Once in the forest we were soon back on the man made stuff. A few sections of singletrack later and the
trail became familiar. Our return to the Summit Trail came with a sense of Deja-vu, having ridden this bit
before, but it only went so far and Ian was spared another punture. It was great being able to ride all the
way down, and it only got better. Tight singletrack switchbacks on the 'Mark of Zorro' trail had us weaving
through the trees before it straightend out for a flying finish to the bottom.
trail became familiar. Our return to the Summit Trail came with a sense of Deja-vu, having ridden this bit
before, but it only went so far and Ian was spared another punture. It was great being able to ride all the
way down, and it only got better. Tight singletrack switchbacks on the 'Mark of Zorro' trail had us weaving
through the trees before it straightend out for a flying finish to the bottom.
| |||||||||||
Although it was raining heavily when I left home it had stopped by the time I reached Nant-yr-Arian. It was
still cold and windy but would be much more enjoyable without the rain. 10 of us had made the long trek
down to Mid-Wales. Well most of us had, for Anthony it was a local ride for once.
still cold and windy but would be much more enjoyable without the rain. 10 of us had made the long trek
down to Mid-Wales. Well most of us had, for Anthony it was a local ride for once.
After spending some time admiring Darren’s new
Epic and Kens new Commencal we set off.
The route started with 'The Italian Job' on the
Summit Trail, a great section of singletrack. I rode
without my usual finesse and had my feet were
knocked out of the pedals as I tried squeezing
between two tree stumps. I thought it best to back
off, full speed would happen soon enough, I would
just have to wake up first.
| (right) Martin in the berms on 'The Italian Job', Summit Trail |
| Darren and Lee heading into the berms on 'The Italian Job', Summit Trail |
I should have woken up a bit quicker as I then led everyone past the
turn off onto the Syfydrin Trail. We were up a climb and halfway down
the next descent before my Spider Sense told me something was
wrong; like we should have been riding this trail much later in the day.
turn off onto the Syfydrin Trail. We were up a climb and halfway down
the next descent before my Spider Sense told me something was
wrong; like we should have been riding this trail much later in the day.
It was three years since I’d ridden the trail but had assumed the waymarked route would be easy to follow.
I had ridden past the big orange Continental sign (the sponsors of the trail) while looking for the Syfydrin
Trail. I admit I should have prepared a bit better but writing Syfydrin Trail on the signs wouldn’t have hurt.
At least the stop gave Ian chance to fix his puncture and the climb back up wasn’t too bad either.
I had ridden past the big orange Continental sign (the sponsors of the trail) while looking for the Syfydrin
Trail. I admit I should have prepared a bit better but writing Syfydrin Trail on the signs wouldn’t have hurt.
At least the stop gave Ian chance to fix his puncture and the climb back up wasn’t too bad either.
Back on track we headed out to
Llyn Nant y Moch on the natural
section of the route. Although it
wasn’t raining we got wet feet from
the large number of puddles on
the trail. My feet eventually got so
wet I gave up aiming for the
shallowest parts and enjoyed
splashing through the water
instead. So did Darren, although
he took it further and disappearing
under his bow wave when he hit a
| Gareth and Ken in one of the many puddles on the way to Llyn Nant y Moch |
big puddle at speed. It wasn’t the best day
for a drenching so I left that fun to him.
We reached the lake to be greeted by a
nasty, cold head wind. Thankfully Darren
has antifreeze in his blood stream and didn’
t seem to be suffering, even though he
was wearing shorts as well. At the next
stop he did admit his feet were cold. His
plastic bag waterproof sock bodge had
been overwhelmed and his feet were
for a drenching so I left that fun to him.
We reached the lake to be greeted by a
nasty, cold head wind. Thankfully Darren
has antifreeze in his blood stream and didn’
t seem to be suffering, even though he
was wearing shorts as well. At the next
stop he did admit his feet were cold. His
plastic bag waterproof sock bodge had
been overwhelmed and his feet were
Martin (left), Gareth and Ian
(above) in the big puddles
after Llyn Nant y Moch
(above) in the big puddles
after Llyn Nant y Moch
soaked. Saying that I was wearing Sealskins and
was suffering with the same problem.
was suffering with the same problem.
After the lake it was back into the hills for more natural trails, more
puddles and a tail wind. The soaking was soon forgotten as the wind
pushed us down a number of fast, loose and rocky descents. It was
great blasting off the drops and scrabbling round the corners. Darren
followed me off the drops, enjoying the feeling of full suspension. And
Ken followed my line in a corner. Unfortunately it was the line I had
used when stopping to get the camera out. As he left the trail at least
he aimed to the side of where I was sitting.
puddles and a tail wind. The soaking was soon forgotten as the wind
pushed us down a number of fast, loose and rocky descents. It was
great blasting off the drops and scrabbling round the corners. Darren
followed me off the drops, enjoying the feeling of full suspension. And
Ken followed my line in a corner. Unfortunately it was the line I had
used when stopping to get the camera out. As he left the trail at least
he aimed to the side of where I was sitting.
| Steve on the first descent after Llyn Nant y Moch |
| Darren (right) makes the corner as does Ian (below left) while Ken wonders where it all went wrong before riding off on his own |
Unfortunately such a great series of
descents had to be paid for with a long
climb back to the forest, which was made
more difficult by a head wind. It was a grind
and we spread out as we tackled the
incline at our own pace. When the shelter
of the trees was finally reached it was time
to regroup and an opportunity for some
food. It was here we had our only
mechanical, Lee’s glove mechanical. On
taking his hand out of his waterproof glove
the inside came with it. It proved a bit of a
nightmare getting the right fingers back
into the right holes.
descents had to be paid for with a long
climb back to the forest, which was made
more difficult by a head wind. It was a grind
and we spread out as we tackled the
incline at our own pace. When the shelter
of the trees was finally reached it was time
to regroup and an opportunity for some
food. It was here we had our only
mechanical, Lee’s glove mechanical. On
taking his hand out of his waterproof glove
the inside came with it. It proved a bit of a
nightmare getting the right fingers back
into the right holes.
| Ken (above) and Jamie (right) at the top of the hard climb back to the forest |
There was a penalty again which came in the form of ‘The Leg Burner’, a climb that does what is says on the
tin. Hard though it was we still had the energy to enjoy the last bits of singletrack. The final blast back to
the café was great fun as always, especially being able to give it everything knowing there was coffee and
cake at the end.
Related Pages: Nant-yr-Arian with the CCM
tin. Hard though it was we still had the energy to enjoy the last bits of singletrack. The final blast back to
the café was great fun as always, especially being able to give it everything knowing there was coffee and
cake at the end.
Related Pages: Nant-yr-Arian with the CCM
| (left to right) Martin, Lee, Steve, Anthony and Ian on the twice ridden descent after Llyn Rhosgoch |
| Darren enjoying some air |
| Anthony and Ian near the end of the tight section on the 'Mark of Zorro' |
| Start of the flying finish before 'The Leg Burner' |
| Ken, Ian and Anthony on 'The Drunken Druid' before coffee and cake at the cafe |
| A Oneplanet Adventure Shop Ride by www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |
