| Nant-yr-Arian with the CCM |
| The pre-ride fettle. Nigel changing Sabines' tube after a snapped valve |
| Paul, CP and Sabine on the first, slippery section of singletrack |
A ride had been arranged in Nant-yr-Arian
by the Cheshire Chunky Monkeys, so there
seemed like no better time to go back and
ride the trails again. On the drive down
through over two hours of rain and having
by the Cheshire Chunky Monkeys, so there
seemed like no better time to go back and
ride the trails again. On the drive down
through over two hours of rain and having
| An unfortunate choice of parking spot |
forgotten my windproof I started thinking there may have been a
better time after all. But things started looking up as they rain
stopped and then got even better when, finally getting to the car
park, I found Nigel had a spare top. Nigel came to our rescue again by
sorting Sabines' snapped valve with a quick tube change, thank you.
The riding got off to an interesting start on the first singletrack
descent. My front and washed out on a wet rock landing me shoulder
better time after all. But things started looking up as they rain
stopped and then got even better when, finally getting to the car
park, I found Nigel had a spare top. Nigel came to our rescue again by
sorting Sabines' snapped valve with a quick tube change, thank you.
The riding got off to an interesting start on the first singletrack
descent. My front and washed out on a wet rock landing me shoulder
Heading out of the
forest for the hills
forest for the hills
| Sabine, Dani, Paul, Dave, Russ, Derek, Gazz, Paul B(Patriot), CP and Nigel |
| Once out of the trees route took in some rocky double track. Even though it wasn't raining it was still quite wet on the ground. |
first into a tree, thankfully Nigels top only got
dirty. Dereks' rear caliper got hit by a rock
that dislodged the pin holding his pads in
which flew out halfway down the trail. It was
then Russ's turn to come to the rescue with
dirty. Dereks' rear caliper got hit by a rock
that dislodged the pin holding his pads in
which flew out halfway down the trail. It was
then Russ's turn to come to the rescue with
his spare pads. All in all, a well prepared group of riders. As we were
riding the Syfydrin Trail we then headed out of the forest into the Wild
Welsh Hills, made even more so by the low cloud obscuring the tops of
most of them. We were happy though that the rain stayed in the clouds,
there wasn't much wind and the temperatures weren't bad. This allowed
us to really enjoy the rocky double track that this part of the route had on
offer. It was fast and had some really great slab sections to spice things
up and they kept appearing all round the ride. Some photos of this can
be seen below, the more observant of you may also notice the change
riding the Syfydrin Trail we then headed out of the forest into the Wild
Welsh Hills, made even more so by the low cloud obscuring the tops of
most of them. We were happy though that the rain stayed in the clouds,
there wasn't much wind and the temperatures weren't bad. This allowed
us to really enjoy the rocky double track that this part of the route had on
offer. It was fast and had some really great slab sections to spice things
up and they kept appearing all round the ride. Some photos of this can
be seen below, the more observant of you may also notice the change
| Taking a break at the cloud base |
| The last of the big rock sections at the bottom of the descent on Esgair Ffosfdur |
the change in colour of Russ's top.
The grey one was soaked after an
off that landed him in the deepest
The grey one was soaked after an
off that landed him in the deepest
puddle on the trail. The climb after this lead onto
one of the longest and fastest sections of double track with the
crests of some of the slabs being blind until the last moment.
This gave way to big smiles at the bottom that then gave way to
sandwiches and banter. After a bit of lane work it was then time
for the payback in the form of a long climb back into the forest
and the return to man made singletrack. The first section of
crests of some of the slabs being blind until the last moment.
This gave way to big smiles at the bottom that then gave way to
sandwiches and banter. After a bit of lane work it was then time
for the payback in the form of a long climb back into the forest
and the return to man made singletrack. The first section of
everyone buzzing again and thoughts of the previous climb evaporated.
This carried on till the bottom of 'Mark of Zorro' where a head count
revealed we were missing one. Dani had taken a wrong turn halfway
This carried on till the bottom of 'Mark of Zorro' where a head count
revealed we were missing one. Dani had taken a wrong turn halfway
down but after some
searching managed to find
her way back to the group. It
was then with cold legs that
everyone had get up the
next climb. To add to the
fun I decided to bonk 2/3rds
of the way up. It was only the
searching managed to find
her way back to the group. It
was then with cold legs that
everyone had get up the
next climb. To add to the
fun I decided to bonk 2/3rds
of the way up. It was only the
| The trails took in some fantastic scenery, when it wasn't covered in cloud |
| The last big climb before returning to the man made trails in the forest |
| Riding through the trees on some fantastic singletrack................. |
begin and I was able to blagan energy bar of CP
that kicked in before the final parts of the trail.
With my brain firing on all cylinders again I was
able to concentrate fully on get down the last
sections of singletrack as quickly as possible.
Riding the P7 was perfect for the twisty track that
threaded it's way though the trees. We were then
spat out at the bottom by the visitors center just
in time for tea, cake and being eaten by midges.
Nant-yr-Arian is somewhere I will definitely be
coming back to as the forest singletrack is not
only great to ride for itself but also the gateway to
some excellent riding in the Welsh hills.
Related Page: Nant-yr-Arian Shop Ride Mar '08
that kicked in before the final parts of the trail.
With my brain firing on all cylinders again I was
able to concentrate fully on get down the last
sections of singletrack as quickly as possible.
Riding the P7 was perfect for the twisty track that
threaded it's way though the trees. We were then
spat out at the bottom by the visitors center just
in time for tea, cake and being eaten by midges.
Nant-yr-Arian is somewhere I will definitely be
coming back to as the forest singletrack is not
only great to ride for itself but also the gateway to
some excellent riding in the Welsh hills.
Related Page: Nant-yr-Arian Shop Ride Mar '08
..........but occasionally popping back
out again for a reminder of the views
out again for a reminder of the views
singletrack soon had