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Last time (Feb 2014) was a horror. I've ridden this route 10+ times and that day was muddy to the power of sketchiness. Was fairly sure we were going to be benighted. Back today with mostly dust under wheel, bit of blue up above but cold winds and increasing cloud. Found some new descents, and gave the new bike a proper testing. A great day out.
Sometimes it's good to feel insignificant
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7689/16994719047_53b8ce0723_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7689/16994719047_53b8ce0723_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/rTLnTn ]MTB - Black Mountains April 2015[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/60876362@N00/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Would you like skies with that?
[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8693/17200475692_1d5af0ce9b_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8693/17200475692_1d5af0ce9b_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/scWWaJ ]MTB - Black Mountains April 2015[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/60876362@N00/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Anyone else want to ride into that picture?
[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8727/17200274812_b79973c270_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8727/17200274812_b79973c270_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/scVUsh ]MTB - Black Mountains April 2015[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/60876362@N00/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Turns have to be earned
[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8712/17202183055_23c59615f2_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8712/17202183055_23c59615f2_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/sd6FH2 ]MTB - Black Mountains April 2015[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/60876362@N00/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
We might be having a good time
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7694/16994500537_44df5331be_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7694/16994500537_44df5331be_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/rTKfVX ]MTB - Black Mountains April 2015[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/60876362@N00/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Dust in Wales. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it myself!
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7629/17016027929_572c5b3d26_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7629/17016027929_572c5b3d26_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/rVDAgT ]MTB - Black Mountains April 2015[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/60876362@N00/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Dicking about 😉
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7644/17201939791_f38562048b_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7644/17201939791_f38562048b_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/sd5roP ]MTB - Black Mountains April 2015[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/60876362@N00/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
What I should have been doing today was preparing for a reasonably important thing that's happening tomorrow, which has both a very early start and mildly terrifying audience. Instead I did this. I think I probably choose wisely 🙂
Looks like it was a great ride 
We were out, one ridge over on Saturday. The wind was a killer but unbelievably dry. Where are you based? We will be riding Mynydd Troed and Llangorse and possibly Rhiw Trumau on Wednesday evening if you were interested.
Based ross on wye but we have talked about doing some evening rides over that way in the summer.. can't do this week but will be in touch... Rhiw Trimau is one of my fav descents. Especially on a new bike with six inches of travel.
🙂 Loving the look of the Bird. We are usually riding every Wed evening and often on the Eastern side of the Blacks so closer to you.
Don't leave it too long... bracken is coming 😯
Looks great. Got a link to the route?
It is part of the Black Mountains Killer loop. Google it, there are plenty of GPX files of the route out there.
This one for example
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=kdtelxubjpmdgfwq&language=en
Looks like a good day for it.
I was back in the mountains myself this weekend, Lakes for me though. It was a cracker of a ride- sunshine, really difficult riding interspersed with fast open sections and good views.
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In fact, I had such a good weekend I made a video of it all (don't worry, it's only a minute and a half long, not all bikes, though)
where's that ridge Luke?
That's descending Hopegill Head toward Grisedale Pike above Braithwaite. In essence I did the Grisedale Horseshoe in reverse, but instead of climbing over Stile End I went up the footpath/track from Stoneythwaite.
The top of the descent is absolutely mental- very technical and very steep and loose. After half a kilometre it eases up and gets fast and flowy with the odd pretty technical section. A real brake cooker. For a 100% rideable descent you can go left at the top of Grisedale Pike (North) and go down Hobcarton, then bear right to descent to Whinlatter and finish the ride on the trail centre. This is also meant to be a cracker, though it's not on a map.
Cracking pictures Alex. Making my first visit May BH weekend. Cant wait 😀