MTB - Marin and Elsi 'Old Classic'

Kelly and I, plus Leo for part 2

Part 1, loop round the Marin trail, missing out the dragons back  pigs might fly sections and the climb up from llyn parc meant a quicker loop with less climbing.


Part 2, was an 'old classic' Leo in his youth used to ride these routes before the likes of the marin and even he admitted that it is a real challenge to ride without putting a foot down...personally, it is more of a challenge to not fall or get off, steep, rocky, drop ridden and diffinitely a lot worse if your get your line wrong. The route is from the memorial at llyn elsi down to the junction at betws y coed motors or cotswold rock bottom.

MTB - Elin's Revenge

Kelly, Claire, Martin and I. Thanks Claire for the video and photos.

Another Bikefax special but this time my gripe is 'using movable features as a waypoint'. Download the route in the 'Route Download' section

Frosty start at Betws Y Coed, with Claire opting for shorts, it soon warmed up as we got going an eventually made it up onto the open moorland below Siabod, exellent clear views for miles around, sun shining and great biking. sweeping forest track roads lead down to Dolwyddelan. Picking up the Sarn Helen route back over towards Betws via some 'killer puddles' and plenty of gates, to the final descent which is pretty special, an fantastic rocky, line picking fest with fast bouncy sections and sudden drops, twists and turns. over the crossroads and the trail leads to a bridge with a 'eugh ohhhhhhhhhhhh' ending to it.

Martin tolds us we had burnt in excess of 1000calories so we had chips for lunch. Nice.

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.

Aber Falls – Drum – Garnedd Uchaf Loop

The proposed route:

Mermory-Map File (.MMO)

 

After looking at the forecast I decided it would probably be best to do work in the morning and then ride in the afternoon. It wasn’t a hard decision, thunderstorms and gale force winds in the morning, easing to a calm day in the afternoon. During the night there was a fairy big storm, hail and all, in the morning, the sun was out towards the coast and Aber so, I decided that I would go in the morning.

I parked at the by the bridge just before the Aber Falls CP (a new Pay and display machine was there, I don’t know how much it costs). Got the bike out and set off up the hill, you will see it. After about 3/4mins I was in 1,1 and my new chain on my old set up was playing havoc. It was ok in 2,1 so that was that, this hill seems to be longer than before, if you meet a vehicle you will have to stop and getting started again isn’t the easiest. I got to the car park at the top (no charge), and the windproof was off, sweat running down my face…its been a long time since I have done much exercise. The road turns to a stone double track (Roman Road over to Rowen) this is mostly steady going and I have done it twice before so new what was coming, a couple of steep loose sections. I still haven’t made it up them both, I made it up neither today and a lot easier stuff, as soon as any kind of uneven pressure on the pedal was needed my chain skipped and I was walking. It is a nice steady uphill section on a good day.

Crossroads on the Roman Road from Rowan to Aber Falls

At the crossroads take aright towards Drum, uphill again. Left takes you steeply down to Llanfairfechan and straight on heads on to Rowen in the Conwy Valley. Stick on this double track all the way…that was the plan. However, the wind had picked up and I was hidden from the sun, windproof on, the bike still playing up and I was getting frustrated calling it all kinds of names which I’m sure the neighbouring sheep will not have heard before. There were a couple of sections which were loose and for me unrideable.

Just Keep Going

A bit further

Rainbow following a sort sharp shower

I pushed and rode for a bit took a few photos thinking that the loose bouldery sections would be quite good if I was going the other way.

Awkward on the way up but good on the way down

I got round the corner and reach a col where I could look across to the second have of my route…SNOW.

The moment I contemplated turning around

Definitely turning around

From my house I can see the other side of those mountains and there is no snow on them… my route was to traverse across them. It started raining…Decision made…waterproof on turn the bike around and fly back to the car. If it wasn’t for the wind on the flat sections I wouldn’t have had to pedal at all. I was right about the loose bouldery sections, they were very good.

I was gutted to not have done what I wanted but the 8minutes of downhill meant I was buzzing. I headed back towards home, wet and muddy, and wet and had a quick play near Moel Y Ci and the Mynydd Downhill track. I should have stuck with my plan of riding in the afternoon because the sun is out, no low clouds and a light wind. Oh well, I think it would be best to do the route on a fine day and not after a heavy rain.