flattyres mtb routes
| |||||||||
mile blast back
to the cars. The
fast double track
came in three
flavours
changing from
hardpack to
grass then
finishing with
loose rock. It
was great to get
some proper
speed and
sketchy
moments in
before the end.
to the cars. The
fast double track
came in three
flavours
changing from
hardpack to
grass then
finishing with
loose rock. It
was great to get
some proper
speed and
sketchy
moments in
before the end.
It was a clear November morning when we turned up at the car park in Snailbeach.
Although no one had needed to follow Maca and me from Llandegla we were happy
to see the car park slowly fill up. Even with the sun shining in a blue sky we were
left shivering as the car park was in the shadow of the hills. When it was time to set
off we had a group of ten chilly riders eager to start.
It didn’t take too long for everyone to warm up though. The first part of the ride,
Although no one had needed to follow Maca and me from Llandegla we were happy
to see the car park slowly fill up. Even with the sun shining in a blue sky we were
left shivering as the car park was in the shadow of the hills. When it was time to set
off we had a group of ten chilly riders eager to start.
It didn’t take too long for everyone to warm up though. The first part of the ride,
| Snailbeach car park |
through the fields across the valley, was soft, grassy and
muddy and quite hard going, especially as it was mainly
up hill. We were soon stripping off layers and warming
up nicely. Thankfully we had ridden ourselves into the
sunshine by the time I got a call on the radio from Maca
to tell me he had punctured.
After standing round and getting to know each other
(there were quite a few new faces again) Maca appeared.
It was then time to climb the road through Hope valley
on the way to the next off-road section. Not far up the
winding road the radio fired up again. It was Maca, with
another puncture. For some reason it was his day to find
all the thorns. He was happy to sort himself out so I took
the rest of the group up the road to find another patch of
sun where we could wait for him in comfort.
muddy and quite hard going, especially as it was mainly
up hill. We were soon stripping off layers and warming
up nicely. Thankfully we had ridden ourselves into the
sunshine by the time I got a call on the radio from Maca
to tell me he had punctured.
After standing round and getting to know each other
(there were quite a few new faces again) Maca appeared.
It was then time to climb the road through Hope valley
on the way to the next off-road section. Not far up the
winding road the radio fired up again. It was Maca, with
another puncture. For some reason it was his day to find
all the thorns. He was happy to sort himself out so I took
the rest of the group up the road to find another patch of
sun where we could wait for him in comfort.
| Steve and Julie after Crowsnest farm |
| Col, Sabine, Ian, Julie and Maca on the grassy across Venus Bank |
From Hope we were back off-road for a muddy climb to
Gravelsbank. It was rideable all the way up, but only if
you were lucky enough to find the firmer ground through
the gloopy sections. At the top everyone got another
rest when Julie found it was her turn for a puncture. Her
repair technique was flawless, in seconds Maca was
volunteered to do the dirty work while she supervised.
After a brief road section we were back off-road and I was
now getting some sarcastic comments. It was still muddy
and still uphill. I had stopped repeating that the first
section was the hardest and it would improve as the ride
went on, as no one believed me any more. It was all light
hearted though and we were soon out on the grassy
tracks across the top of Stapeley Hill, taking in the
fantastic views across the hills of Mid-Wales.
Gravelsbank. It was rideable all the way up, but only if
you were lucky enough to find the firmer ground through
the gloopy sections. At the top everyone got another
rest when Julie found it was her turn for a puncture. Her
repair technique was flawless, in seconds Maca was
volunteered to do the dirty work while she supervised.
After a brief road section we were back off-road and I was
now getting some sarcastic comments. It was still muddy
and still uphill. I had stopped repeating that the first
section was the hardest and it would improve as the ride
went on, as no one believed me any more. It was all light
hearted though and we were soon out on the grassy
tracks across the top of Stapeley Hill, taking in the
fantastic views across the hills of Mid-Wales.
| Gwyneth, Brenda, Wendy and Col on the muddy climb after Hope |
| Col, Julie, Wendy and Gwyneth climbing to Gravelsbank |
The speed pick up as we travelled along the ridge and we were soon at the furthest
point we would get from the cars. It was here Julie decided to spruce herself up for
the return leg and re-applied her lippy. Well, you never know who you might bump
into on the trail. I then surprised everyone when I let slip the next part of the ride
would be down hill. This lasted till we had to cross a stream and push up a short,
steep and muddy bank. More sarcasm was aimed in my direction. At least on the
point we would get from the cars. It was here Julie decided to spruce herself up for
the return leg and re-applied her lippy. Well, you never know who you might bump
into on the trail. I then surprised everyone when I let slip the next part of the ride
would be down hill. This lasted till we had to cross a stream and push up a short,
steep and muddy bank. More sarcasm was aimed in my direction. At least on the
| Wendy starting the climb on Stapeley Hill |
| Gwyneth and Wendy on Stapeley Hill |
| Steve and Maca riding past the Stone Circle |
| Ian and Steve Lan Fawr descent |
| (below) A view across the Borders on the Lan Fawr descent |
singletrack that followed Wendy took the spotlight off me by finding
the biggest bog to fall in.
After another nice little descent we were back onto the lanes, and it
wasn’t much later that Maca was on the radio again. “Er Col, my tyre
has just blown off the rim”. It really wasn’t his day. Once he’d sorted
the problem we grouped back up and finished the tarmac for a climb
up the next hill. Although it wasn’t long it was quite steep and some
the biggest bog to fall in.
After another nice little descent we were back onto the lanes, and it
wasn’t much later that Maca was on the radio again. “Er Col, my tyre
has just blown off the rim”. It really wasn’t his day. Once he’d sorted
the problem we grouped back up and finished the tarmac for a climb
up the next hill. Although it wasn’t long it was quite steep and some
tiredness started to show. Brenda had climbed amazingly all day on her heavy bike and made it most of the
way up. She’s not stupid though and took Maca up on his offer, when the pushing started, to swap for his
lighter bike.
way up. She’s not stupid though and took Maca up on his offer, when the pushing started, to swap for his
lighter bike.
| Pushing from the stream below Lan Fawr |
| Maca, Gwyneth & Wendy near Corndon farm |
| Sabine, Brenda & Julie in a bog |
| Gwyneth & Steve climbing Mucklewick Hill |
We descended from the top to the final fields we
had to cross before reaching the Stiperstones. As
farmland goes I find it pleasant enough but Sabine
was quite blunt with her views, ‘it’s a bit boring this
bit’. She did say afterwards she was just eager to
ride the last couple of miles, where the trails would
become a more technical and faster.
At the end of the fields Wendy was tired and cold
and Brenda was suffering from cramp. With the
had to cross before reaching the Stiperstones. As
farmland goes I find it pleasant enough but Sabine
was quite blunt with her views, ‘it’s a bit boring this
bit’. She did say afterwards she was just eager to
ride the last couple of miles, where the trails would
become a more technical and faster.
At the end of the fields Wendy was tired and cold
and Brenda was suffering from cramp. With the
Maca helping
Brenda with her
heavy bike, and Ian
on Mucklewick Hill
Brenda with her
heavy bike, and Ian
on Mucklewick Hill
weather coming in there were a few votes for
the bail-out option. Maca volunteered to lead
the group who wanted to go back (not as
selfless as you might think, he had Stella in the
fridge at home). After waving farewell I took the
five who were staying with me up onto the ridge
of the Stiperstones.
the bail-out option. Maca volunteered to lead
the group who wanted to go back (not as
selfless as you might think, he had Stella in the
fridge at home). After waving farewell I took the
five who were staying with me up onto the ridge
of the Stiperstones.
(above and below) the
track off Mucklewick Hill
track off Mucklewick Hill
(left) Sabine & Julie
(above) Wendy,
Gwyneth & Maca
after Grit Hill
(above) Wendy,
Gwyneth & Maca
after Grit Hill
| Pennerley Track and time to good bye to some |
It was unfortunate that the other four would miss out on
the highlight of the ride. We challenged ourselves on a
steep and satisfyingly tricky climb then traversed the hill.
The singletrack here was tricky and rocky and forced us
the highlight of the ride. We challenged ourselves on a
steep and satisfyingly tricky climb then traversed the hill.
The singletrack here was tricky and rocky and forced us
to concentrate a lot more. An easy final climb brought us to the top for the two
| The climb to Cranberry Rock with Long Mynd in the back ground |
| Ian, Gwyneth & Col on the |
rocky trail traversing the hillside below the Devils Chair
| (right) Ian & Sabine at Blakemoor Flat descending to Snailbeach |
It had been a good autumn ride. Although hard work,
with all the mud, the skies had been mostly clear and
the views were fantastic. Thanks to everyone who
turned up and made it another great ride.
A description of this ride can be found in the route guides.
| www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |