We finally made it back after 5hrs
40mins on the trails and despite
the difficult start it had been a
good ride. Not only had we
enjoyed riding some great trails
but we had burned a lot of
calories, great preparation of
Christmas.
I would just like to say thanks to
everyone who helped on the day,
either sweeping or pointing the
40mins on the trails and despite
the difficult start it had been a
good ride. Not only had we
enjoyed riding some great trails
but we had burned a lot of
calories, great preparation of
Christmas.
I would just like to say thanks to
everyone who helped on the day,
either sweeping or pointing the
|
| A 'Big' Ride by www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |
The Big rides attract experienced riders so I had been running them with slightly looser control than the
Social rides. There are still things need to happen, one of which is the last man procedure. Unfortunately
on this occasion it didn’t work as well as I would have liked and I lost some riders, the first in five years! At
one junction I was told we were all there. A little further on somebody went, hang on Kev and Steve aren’t
here. I rode back for over a mile but couldn’t find them. Kev told me later his GPS Unit had fallen off on
Social rides. There are still things need to happen, one of which is the last man procedure. Unfortunately
on this occasion it didn’t work as well as I would have liked and I lost some riders, the first in five years! At
one junction I was told we were all there. A little further on somebody went, hang on Kev and Steve aren’t
here. I rode back for over a mile but couldn’t find them. Kev told me later his GPS Unit had fallen off on
| Mark, Bill & Tim on the tricky climb from Loggerheads |
| Paul, Ian & Tim strating the climb to Maeshafn |
the first bump out of the Moel Famau car park.
Steve was at the back and stayed to help find it.
When they looked up the road ahead was empty. I
was gutted for them and very annoyed at myself for
not doing a head count sooner. The only saving
grace was that I knew Kev was local and they would
be able to find their way back to the cars.
Steve was at the back and stayed to help find it.
When they looked up the road ahead was empty. I
was gutted for them and very annoyed at myself for
not doing a head count sooner. The only saving
grace was that I knew Kev was local and they would
be able to find their way back to the cars.
| (right) Mike at the junction before Nercwys Forest with clear views across the Cheshire Plain |
Determined to have no more go missing I quickly put a new plan in
place. Tim thankfully volunteered to be the designated sweeper and, once everyone knew who he was, we
set off. I was aware we had lost valuable daylight and needed to keep moving, so I asked riders at the
front to stand at junctions pointing the way until they saw Tim, when they could be confident there was no-
one else to come. Using this relay method we could keep the pace up for a good few miles before needing
to regroup. It worked well and I’ll definitely be using it again in the future, lesson learned.
set off. I was aware we had lost valuable daylight and needed to keep moving, so I asked riders at the
front to stand at junctions pointing the way until they saw Tim, when they could be confident there was no-
one else to come. Using this relay method we could keep the pace up for a good few miles before needing
to regroup. It worked well and I’ll definitely be using it again in the future, lesson learned.
After some fast hardpack trails
through Nercwys woods we hit
claggy trails on the other side.
Traction was difficult to find and
the mud sapped strength from our
legs but the views across the
Cheshire plain more than made up
for all the hard work.
We then left the views behind and
headed for Graianrhyd. On the
way there I decided to punch
myself in the face. On a hook
holding a gate closed the chain
was a touch too short and I
through Nercwys woods we hit
claggy trails on the other side.
Traction was difficult to find and
the mud sapped strength from our
legs but the views across the
Cheshire plain more than made up
for all the hard work.
We then left the views behind and
headed for Graianrhyd. On the
way there I decided to punch
myself in the face. On a hook
holding a gate closed the chain
was a touch too short and I
struggled to prise it off before the first
rider appeared behind me. It did release
eventually, when I was pulling quite hard.
After Graianrhyd I was disappointed to find
the most challenging climb had
disappeared beneath a layer of gravel. I
wished the improvements had been
confined to the top where, at least, we had
lost the horrible muddy ruts.
This was the last section of off-road before
a few tarmac miles to Llandegla and a stop
at the cafe for hot drinks and bacon
butties. We sat and had a chat and said
rider appeared behind me. It did release
eventually, when I was pulling quite hard.
After Graianrhyd I was disappointed to find
the most challenging climb had
disappeared beneath a layer of gravel. I
wished the improvements had been
confined to the top where, at least, we had
lost the horrible muddy ruts.
This was the last section of off-road before
a few tarmac miles to Llandegla and a stop
at the cafe for hot drinks and bacon
butties. We sat and had a chat and said
| (above) Mark and (right) Connor in Nercwys Forest |
| John in Nercwys Forest |
| (left) Andy and (right) Mike on the muddy trails after Nercwys Forest |
(left) Dave and (above) Bill in the ford
on the way to Graianrhyd, where I
punched myself in the face
on the way to Graianrhyd, where I
punched myself in the face
(far left) Bill, Tim
and John starting
the climb from
Graianrhyd
(left) No more loose
rocks, it's all gravel
and John starting
the climb from
Graianrhyd
(left) No more loose
rocks, it's all gravel
| Arriving at Llandegla |
| Group photo at the Llandegla cafe |
I thought my guiding duties would be easier for a while but actually I
found it harder to keep track of the group as we made our way through
numerous other riders. After a blast down the Black route, which
never fails to bring a smile to my face, we regrouped and noticed two
more riders missing! Oh not again, I thought. They had been at the
front and must have continued, having been told we were following
the Black. I was confident they wouldn’t have gone too far but the
found it harder to keep track of the group as we made our way through
numerous other riders. After a blast down the Black route, which
never fails to bring a smile to my face, we regrouped and noticed two
more riders missing! Oh not again, I thought. They had been at the
front and must have continued, having been told we were following
the Black. I was confident they wouldn’t have gone too far but the
little bit further on they
must have gone was up
the final steep climb to
where the Black rejoined
the Red. Thankfully that’s
where they were and this
meant we had more of
Offa’s Dyke to descend,
which too be honest
improved the ride as I
had forgotten how good
that bit was.
There was another wait at
the bottom as Paul B had
his bike checked over to
must have gone was up
the final steep climb to
where the Black rejoined
the Red. Thankfully that’s
where they were and this
meant we had more of
Offa’s Dyke to descend,
which too be honest
improved the ride as I
had forgotten how good
that bit was.
There was another wait at
the bottom as Paul B had
his bike checked over to
| (left) Tim and (right) Mike on the climb from the cafe |
| Andy on the Red Route drop |
| Mark on the Red Route drop |
| Dave riding the singletrack at Llandegla |
find the source of a ‘funny noise’. I was
really conscious of the time now. With a big
group and 14miles to go we were pushing it
with just over two hours of sunlight left. On
the road section back to the Clwydian
Range I picked the pace up and kept things
moving even though I was feeling tired and
my legs hurt. If I was feeling the pain then
most of the group would be too.
At our next regroup Rob kindly pointed out
that it looked like I had wet myself. It
turned out my old waterproof wasn’t very
breathable anymore and sweat was coming
out the only way it could. This was also the
really conscious of the time now. With a big
group and 14miles to go we were pushing it
with just over two hours of sunlight left. On
the road section back to the Clwydian
Range I picked the pace up and kept things
moving even though I was feeling tired and
my legs hurt. If I was feeling the pain then
most of the group would be too.
At our next regroup Rob kindly pointed out
that it looked like I had wet myself. It
turned out my old waterproof wasn’t very
breathable anymore and sweat was coming
out the only way it could. This was also the
reason my gloves were
soaking and my fingers
were starting to freeze.
After a descent through
the fisheries we climbed
back to the ridge of the
Clwyds. Tiredness was
really getting a hold on
most of the group by
now. At the top I didn’t
really need to look at my
watch to realise the
whole route wouldn’t be
possible. The sun was
getting close to the
soaking and my fingers
were starting to freeze.
After a descent through
the fisheries we climbed
back to the ridge of the
Clwyds. Tiredness was
really getting a hold on
most of the group by
now. At the top I didn’t
really need to look at my
watch to realise the
whole route wouldn’t be
possible. The sun was
getting close to the
| (left to right) Bill, John and Tim descending Offa's Dyke |
horizon and the temperature was starting to drop,
not a sensible time to stay in the hills. After
discussing the options with Rob my plans for bailing
after the next decent became bail now.
By following the ridge we managed to reach the
Clwyd Gate with the sun still just above the horizon.
We had now reached the main road and it was time
to race the sun back to the car park. Sensing home
we all seemed to pick up a bit as we big ringed it
towards Llanferres. It wasn’t long after that the cars
came into view, as did the welcome sight of an open
burger van, with just in time for a hot drink before it
closed. It was a very close thing, by the time my
bike was packed away it was dark.
not a sensible time to stay in the hills. After
discussing the options with Rob my plans for bailing
after the next decent became bail now.
By following the ridge we managed to reach the
Clwyd Gate with the sun still just above the horizon.
We had now reached the main road and it was time
to race the sun back to the car park. Sensing home
we all seemed to pick up a bit as we big ringed it
towards Llanferres. It wasn’t long after that the cars
came into view, as did the welcome sight of an open
burger van, with just in time for a hot drink before it
closed. It was a very close thing, by the time my
bike was packed away it was dark.
| (left) Connor and (right) John at the fisheries junction |
| (left) Rob and (right) Simon at the top of the last climb just before we took the decision to bail |
way at junctions. The ride wouldn't have gone as smoothly if you hadn't. I would also like to say a 'Big'
thank you for another great year of rides. I have really enjoyed taking you out, meeting new people and
showing you some new trails. As always, I have more planned for next year and I hope you will be able to
come along. Have a great Christmas and New Year. See you in 2010.
For details of how to buy a digital orginal of any of these photos - click here
GPS log of the route (mmo) and (gpx) : the last 1/4 of this GPS log has been created manually with Memory Map
thank you for another great year of rides. I have really enjoyed taking you out, meeting new people and
showing you some new trails. As always, I have more planned for next year and I hope you will be able to
come along. Have a great Christmas and New Year. See you in 2010.
For details of how to buy a digital orginal of any of these photos - click here
GPS log of the route (mmo) and (gpx) : the last 1/4 of this GPS log has been created manually with Memory Map
hello to Paul from a previous ride, who had just completed a lap of the Black route, then set off to follow
the manmade trails ourselves.
the manmade trails ourselves.