We reached the top tired and
mostly out of water but with the
silver lining that there were only
three miles left and they were all
down hill. The first mile was a
fantastic rocky plummet into the
next valley. We soon forgot our
sore legs while concentrating on
holding our line, keeping our
speed and not getting a flat.
We returned to Llandrillo after
mostly out of water but with the
silver lining that there were only
three miles left and they were all
down hill. The first mile was a
fantastic rocky plummet into the
next valley. We soon forgot our
sore legs while concentrating on
holding our line, keeping our
speed and not getting a flat.
We returned to Llandrillo after
|
| A 'Big' Ride by www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |
The early morning drizzle had just stopped when I reached Llandrillo to leave an overcast sky. I hoped the
forecast for improving weather was right as the Berwyns were remote and exposed. It could get a bit
grim. It was a good sign on the first steep climb when most of us found we were overdressed. Even
though it was damp and grey it wasn’t cold, so we stripped off our extra layers in preparation for the long
steady climb to the top of the Wayfarer.
forecast for improving weather was right as the Berwyns were remote and exposed. It could get a bit
grim. It was a good sign on the first steep climb when most of us found we were overdressed. Even
though it was damp and grey it wasn’t cold, so we stripped off our extra layers in preparation for the long
steady climb to the top of the Wayfarer.
(far left) Ritchie on
the steep climb from
Llandrillo
(left) Ian, Ritchie,
Kev beginning the
Wayfarer climb
the steep climb from
Llandrillo
(left) Ian, Ritchie,
Kev beginning the
Wayfarer climb
| (right) Ian on the Wayfarer double track |
The Wayfarer is rocky double track open to
motorised vehicles. On the lower slopes we played
cat and mouse with a group of 4x4’s until the
gradient increased and we left them behind.
motorised vehicles. On the lower slopes we played
cat and mouse with a group of 4x4’s until the
gradient increased and we left them behind.
Perhaps they suffered more wheel spin than we did on the smooth, damp rocks. Whatever it was, we got to
the top first and that’s what counts. Well, that was all of us except Kev.
the top first and that’s what counts. Well, that was all of us except Kev.
Near the top of the climb
I had seen Kev making
steady progress at the
back of the group. At the
summit we became
concerned when he
didn’t appear. When the
4x4’s arrived instead
they let us know he was
looking for the GPS unit
that had fallen off his
bars somewhere on the
climb.
The summit was windy
and shrouded in cloud,
not a nice place to wait.
I had seen Kev making
steady progress at the
back of the group. At the
summit we became
concerned when he
didn’t appear. When the
4x4’s arrived instead
they let us know he was
looking for the GPS unit
that had fallen off his
bars somewhere on the
climb.
The summit was windy
and shrouded in cloud,
not a nice place to wait.
The emergency shelter that had sat in the bottom of my pack for two years finally proved its worth. I pack
light for the Big rides and only had a 4 man shelter for 5 people. It could only really cope with 3 full grown
men but by taking turns we all stayed warm. Rob, who had kindly volunteered to go back down and check
on Kev’s progress, eventually returned alone. It would be difficult to find a small brown and black GPS unit
on the mountain side but as it cost a few hundred quid Kev was going to keep looking for as long as it took
before heading home.
light for the Big rides and only had a 4 man shelter for 5 people. It could only really cope with 3 full grown
men but by taking turns we all stayed warm. Rob, who had kindly volunteered to go back down and check
on Kev’s progress, eventually returned alone. It would be difficult to find a small brown and black GPS unit
on the mountain side but as it cost a few hundred quid Kev was going to keep looking for as long as it took
before heading home.
| (from left to right) Ian, Mike, Simon and Ritchie descending the boulders at the start of the Wayfarer descent |
| Ian on the steep rocks after Pont Rhyd yr hydd |
| Ritchie near the top of the Wayfarer |
| Getting cosy in the clouds at the summit |
Sorry as we were at Kev’s misfortune we
were happy to finally be getting off the
exposed summit. Our discomfort was
quickly forgotten as we dropped into the
Ceiriog valley on the fast, boulder strewn
track. There are not many places where I
miss my full-sus but this was one of them. I
reached the bridge 2/3rds of the way down
glad of the opportunity to rest my burning
forearms before the final blast to the
bottom.
Ritchie suffered the first puncture of the
were happy to finally be getting off the
exposed summit. Our discomfort was
quickly forgotten as we dropped into the
Ceiriog valley on the fast, boulder strewn
track. There are not many places where I
miss my full-sus but this was one of them. I
reached the bridge 2/3rds of the way down
glad of the opportunity to rest my burning
forearms before the final blast to the
bottom.
Ritchie suffered the first puncture of the
| (above) Rob and (right) Simon flying down to the bottom of the Wayfarer |
day at the bottom of the descent. With this and the previous delay we had to
claw back some time on the lanes, so rode straight through Llanarmon DC. It
claw back some time on the lanes, so rode straight through Llanarmon DC. It
to get going again. A belly full of roast spuds
wouldn’t have been great for the steep climb out of
the village either. I’m not sure if Ritchie agreed with
this decision as his chain began to skip badly all of a
sudden, but the diagnosis was a bent hanger and it
was easily fixed.
We’d become resigned to wet feet with all the water
on the trails, so were surprised to find the off-
camber slate of the next descent completely dry.
This meant we could fly down it as fast as we dared.
We agreed it wouldn’t have been as fast as the
riders on the next hill, Gyrn Moelfre. We stopped
for a while and watched as they threw themselves
down the hill that is the stomping ground of the
Athertons.
wouldn’t have been great for the steep climb out of
the village either. I’m not sure if Ritchie agreed with
this decision as his chain began to skip badly all of a
sudden, but the diagnosis was a bent hanger and it
was easily fixed.
We’d become resigned to wet feet with all the water
on the trails, so were surprised to find the off-
camber slate of the next descent completely dry.
This meant we could fly down it as fast as we dared.
We agreed it wouldn’t have been as fast as the
riders on the next hill, Gyrn Moelfre. We stopped
for a while and watched as they threw themselves
down the hill that is the stomping ground of the
Athertons.
was a good job we didn’t stop as the smell of Sunday lunch coming from the pubs would have made it hard
Mike and Rob on the LCU climb
| Ian and Mike, Hen Graig descent |
| Rob stuffing it up the inside of his mate Simon on the Hen Graig descent |
| Ritchie on the off-camber slate of the Hen Graig descent |
| Rob starting the descent to Pant y maen farm |
Ritiche’s third mechanical came on the next descent, a front puncture at speed. With tyre and tube
flapping around he somehow managed to stop without crashing. At this point we had taken 3hrs to ride
only 13 of the planned 32 miles. My joke about leaving the next person with a puncture behind backfired
when, 50 metres down the track, I picked up a thorn in my rear tyre.
flapping around he somehow managed to stop without crashing. At this point we had taken 3hrs to ride
only 13 of the planned 32 miles. My joke about leaving the next person with a puncture behind backfired
when, 50 metres down the track, I picked up a thorn in my rear tyre.
| Mike on the Pant y maen descent |
| Ritchie and Mike on the lanes after Llanrhaeadr YM |
| Mike at the start of the off-road on the Glan hafon climb |
With a few miles of country lanes ahead we took the opportunity to put in some quick miles. After
becoming a dad a few months previously my energy reserves were low so by the time we reached the next
climb my legs were starting to feel heavy. When a group of trail bikes came roaring past I longed for an
engine but had to make do with an energy gel.
becoming a dad a few months previously my energy reserves were low so by the time we reached the next
climb my legs were starting to feel heavy. When a group of trail bikes came roaring past I longed for an
engine but had to make do with an energy gel.
| Ian on the Glan hafon climb |
| Autumn sunshine below Y Clogydd |
| Simon, Ian & Mike descend from Y Clogydd |
The clouds evaporated and the higher we climbed
the more we could see of the stunning view across
the mountains. I don’t know whether it was this or
the gel that made my legs feel better. Whatever it
was I realised we were enjoying one of those
wonderfully epic autumn rides.
All our hard fought altitude was lost as we sat on our
back wheels for the steep descent into the Tanat
valley. It wasn’t all brake burning stuff and we
finished with some sweet singletrack before hitting
the valley floor. We now only had one climb left but
it was a three mile tarmac drag to the head of the
valley. One of those climbs where you have to find
a rhythm hold it while your legs burn. Thankfully the
head wind didn’t make an appearance until the final
few hundred metres.
the more we could see of the stunning view across
the mountains. I don’t know whether it was this or
the gel that made my legs feel better. Whatever it
was I realised we were enjoying one of those
wonderfully epic autumn rides.
All our hard fought altitude was lost as we sat on our
back wheels for the steep descent into the Tanat
valley. It wasn’t all brake burning stuff and we
finished with some sweet singletrack before hitting
the valley floor. We now only had one climb left but
it was a three mile tarmac drag to the head of the
valley. One of those climbs where you have to find
a rhythm hold it while your legs burn. Thankfully the
head wind didn’t make an appearance until the final
few hundred metres.
| (left) Ian and Mike and (right) Ritchie on the steep and grassy descent from Y Clogydd |
| (from left to right) Simon, Rob, Ian, Mike and Ritchie riding the sweet singletrack of the slate quarry descent |
| Rob and Simon near the top of the long drag out of the Tanat valley |
| Rob approaching (left) then disappearing (right) down the fast and rocky final descent to Blaen-y-cwm |
6hrs in the saddle, tired but really happy. It had been a great ride, with great people and the weather had
been kind. You can’t ask for more than that. Well perhaps you can. Being an hour behind schedule there
was no time for a pint!
Directions for this ride can be found in my route guides.
For details of how to buy a digital orginal of any of these photos - click here
been kind. You can’t ask for more than that. Well perhaps you can. Being an hour behind schedule there
was no time for a pint!
Directions for this ride can be found in my route guides.
For details of how to buy a digital orginal of any of these photos - click here
| (left) Mike and (right) Simon on the loose rocks at the bottom of the Blaen-y-cwm descent |