A grey sky greeted us in Glyn Ceiriog this time and, as with the ride out here
earlier in the year, it was a bit cold. We counted ourselves lucky though as in a
week of wet weather it was dry and there were at least some patches of blue in
the sky. We set off straight into a tarmac climb out of the village, keeping a
steady pace while warming up, and it was not long before we were at the top of
the descent into Pandy. Again the ruts at the top were made trickier by being
earlier in the year, it was a bit cold. We counted ourselves lucky though as in a
week of wet weather it was dry and there were at least some patches of blue in
the sky. We set off straight into a tarmac climb out of the village, keeping a
steady pace while warming up, and it was not long before we were at the top of
the descent into Pandy. Again the ruts at the top were made trickier by being
| Martin, Jim and Paul on the first climb |
which allowed me to clean off my
tyre before having to fixing it. At
least it was a good excuse for a
rest before the final part of the
climb. Once over the top it was on
into some deep muddy ruts before
dropping down the excellent,
rocky descent to Ty-gwyn farm.
Everyone had a huge smile at the
bottom. A bit further on we had a
short push up through some fields
to join the long gradual climb
along the flank of Gryn Moelfre.
tyre before having to fixing it. At
least it was a good excuse for a
rest before the final part of the
climb. Once over the top it was on
into some deep muddy ruts before
dropping down the excellent,
rocky descent to Ty-gwyn farm.
Everyone had a huge smile at the
bottom. A bit further on we had a
short push up through some fields
to join the long gradual climb
along the flank of Gryn Moelfre.
| Maca on the descent to Pandy |
| Crossing the bridge for the climb out of Tregeiriog |
| Jim and Martin at the bottom of the Pandy descent |
| Maca on the Ty-gwyn farm descent |
This led on to a long fast descent
Martin and Maca on the muddy
double track before the descent to
Ty-gwyn farm
double track before the descent to
Ty-gwyn farm
that started grassy and gradually turned
rockier as we lost height. It turned out
not to be my day as one section thickly
rockier as we lost height. It turned out
not to be my day as one section thickly
carpeted with leaves hid the rock that pinch flatted my rear tyre.
Fortunately I got to a natural break in the descent by a farm before I
noticed it . It was about time for another break anyway. The even
slower pinch in my front tyre wasn’t noticed until I replaced my rear,
time to start grovelling for spare tube. At least I could keep
everyones spirits up by allowing them to poke fun at me. It was
actually all part of my plan to increase the joy felt by the group as
when we got to the bottom and hit tarmac everyone was happy to see
the next climb and the chance to warm back up again. A short
descent had us at the bottom of the next climb where we hit the off
road again. The short sharp start to the Bwlchydonge climb had most
walking as one person stalled and those behind unsuccessfully tried
for a new line. With the ground being loose and slippy it proved
difficult to restart but felt like being nasty and got the camera out
which forced everyone to get back on and ride. The trail soon
flattened out but it was onto muddy, rutted double track that proved
Fortunately I got to a natural break in the descent by a farm before I
noticed it . It was about time for another break anyway. The even
slower pinch in my front tyre wasn’t noticed until I replaced my rear,
time to start grovelling for spare tube. At least I could keep
everyones spirits up by allowing them to poke fun at me. It was
actually all part of my plan to increase the joy felt by the group as
when we got to the bottom and hit tarmac everyone was happy to see
the next climb and the chance to warm back up again. A short
descent had us at the bottom of the next climb where we hit the off
road again. The short sharp start to the Bwlchydonge climb had most
walking as one person stalled and those behind unsuccessfully tried
for a new line. With the ground being loose and slippy it proved
difficult to restart but felt like being nasty and got the camera out
which forced everyone to get back on and ride. The trail soon
flattened out but it was onto muddy, rutted double track that proved
| Paul climbing along Gryn Moelfre |
difficult to find traction on. Once we had scrabbled
to the top we were rewarded with a short descent
to Llechrydau farm. We weren't being short
changed though as we were still on the top of the
hill and the main descent was still to come, after a
short section of lane work over the crest of the hill.
It was then on to the rocky descent by Spring Hill
wood. I got a head start to get a good photo spot,
and found one, when I came flying round the
corner to be confronted by a sheet of ice covering
the trail. I made it over by choosing a straight line
and hoping then stopped to get some action shots.
Paul didn't disappoint, he was going to cheat by
taking a high line on the banking but I was standing
on the exit. By that time he had little option left but
to run the length of the ice sheet at speed. He
to the top we were rewarded with a short descent
to Llechrydau farm. We weren't being short
changed though as we were still on the top of the
hill and the main descent was still to come, after a
short section of lane work over the crest of the hill.
It was then on to the rocky descent by Spring Hill
wood. I got a head start to get a good photo spot,
and found one, when I came flying round the
corner to be confronted by a sheet of ice covering
the trail. I made it over by choosing a straight line
and hoping then stopped to get some action shots.
Paul didn't disappoint, he was going to cheat by
taking a high line on the banking but I was standing
on the exit. By that time he had little option left but
to run the length of the ice sheet at speed. He
| Back on the bikes on the tricky Bwlchydonge climb. |
made it by the skin of his teeth
after his back end started
slipping sideways in the last 10m.
Maca, Jim and Martin followed at
a more cautious pace and made it
with no incidents. All that was
then left was the fast finish to the
descent that led back to the
tarmac and the last few miles to
Glyn Ceiriog. Once we returned
to the cars there was time for a
quick change before a visit to the
Glyn Valley Hotel for a pint ands a
bag of peanuts...nice.
This route is a slight variation to
the ride described in my
route guides.
after his back end started
slipping sideways in the last 10m.
Maca, Jim and Martin followed at
a more cautious pace and made it
with no incidents. All that was
then left was the fast finish to the
descent that led back to the
tarmac and the last few miles to
Glyn Ceiriog. Once we returned
to the cars there was time for a
quick change before a visit to the
Glyn Valley Hotel for a pint ands a
bag of peanuts...nice.
This route is a slight variation to
the ride described in my
route guides.
| Paul and Jim completing the descent to Llechrydau farm |
| Maca, Jim and Martin taking the safer option across the ice |
muddy but this was soon forgotten when
the trail steepened and became rockier.
After standing round a bit to enjoy the buzz
of the descent we rode through Pandy and
on to Tregeiriog for the big climb of the
day. The first third was hard going on wet,
claggy mud and slimy rocks. This was made
worse when a thorn entered my front tyre.
Fortunately it stayed up long enough for
me to ride through the water running
running down the rockier middle section
the trail steepened and became rockier.
After standing round a bit to enjoy the buzz
of the descent we rode through Pandy and
on to Tregeiriog for the big climb of the
day. The first third was hard going on wet,
claggy mud and slimy rocks. This was made
worse when a thorn entered my front tyre.
Fortunately it stayed up long enough for
me to ride through the water running
running down the rockier middle section