A 'Classic' in the wet - Gethins Bridge MTB

Myself Kelly, Dave C, Kelvin, Mr B and his two lads and Mr S

A good friend Leo described the route to me as an 'old school classic' when we did it last year, as part of a longer ride. He said it was steep, a good chance of low branches and there is an interesting rock garden/ double drop off. Which is slimy and pretty technical. So he suggested to see how it goes, but to walk if I want. It was dry, I rode most of it, until it actually became really steep, and then the rock garden section appeared.

Today, we were out in the pissing rain, and squaling wind. Ideal weather to be a duck. Betws Y Coed was damp to say the least, less wind but more rain than Tregarth, and less rain but more wind than Llanberis.

We headed up towards Llyn Elsi from up behind Cotswold Rock Bottom, the wind and rain were giving us a good battle on the exposed sections above the Lledr Valley. Mr S decided it best not to do the upper section which proved a good idea as the last bit was a swimming pool.

The first section was amusing as Kelvin fell straight off claiming there was a rock,, a slippy bridge meant Mr B's back wheel slide out and chucked him off and his legs were submerged into the torrent of water below. No real harm, just a hole in his brand new trousers, and 'almost bursting a plum'. Kelly was at the back and she decided to walk across with her legs either side of the bike, then Kelvin ran past, Kelly was bouncing off the rocks in the stream, a full submersion, but quick recovery. The bike was amzingly still on the bridge, how I will never know. The route drops steeply down then steeper. Only Mr S actually rode all of it, Kelvin & Dave had a good go but the icing on the cake was the final bridge which had water flowing over it.

Kelly and I bailed back to Betws, Mr B and the boys bailed soon after. Kelvin, Dave and Mr S did a little more which can be read on Daves' Blog (Tea, Flapjack and Ale) who also has some photos of the day.


Not a route to do in torrential rain but still a cracking morning out.