There was another good turn out for this ride, including a few new faces. Word must be getting around as
again, in a week of particularly bad weather, we were blessed with blue skies and a low winter sun. From the
car park we climbed into the trees for a steady warm up on the firetrack. After the climb a few miles of
again, in a week of particularly bad weather, we were blessed with blue skies and a low winter sun. From the
car park we climbed into the trees for a steady warm up on the firetrack. After the climb a few miles of
| Start at the lower Moel Famau car park |
| Making our way through the trees |
undulating track brought us to the junction with
the grassy trail up to the back of Moel Famau.
Two riders we had seen following us finally
caught up at the junction and it turned out to be
Veronika and Jan who, having ridden from home,
arrived slightly late and had to put in a quick first
stint to catch up. After a standing round for a
chat while letting them get their breaths back we
the grassy trail up to the back of Moel Famau.
Two riders we had seen following us finally
caught up at the junction and it turned out to be
Veronika and Jan who, having ridden from home,
arrived slightly late and had to put in a quick first
stint to catch up. After a standing round for a
chat while letting them get their breaths back we
The first climb of the day
Lucy (above) and Jim (below) on the
final descent of the forest section
final descent of the forest section
| Damien, Ken, Maca and Me riding to the junction with the grassy climb |
set off of the grassy climb. The stunning views
over Cheshire and the Wirral were taken in until
over Cheshire and the Wirral were taken in until
the singletrack round the back of Moel Famau that required our full
attention. After the rain of the previous day it was still muddy and
slippy making it trickier to clean. This ended with a short push up to
Offas Dyke path at the top of the climb. Crossing the path led on to a
great descent, grassy and fast, down into the Vale of Clwyd. Towards
the bottom things got a bit tricky again as the camber and the soft
attention. After the rain of the previous day it was still muddy and
slippy making it trickier to clean. This ended with a short push up to
Offas Dyke path at the top of the climb. Crossing the path led on to a
great descent, grassy and fast, down into the Vale of Clwyd. Towards
the bottom things got a bit tricky again as the camber and the soft
| Waiting at the junction before Jan and Veronika caught up |
| Jan at the top of the grassy climb |
| Lucy, Jim and Maca, singletrack around Moel Famau |
| Steve and Damien on the singletrack around Moel Famau |
| Jan and Veronika start the grassy descent from Offas Dyke |
surface tried to take the wheels out from under
us. After a traverse along the side of the hill it
was then on to the BW descent to Gellifor.
Fortunately the ground had drained well, as it
can be quite muddy on this section, so we could
have a great blast down through the tunnel of
trees to the village. This was followed by a
gentle ride along some quite lanes with a
breather for some bike fettling. The tarmac soon
gave way to the next off-road section that turned
us. After a traverse along the side of the hill it
was then on to the BW descent to Gellifor.
Fortunately the ground had drained well, as it
can be quite muddy on this section, so we could
have a great blast down through the tunnel of
trees to the village. This was followed by a
gentle ride along some quite lanes with a
breather for some bike fettling. The tarmac soon
gave way to the next off-road section that turned
| Ken, Annwen and Emma on the slippery descent |
Sabine and Steve
completing the first
big descent
completing the first
big descent
| Sabine in the tunnel of trees |
out to be the muddiest section of the ride.
Although it was hard to keep going in a
straight line the double track was thankfully
on the flat, any incline would have made it a
lot more difficult. Once across the Mold to
Although it was hard to keep going in a
straight line the double track was thankfully
on the flat, any incline would have made it a
lot more difficult. Once across the Mold to
| Emma and Sabine on the muddy double track after Gellifor |
| Jim, Ashley and Ken start the climb to the Clwyd Gate |
| Climbing the flanks of Moel Eithinen and on to Fron Hen |
| Being fast down hill with no mud guards Tom changed colour |
Ruthin road a little more lane work brought us to start of the second and
final climb of the day. The first half of the climb to the Clwyd Gate Hotel
final climb of the day. The first half of the climb to the Clwyd Gate Hotel
up through the trees was broken with another break. The climb continued after the Hotel up to the flanks of
Fron Hen. With some legs starting to tire the top of the climb and the descent to the car park was a welcome
sight. The wide fast dirt track gave way to a rockier section at the bottom. While taking a rockier line to pass
someone and keeping an eye on them, more than the trail ahead, I ended up pinch flatting my front tyre. The
last 30 meters were then a lot more interesting with very little ability to steer or use the front brake but I
Fron Hen. With some legs starting to tire the top of the climb and the descent to the car park was a welcome
sight. The wide fast dirt track gave way to a rockier section at the bottom. While taking a rockier line to pass
someone and keeping an eye on them, more than the trail ahead, I ended up pinch flatting my front tyre. The
last 30 meters were then a lot more interesting with very little ability to steer or use the front brake but I
managed to stop before anything painful happened. On the road at the
bottom I pointed everyone in the direction of the car park and met them
there after walking my bike back as repairing the flat would have taken
longer. I got back glad to see everyone happy after a great ride, so
bottom I pointed everyone in the direction of the car park and met them
there after walking my bike back as repairing the flat would have taken
longer. I got back glad to see everyone happy after a great ride, so
thanks goes to Maca for
sorting this route out.
Thanks also to Jan and
Jim for supplying some of
these photos. Hope to
see you all out riding soon.
A description of this ride
can be found in the routes
section of this site.
sorting this route out.
Thanks also to Jan and
Jim for supplying some of
these photos. Hope to
see you all out riding soon.
A description of this ride
can be found in the routes
section of this site.
| Ashley, Tom and Jan riding below Fron Hen |
Annwen and Veronika on the final descent
