myself to show weakness and start pushing. If pain is weakness leaving your body then a lot of it left me
on the way up. I tried covering up my rest near the top with a photo stop again but Jamie saw through the
act and called my bluff.
on the way up. I tried covering up my rest near the top with a photo stop again but Jamie saw through the
act and called my bluff.
|
I had just sat out the Christmas period with a bad cold and an ankle injury. I wasn’t sure how my ankle
would hold up and how much fitness I had lost but I was looking forward to riding again. Almost a month off
my bike was too much and I was itching to get back out there.
would hold up and how much fitness I had lost but I was looking forward to riding again. Almost a month off
my bike was too much and I was itching to get back out there.
After a week of cold, grey and rainy days I was
grateful for a frosty day with blue skies to accompany
my return to the trails. It was also good to see a lot
of familiar faces
when I arrived in
Glyn Ceiriog.
We caught up on
how each others
Christmas had
been and there
were familiar
stories of bad
colds and not
riding. Sabine
and me hadn’t
when I arrived in
Glyn Ceiriog.
We caught up on
how each others
Christmas had
been and there
were familiar
stories of bad
colds and not
riding. Sabine
and me hadn’t
| Ken and Luke on a beautiful winters day in the Ceiriog valley |
| Ken, Harri & Alex tackle the first climb |
been the only ones then.
This chat continued as we rode through the valley to
the first climb, which was where it stopped. The
climb started out steep and was more difficult than
usual. Recent frosts and rain had combined to
loosen the trail surface so it was draggy and hard to
find traction. Thankfully the concrete water channel
that criss-crossed all the way up was devoid of its
usual coating of green slime, which gave us a 30cm
strip of traction. It was still hard work and there
were a few pushing before the gate at halfway.
The next half was much easier with only a short
section of ice-covered tarmac to catch people out.
We soon reached the top to be rewarded with a
clear view across the valley to the frozen Berwyn
Mountains. It was only when we stopped we noticed
This chat continued as we rode through the valley to
the first climb, which was where it stopped. The
climb started out steep and was more difficult than
usual. Recent frosts and rain had combined to
loosen the trail surface so it was draggy and hard to
find traction. Thankfully the concrete water channel
that criss-crossed all the way up was devoid of its
usual coating of green slime, which gave us a 30cm
strip of traction. It was still hard work and there
were a few pushing before the gate at halfway.
The next half was much easier with only a short
section of ice-covered tarmac to catch people out.
We soon reached the top to be rewarded with a
clear view across the valley to the frozen Berwyn
Mountains. It was only when we stopped we noticed
(clockwise from left) Nick, Lee
and Luke on the Foel Wylfa climb
with the Berwyns behind
and Luke on the Foel Wylfa climb
with the Berwyns behind
how cold the wind so there was no chance of lingering in this beautiful spot.
Instead we went down the short, fun descent to Llechrydau farm for somewhere
out of the wind but in the sun to eat some food.
Instead we went down the short, fun descent to Llechrydau farm for somewhere
out of the wind but in the sun to eat some food.
| (right) Anne & Luke (far right) Steve & Ken riding across Pen y Gwely |
(above - left to right) Anne, Harri, Jason, Steve S and (left) Jamie on the Old Hanger descent
Because of the winter conditions
and post Christmas fitness levels
we kept to the lanes across the
hills to the next descent. The time
on tarmac passed quickly and we
were soon speeding down the
Starlings Castle descent, trying to
pick a good line through the loose
rocks on our way to the bottom of
the valley.
and post Christmas fitness levels
we kept to the lanes across the
hills to the next descent. The time
on tarmac passed quickly and we
were soon speeding down the
Starlings Castle descent, trying to
pick a good line through the loose
rocks on our way to the bottom of
the valley.
After a quick
break we
headed up the
next climb
where I started
to feel the
effects of my
Christmas of
inactivity, beer,
Bombay mix and
TV. I still had
the ability to
ride but it felt
more difficult
than it should
break we
headed up the
next climb
where I started
to feel the
effects of my
Christmas of
inactivity, beer,
Bombay mix and
TV. I still had
the ability to
ride but it felt
more difficult
than it should
| (above) Jason and (below) Nick on the Starlings Castle descent |
| Steve S and Harri on the rocky Starlings Castle descent |
and I was starting to hurt. As the guide I had to stay
at the front for most of the way up. That
was until I used photography as an excuse
to stop and take pictures of everyone else
struggling.
It was time for a breather at the top and
with a beautiful view of World's End to
enjoy I couldn’t think of a better place to
inhale more food. After making sure
everyone knew which junction to stop at I
set off down the Three Trees descent to
get a good photo spot. With pictures
taken I then followed everyone down and
threw it into the last corner, just before
the junction and the congregated riders.
was until I used photography as an excuse
to stop and take pictures of everyone else
struggling.
It was time for a breather at the top and
with a beautiful view of World's End to
enjoy I couldn’t think of a better place to
inhale more food. After making sure
everyone knew which junction to stop at I
set off down the Three Trees descent to
get a good photo spot. With pictures
taken I then followed everyone down and
threw it into the last corner, just before
the junction and the congregated riders.
Jason and Lee riding the Crogden Wladys
climb out of the Ceiriog valley. It wasn't that
easy as you can see from the pushing
going on behind
climb out of the Ceiriog valley. It wasn't that
easy as you can see from the pushing
going on behind
| Nick, Steve and Harri descending Three Trees |
| Anne and Jamie climbing Green Lane out of the Vale of Llangollen |
I committed to my line at the same
time as Jason flicked his bike
sideways in the direction of the
next trail, which put his rear wheel
directly in my path. On the brakes
hard, and swearing a bit, I came to
a halt just as my front wheel
kissed the back of his bike, phew.
The next climb was the last and I
was glad. Everything hurt now but
as the guide I wouldn’t allow
time as Jason flicked his bike
sideways in the direction of the
next trail, which put his rear wheel
directly in my path. On the brakes
hard, and swearing a bit, I came to
a halt just as my front wheel
kissed the back of his bike, phew.
The next climb was the last and I
was glad. Everything hurt now but
as the guide I wouldn’t allow
With just enough time recharge on the lanes across the top of the hills we hit the final descent, a plummet
to Dolywern. It was fast, muddy and slippery, a great finish to the ride. Fun as it had been I was glad we
weren’t going any further, I was beat. But I did have some energy left, just enough to raise a pint to my
lips…..
GPS log of the route (mmo)
Related Pages: Oneplanet Shop Ride Sep '07
to Dolywern. It was fast, muddy and slippery, a great finish to the ride. Fun as it had been I was glad we
weren’t going any further, I was beat. But I did have some energy left, just enough to raise a pint to my
lips…..
GPS log of the route (mmo)
Related Pages: Oneplanet Shop Ride Sep '07
| (above - left to right) Steve, Steve S and Harri on the slippery descent to Dolywern |
| (below - left to right) Luke, Lee, Alex and Anne on the fast as you dare Dolywern descent |
| A 'Social' Ride by www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |