rain cloud. With the wind blowing in our direction we had a race on to get down the final descent before
the rain hit. We lost. The heavens opened as we crossed the dam, only minutes from the cars. But we’d
been lucky. I found out later the rest of North Wales had been subjected to heavy rain and hail all day
when we’d had sun.
Directions for this ride can be found in my Routes Guides.
the rain hit. We lost. The heavens opened as we crossed the dam, only minutes from the cars. But we’d
been lucky. I found out later the rest of North Wales had been subjected to heavy rain and hail all day
when we’d had sun.
Directions for this ride can be found in my Routes Guides.
| |||||||||
The weather forecast proved to be right. Outside a cold wind was whipping up the rain, which was falling
steadily from low grey clouds. Not the nicest riding weather. If I was by myself I might have gone back to
bed but this was a Shop Ride and I wasn’t about to let anyone down. Anyway, it’s never as bad as you think
once the riding starts.
steadily from low grey clouds. Not the nicest riding weather. If I was by myself I might have gone back to
bed but this was a Shop Ride and I wasn’t about to let anyone down. Anyway, it’s never as bad as you think
once the riding starts.
The clouds seemed to have rained themselves out by the time I reached Lake
Vyrnwy and at the car park I found Lee and Darren assembling their bikes in the
sun. Lee had yet another new bike, although this time it was his. After had
come to buy one. Five more riders turned up despite the forecast, including
Ian who we hadn’t been able to make it for six months. I hadn’t realised it had
been that long until he asked me if I had enjoyed my honeymoon.
As is normal for my rides it started with a steep climb. For Ken the gradient
wasn’t the only thing to contend with as the new chain he’d fitted late the
previous night was skipping on worn gears. It wasn’t bad enough to stop him
riding but it was annoying. Still it could have been worse, I thought, as I looked
back at a rainbow produced by the heavy rain that swept in to engulf the car
park we had left minutes earlier.
Vyrnwy and at the car park I found Lee and Darren assembling their bikes in the
sun. Lee had yet another new bike, although this time it was his. After had
come to buy one. Five more riders turned up despite the forecast, including
Ian who we hadn’t been able to make it for six months. I hadn’t realised it had
been that long until he asked me if I had enjoyed my honeymoon.
As is normal for my rides it started with a steep climb. For Ken the gradient
wasn’t the only thing to contend with as the new chain he’d fitted late the
previous night was skipping on worn gears. It wasn’t bad enough to stop him
riding but it was annoying. Still it could have been worse, I thought, as I looked
back at a rainbow produced by the heavy rain that swept in to engulf the car
park we had left minutes earlier.
| Just missing a downpour on the first climb |
| Lee and Ian on the Craig Garth-bwlch descent |
The rain caught us on the fast
descent from the top of the hill. By
then it didn’t matter, we were all
nicely warmed up. It didn’t last
long and we were soon enjoying
the sunshine again while riding
along the quite lanes and forest
tracks to Abertridwr. On the
outskirts of the village a stream
crossing marked the start of a long
descent from the top of the hill. By
then it didn’t matter, we were all
nicely warmed up. It didn’t last
long and we were soon enjoying
the sunshine again while riding
along the quite lanes and forest
tracks to Abertridwr. On the
outskirts of the village a stream
crossing marked the start of a long
climb through the forest. Half braved the cold waters of the ford while the
sensible ones used the bridge. Darren may have regretted riding through the
ford. Without waterproof socks his feet got a soaking that turned them to ice by
the end of the ride.
sensible ones used the bridge. Darren may have regretted riding through the
ford. Without waterproof socks his feet got a soaking that turned them to ice by
the end of the ride.
| Col on the forest track towards Abertridwr |
| Ian on the forest track to Abertridwr |
| Darren getting his feet wet in the ford at Abertridwr. Not the best move on a cold day. |
The climb was broken by a short descent and it was here Ken heard his bike start making a new noise, a
banging from the rear. Somehow both bolts securing his rear calliper had disappeared, leaving it flapping
on the hose. After directing a few harsh words towards the bike shop that had just fitted it he resigned
himself to going home. I’m proud of my bodging skills and was determined something could be done to
prevent this. A bit of musical bolts got things back together. However, I’d have to be careful as I was left
with an over long bolt sticking out the rear of my stem. I’d had one knee injury this year and I really didn’t
want another.
banging from the rear. Somehow both bolts securing his rear calliper had disappeared, leaving it flapping
on the hose. After directing a few harsh words towards the bike shop that had just fitted it he resigned
himself to going home. I’m proud of my bodging skills and was determined something could be done to
prevent this. A bit of musical bolts got things back together. However, I’d have to be careful as I was left
with an over long bolt sticking out the rear of my stem. I’d had one knee injury this year and I really didn’t
want another.
| Ken just before his rear brake fell off |
| Steve and Huw making there way up the long climb from Abertridwr |
climbed through disappeared behind a thick curtain of rain. Although there wasn’t any water falling from
above the fields we were riding across were soaked, especially where the marsh grass was growing. It still
retained enough density to stop us sinking and before long started to firm up. Even better the trail started
to point down hill, which took the strain off our legs. That’s not to say it was easy. The descent was dotted
with close calls as our tyres fought for grip in the soft ground.
above the fields we were riding across were soaked, especially where the marsh grass was growing. It still
retained enough density to stop us sinking and before long started to firm up. Even better the trail started
to point down hill, which took the strain off our legs. That’s not to say it was easy. The descent was dotted
with close calls as our tyres fought for grip in the soft ground.
| Colin and Ian (left) and Steve (right) near the top of the climb, oblivious to their lucky escape as rain started falling on the forest we had just emerged from |
| Ian bathed in sunshine on the soft and wet grass on top of the hill |
| Lee and Darren smiling despite having just ridden through a swamp |
| Ian on the tricky descent of Cefn Grugos |
| Col with a front wheel twitch |
On the long climb back up the hill Darren
started to feel tired. Work had stopped
him riding since the last Shop Ride and
his fitness had suffered. The end of the
started to feel tired. Work had stopped
him riding since the last Shop Ride and
his fitness had suffered. The end of the
climb gave him no help, returning to soft, wet grass
for a final steep kick up to the forest at the top. The
only consolation was there would be no more
climbing on grass and we had a great descent ahead.
for a final steep kick up to the forest at the top. The
only consolation was there would be no more
climbing on grass and we had a great descent ahead.
(far left) Ken
climbing back to
the top of the hill
climbing back to
the top of the hill
(left) Col and Huw
tackle the roots and
puddles on the
Llwybr Heulen trail
tackle the roots and
puddles on the
Llwybr Heulen trail
| (right) Lee hits the same section at speed |
From the bright light we
headed into a spooky
tunnel of trees. The
branches above cut out
the daylight and the
tightly packed trees
absorbed any sound.
This calmness didn’t last
long. At a small clearing
we had to ride big wet
roots and deep puddles
before the trail dived
back into the trees for a
fast traverse across a
steep slope covered in
wet off camber roots.
headed into a spooky
tunnel of trees. The
branches above cut out
the daylight and the
tightly packed trees
absorbed any sound.
This calmness didn’t last
long. At a small clearing
we had to ride big wet
roots and deep puddles
before the trail dived
back into the trees for a
fast traverse across a
steep slope covered in
wet off camber roots.
| Steve, Llwybr Heulen trail |
| Lee and Ian riding the trail of invisible loose rocks |
| Huw and Steve at the bottom of the descent to Hirnant |
Loosing it here was the last thing
we wanted as the stream below
sounded a long way down.
The second part of the descent
took us down to the village of
Hirnant, in the bottom of the
valley. A nice line had been cut
through the mud at the top by all
the rain but it soon disappeared
under the washed out debris and
then a blanket of dead leaves.
The leaves covered the loose
rocks at the bottom forcing us to
ride them blind. Huw came
through first and made it look
easy with a ‘lots of speed and
hang off the back’ approach while
everyone else took it slower and
fought to stay upright as their
wheels bounced off unseen rocks.
we wanted as the stream below
sounded a long way down.
The second part of the descent
took us down to the village of
Hirnant, in the bottom of the
valley. A nice line had been cut
through the mud at the top by all
the rain but it soon disappeared
under the washed out debris and
then a blanket of dead leaves.
The leaves covered the loose
rocks at the bottom forcing us to
ride them blind. Huw came
through first and made it look
easy with a ‘lots of speed and
hang off the back’ approach while
everyone else took it slower and
fought to stay upright as their
wheels bounced off unseen rocks.
| This stays up until I get the £5 |
The final climb started on a steep lane. I
tried to help Darren keep going by taking a
photo of him riding, while Steve and Ken it
means Steve and Ken didn’t pay the £5 I
tried to blackmail them for. Colin ruined
my further attempts at moral boosting,
later on in the woods. ‘We’re nearly at the
top now’, I said. This was swiftly followed
by a ‘You should never believe him when
he says that’. As a qualified guide I always
try to cultivate an air of confidence and
trust in my abilities, thanks Colin.
tried to help Darren keep going by taking a
photo of him riding, while Steve and Ken it
means Steve and Ken didn’t pay the £5 I
tried to blackmail them for. Colin ruined
my further attempts at moral boosting,
later on in the woods. ‘We’re nearly at the
top now’, I said. This was swiftly followed
by a ‘You should never believe him when
he says that’. As a qualified guide I always
try to cultivate an air of confidence and
trust in my abilities, thanks Colin.
| Huw and Lee on the last climb |
Not long after
we did reach the
top (I was telling
the truth this
time). Usually I
hang around to
look at the
stunning view
across Lake
Vyrnwy to the
| (left to right) Darren, Huw, Col and Ken enjoying the last bit of sun on the final descent |
mountains behind but
it was windy and there
wasn’t much to see
besides a big black
it was windy and there
wasn’t much to see
besides a big black
| A Oneplanet Adventure Shop Ride by www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |
Col concentrating and Ken careening