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We stayed on top of the hills where the riding continued to be good.
The snow was light and the trails were not too steep for my one gear.
It was hard work though. After many miles the strain started to take its
toll and my right knee began to complain. My legs were happy to reach
the final descent but their work wasn’t over. We fought to keep in a
straight line through the last bit of snow before a fast blast to the
bottom of the valley. Well, fast if you had gears. I was left at the back,
pedalling furiously to maintain a scorching 15mph.
We returned to Gyln Ceiriog happy that we’d decided to stay out.
Despite the conditions we had completed a ride and ridden most of it,
if not the one I’d originally planned. It was a shame the group had split
The snow was light and the trails were not too steep for my one gear.
It was hard work though. After many miles the strain started to take its
toll and my right knee began to complain. My legs were happy to reach
the final descent but their work wasn’t over. We fought to keep in a
straight line through the last bit of snow before a fast blast to the
bottom of the valley. Well, fast if you had gears. I was left at the back,
pedalling furiously to maintain a scorching 15mph.
We returned to Gyln Ceiriog happy that we’d decided to stay out.
Despite the conditions we had completed a ride and ridden most of it,
if not the one I’d originally planned. It was a shame the group had split
After answering ‘Yes’ to the emails asking if the ride was going ahead I kept looking at the patches of snow
as I drove up the Ceiriog Valley, trying to work out where the worst bits would be and how this would affect
the planned route. Still, I was confident we would have a good ride.
Thankfully most people had read the hurried email from the previous night, when my printer ran out of ink,
and had turned up with disclaimer forms. With the few I had left there were just enough to go round. Once
as I drove up the Ceiriog Valley, trying to work out where the worst bits would be and how this would affect
the planned route. Still, I was confident we would have a good ride.
Thankfully most people had read the hurried email from the previous night, when my printer ran out of ink,
and had turned up with disclaimer forms. With the few I had left there were just enough to go round. Once
they were signed we set off
through Glyn Ceiriog. We’d only
reached the centre of the village
when a tall figure jumped out from
a van. ‘Is this the Flattyres ride?’
he asked. Stu had arrived late
after relying on satnav to direct
him around a road closure he’d
encountered on the A5. As the
alterative involved some
interesting white lanes he’d only
just made it in time.
through Glyn Ceiriog. We’d only
reached the centre of the village
when a tall figure jumped out from
a van. ‘Is this the Flattyres ride?’
he asked. Stu had arrived late
after relying on satnav to direct
him around a road closure he’d
encountered on the A5. As the
alterative involved some
interesting white lanes he’d only
just made it in time.
On the long, steep climb from Glyn Ceiriog I was still assessing the snow. There were deep patches on the
north facing slopes but the descent we were heading for was south facing. While there was snow at the
start I was happy to find trail bikes had cut a way through and it completely disappeared as soon as we
headed down hill.
north facing slopes but the descent we were heading for was south facing. While there was snow at the
start I was happy to find trail bikes had cut a way through and it completely disappeared as soon as we
headed down hill.
The descent had changed
since my last visit. A
stream fed by the melting
snow obscured the trail.
The running water had
expose more rocks,
making it more
challenging and fun, if a
little wet. The most
challenging section
appeared when the water
turned solid. I missed the
shout of ‘watch out for
the ice’ at the bottom of
the descent and only just
managed to stay upright
when I tried to stop.
since my last visit. A
stream fed by the melting
snow obscured the trail.
The running water had
expose more rocks,
making it more
challenging and fun, if a
little wet. The most
challenging section
appeared when the water
turned solid. I missed the
shout of ‘watch out for
the ice’ at the bottom of
the descent and only just
managed to stay upright
when I tried to stop.
As we rode through the Ceiriog
Valley the next climb came into
view. While it was north facing the
section I could see was clear.
However, not long after starting
our ascent we were dragging our
bikes through knee deep snow. In
places it was possible to use the
edge of fields to ride around the
worst but the water logged grass
was still hard work. I stopped the
group 2/3rds of the way
up and continued on foot
to assess the conditions.
The top of the hill was
still knee deep in snow
and I could see the trail
across the next hill was a
solid white line. A new
plan was needed.
We took another exit
from the junction where
everyone was waiting
and found it not only
rideable but great,
slippery fun. Mark didn’t
up and continued on foot
to assess the conditions.
The top of the hill was
still knee deep in snow
and I could see the trail
across the next hill was a
solid white line. A new
plan was needed.
We took another exit
from the junction where
everyone was waiting
and found it not only
rideable but great,
slippery fun. Mark didn’t
even mind crashing as the deep snow made for a soft landing. The ride continued on country lanes for a
while before we made another attempt to reach the top of the hill. Almost as soon as the climbing started
so did the pushing. At the next junction it was decision time. One trail was submerged beneath deep snow
for some distance, the other had snow at the start which cleared just before it disappeared from view. We
could either continue and risk pushing for the rest of the afternoon or bail and return to Glyn Ceiriog.
while before we made another attempt to reach the top of the hill. Almost as soon as the climbing started
so did the pushing. At the next junction it was decision time. One trail was submerged beneath deep snow
for some distance, the other had snow at the start which cleared just before it disappeared from view. We
could either continue and risk pushing for the rest of the afternoon or bail and return to Glyn Ceiriog.
Time was getting on and half chose to bail.
Steve, who knew the way, volunteered to
lead the returning group. This was a great
help and left me free to lead the remainder
into the unknown. After parting company
we pushed to the clear section of trail. I
remounted unsure how long we would be
riding for this time. Not long as it turned
out. On the first pedal stroke my drive
train exploded.
No problem I had a spare hanger. Err, no. I
should have done a more thorough kit
check. Yes, I did have spare hangers but
they were for my other bikes and neither
Steve, who knew the way, volunteered to
lead the returning group. This was a great
help and left me free to lead the remainder
into the unknown. After parting company
we pushed to the clear section of trail. I
remounted unsure how long we would be
riding for this time. Not long as it turned
out. On the first pedal stroke my drive
train exploded.
No problem I had a spare hanger. Err, no. I
should have done a more thorough kit
check. Yes, I did have spare hangers but
they were for my other bikes and neither
would fit, doh! I was starting to loose my sense of humour. After seeing the look on my face the others
hoped that nothing else would happen.
hoped that nothing else would happen.
Sacrificing my mech
hanger must have
appeased the mountain
biking gods and our luck
started to change. I soon
had my bike bodged
together as a
singlespeed, then we
rode round the corner
and the trail continued to
be clear. It was great to
be riding again, slipping
and sliding along the
muddy trails, trying to
blast through the odd
snow drift without putting
hanger must have
appeased the mountain
biking gods and our luck
started to change. I soon
had my bike bodged
together as a
singlespeed, then we
rode round the corner
and the trail continued to
be clear. It was great to
be riding again, slipping
and sliding along the
muddy trails, trying to
blast through the odd
snow drift without putting
a foot down, laughing when we sank in the soft,
stinking mud at the bottom a puddle and soaking our
feet in the process. Sorry about the last one. It’s not
always best to ride in the wheel tracks of the guide.
stinking mud at the bottom a puddle and soaking our
feet in the process. Sorry about the last one. It’s not
always best to ride in the wheel tracks of the guide.
when it did but we
couldn’t tell what was
going to happen on the
second half of the ride.
I just hope everyone
enjoyed the riding they
managed to do. Let’s
hope the snow melts
soon.
For details of how to buy
a digital orginal of any of
these photos - click here
couldn’t tell what was
going to happen on the
second half of the ride.
I just hope everyone
enjoyed the riding they
managed to do. Let’s
hope the snow melts
soon.
For details of how to buy
a digital orginal of any of
these photos - click here
| Phil and Steve E on the steep climb from Glyn Ceiriog |
| (left to right) Lee, Tom and Steve E enjoying the lack of snow at the start of the descent to Pandy |
| (left to right) Mark, James, Colin and Joe riding through the melt water on the descent to Pandy |
| (left to right) Steve S, Paul and Neil getting wet |
| (left to right) Stu and Tim descending to Pandy |
| (left to right) Niel, Stu and Lee H encountering the first snow on the climb from Tregeiriog |
| (left to right) Phil, Arron and Richard Q on the slippery descent we used to bail out of the snow covered climb |
| (above) Mark playing catch up after his crash (right) Parting company in the deep snow below Foel Wylfa |
| Col on the clear trail after just Foel Wylfa |
| (left) Tim and (right) Lee H tackle the cold water of the Craig-yr-hwch ford |
| Rich T powers out of the ford, all the way to the top of the snowy slope...........nearly |
(left) Colin leading
the way through the
soft grass to bypass
the deep snow on the
Lwybr Ceiriog Trail
the way through the
soft grass to bypass
the deep snow on the
Lwybr Ceiriog Trail
| (right) James further along the LC Trail (far right) James on the icy lane after Llechrydau Farm |
| Lee H on the Spring Hill Woods descent |
| (left to right) Jon, Tim descending in the rut at the top of the Spring Hill Woods descent |
| Descending into the snow on the Spring Hill Woods descent |
| A 'Big' Edge Shop Ride by www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |