flattyres mtb routes
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This was to be the third ride in the Ceiriog Valley in the year and a half I had been running my Shop Rides.
With the valley being densely packed with rideable tracks it would be a different route again. At just over
20miles it was one of my longer routes, but around 50% would be on country lanes to make things a bit
easier. The tarmac would be confined to the flat and up hills though. On arriving at Glyn Ceiriog me,
Sabine and Paul were joined by six new faces with a good mix of experience from a couple of months to
many years. After introductions and a quick chat we set off along the lanes for a gentle warm up before the
With the valley being densely packed with rideable tracks it would be a different route again. At just over
20miles it was one of my longer routes, but around 50% would be on country lanes to make things a bit
easier. The tarmac would be confined to the flat and up hills though. On arriving at Glyn Ceiriog me,
Sabine and Paul were joined by six new faces with a good mix of experience from a couple of months to
many years. After introductions and a quick chat we set off along the lanes for a gentle warm up before the
first climb. This climb was no different to
any of the others in the valley being long
and quite steep. For those new to the
area there were a few questions asked as
to how long the climb actually went on for,
Sabine just told them to take it easy as it
may be some way to the top. We took our
time though and all made it up. It was then
time for the first descent. After explaining
what to expect I disappeared down the
double track to find a good photo spot on
the rocky bottom half. I got shots of
everyone as they passed except for Paul
who didn’t appear, so I waited, and waited.
Figuring he’d had a puncture I descended
any of the others in the valley being long
and quite steep. For those new to the
area there were a few questions asked as
to how long the climb actually went on for,
Sabine just told them to take it easy as it
may be some way to the top. We took our
time though and all made it up. It was then
time for the first descent. After explaining
what to expect I disappeared down the
double track to find a good photo spot on
the rocky bottom half. I got shots of
everyone as they passed except for Paul
who didn’t appear, so I waited, and waited.
Figuring he’d had a puncture I descended
| Colin, Andy (above) and Gavin (right) on the first long climb out of the valley |
| Andy just before breaking his chain, Sabine just before falling off, and Wayne on the Plas-onn descent |
| Mark on the lanes by Caemor Wood |
to see how the rest of the group were getting on. Andy was a little further down fixing a broken chain after
a rock strike but had things under control. Near the bottom Sabine was being helped to her feet after
going over the bars and landing heavily on her ribs. Meanwhile Paul still hadn’t turned up. I felt I had to
explain to all the new members of the group Shop Rides weren’t usually quite this eventful. I checked on
Sabine and she seemed a bit battered and bruised, but at least her rib felt like it was still in one piece. I
have ridden with Paul a lot and I know how long he takes to fix things. He was over his allotted time, and
with everyone else being ok, I set off back up the trail. About a third of the way up I came across Paul, with
his bike upside down, just at the end of fixing a double pinch flat. Once we had regrouped at the bottom
we were about to set off when it was realised Sabine’s saddle had been mangled in the crash. An
unsuccessful attempt was made to fix it so I did the chivalrous thing and swapped it with mine.
Unfortunately on the next climb Sabine was having problems, although not broken it seemed her rib was
a rock strike but had things under control. Near the bottom Sabine was being helped to her feet after
going over the bars and landing heavily on her ribs. Meanwhile Paul still hadn’t turned up. I felt I had to
explain to all the new members of the group Shop Rides weren’t usually quite this eventful. I checked on
Sabine and she seemed a bit battered and bruised, but at least her rib felt like it was still in one piece. I
have ridden with Paul a lot and I know how long he takes to fix things. He was over his allotted time, and
with everyone else being ok, I set off back up the trail. About a third of the way up I came across Paul, with
his bike upside down, just at the end of fixing a double pinch flat. Once we had regrouped at the bottom
we were about to set off when it was realised Sabine’s saddle had been mangled in the crash. An
unsuccessful attempt was made to fix it so I did the chivalrous thing and swapped it with mine.
Unfortunately on the next climb Sabine was having problems, although not broken it seemed her rib was
badly bruised or possibly
cracked. The decision was made
that she should bail. Holland had
their first World Cup match that
afternoon so she was happy to go
back to the Glyn Valley Hotel and
support her home country while
she waited for us to complete the
route. On arriving at the junction
where we planned to part ways
we swapped saddles again and
checked Sabine had her car keys.
The return route was simply a
cracked. The decision was made
that she should bail. Holland had
their first World Cup match that
afternoon so she was happy to go
back to the Glyn Valley Hotel and
support her home country while
she waited for us to complete the
route. On arriving at the junction
where we planned to part ways
we swapped saddles again and
checked Sabine had her car keys.
The return route was simply a
| A quick stop by Llechrydau farm |
| Riding over Pen y Gwely |
case of following the road downhill all the way back to Glyn Ceiriog which she was happy to tackle on her
own. Things settled down after that as we spun through the lanes along the top of the hills to the next
section of off-road. After passing through a few fields it was time to descend back into the Ceiriog Valley
on a fast, rocky hard pack trail. There were plenty of grins at the bottom of this and no incidents, which
was nice. Unfortunately a descent into the valley meant climbing out again. The steepest, first half of the
own. Things settled down after that as we spun through the lanes along the top of the hills to the next
section of off-road. After passing through a few fields it was time to descend back into the Ceiriog Valley
on a fast, rocky hard pack trail. There were plenty of grins at the bottom of this and no incidents, which
was nice. Unfortunately a descent into the valley meant climbing out again. The steepest, first half of the
Paul, Colin and Peter on the descent to Ty-newydd farm
climb was on tarmac to make things a little
easier and a couple of thorn punctures
broke the climb up even more. Taking the
opportunity for some food we waited for
the punctures to be fixed. After
regrouping at the top of the lane we
returned to the off-road to ride the
Pheasant Track. A rocky and less steep
climb led on fast section of downhill double
track to a water splash. A short climb
followed that brought us to the big down
hill finish. The loose, rocky double track
disappeared into the next valley then, half
way down, flattened for a few bends that
spat us out across some off-camber slate
bedrock near the bottom. There had been
a few sketchy moments but everyone made
easier and a couple of thorn punctures
broke the climb up even more. Taking the
opportunity for some food we waited for
the punctures to be fixed. After
regrouping at the top of the lane we
returned to the off-road to ride the
Pheasant Track. A rocky and less steep
climb led on fast section of downhill double
track to a water splash. A short climb
followed that brought us to the big down
hill finish. The loose, rocky double track
disappeared into the next valley then, half
way down, flattened for a few bends that
spat us out across some off-camber slate
bedrock near the bottom. There had been
a few sketchy moments but everyone made
| Mark at the top of the tarmac before the Pheasant Track |
| Mark, Peter, Gavin and Andy climbing on the Pheasant Track |
it down again, in one piece.
Nearing the end of the ride now
we were back on country lanes for
a ride up to the Ceiriog Forest
and on to the last descent. This
descent started as double track
then dropped into a thin, rocky
eroded track between high muddy
banks, banks that could be used
Nearing the end of the ride now
we were back on country lanes for
a ride up to the Ceiriog Forest
and on to the last descent. This
descent started as double track
then dropped into a thin, rocky
eroded track between high muddy
banks, banks that could be used
| Andy descending to the water splash |
Wayne climbing on the Pheasant Track
| Peter and Colin at the water splash |
| Andy on the Tyn y pistyll descent |
| Wayne on the Tyn y pistyll descent |
| Gavin staying above his wheels despite a few sketchy moments |
as natural berms on the corners.
At the bottom we were back in
Glyn Ceiriog and a short ride
from the cars. After bidding
At the bottom we were back in
Glyn Ceiriog and a short ride
from the cars. After bidding
Peter, Gavin and Colin descending to Glyn Ceiriog on the Cefn Canol descent
farewell to those who needed to get home a couple of us headed to the Glyn Valley Hotel for a well earned
post ride pint. We found Sabine in the back room talking to the locals, watching the football and drinking
her third liquid pain killer, bruised and battered perhaps, but it looked like she was going to live.
The directions for this ride can be found in my route guides.
post ride pint. We found Sabine in the back room talking to the locals, watching the football and drinking
her third liquid pain killer, bruised and battered perhaps, but it looked like she was going to live.
The directions for this ride can be found in my route guides.
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