flattyres mtb routes
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My fingers had been crossed all week that the bad weather would give us a break for the Shop Ride.
Thankfully on reaching the Moel Arthur car park we were greeted by a dry cold wind and grey clouds, not
the freezing rain, sleet and high winds that had been pretty much standard for the previous couple of
weeks. While waiting for everyone to arrive and get ready we had the opportunity to have a good look at
Thankfully on reaching the Moel Arthur car park we were greeted by a dry cold wind and grey clouds, not
the freezing rain, sleet and high winds that had been pretty much standard for the previous couple of
weeks. While waiting for everyone to arrive and get ready we had the opportunity to have a good look at
Macas’ new bike, a spangely titanium
Airbourne. It was so spangly Maca
asked if we could change the route to
country lanes so he wouldn’t have to
get it dirty. Just after 10am thirteen of
us were ready to set off, I was
expecting my mate to turn up but he
must have slept in and we couldn’t wait
any longer. Macas’ greatest fears were
Airbourne. It was so spangly Maca
asked if we could change the route to
country lanes so he wouldn’t have to
get it dirty. Just after 10am thirteen of
us were ready to set off, I was
expecting my mate to turn up but he
must have slept in and we couldn’t wait
any longer. Macas’ greatest fears were
| Me trying to keep warm while we get ready in the car park |
| Carl heads the group in the snow and mud |
| (clockwise) Jim, Steve, Ken & DaveB, Maca & Carl, Odette descending towards Nannerch woods |
| Carl & DaveB on the singletrack leading away from Moel Arthur |
realised when the first section of off-road
turned out to be covered in snow. Not only
snow but slushy, muddy, water filled rut kind of
snow. By about halfway along he stopped
crying about the state of his bike and accepted
turned out to be covered in snow. Not only
snow but slushy, muddy, water filled rut kind of
snow. By about halfway along he stopped
crying about the state of his bike and accepted
the inevitable. For the first loop the mud just kept coming and it made it pretty hard going. The ground
was still quite firm under the mud so there was traction to be found if you looked hard enough. It took
concentration to keep going forward and in the right direction so as a result there were couple of offs and
was still quite firm under the mud so there was traction to be found if you looked hard enough. It took
concentration to keep going forward and in the right direction so as a result there were couple of offs and
| DaveB, JimB & Carl at the bottom of Nannerch woods |
| Andy leading the group around the ruts |
Carl in the muddy ruts
plenty of dabs. With the ground being soft and the speeds slow
there were no consequences other than getting covered in mud.
Our bikes weighed twice as much as they did at the start of the ride
there were no consequences other than getting covered in mud.
Our bikes weighed twice as much as they did at the start of the ride
Ken at the bottom of Nannerch woods
and each mile was feeling longer and longer. Jims puncture at the halfway point was a welcome break,
even though it was only noticed as we were about to set off from a short break. After taking longer than
even though it was only noticed as we were about to set off from a short break. After taking longer than
| DaveF, Me, Steve & Graham fighting our way through the melting snow for the second time in the ride |
JimB's confident start
(above) soon gives way
to caution on the very
muddy Hafod-y-Cwm
descent
(above) soon gives way
to caution on the very
muddy Hafod-y-Cwm
descent
| Having a break at the bottom of the Hafod-y-Cum descent |
| Odette climbing back to Moel Arthur |
planned we returned to the car park to be met by my mate Paul. He hadn’t slept in, just
forgotten to put his front wheel in the car with the rest of his bike and had to go back for
forgotten to put his front wheel in the car with the rest of his bike and had to go back for
it. Once we’d said our goodbyes to those who were only doing the first loop seven of us set off for the
second instalment. This loop had a different flavour as it was made up of only two descents and two
climbs with very little flat in between. Just round the corner from the car park we hooked up with the top
of Keegans Lane for our first fast, rocky descent. The water erosion increases as you drop down the track
second instalment. This loop had a different flavour as it was made up of only two descents and two
climbs with very little flat in between. Just round the corner from the car park we hooked up with the top
of Keegans Lane for our first fast, rocky descent. The water erosion increases as you drop down the track
and so does the
difficulty level. By the
bottom we all had big
grins, especially Maca
who by that time was
thoroughly smitten
with his new bike.
Once a puncture had
difficulty level. By the
bottom we all had big
grins, especially Maca
who by that time was
thoroughly smitten
with his new bike.
Once a puncture had
Jim with energy to waste
been fixed on the tarmac section it was time
to start the climb back to the top of the
ridge. It was also time to wave goodbye to
Maca as he had to ride all the way to Fflint,
we’d had quite a few punctures and time was
getting on. It was a long drag to the gate at
the top of the hill but there were some great
views of Meol Famau to help us on our way.
Once everyone had got their breaths back it
was time for the twisting, fast, rocky descent
into the Vale of Ruthin. The loose gravel on
to start the climb back to the top of the
ridge. It was also time to wave goodbye to
Maca as he had to ride all the way to Fflint,
we’d had quite a few punctures and time was
getting on. It was a long drag to the gate at
the top of the hill but there were some great
views of Meol Famau to help us on our way.
Once everyone had got their breaths back it
was time for the twisting, fast, rocky descent
into the Vale of Ruthin. The loose gravel on
(clockwise) Jim, JimB, Steve,
Paul & Maca descending
Keegans lane
Paul & Maca descending
Keegans lane
some of the corners gave a few sketchy moments but we all made it down in one piece. Again it was time
to wait for another puncture with Ken taking his turn. All that was left was the climb back to the car park.
Everyone was really looking forward to this as it was the hardest of the day and would be done on tired
legs. Grim determination got everyone to the top, and a bit of mechanical skill when a small twig caught
to wait for another puncture with Ken taking his turn. All that was left was the climb back to the car park.
Everyone was really looking forward to this as it was the hardest of the day and would be done on tired
legs. Grim determination got everyone to the top, and a bit of mechanical skill when a small twig caught
| Ken & Maca in the mud at the bottom of Keegans lane |
| Maca helping Steve with his puncture |
| JimB & Steve after a steep section of tarmac |
| Jim, Paul & Ken (above), JimB (below) climbing the Roman Road |
Pauls’ rear mech and shoved it into his spokes.
Thankfully he carries a spare gear hanger so he
didn’t have to push his bike for the last half a mile.
There were a few wobbly legs back at the car park at
the top but everyone had enjoyed the ride and said
they would be back for more. I would just like to say
thanks for all those who turned up and made it a
great days ride. I always aim for a fun, social ride
and that’s what it turned out to be, cheers. Also
thanks goes to Jim for supplying some of these pics.
Thankfully he carries a spare gear hanger so he
didn’t have to push his bike for the last half a mile.
There were a few wobbly legs back at the car park at
the top but everyone had enjoyed the ride and said
they would be back for more. I would just like to say
thanks for all those who turned up and made it a
great days ride. I always aim for a fun, social ride
and that’s what it turned out to be, cheers. Also
thanks goes to Jim for supplying some of these pics.
| (below) Paul, Jim & DaveB on the fast and loose descent from the gate |
| Steve climbs beneath Moel Famau |
| Regrouping at the gate at the for a chat while waiting for Ken and his puncture |
| Jim wishing he'd saved some of that energy, halfway up the Moel Arthur climb |
| (above) Paul (right) Jim, DaveB, Steve & JimB on the waterlogged Moel Arthur climb |
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