You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Just musing as to where to go on tomorrows roadtrip. Never been to Penmachno - usually ride TC black routes and more into the downhills rather than the slog ups (usually walk & natter).
Both of us on 160mm gnarrduro's and wearing suitable flouro clothing. Is Penmachno for us?
Penmachno is very peddaly, so going off you OP, I'd say not.. Don't get me wrong, the place is great and has a very natural feel considering it's a TC. It's almost always wet somewhere but you always, always finish with a big grin and a fast pulse
Thought about Snowdon, sounds more up your street of chatting going up and enjoying the Downs?
Yes, its great. The long loop gets pretty exposed and watery when its raining. Which it tends to round there.
Couple of us did it in Jan with 160mm gnars (a Range and a Strive). The only 2 others we met on the long bit were on similarly inappropriate long travel plastic.
The long loop is water logged in July after 3 dry weeks, so I'd leave the big bike and take a canoe.
Currently using fire road diversions and last descent is closed according to nickc of this parish on FB, who just wasted a few hours of his life there he'll never get back.
No.But you'll fit in fine at Llandegla car park.
I thought it was just raspberry pink bronsons at that carpark...
On the one time we went there that seemed to be the case.
On the trails we saw nought but older halfords specials but in the carpark/ bikewash we saw loads of spotless Ratboy wannabees trying to out talk each other.
Penmachno seems to do a great job of frightening off the Degla crew by being some where you ride a bike without anyone to impress...
Rode the 30k Penmacno route on my 180mm, 14kg (spesh enduro evo) bike day after uplift at Antur Stiniog, brilliant ride as long as you are happy and fit enough to attack the downhill sections. Thoroughly recommend it especially on a 160mm bike, more travel means you can go faster! Took two and a half hours and overtook plenty of XC guys struggling on their weight weenie bikes. Do it.
rather than the slog ups (usually walk & natter).
I don't think it's for you TBH.
Feels more like an old-school MTB ride than most trail centres, and it requires a bit of fitness really.
thanks for the info peeps!
skids and wheelies in 'Degla car park it is then!
I rode it on Tuesday on my Alpine. It's a tough loop with a lot of uphill and some techie climbs, so very physical.
Nowt wrong with taking a 160mm bike there, at all. All the sections are open too. The loop I do is the one from the Welsh Enduro Series, 10 miles or so, 600m climb and takes in the best downhill sections. Triple traverse ~ 3mins down. Craig Wen & Hafod Ffraith ~ 8mins and final descent ~ 5mins.
So yes, a lot of climbing but also a lot of flat out downhill natural singletrack.
It's ace.
Don't forget to try and talk louder than the people that are trying to talk louder than you.
*Actual content of the talking seems to be a none issue as long as it contains amount of money spent/how far you've driven to get there/ what MBUK/BMR said about your bike in a review.*Degla
All the sections are open too.
did you ignore the diversions then?
it's shit. No that's harsh, the bits that are good are good, the bits that are a river (lots of it at the minute) are, well, a river. and there's a load of fire-road and the final descent is closed.
Marin and CoedY and Llandegla are all better.
It's a tough loop with a lot of uphill and some techie climbs, so very physical.
Do you have a blue badge on your bike?
If you're of the school that thinks 600m of climbing in 20km is a lot I guess you best avoid it, probably most of Wales too
Do you have a blue badge on your bike?
LOL!
I love Penmachno. Yes, it is usually wet but it's a good ride with some cracking views. Obviously if there are diversions then it's not going to be as good.
Penmachno is very divisive....there are those who like it.
And morons who can't ride properly 😉
Like button required
A couple of the climbs are a challenge on a singlespeed , if your going do the big loop and enjoy the views .
if your going do the big loop and enjoy the views .
People go there and only do one loop? Madness!
If you want enduro/dh Knar Foel Gasnach is worth a bash :-),although I havent been there for a good few years .
Not sure what having a blue badge on my bike means, but my bike is blue and does have an orange badge on it. If that counts.
My least favourite man made trail. Go do the marin instead.
Hate bits of Penmachno while I'm actually riding it. Always love it afterwards. Some of it IS a bit of a slog, but the two main descents are properly good. Don't even mind the 'out of character' new bits.
Miss out the middle third. I wasn't impressed when I did it, but it was very wet and watery with horizontal rain after two days of riding so the legs were not feeling the freshest. But either way the first and last third are the best bits, not sure how or if you can navigate the fire roads to miss the middle third.
The Marin is a tarmac cycle path in comparison to penmachno.but then there's no café to pose outside of at either. Which makes it ideal for some of us
The marin is shit. I've never been so bored. To think we actually rode there too so we couldn't pose in the car park. Penmachno every time for me.