[Closed] Singletrackminds Easter Singletrack World tour of Britain

😯

Blimey, you've set yourself a tough itinerary there! Fingers crossed for good weather, I mean you don't really want to spend your time in the pub [s]sampling hops, making notes of the tasting session, in advisory capacity[/s] do you? 😉

Sounds like a lot of miles too!

You're staying in Manchester and you think it's a good idea to drive to Llandegla rather than the Peak District, Rivington or Calderdale? I'm off work and would be happy to show you around any of those places (as long as I don't have an interview)

doooode I am in the North Lakes between the 29th April and 3rd May so a possible meet could be arranged.

You have my email.

There's a huge gap between Yorkshire and Scotland that you missing out on too.

Then drive across to Dumfries to a small B and B who will even let me use the washing machine! 4 nights stay there with an option to ride Ae , Mabie , Dalbeatie and Kirroughtree. Again depends if its sideways rain or not

Rob - talk to Drac, he's right. 🙂

I have booked the B and B's already , so am sort of fixed .

NBT .- Thought of Llandgela as i have never ridden Peaks and would not have a clue where to start . Am heading south Easter Monday from Dumfries and was thinking of LLandgela on the Tues . If my bro wants a ride out we are screwed as he is a wheezy astmatic who is better on his Firebalde than Scott Genius . If i can blow him out then would love a guide for a Peaks ride

Pete , will have to consult the STM calender of riding awesomeness to see if im around and about .

CG .- Maybe , I know there are massive gaps in the middle ( 100 mile ones) but its the not wanting to waste time searching out the good bits . At Gt / Inners there is ebnough to keep me happy /kill me and all i have to do is follow the signposts . Sad i know but POLR .

Trekster .- Am booked in Thur / Fri / Sat , Easter Sunday night in SouthPark B and B . Will pm you nearer the time see if we can meet sometime , or advise me on whats worth doing / what isnt .

Rob

If the date fits in right I probably meet up and show you around here, Northumberland. I'm on holiday for about another 2 weeks.

Dates, times and starting point postcodes for the satnav please and I might make the odd ride to make everyone else look fast.

My mail's in my profile, just keep in touch. Even if I can't make it, from Manchester I would go to Gisburn or Lee Quarry ahead of Llandegla - the café at Llandegla is fab but there's better riding outside the forest for me

Two of us will be at Newcastleton on Good Friday morning, then driving to ! Farmhouse b&b near Dunscore.Then we'll be picking from Mabie, Dalbeatie, K/tree, and Drumlanrig for Saturday , Sunday and Monday. Email in profile if this helps.

Day 1 . Swinley Forest .

Met up with Ali and CG for a low key bimble around Swinley . Tracks running really fast , good to see loads of riders out enjoying the sunshine.

Rode from 10.00 - 14.00 , then had the obligitory wallet emptying experience in the cafe .

Loud crashing and banging in the car park followed by helpin none other than Bullheart insert his rear wheel into a PA.
Good to meet you properly Mark.

Now in Manchester at Bros house assembling a TV stand , like you do .

Dales MTB tomorrow , so far so good

Rob

sounds fab, but as said above, Don't miss out N'berland

Now in Manchester at Bros house assembling a TV stand , like you do .

😯 😯 Thought it was another week before you get to your bros?! I'm not here tomorrow to take you out for a ride!

Dales MTB tomorrow , so far so good

thank **** for that! Tue 26th, Marple ride. Sambob's playing out with us too, any other takers?

Day 2 + 3 At Dales MTb

Fab weather hot and really sunny . Not used to all the proper hills tho , or the rocks . Massive change form our manicured rollered super smooth singletrack darn south.

Ripped my mech off in some heather , fortunatly just the hanger snapped and i carry a spare , but thats the spare used so must be careful not to repeat .

Off ooop north now to Peebles , hoping the weather ( and my legs ) hold out for a few more days

Rob

Glad you're having fun! Did you manage to get some more brake pads?

Not jealous, oh no! 🙂

Have a good one Rob, shame we are arriving in 'inners' as you are leaving - save some of the good weather for us!

I'll be reading with interest, as I've not even been to Scotland let alone ride there.

I bet you'll be researching the local beer industry too......

Ayup singletrackmind just noticed your thread, think you came with us(Lakes lads) from Dales on sunday.... we've booked our navigator on a urgent map reading course! 🙂 Hope your having a great holiday, weathers certainly playing ball. 😀

Nice to meet you at Glentress on Tuesday, Rob. And thanks for the cup of coffee at The Hub 🙂

Hope this great weather stays with you for the remainder of your trip.

singletrackmind - I'll be with nbt and sambob too next Tuesday. Trails are running fast and dry.
Don't worry about the hills and rocks, its a sociable (read slow) ride.

Trekster .- Am booked in Thur / Fri / Sat , Easter Sunday night in SouthPark B and B . Will pm you nearer the time see if we can meet sometime , or advise me on whats worth doing / what isnt .

Southpark is just up the road from me and a short bike ride out to Ae. Just along the road from there is the Caledonian cycle path all the way into town.

If you manage to pick this up before Thurs night I and probably a few others will be meeting for a night ride at Mabie @6.30 / 7pm. Usually ride for 1.1/2 - 2hrs depending who is out. I will be coming straight from work so will be sluggish!!
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Shed[/url]

I am night shift Fri & Sat and hoping to get up to Drumlanrig with Simonralli on Sunday pm. Only drawback is I have grandson for the weekend.

Whats worth doing/ whats not?
Personally I think if you have not ridden any of the trails they are all worth doing and make your own mind up 💡
eg lots of people think Ae is probably the worst of all the centres but I happen to enjoy the rough`n tumble and the workout you get if you actually just attack the trail and bustle it a bit.
Having been to GT last week I still think it is not any better, just a big climb followed by a longish descent. I have been riding there since before it became a modern "trail centre" tho.

Mabie. Can(and do occasionally)ride there every day of the week, but there is(was)a fair bit of local knowledge stuff in and around the forest area.

Dalbeattie. Bit like Ae, Marmite to some people but again with some local stuff thrown it there are hrs of riding in and around the forest. If you have an OS map or any tourist map you can pick up the coastal path from Colvend(road to)Portling to Castle Point to Rockcliffe to Kipford and back into the forest at Barnbarroch on the walking rote and pick up the Blue Stanes route.

Kirroughtree is the obvious must do 😆

Kirroughtree is the obvious must do

I'm riding K'tree on Tuesday. 🙂

I will have a caravan to clean 🙄

Just back into the world of WWW.

WOW . Having a great time in the stupidly hot Scottish weather.

Left Dalesmtb after a couple of days introducing myself to real hills and headed north up the M6 to Peebles. Once into Scotland proper the traffic died down and the weather improved so made good time to Peebles.

Met Jason , YodaGoat and Epoaholic by the hub and rode the Red loop.

Epoholic is a fast racer and a very good technical decender . Even when it we went down some bits with roots and drops , which i ride alot , he was gone into the distance .

Thanks for the company , it was much appreciated .

Next day rode Inners , and again got my arse handed to me by the Progresion Fitness lads . They laughed when i said i normally see you disapearing at the Gorrick races , drive 300 miles to see the same backside going away from you . Great fun , but a tad isolated . So rode Gt red in the afternoon .

Today rode the GT black this morning and have just arrived in Dumfries .

My back is tired, my legs are tired and its still red hot , very glad i bought electrolyte with me .

Trekster , will pass on the ride this evening , thanks , but need to stuff some decent food down me , and get some sleep

Woodsman . Its like home but with rocks and loose stones . Maybe beefier tyres , twin and bash , a camera as the veiws are amazin . lots of water and make sure your brakes are in full working order

Rob

and again got my arse handed to me

Sounds like you'll fit right in with us lot then, we're used to watching people disappear off into the distance 😀

But who's looking after the beer while you're away??? 😯

DAY 6

Rode out at Ae forest yesterday . Too bloomin hot for me , i cant believe how hot it is for April in Scotland . Didnt really enjoy Ae , it has recently been resurfaced with freash chippings and it was abit like riding down a newly laid bit of tarmac before it has been rollered.
There were some very good sections , although they didnt make for the fire road climbs .
The jumpy section at the end would probably be a good place to learn jumps as it was well spaced and straight lined

Day 7

Kirroughtree today . Rain rain rain . I suppose 2 weeks in April witout expecting rain was abit much to hope for . Tricky to negotiate the granite slabs in the rain . I was never sure how much grip the offered. It was slightly unnerving to hear the tyre ping and pop off the sides of the rock ledges , not something we get in Stanmer park.

Lovely sections of swoopy singletrack that rewarded effort , although it was easy to overcook bits when enthusiasm overtook ability.

Strugled on mcmoab , too technical for me . Had an otb on the way to the top so called it a day up there.
Did ride the drop on the first mile from the car park , that was scarey enough for me..
Loved the last few miles , would have been better if had it been dry , but even so well constructed flowy tracks , and some good company .

Suns out now, forcast looks good too

Thanks for the updates Rob and glad you're still having fun. If it's any consolation, we've had some heavy showers and thunder here today.

Loud crashing and banging in the car park followed by helpin none other than Bullheart insert his rear wheel into a PA.
Good to meet you properly Mark.

Dude, you make me sound like a 'tard... 🙁

Have a good one. Look forward to MM!

I'll be adjusting his brakes tomorrow when he's not looking, far too quick on the ups, a bit of brake drag needed methinks . The Slab at Dalbeatie beckons tomorrow. Photos will be taken!

Sunday 24 Dalbeatie and Mabie

Met up with Graeme and Sean at Tesco and headed south to Dalbeatie .
Not especially busy for a BH weekend , alot of people doing the familly thing i think .Rode the red loop and enjoyed it alot . Had a look at the slab , and bined it off . Not my thing really , too rad .
In the afternoon i rode the red loop at Mabie . Different to the other routes , less rocky and alot more flowy . I really enjoyed the loop , even with the little diversions . The big berms that looked new flowed really well , nicely set up and almost perfect for carving.

Big thanks to Graeme and Sean for showing me round and giving pointers on the tricky bits .

Heading sarf tomorrow via Newcastleton for an overnight in Manchester , and abusing my bros washing machine .

It's been a pleasure riding with you these last couple of days Rob,enjoy the rest of your holiday, and I'll mail you the pics tomorrow.

Monday 25

Newcastleton. En route South.

Left Dunfries after staying at South Park House . Not cheap but if you factor in the use of a kitchenette and washing machine / dryer not too bad . Well located if you intend to tour the westward stanes too.

Newcastleton is a little odd . Very good in parts and poor in others . Met a guy on a Lefty Scapel in the car park , and plodded off whilst he faffed with his shock pressures , i hoped he would catch up , but he didnt , and i wasnt blasting around .

The first 1/4 and last 1/4 were the good bits , but the link was poor.

Very loose surface , needing some quick corrections stop the front washing out . Hopefully it will pack down and bed in .

In Manchester now , heading across to The Peak District tomorrow and looking forward to some different riding from , berm , rock , drop , switchback climb , rock, drop etc etc

Tues 26 Marple

Met up with NBT and Bunnyhop and Sambob for a edge of the Peak district ride.
We rode out the door and headed out into the countryside . Massively different to the trail centers i have been at recently. Sweet dry tracks , loose and dusty , but predictable. Some steep climbs with brick sized rocks to negotiate .
A few puncture issues and on / off rain meant a shortened route, but i was very impressed with what i saw.
The chain gang and local busy bodies were a surprise . Was half expecting to see Tommy Lee Jones with a pump action round the next corner.
Big Thanks to Julian for the invite and for showing me round the local area.

Rob

The axe murderer 😆 Seriously, i really enjoyed today, however hard the grumpy woman tried. Riding past swizzels on the way home was torture though 🙁

Great to meet you Rob. I think you fibbed a little, telling us that most your riding is done on the flat, as you rode off at quite a pace up and up and up, then flew down and down and down. Don't tell c_g how slow I am?

Thanks for helping nbt out with all 3 flats. I thinks he's not so keen on tubeless now!, That beer though has helped ease the memory of his otb moment and the punctures.

Don't let the axe murdering chain gang keep you awake at night.

Sambob - what was this weeks sweetie flavour? Love hearts, parma violets, refreshers?

Photos to follow.

Double lollies today 🙂

Nice day out. Thanks for all the help with punctures, I think that's the last three years worth in one ride. Two tyres and three tubes was it in the end?

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/n_b_t/5659112786/ ]Puntcure #2. Or was it #3?[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/n_b_t/ ]Notoriously Bad Typist[/url], on Flickr

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/n_b_t/5658539131/ ]Cake, drinks and Bacon butties[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/n_b_t/ ]Notoriously Bad Typist[/url], on Flickr

That beer is damn nice though. 😀

BUT WHO'S LOOKING AFTER THE BEER??!?! 😯

This is important. We need answers.

Yay Rob, glad to see your trip came off and is going well.
Just back today from a week's attempted skiing with my boy. We did manage 4 days on snow out of 8, by travelling to Val d'Isere - great resort.
Kid's a lot better than me on 2 sticks that is for certain!!

Glad to see you started a thread about this and you're meeting up with STWers on the way. Great stuff.

May be a lot of free riding time in my future. But then again there may not 🙁

Can't guess where you're off to next in your itinerary, so will check in and check it out. You didn't take a camera??

Another great day then and quite a contrast of riding! But rocks? We don't get those in the South. 😯

Looks as though you're being well-fed and watered. 🙂

bunnyhop - you Northerners are tuff with those hills!

Looks as though you're being well-fed and watered.

Hopefully we've given Rob a taster of the Peak/s and hope he'll come back for a proper Dark Peak ride when next visiting his brov.

c_g - you are welcome anytime (its not all rocks you know), however we have virtually no singletrack 🙁

Wed 27 Penmancho

Drove across from Manchester to North Wales to visit Penmancho on a recomendation from NBT.
Lovely little village and a small car park to start off from .
Really nice track once off the fireroads . Very narrow and well made sections of singletrack . Very hot again , and after a few miles i was wishing i had put a Nuun tablet in my 'bak.

Did part 1 , was looking for part 2 , and missed the turn . I then did a little free stylee along the road to village and up this awful road climb up the intersection.

Rode around part2 . Amazing views looking north up the valley to the wind farm. A buzzard flew off from a tree right in front of me , loosing altitude to gain some air speed. Rather big when only 10ft away.

Rejoined part 1 and recompleted that bit of the loop again, another chance to ride the superb last couple of sections down to the car park.

At CYB now , riding there tomorrow then south to Afan.

Lord give me strength...

The beer, man, the beer!

WHO IS LOOKING AFTER THE BLOODY BEER?????

Could be child's face, is all I'm saying. 😐

Flod, my unable assistant is attempting to make beer whilst i am away .
Last time we had to throw away 1500 gallons of beer as he mixed the wrong 2 chemicals and we dont want another Bopal do we ?

Glad you enjoyed it after we sang it's praises so highly. We're off that way tomorrow, managed to find space on a caravan site down the road!

[b]we had to throw away 1500 gallons of beer[/b]

(Sobs uncontrollably at the horrific thought of it all)

😥

'Flod'? 😕

[i]we had to throw away 1500 gallons of beer[/i]

Pure Gold too, IIRC. ❓ Flod indeed.

Thur 28 . Day 12 . Coed Y Brynen.

Stayed at the Cae Guy farm in the B and B . A good location if you are thinking of riding at CYB . The campsite seems adequate and the owners lovely.
They will even give you a lift to the local if you ask nicely
Rode the Dragons Back trail solo . Some really really flowy , swoopy parts and well designed around aged trees so some root balls to deal with .
Very hot again . horrible on the fire roads . I dont normally take my lid off , but on most of the climbs the lid and gloves came off.
Managed to just about not to stop at the half way cafe when i saw the Walls ice cream sign.
Didnt realise how much of it was the Beast , with some added fire road loops (pointless , .- the guide calls them sociable climbs . . great when you are on your own )
Really enjoyed the drop down from the high point on the munsters named sections
Left mid wales around 14.00 to head to Afan

We try and miss out that pointless climb up the fire road and then back down a fire road too. Hot for us as well yesterday, but I caved in and did spend half and hour at the mid way cafe. Agree that the munster sections are great.

Have you finished the tour now?

Gonna try something different at Afan? Or just do it all?! 🙂

Home now , so a little report on the last few days.

Arrived at Afan and set up tent at Bryn Bettws lodge. They need to spend less time building a 'world class 4x track' out of boulders , and a little more time on sorting toilets and showers for the tenting fraternity.
Drove over to Brechfa on Royal wedding friday and rode the black loop .
Some errosion caused by braking spoilt some sections, but it was bone dry , loose and running realy fast. Those huge berms just beg you to wang it in way too fast , crank it over , and pray the front sticks. Nice small group of 7 so we made good progress and totally avoided the wedding .

Sat = day 14 . Rode W2 on another hot day , fortunatly there was a strong breeze which took the worst of the heat away . 1 of the SMA regulares Jim had a big off on the wall, and landed some 30ft down the slope , cuts and bruises but nothing broken , apart from a modded rear wheel that resmebled a pringle.
Starting from Bryn Bettws is nice as the track runs alongside the campsite , but its a biatch of a climb after a stop at Glencorag back up to the top . Drank about 4 ltrs on the day but had fun, possibly on the best days riding

Sun = day15 . Cwmcarn on the way home . Didnt really enjoy the loop as its up up up , along , then down ,fast.
Think time spent on the skills / freeride area would improve my jumping ability , but one thing i did learn on my day with Jedi was beware cros winds as they whip away your front wheel , and it was very gusty up the top . Loved the next woodland section after that , had a clean full speed run down the pedally section parrallel to the rode . Gave it full beans and despite riding it blind, was fully rewarded with the 'riding god' eurphoria you get when you have expelled all your energy and ability ,survived , and spanked your mates.

Coffee and cake in the car park then home down the M4.

So 15 days continous riding . The least milage was a lap of Newcastleton, the most Red at Inners followed , by Red at GT . Although i think its almost the same as W2 .

Hardest .- Black at GT , solo, baking hot , and no wind worth mentioning .

Milage . Rode in the region of 250 miles . Drove 1720 miles . Met some lovely people .

Sponsored by Nature Valley Granola bars and Bannana Sorreen . I ate 6 boxes of bars, and 4 loaves of malt loaf .

The best was riding with people, riding is great and i love it, but the shared experience of fixing broken stuff, map reading , sharing cake , having a laugh , the banter , racing your mates , rubbing wheels , telling stories, drinking and eating enhances the experience alot.

Sounds fantastic. Not jealous at all 😉
When's the next one?

Well done Rob!

Did you have good weather as well Pete ?

Bet you loved Scotland , right up your street .
Mr Donne bumped into Brian at Afan as he was waiting for a taxi back to the campsite , and we had done one by then.

The weather was great, couldn't believe how hot and sunny it was. A bit of a brief visit for us, but out of what we did I preferred 'Inners', having a little bit more of a natural feel to it.

Put your feet up now, you deserve it!

Nice one Rob. The worst weather we've had up here for over a month was whilst you were here, very unlucky. Glad you enjoyed your trip. Let me know next time you're planning a trip to the peaks and i'll show you some proper rocky hilly stuff 🙂

You certainly have some stamina! A lot of miles driven and ridden. Pleased you enjoyed it. 🙂

STW comes to the rescue once again with local people happy to guide around their trails. 8)

Well done Rob, you certainly must be in the peak of cycling fitness.

Oh and thanks for introducing us to the yumminess of banana soreen.

Sambob - can I come too?

You most certainly can. Beasty lockerbrook sound good? MMMMMMMM BANANA SOREEN, still havn't found any near me 🙁