (6 bloody years ago!) quoting hitting 50mph on the descent. If I remember rightly, last time we did it, my GPS said 48 mph. Everyone else's were the same
If you've not ridden Drum, you really need too. You will hit 45mph+ on the 4 mile long descent. Its grassy, smooth, very very fast, and you've got sort of natural berms on it. Its absolutely bloody brilliant! 😀
You've got to earn it though. Its a hell of a slog to get up to the summit
Fastest I've been is 49.5mph on the road in the Peak District. Shat myself and vowed not to go that fast again, ever.
But 50mph on the MTB is seriously tempting....
Sounds like there's some nice soft grass for emergency landings then. I'd best pack the semi-slick rear tyre 😉
Thers plenty of tech over there
The Athertons moved there for a good reason
Getting a local to guide you helps, some of the best mtb trails in the UK
Anyone got their number?
binners - Member
The best route in Wales
gonna do this on friday i reckon.
fancy a lap of the Marin while im local too, will this be doable after drum mtn or will i be done!!?
@ binners, - going by strava, KOM peaks at 58kph
so I doff my hat to you and your unofficial KOM buddies
Thanks monkeysfeet for the link to my website. Here's a direct one to my North Wales routes: http://flattyres-mtb.co.uk/route-guides/north-wales-mtb-routes/
Outside of the usual ones mentioned I would recommend the Ceiriog Valley and the Berwyns. Often overlooked for some reason but it contains some of my favourite local riding.
Dave at bike cores is well worth giving a shout to. Lovely bloke, with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the Dyfi forest / Mach / Aber area [url] http://www.bikecorris.co.uk/#intro [/url]
32.7mph - Drum was Big Fun!