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that time his front tyre was completely flat.
With legs that now felt like jelly the final climb was much harder than normal. It’s supposed to be good for
the sole to suffer occasionally but I would have preferred this inner improvement to happen another time,
not when there was a steep kick at the end of the climb, which as ride leader I couldn’t be seen to push.
But I reminded myself that Lee had no choice but to push all the way from the bottom.
Directions for this ride can be found in my route guides.
For details of how to buy a digital orginal of any of these photos - click here
With legs that now felt like jelly the final climb was much harder than normal. It’s supposed to be good for
the sole to suffer occasionally but I would have preferred this inner improvement to happen another time,
not when there was a steep kick at the end of the climb, which as ride leader I couldn’t be seen to push.
But I reminded myself that Lee had no choice but to push all the way from the bottom.
Directions for this ride can be found in my route guides.
For details of how to buy a digital orginal of any of these photos - click here
Every time I coughed on the way to the start of the ride it brought back memories of the chest infection I’d
been suffering from the last time I’d led a ride around my Moel Arthur Circuits route. At least, unlike the
previous occasion, I had finished my antibiotics and was confident that the climbs could be scaled without
coughing up a lung. But I wasn’t sure. I hadn’t ridden a bike for almost three weeks. Elisabeth, my first
child, had finally made it home and my world had been transformed into one of feeding, burping and
changing nappies.
been suffering from the last time I’d led a ride around my Moel Arthur Circuits route. At least, unlike the
previous occasion, I had finished my antibiotics and was confident that the climbs could be scaled without
coughing up a lung. But I wasn’t sure. I hadn’t ridden a bike for almost three weeks. Elisabeth, my first
child, had finally made it home and my world had been transformed into one of feeding, burping and
changing nappies.
There was a good sized group waiting for
me at the car park and they were looking
forward to riding dry trails on what was
turning out to be a beautiful autumn day.
The ride started gently, which was nice as
my lungs got chance to build up slowly
before any deep breaths were required.
This issue was quickly relegated to second
place, below not getting whipped by gorse
on a tight section of singletrack. I wasn’t
the only one to suffer judging from the
me at the car park and they were looking
forward to riding dry trails on what was
turning out to be a beautiful autumn day.
The ride started gently, which was nice as
my lungs got chance to build up slowly
before any deep breaths were required.
This issue was quickly relegated to second
place, below not getting whipped by gorse
on a tight section of singletrack. I wasn’t
the only one to suffer judging from the
number of people rubbing
their arms when we
emerged from the bushes.
their arms when we
emerged from the bushes.
On the little climb that followed my lungs were starting to feel quite good. I’d stopped coughing and even
had breath left to talk a bit. Now don’t get me wrong, I love my daughter, but it was great to finally talk
about things other than feeding schedules and housework.
A blast down through the woods led to the long but gentle climb to the transmitter mast. On this climb
Jess, who had turned up for her first ride, began to worry about making people wait for her. Lee, one of
the regulars, was first to put her mind at rest. The Social rides are just that. They’re about getting out and
enjoying the ride. If the fast people find them too slow they should come on the Big rides.
had breath left to talk a bit. Now don’t get me wrong, I love my daughter, but it was great to finally talk
about things other than feeding schedules and housework.
A blast down through the woods led to the long but gentle climb to the transmitter mast. On this climb
Jess, who had turned up for her first ride, began to worry about making people wait for her. Lee, one of
the regulars, was first to put her mind at rest. The Social rides are just that. They’re about getting out and
enjoying the ride. If the fast people find them too slow they should come on the Big rides.
At the top of the climb we
all got a warning about
the potential dangers of
the grassy ruts on the
next descent. A rider
from another group was
wandering about slightly
dazed, with a cut on his
nose and blood on his
face. After checking to
see they had the situation
under control we left
them waiting for their
mate to turn up with his
car. It was easy to see
how he could have lost it
in the fast, grassy ruts.
We all managed to make it
down without incident but
that’s not to say there
weren’t a few twitchy
moments.
The first loop was
completed on a mixture
of dry, fast trails and
quite country lanes
before out return to the
car park. It was here
Jess said her goodbyes.
She had enjoyed herself
but didn’t think her
all got a warning about
the potential dangers of
the grassy ruts on the
next descent. A rider
from another group was
wandering about slightly
dazed, with a cut on his
nose and blood on his
face. After checking to
see they had the situation
under control we left
them waiting for their
mate to turn up with his
car. It was easy to see
how he could have lost it
in the fast, grassy ruts.
We all managed to make it
down without incident but
that’s not to say there
weren’t a few twitchy
moments.
The first loop was
completed on a mixture
of dry, fast trails and
quite country lanes
before out return to the
car park. It was here
Jess said her goodbyes.
She had enjoyed herself
but didn’t think her
fitness was up to the big climbs of the second loop. Once we finished chatting and eating the rest of us
headed towards Keegan’s Lane, one of my favourite local descents. It’s fast, rocky and great fun. I started
to worry about puncturing when I realised there were no spare tubes in my pack. 4am feeds were doing
there best to turn my memory into mush. I should have kept my mouth shut. On the double track leading to
the descent a rock pinged off my rear tyre then, 30 seconds later, it began to hiss.
headed towards Keegan’s Lane, one of my favourite local descents. It’s fast, rocky and great fun. I started
to worry about puncturing when I realised there were no spare tubes in my pack. 4am feeds were doing
there best to turn my memory into mush. I should have kept my mouth shut. On the double track leading to
the descent a rock pinged off my rear tyre then, 30 seconds later, it began to hiss.
Neil came to my rescue and we were soon on our
way again. My worries about Keegan’s Lane were
unfounded. As I hadn’t ridden for a while I gave it
the beans for a full speed run and came out at the
bottom with nothing but a huge grin. However,
there was a toll to pay for all that fun, but not by me.
From a group of 14 people the final count was 5
punctures, a bent saddle, a dented rim and a
bleeding shin.
After loosing time to repairs we made some of it
back by keeping a steady pace on the long climb to
the gate above Cilcain. Dan, among others, was
starting to suffer at the back so it was time to let
everyone grind up at their own pace, before butties
and a good view at the top. The payback was the
final descent, a loose rocky plummet into the Vale of
way again. My worries about Keegan’s Lane were
unfounded. As I hadn’t ridden for a while I gave it
the beans for a full speed run and came out at the
bottom with nothing but a huge grin. However,
there was a toll to pay for all that fun, but not by me.
From a group of 14 people the final count was 5
punctures, a bent saddle, a dented rim and a
bleeding shin.
After loosing time to repairs we made some of it
back by keeping a steady pace on the long climb to
the gate above Cilcain. Dan, among others, was
starting to suffer at the back so it was time to let
everyone grind up at their own pace, before butties
and a good view at the top. The payback was the
final descent, a loose rocky plummet into the Vale of
Clwyd. You’ve got to be a bit brave to keep your speed up but the raised banks on the outside of the
corners help.
corners help.
We regrouped at the bottom when Lee,
who had received the bent saddle, dented
rim and bleeding shim on Keegan’s Lane,
realised his tubeless tyre was constantly
leaking air and slime around the dent.
After sending everyone else ahead, I
waited while he prepared to blast in a CO2
cartridge before sprinting for the final
climb. The plan was to stay with him, sprint
through the group then point him in the
right direction for the climb. That was the
plan but I forgot he races most weekends.
As he disappeared into the distance I was
who had received the bent saddle, dented
rim and bleeding shim on Keegan’s Lane,
realised his tubeless tyre was constantly
leaking air and slime around the dent.
After sending everyone else ahead, I
waited while he prepared to blast in a CO2
cartridge before sprinting for the final
climb. The plan was to stay with him, sprint
through the group then point him in the
right direction for the climb. That was the
plan but I forgot he races most weekends.
As he disappeared into the distance I was
glad to have just enough breath left at the junction to shout ‘Stop!!’ before he
went completely out of earshot. Not that he would have got much further, by
went completely out of earshot. Not that he would have got much further, by
Lee (left) and Dan (right) below
Moel Arthur, just before the
gorse bushes.
Moel Arthur, just before the
gorse bushes.
| (from left to right) Jessica, Ritchie and Aron on the fast descent through Nannerch Woods |
| Ian, Lee and Jess on the Penycloddiau climb |
| Roman and Mike descending to Cimwch |
| Aron, Paul and Vince descending to Cimwch |
| Jess, Ritchie and Roman going progressively faster on the Hafod-y-cwm descent |
| Kev (above) and Dan (right) heading back to the car park at Moel Arthur |
| John on the double track after the Moel Arthur car park that I somehow pinch flatted on |
| (from left to right) Mike, Paul, Kev and Lee on the, expensive for some, Keegan's Lane descent |
| Darren and Lee, Niel and John starting the long climb from Tre-Lan to the ridge on the Clwyds |
| Aron, Vince and Dan and nearly at the top of the climb to the gate on the ridge above Cilcain |
| (from left to right) Ritchie, Darren and Ian on the loose Moel Dywyll descent |
| Roman (above) and John (right) most of the way up the final climb back to the car park |
| A 'Social' Ride by www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |