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Going to Llandegla next weekend, not been before so seeking some advice.
27.5+ with a rigid fork or 29 with bounce on my Sherpa?
If 29 then recommend me a tyre because my current front is knackered (though that will depend a lot on what Evans and other LBS have in stock).
Cheers
Whichever bike you are faster on.
I'd take the 29er HT, though it is very smooth so I'm sure either would be great.
Maybe take both and do a lap on each, that's what I did for a bit of B2B testing last time (conclusion = neither of my long travel 29ers was very good for Llandegla, take a HT next time).
Not the sort of place where you need a specific tyre, whatever you'd usually use for a trail centre.
Sorry, I wasn't clear. It's the same bike but I have both fork / tyre options. Living in the Midlands where it isn't that rough, rigid is fine and the plus tyres have been great during this dry summer. But I'm not familiar with the terrain and surface at Degla.
I've ridden Llandegla on a rigid bike, albeit a 29er. Wouldn't do it again without a good reason, but I do rag it round there. Definitely the suspension bike.
Edit, as I've just seen your clarification, put the suspension on.
You don’t ‘need’ suspension for it - but it will be more comfortable.
It's not the comfort that's the main problem. It's got some decent jumpy bits that are much better with front squish for the pop and landing. Also, it's got some reasonably worn bits now, (not like Cannock mind) and once big old tyres start to bounce off the lumps, it all gets a bit sketchy. Like I said, depends how hard you ride.
Think the bike I've owned that suited it best was a Kona Blink, heavy enough to affect local gravity, but just seemed in its element there.
Cheers all 29 and bounce it is.
Old shoes...
new shoes...
Hardtail with suspension is fine. I've been tempted with my 90's rigid MTB, but the brakes aren't upto it. Been a few times and it's the short climbs in the middle that are hard, especially when not fit. I've done it whilst recovering from a nasty accident, and it's not bad,just couldn't get up a couple of the steep climbs. I'd say one is very difficult if wet.
If you do the black/red then you know you've had a good work out at the end. Loads of folk on hardtails - I've done it on the FS as my choice is 90's retro or a newer FS. At least the FS stops.
PS don't go stopping on the boardwalks - either the bit that climbs or the bridge/drop off. Anyone behind will curse, and you'll have hell of a job getting off. My mate has chickened out on the narrow boardwalk that climbs up - I've not great technically, but you need to keep rolling. I had to stop and straddle the bike and edge along as I didn't have enough space to get off - not happy as it's a good section.
He apparently chickened out on the bridge/dropoff once. How the hell you stop and get off your bike 20 ft in the air I don't know, with a queue behind you. PS it may look scary, but it's rollable without any issue at all - easy in fact. The skilled riders hit if fast and jump off the end.
Weathers supposed to be dry and cold for the weekend, but you’ll still get muddy at degla. Pretty up there when it’s clear though.
If you have a full day id do the blue as a warm up, I like it, flowy, easy, fast and fun. Then the black is good but I wouldn’t say it’s the most difficult black out there. I think doing the black takes in the best parts of the red too, but that’s my opinion.
Food In the hut is great but if you’re looking for a great pub for food try here http://www.brunningandprice.co.uk/pantyrochain/
Just for clarity my 13 year old lad manualed the last part of the bridge/drop off, how anyone can stop on it is beyond me! 😳
Toad stools are Fab in the forest at the moment, was up there last weekend and I have never seen so many of them.