flattyres mtb routes
A nice flat road took us to a not so nice steep uphill that brought us back into Macc Forest, where we
started to count down to the last climb. At the top Nick broke his chain but he managed to get it fixed again
so we could start the last, fast decent. It has got some tight corners in it and on the last one Pete missed
the edge of the trail and ended up riding through the trees. With the ride over we went for a post ride pint
with big grins and dusty arms and legs. All newcomers were very enthusiastic about the ride which was
great to hear. We had made a worthy replacement for Col but I can't wait to see him back out with us again.
A description of this route can be found in the route guides.
started to count down to the last climb. At the top Nick broke his chain but he managed to get it fixed again
so we could start the last, fast decent. It has got some tight corners in it and on the last one Pete missed
the edge of the trail and ended up riding through the trees. With the ride over we went for a post ride pint
with big grins and dusty arms and legs. All newcomers were very enthusiastic about the ride which was
great to hear. We had made a worthy replacement for Col but I can't wait to see him back out with us again.
A description of this route can be found in the route guides.
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Hello, Sabine here. I'll have to tell you what happened on this ride as
Col was at home nursing a broken wrist. This left me to get ready on
my own early on Sunday morning. The car was packed with only one
bike and it felt weird leaving Col behind at home, with his arm
wrapped tightly in his cast. I was now facing the task of taking on the
role of 'Shop Ride Leader'. Col had printed out his route guide for
this route but thankfully I wasn't alone as I am notorious for getting
lost. There were three more people who had offered to help, Paul B
knew the route, Jim came to take photo's and Steve to bring up the
rear.
At Langley reservoir we met Nick and Sally in the car park and Pete
and Robin by the side of the water. These four had never been with
Col was at home nursing a broken wrist. This left me to get ready on
my own early on Sunday morning. The car was packed with only one
bike and it felt weird leaving Col behind at home, with his arm
wrapped tightly in his cast. I was now facing the task of taking on the
role of 'Shop Ride Leader'. Col had printed out his route guide for
this route but thankfully I wasn't alone as I am notorious for getting
lost. There were three more people who had offered to help, Paul B
knew the route, Jim came to take photo's and Steve to bring up the
rear.
At Langley reservoir we met Nick and Sally in the car park and Pete
and Robin by the side of the water. These four had never been with
| Meeting up at Langley Reservoir |
us before and expressed their
worries about not being fast
enough. As always they turned
out to be the best climbers in the
group!. We found this out on the
first climb from the reservoir. It
was a long one that started on
the road then got steeper as it
weaved through the forest, it
really killed our legs. The
weather was very humid, making
the going a lot harder as it felt
like riding in a sauna.
worries about not being fast
enough. As always they turned
out to be the best climbers in the
group!. We found this out on the
first climb from the reservoir. It
was a long one that started on
the road then got steeper as it
weaved through the forest, it
really killed our legs. The
weather was very humid, making
the going a lot harder as it felt
like riding in a sauna.
| Sabine and Steve on the first descent after a steep climb through Macc Forest |
The first decent was very loose and rocky even though the pictures
make it look flat and smooth. I did notice the advantage of the weeks
riding I had done in the Alps. Especially on this really technical bit in
the middle where Paul stood to take a photo, I had no trouble stopping
and walking through it at all. Good for me the memory card was full.
Everybody made it down in one piece and the first adrenalin induced
grins started to come out.
A little climb then rewarded us with a nice fast double track downhill.
This one had a very tricky bit at the end though. The smooth trail
changed into a very steep track with a deep layer of loose, egg sized,
rocks with high wooden water bars across it. In front of me I saw Robin
sliding with both her tyres sideways. She managed to stop safely and I
make it look flat and smooth. I did notice the advantage of the weeks
riding I had done in the Alps. Especially on this really technical bit in
the middle where Paul stood to take a photo, I had no trouble stopping
and walking through it at all. Good for me the memory card was full.
Everybody made it down in one piece and the first adrenalin induced
grins started to come out.
A little climb then rewarded us with a nice fast double track downhill.
This one had a very tricky bit at the end though. The smooth trail
changed into a very steep track with a deep layer of loose, egg sized,
rocks with high wooden water bars across it. In front of me I saw Robin
sliding with both her tyres sideways. She managed to stop safely and I
Paul B descending Danebower Hollow
just managed to squeeze past her. I actually made it to the bottom in one go, which I was quite proud of, I
had never managed that before. It did help to know what was coming up. This was followed by more
climbing, there is a lot of it on this ride and with it being so hot with no wind Jim and me were starting to
feel it already. The rest of the group climbed effortlessly to the Cat and Fiddle and kindly waited for us.
had never managed that before. It did help to know what was coming up. This was followed by more
climbing, there is a lot of it on this ride and with it being so hot with no wind Jim and me were starting to
feel it already. The rest of the group climbed effortlessly to the Cat and Fiddle and kindly waited for us.
| Riding to Three Shire Heads |
From the pub we crossed the road and had a good blast on a fast
track. Halfway down this cloud of dust appeared in front of us and we
pulled over to let a rider passed who came flying up the trail. It turned
out to be the same guy who had passed us on the first steep climb in
Macc Forest, at the very start. He had ridden it like it was flat and left
us feeling like snails.
Even without Col we turned out to be a good group for trail fixing. A
bit further down the track a bike was up side down with a broken gear
cable. We had met somebody else out on a ride of their own who had
suffered the breakage so the lads at the front of our group had
stopped to lend a hand. I don't know exactly what they did but the
joint effort made his bike ridable again, at least enough to get him
pedalling home.
We got going again and everything went smoothly on the descent
that brought us to Three Shire Heads. There was a fun little steep up,
and technical down just before the bridge which made a good
challenge to clean in one go.
Energy bars and sandwiches at the bridge should have made us
ready for the technical climb ahead but nothing could have prepared
us for the state the trail was in. I had ridden it before and it is very
hard but mostly do-able. This time, with it being so dry, it was really
sandy and all the rocks were loose, you could just not get any grip. I
stayed in denial for a long time and attempted to ride. Most of the
others were much wiser as they got off and walked past the loose
bits. Puffing, sweaty and dusty we somehow arrived at the top. My
reward was a random dog peeing on my front wheel! I did wash it with
water but no one wanted to ride next to me anymore.
The arrival at the top in Burntcliff Top village got us in a discussion
about which way to go next. Thankfully Col had provided us with an
excellent route description and had even scribbled on my sheet "Do
not descent down the road in the village" and that was what we
nearly started to do!
The trail from Burntcliff Top ended at the start of the next climb. This
pedalling home.
We got going again and everything went smoothly on the descent
that brought us to Three Shire Heads. There was a fun little steep up,
and technical down just before the bridge which made a good
challenge to clean in one go.
Energy bars and sandwiches at the bridge should have made us
ready for the technical climb ahead but nothing could have prepared
us for the state the trail was in. I had ridden it before and it is very
hard but mostly do-able. This time, with it being so dry, it was really
sandy and all the rocks were loose, you could just not get any grip. I
stayed in denial for a long time and attempted to ride. Most of the
others were much wiser as they got off and walked past the loose
bits. Puffing, sweaty and dusty we somehow arrived at the top. My
reward was a random dog peeing on my front wheel! I did wash it with
water but no one wanted to ride next to me anymore.
The arrival at the top in Burntcliff Top village got us in a discussion
about which way to go next. Thankfully Col had provided us with an
excellent route description and had even scribbled on my sheet "Do
not descent down the road in the village" and that was what we
nearly started to do!
The trail from Burntcliff Top ended at the start of the next climb. This
| Food break at Three Shire Heads |
| Pete and Robyn complete the loose Cut Thorn climb from Three Shire Heads |
climb really had Jim and me go into denial. With the long steep road ahead of us we were sure we had
gone the wrong way somewhere and when everybody was far ahead of us we actually stopped and studied
the map and description only to find we were going the right way! Poor Jim, climbing is not really his thing
and he only came along to take some photo's, bless him (Sabine said she suffered just as much - Col).
gone the wrong way somewhere and when everybody was far ahead of us we actually stopped and studied
the map and description only to find we were going the right way! Poor Jim, climbing is not really his thing
and he only came along to take some photo's, bless him (Sabine said she suffered just as much - Col).
| Sabine starting the trail from Burntcliff Top |
| Pete and Sabine half way along the trail |
| End of the Burntcill Top trail, Robyn and Nick descend to the next climb |
But what goes up must come down and the next downhill was one of my
favorites. Hard work with lots of rocks and gnarly bits, but so much fun! I was
really buzzing by the end of it. While Nick fixed his puncture we waited for Paul
to come down. He had been posted half way down to take pictures. It did take
favorites. Hard work with lots of rocks and gnarly bits, but so much fun! I was
really buzzing by the end of it. While Nick fixed his puncture we waited for Paul
to come down. He had been posted half way down to take pictures. It did take
him a while to get down though and we started to worry a bit. Robin was by far the strongest climber from
our group so we voted she should ride back up to see what had happened. Well, voted, no one disagreed
anyway. After another 10 minutes they both came back down safely. Paul had got a puncture and forgotten
to pack a new tube, so he'd had to fix it.
our group so we voted she should ride back up to see what had happened. Well, voted, no one disagreed
anyway. After another 10 minutes they both came back down safely. Paul had got a puncture and forgotten
to pack a new tube, so he'd had to fix it.
| Sabine and Steve on the fantastic Wood Moss descent |
| Nick fixing his puncture |
| At the view point halfway through Macc Forest |
| Pete over cooking the corner |
| Jim flying round the last bend of the off-road |
| www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |