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Looks I'm heading over to Coed-Y-Brenin next Friday for the day.
Last time I was there I spent the day playing on the Minotour and Red Fox.
Thinking of doing the MBR route, how gnarly is it?
To paraphrase Nigel Tuffnel from Spinal Tap - "how black is black?"
MBR is saweeet
I wouldn't say it's that gnarly, there's a couple of rocky bits, but if you're not feeling it then get off and walk down a bit. Mostly it's pretty flowy, with just a couple of nadgy bits.
For bonus points, loop round up to the top of the Adams Family via the cafe after Bugsy 😉
Where do you normally ride? The trail, surface is generally "gnarlier" with quite a lot of rocks, so quite fatiguing.
It's long - 30k, ish. Some long fireroad sections going up, which are more towards the end, leaving you tired for the final sections.
It's rocky, but more to do with the surface rather than rideability.
It’s alright
The rock garden at the start gives you a good idea.
The rest is just fun 👍
It’s a chunky step up from Orange Fox or MinorTaur though.
Some of the rock defended sections can be a bit clenchy in the wet even at slower speed.
Usually ride Cannock Dog & Monkey, also did Llandegla Red last Friday in the pi$$ing rain & wind.
Trail guide says it's 18.4km.
You'll be fine. The stone is pretty grippy even when wet & if you can get round the Llandegla red, the MBR trail will be OK.
It doesn't chuck you into anything horrific without you realising. The trickiest bit (for me) was a short section of Abel with some little uneven drops which feel horrible if you try to roll them too slowly.
If you were considering two laps of 'degla last week, then you should manage the Beast OK. It's not as long as the trail guide says, fair bit of fire road climbing, but lots of reward.
Lots of smaller rocks but nothing big. The smaller rocks would make it pretty uncomfortable on a rigid bike, take a small amount of suspension.
MBR is fine, and its 18km. Rode sections of it the other week as part of the beast in the soaking wet - the rocks still offer plenty of grip.
There are some tricky sections such as Cain if your not used to riding rocks, but there are some great sections such as Abel and False Teeth.
Nothing is hard though,and everything is rollable.
Usually ride Cannock Dog & Monkey, also did Llandegla Red last Friday in the pi$$ing rain & wind
Nowt like either of those, the rock is grippy (unlike cannock) and it's more of a challenge than the Red @ Llandegla
As others have said, it's more bumpy than gnarly - but really good and flowy.
Only takes about 1.5 hrs at a steady pace, so you might wanna do the Dragon's Back or Tawr as well - or just do the Beast.
Thanks all.
We're slightly time limited so it'll be an early start, MBR and a couple of the shorter ones I think - and maybe a play on the first couple of sections on Minatour really like the berms and table tops.
If you were considering two laps of ‘degla last week, then you should manage the Beast OK. It’s not as long as the trail guide says, fair bit of fire road climbing, but lots of reward.
Trail guides seem to say 38-40km for the Beast.
Might have to work up to that.
I sometimes like to ride back up to the "Beginning of the End" as a little add-on when I finish a ride there, if I'm still feeling the stoke.
It's 30km if you cut out the pointless fire road loop at the top of Dragon's Back (which is easy to do). Just under 3000ft of climbing.
It’s all rollable, plenty of rocks. Its around 18km in length.
The beast at around 38km is a combination of trails off the mbr and dragons back.
There's such a lot of garbage being spouted in amongst the good stuff.
It ain't 30km or anywhere near.
It has some proper hard sections on it ( by trail centre standards)
It not comparable in any way to degla red. It it technically far harder (TBH, what isn't)
if you can get round the Llandegla red, the MBR trail will be OK.
It be Ok in the sense that you won't die on it, but if you can only just get round degla red then you will be walking MBR at some points guaranteed.
This was brought home to me when I took my kids there when they were perhaps 8 and 10. They'd quite happy do everything at degla apart from the rocky step, but they were off and walking on various bits of MBR. Even today they don't do it all. It's easy to forget as a competent adult on a decent bike t
How tricky some things are
30K was for The Beast, not MBR, after the OP's comment about working up to do it.
It be Ok in the sense that you won’t die on it, but if you can only just get round degla red then you will be walking MBR at some points guaranteed.
Had no problems getting round Degla Red - only got off once and that was because I lost traction on one of the steep tech climbs.
Had no problems getting round Degla Red – only got off once and that was because I lost traction on one of the steep tech climbs
Is that the cave switch back climb near the end?
Difficult to compare the styles, but my kid has done that every visit since he was 10 (apart from in the snow) but rarely cleans MBR ( I say rarely, what really mean is never)
Anyway. Get yourself there and give it a go. If you dont like a bit then get off and walk. Its not like it's a river flowing into a dark inescapable canyon.
Enjoy
I've got a jaded opinion of cyb... also trail centres in general... So I'll try to stay objective.
Don't do the beast, it's just a long fireroad ride with underwhelming descents.
MBR is similar to be honest
Do a mix of Tarw Du and cut across for the Adams family descent.
C-Y-Brenin is the best trail center IMO, its all good, you'll love it 🙂
It's all designed to be rideable without hucking skills, just remember the basics. Stay relaxed and low, easy on the front brake look for your exit and trust your bike. I love CyB, and cut my proper trail centre teeth there.
Yeah it's a classic for good reason IMO.
Also, be prepared to land to flat if you hit the jumpy-drop things on False Teeth (?) fast.
Not long got back from Brenin - cracking day, managed to avoid the worst of the rain.
Some really great features which challenged my riding and got me out of my comfort zone.
Slippery as hell in some places and really made me think more about line choice.
Couple of 'oh crap' moments and kind of wish I'd taken my full face.
Back in t day I remember (sort of) missing the skull and cross bones sign mid way down false teeth where there is that big dip, I hit it ****ing fast and landed on the up part in a big heap.
Couple of ‘oh crap’ moments and kind of wish I’d taken my full face
A full face at CYB????
I can't think of anything there that would even slightly warrant that.
What's the red fox like. I've just done the minator with my boys 6 and 9. We are going back in the morning. The 6 year old can do two loops of Llandegla blue so he can climb and he enjoyed rolling the free ride park this afternoon but he may be out of his depths with rock gardens and big drop offs.
We did the Beast about six weeks ago. There’s a few bits that look more intimidating than they actually are. The biggest issue I have with trail centers is that because they are designed to not kill you with unexpected things, a lot of folk seem to be able to tune into this and ride really quick. What I mean is that there are zero loose rocks and there are no drops that are totally committing and have to be boosted off. 90% of my riding is on natural stuff, so the higher speeds on built trails are a limiting factor for me.
I would say Coed Y Brenin is excellent and the Beast/MBR are likely to leave you feeling flattered. In a good way.
I’d have thought he’d be fine. No rick gardens or drops on the Cyflym Coch route. Pink Heifer is closed ATM so it will be a shorter loop than normal though.
Thanks qtip well give it a shot on the morning
What’s the red fox like. I’ve just done the minator with my boys 6 and 9.
Yep totally. Get it done. Can't recall if it existed when mine were 6 but they've defo enjoyed it since
<div class="bbp-reply-author">Stainypants
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What’s the red fox like. I’ve just done the minator with my boys 6 and 9. We are going back in the morning. The 6 year old can do two loops of Llandegla blue so he can climb and he enjoyed rolling the free ride park this afternoon but he may be out of his depths with rock gardens and big drop offs.
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I think the first section is probably the hardest, so just give it a go a see how far you get. It's not rocky by CyB standards, but rougher than your usual blue.