That only increased my disappointment that the ride would be cut short. Even though the pace wasn’t high
I was really suffering towards the end of the first loop. It meant deciding to call it a day on our return to the
car park. There were some big climbs on the second part of the ride and I had the feeling I might cough up
a lung. I have to say a big thank you to everyone for being so understanding and wishing me a speedy
recovery. That goes to Tom and Ben as well, who finally managed to catch up when they returned to the
car park a few minutes after we did.
Thank you to everyone who turned up over the last twelve months and made it another memorable year. I
was great to ride with old friends and make so many new ones. I hope to see you all in 2008 for some more
enjoyable rides.
I was really suffering towards the end of the first loop. It meant deciding to call it a day on our return to the
car park. There were some big climbs on the second part of the ride and I had the feeling I might cough up
a lung. I have to say a big thank you to everyone for being so understanding and wishing me a speedy
recovery. That goes to Tom and Ben as well, who finally managed to catch up when they returned to the
car park a few minutes after we did.
Thank you to everyone who turned up over the last twelve months and made it another memorable year. I
was great to ride with old friends and make so many new ones. I hope to see you all in 2008 for some more
enjoyable rides.
| |||||||||
I should really have stayed in bed. My doctor wouldn’t have advised going out on antibiotics for a chest
infection but the ride was organised and I didn’t want to let anyone down. Maca was coming though and he
had offered to take the ride if I wasn’t up to I, so I went to Moel Arthur car park to see how I felt when I got
there.
infection but the ride was organised and I didn’t want to let anyone down. Maca was coming though and he
had offered to take the ride if I wasn’t up to I, so I went to Moel Arthur car park to see how I felt when I got
there.
When Maca turned up and told me he’d just got a
call from his wife. A sick relative left her one
responsible adult short for taking a group of kids to
a panto and his help was required. Having not
ridden together for a year we were both gutted. It
also meant I was taking the ride.
In the cold car park some late arrivals forced us to
wait around longer than we would have liked. So it
was nice to finally get started and quickly leave the
shadow of the hills and emerge into warm sunlight.
Not far down the lane a car appeared containing
Tom and Ben, who were very late. With the ride
having started we couldn’t wait but they knew the
route and would try to catch us up.
call from his wife. A sick relative left her one
responsible adult short for taking a group of kids to
a panto and his help was required. Having not
ridden together for a year we were both gutted. It
also meant I was taking the ride.
In the cold car park some late arrivals forced us to
wait around longer than we would have liked. So it
was nice to finally get started and quickly leave the
shadow of the hills and emerge into warm sunlight.
Not far down the lane a car appeared containing
Tom and Ben, who were very late. With the ride
having started we couldn’t wait but they knew the
route and would try to catch us up.
| Ian, Pete and Paul near the junction below Moel Arthur |
On the first section of off road I found I couldn’t sprint off the front to take photos. My legs felt weak and
any exertion had my lungs protesting. Maintaining a constant plod was doable, although l still had to
contend with a coughing fit at the top of every climb. With a clear blue sky and great views across to
Snowdonia at least everyone had something to look at while they waited for me to recover.
any exertion had my lungs protesting. Maintaining a constant plod was doable, although l still had to
contend with a coughing fit at the top of every climb. With a clear blue sky and great views across to
Snowdonia at least everyone had something to look at while they waited for me to recover.
(Left) Paul, Chez,
Steve and Lee at the
top of Nannerch Woods
waiting for my coughing
fit to subside
Steve and Lee at the
top of Nannerch Woods
waiting for my coughing
fit to subside
| (Right) Steve and Paul at the bottom of the blast through Nannerch Woods |
| Dave, Dave and Carl climbing past the metal tank below Penycloddiau Fort |
The trail conditions made the
first, easier loop a bit harder with
sections of clinging, slippery
mud. This sapped our energy on
the climbs and made it difficult to
hold a line on the descents. I
held a gate open on the descent
from the mast and got a good
view of the difficulties. Different
people coped in different ways.
While most were on the brakes,
tiptoeing down the slimy ruts
Paul B came flying past with his
bike twitching and sliding,
accompanied by the odd vocal
outburst.
Instead of an ordeal it was quite
fun. There were no crashes, just
sketchy moments to keep things
interesting. Along with clear
skies and crisp air it was a great
winter ride.
first, easier loop a bit harder with
sections of clinging, slippery
mud. This sapped our energy on
the climbs and made it difficult to
hold a line on the descents. I
held a gate open on the descent
from the mast and got a good
view of the difficulties. Different
people coped in different ways.
While most were on the brakes,
tiptoeing down the slimy ruts
Paul B came flying past with his
bike twitching and sliding,
accompanied by the odd vocal
outburst.
Instead of an ordeal it was quite
fun. There were no crashes, just
sketchy moments to keep things
interesting. Along with clear
skies and crisp air it was a great
winter ride.
| Rich descending from the mast |
| Paul fighting to keep his bike upright |
| Alex, Simon, Pete, Dave and Lee tackling the muddy ruts on the descent from the mast |
| Pete and Ian ride into the sun one their way to the Hafod-y-cwm descent |
| Lee sliding about in the mud on the Hafod-y-cwm descent |
| Chez heading to the Hafod-y-cwm descent |
| Lee on the Hafod-y-cwm descent |
| Dave on the Hafod-y-cwm descent |
| Ken and Chez riding through the mud |
| Another Dave on the Hafod-y-cwm descent |
