Off to Betws on Thursday

Off to Betws on Thursday

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WildCards

Original Poster:

4,061 posts

224 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
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For three days. We'll most likely be doing the Marin and Penmachno trails but is there anything else good in the area we could try on the third day?

atom111

1,035 posts

232 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
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Let us know your thoughts on the Marin Trail I didn't really get on with it I don't know why maybe it was a bad day!!

Your only 40 mins from Coed so you could go there for a day plenty of good trails there but I am guessing there must be lots of natural trials, or you could do Snowdon.

I'll be in Afan this coming weekend for a three day trail fest cloud9

Scho

2,479 posts

210 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
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atom111 said:
Let us know your thoughts on the Marin Trail I didn't really get on with it I don't know why maybe it was a bad day!!

Your only 40 mins from Coed so you could go there for a day plenty of good trails there but I am guessing there must be lots of natural trials, or you could do Snowdon.

I'll be in Afan this coming weekend for a three day trail fest cloud9
coed y brennan (sp) is AWESOME. not sure how far from betsy tho!

http://www.mbwales.com/coed_y_brenin/index.htm


Edited by Scho on Tuesday 5th February 15:37

atom111

1,035 posts

232 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
quotequote all
Coed is great, heading back there in June smile

not sure of my Favourite at Coed though they all are pretty good. It's not that far from the Marin trail.

WildCards

Original Poster:

4,061 posts

224 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
quotequote all
The Marin trail was my first man made trail experience after getting back to biking about 5 years ago, so i'm quite keen to get back and see how I fair. I remember being grossly unfit and some of the descents scaring the crap out of me last time.

I've been to Coed-y-Brenin at least once a year for the last 5, and will probably be going again later this year so i'm in no rush to go there, although I agree, the trails are great.

Snowdon sounds like a plan. I've heard good things about the riding their.

atom111

1,035 posts

232 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
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I had great experience at Snowdon it was certainly an adventure in many ways.

It's always good to go back to an original trail and see how you fair, mine is the Penhydd the first XC trail I did in anger and this weekend I'll be there.

Takes some pics we can have a north and south Wales trails pic thread on Monday smile

WildCards

Original Poster:

4,061 posts

224 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
quotequote all
atom111 said:
Takes some pics we can have a north and south Wales trails pic thread on Monday smile
Will do. One of the chaps should have a helmet cam aswell.

MTY4000

327 posts

250 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
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Some good riding round Cadir Idris [South of Snowdon... near one of the esturies] - not sure how close it is to the man made trails though?

There is one track that goes up to the top... then comes back down.

Its an out and back, but well worth including in a longer ride... I think there are some man made trails near by you could link it into? Not sure of the names.

Much quieter than Snowdon, and close in size: you can ride any time of the day. V good decent from the summit & great views. Starts all rocky, then gets its speed up! Watch out for wheel swallowing holes when it gets to the grassy bits. Ends up with some fast twin track - IRCC. Not ridden it for a few years.

Edited by MTY4000 on Tuesday 5th February 18:01

MTY4000

327 posts

250 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
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I think the natural trails near to Cadair Idris might be Coed Y Brenin. Cadir Idris is near Dolgellau.....

Not sure how feasable it is to link the mountain into the man made stuff though.

Last time I rode Cadair Idris I was a mere youth on a fully rigid 'old skool' Cannondale with 'Peperonni' forks (early 90s) and man made trails were non existent at that time to my knowledge! So not sure of the geography..

I'll have to take a return trip myself, this time with suspension!


Vodka Margarine

6,632 posts

221 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
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atom111 said:
Coed is great, heading back there in June smile

not sure of my Favourite at Coed though they all are pretty good. It's not that far from the Marin trail.
Marin is great, Coed is good but I am not so sure about the new start there to be honest.

Vodka Margarine

6,632 posts

221 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
quotequote all
Scho said:
atom111 said:
Let us know your thoughts on the Marin Trail I didn't really get on with it I don't know why maybe it was a bad day!!

Your only 40 mins from Coed so you could go there for a day plenty of good trails there but I am guessing there must be lots of natural trials, or you could do Snowdon.

I'll be in Afan this coming weekend for a three day trail fest cloud9
coed y brennan (sp) is AWESOME. not sure how far from betsy tho!

http://www.mbwales.com/coed_y_brenin/index.htm


Edited by Scho on Tuesday 5th February 15:37
40 minute drive IIRC

cone

471 posts

242 months

Wednesday 6th February 2008
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Sometimes i like The Marin , othertimes i prefer Penmachno, no reason why - strange. If your wanting "man made" trails , coed y brenin has plenty of choice and remember Llandegla is not far away. Also Penmachno has loop 2 open now , did it a while ago though the weather spoilt that day !
Also id recomend "The Royal Oak " for for apres'beers too , on the main street and food s okay too.Had many a cheeky pint in there, then stagger back to tent. Have fun its a great area

mk1fan

10,648 posts

232 months

Wednesday 6th February 2008
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Will be riding Afan as well this w/e. I'll keep an eye out for you atom111

atom111

1,035 posts

232 months

Wednesday 6th February 2008
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Yeah I will do that too, be good to catch up!!

Edited by atom111 on Wednesday 6th February 17:16

WildCards

Original Poster:

4,061 posts

224 months

Saturday 9th February 2008
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I'm back!
We rode Penmachno Loop 1 on thursday, Marin trail on friday and Penmachno Loop 1 again today. We did the Penmach twice because only two of us arrived in time for a ride on thursday, we started it at 3pm and managed to finish it for 5 after racing against the light for the final 20 minutes, it was fun, but knackering.
I'll get the photos uploaded and on the forum when I can.

mk1fan

10,648 posts

232 months

Sunday 10th February 2008
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We're back too.

We rode the Penhydd and The Wall at Afan on Saturday (don't ask about Friday) and White's Trail at Glyngorog today. I've never done White's before and I'm disaapointed I didn't do it earlier. It is now my favourite man made trail in South Wales. The optional Black run at the top is great practice for Morzine and the rest of it was awesome too.

WildCards

Original Poster:

4,061 posts

224 months

Monday 11th February 2008
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Pics;

Start of the fireroad climb on the Marin.


My bunch, taking a breather.


Fine views.



Singletrack.





AnAnd the final climb of the Marin.


Followed by the final decent.

WildCards

Original Poster:

4,061 posts

224 months

Monday 11th February 2008
quotequote all
And a few snaps from Penmachno. Sorry about the blurriness of all the pics, I had the camera on the wrong settings all weekend.

The car park.




Final descent. I did take trail pics from Penmachno, but they didn't come out well.

WildCards

Original Poster:

4,061 posts

224 months

Tuesday 12th February 2008
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And here's a couple of snaps of me.