UKBouldering.com
the shizzle => shootin' the shit => two wheel spiel => Topic started by: Yossarian on September 09, 2008, 06:51:01 pm
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A new thread in which you are invited to record the details of your favourite mountain biking trail or trails. It was all starting to appear in the XC thread in dribs and drabs.
I haven't ridden anywhere particularly amazing in the UK and need some inspiration.
Whites Level at Afan was quite fun, but I got a bit pissed off with the initial climb on subsequant visits. I rode Glentress Red a few years back, and that was amazing. I think it might have been improved since then too. The last bit of the Ae Line at Ae was pretty good too. There's a push up path alongside, and from what I understand it's only that last bit that's worthy of a bigger bike. The Ae DH course shat me up.
(http://www.7stanes.gov.uk/images/AeDH3web.jpg/$FILE/AeDH3web.jpg)
this drop looked much worse in the flesh, and it went straight into a viciously twisting bermed section. no thanks...
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Where's that drop? Ae? Looks good fun, although like you say I imagine it's more intimidating in the flesh.
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It's on the DH course at AE. Quite near the bottom. The course was pretty cut up cos there'd been some Scottish DH series race the previous weekend. The section leading into it was all very steep muddy tree roots and twisty muddy trails. The kind of thing it's difficult to get squared up on. The actual drop is pretty fucking fierce. What you can't really see from the pic is that there's a big flat section directly under the drop. Well you can if you look carefully. The transition is very steep, and you need to land in just the right place so you have long enough to swing into the berm. No doubt talented people can do it easily, but my brain made it quite clear that it wasn't having any of it...
think this is another view:
(http://www4.picturepush.com/photo/a/626862/oimg/Anonymous/Ae-DH-National-006.jpg)
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and this...
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2077/2454186060_0f59035775.jpg?v=0)
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not to mention this...
(http://www.mountainbikesapart.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/ae_11.jpg)
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A new thread in which you are invited to record the details of your favourite mountain biking trail or trails.
are we allowed natural stuff or just manmade type shit?
Ae Line was good btw - I enjoyed it. Very aggressive. Couldn't see much difference between red and black options on final descent though.
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No, no - more natural if anything. I think Norton made some comments about natural vs man made, and it got me thinking about proper quality real world trails...
Saying that, the DH / freeride area at Cannock Chase was pretty awesome. Other side of the main road from the (rather boring) XC circuit.
I didn't ride the full Ae Line. I just walked up the push path from the end. Was the full loop all good? It was my first day out on a new big bike (which is now hidden in a container somewhere) and I just full-faced up and tried to jump quite high on the bits at the end. I thought the harder end section had slightly tastier ramps than the lesser one, but it really just seemed to be about how fast you were prepared to ride it.
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full loop was good. there was forest road but the singletrack was nearly all great and at 20-odd km it's a good length.
it's not really a 'favourite' but i rode the fabled Ciaran Path nr Kinlochleven on the same trip (was up watching world cup at fort bill). It was piss wet with non stop rain but incredible. 8km of extremely technical, virtually all downhill, rocky singletrack. norton would wet himself. only took one tumble over the bars but a couple of sections require carrying.
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Isn't that AKA the coffin jump.
Dalbeatie hardrock trail in the borders is pretty good, roughly 30km, rocky single track in the main but no heroics, with some tasty black graded rock features, like the slab and the terrible twins.
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i was pretty sure that i'd end up in a coffin if i'd tried it...
but according to google this is the coffin jump:
(http://p1.pinkbike.com/photo/1869/pbpic1869533.jpg)
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and this is perhaps the best view of the nasty one...
(http://www.descent-world.co.uk/images/stories/Repotage/sda_2006/sda2006_rd2_ae_neilmackay.jpg)
i'll stop now.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pweePYE2b_k&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pweePYE2b_k&feature=related)
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That looks rad. Where is this AE place that you speak of?
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http://www.7stanes.gov.uk/forestry/achs-5rnfq9 (http://www.7stanes.gov.uk/forestry/achs-5rnfq9)
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:o
wow that looks ace
anyway for all interested there is a big big big, big slope style contest just outside font this weekend, in this place i just found. looks like its going to go off
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That looks rad. Where is this AE place that you speak of?
it's fucking fierce. i pushed all the way to the top, and that nearly killed me. very very steep and pretty muddy. prob ok during the summer. the end of the ae line is a lot better drained and drier. the DH course was just savage.
Uncle - it's up near Peebles. Quite a mission, and not as much stuff as Glentress. But it's quite special.
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That reminds me Thrunton wood (the county) not a trail center, a small group of trail builders have handcut trails in the forrest, to produce some really exquisite technical trails utilising narural rocks, the very best being stuff like the evocatively named Eiger sanction (black graded), with technical sections such as the White spider, really steep singletrack, dropping into a slippery rock slab -this leads into more steeps and rooty shenanigans, finishes in alpinglen what a trip.
Traverse of the dogs is another funpacked black graded trail, this leads into the ES again a fantastic section of singletrack, with some easy north shore, at the end are some rock drops the hardest being the death drop!!
These trails are some of the best i have ridden so far, finding them early in the summer, considering how wet it has been here, the climbing has been put on hold just for now.
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this drop looked much worse in the flesh
They always do!
I fancy AE some time - there's another DH course there now too. Uplift is run by the same people who do Innerleithen.
Although i have pretty limited experience of UK venues, the best place i've been by far is Innerleithen. 4 main tracks with countless variations between them. From totally man-made to gnarly natural rooty, muddy and rocky. Everything from little drops to large ones, small jumps to massive doubles. Mostly very steep and the tracks are long, about 4.5 to 5.5 minute descents at old gits pace, but make that around 3 minutes at national race standard. Excellent uplift service giving you up to around 8 runs in a day which is plenty. I've already posted videos elsewhere. Shame it's so far from Sheffield.
Other great venues:
Cwmcarn - only 1 DH track (a new one coming soon) but it's really good - video here (http://www.cwmdown.co.uk/mediavideo.php). Very well designed, varied and again a good long run. Think we're going down there soon :)
Caersws - Awesome hill in mid Wales. You can arrange private uplift with the farmer if you get a crew together. Another venue that's used for various race series' and contains several tracks, varying from quite tricky to pant-filling. The hill is very steep, ridiculously so in places. Here's some video of racing on the most popular track:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVAnsvMLys8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVAnsvMLys8)
Bringewood - Great venue in Shropshire. Pearce Cycles (http://www.pearcecycles.co.uk/events) run uplift days there but so far this summer it's all been race days which is a shame. Several tracks all of which are quality. Generally very rooty in the lower half and I believe it becomes a mudbath when wet.
Hamsterley - Another great place to ride, up near Bishop Aukland. Has several DH tracks (quite a lot of new stuff since my last visit I think) and a HUGE 4x track. The main track is quality. The top half is quite easy angled but fast and flowey with a classic large tabletop. The bottom half is much steeper and gnarlier with some small but tasty drops and some good fall potential. You can session the top half if there's no uplift running but the walk up from the bottom is about 30mins so you won't be sessioning the whole track much unless you're a masochist. Lots of other stuff there including a newish and very gnarly looking double-black trail.
Wharncliffe - it'd be wrong not to include the local. Overpopulated urban wood but with some fine riding. Fast non-technical tracks like "Fastrack" to more serious stuff like "No Human". Various freeridey stuff dotted about. More stuff over the hill in Greno Woods including the massive "Peaty's Drop" which only the brave will attempt. If you can session this then I suggest a move to Whistler or something :lol:
That list makes me realise how much more i need to spread my DH wings and check out more places like Fort William (supposed to be great but poor uplift and a total bike and rider wrecker) and more of the many Welsh DH tracks.
For fun, freeridey messing about venues I'd suggest:
Chicksands - In Bedfordshire. Fun northshore, some freeride lines, amazing looking dirtjumps and national standard 4x tracks. All in all a really fun place to mess about at and watch some amazing DJ action from the cool kidz.
Hamilton Hill - An improbable northshore venue at Market Rasen in flat Lincolnshire. Has a really classic northshore trail called "The Flow Show" and a few other bits and bobs. Great for a day's messing about on. This is a club only venue though and you have to join up to ride there.
Storthes Hall - A small wood near Huddersfield where local students have built a fun little track and a few other bits. Not really worth driving past Wharncliffe to get too but fun for a few hours if you're nearby.
Abbeyford Woods - Tiny FE wood near Oakhampton with some quality northshore hidden away. Great for a day's entertainment on the techncal wooden trails.
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I've never got around to visiting Chicksands. It sounds pretty good.
Woburn is quite fun. The dirt jumps are probably the biggest draw, but there's quite a lot of other stuff.
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Bubba that's a quality list.
Caersws is the best on the list, an amazing place where the farmer has decided he can make more money out of uplift days and races than just having a wood sitting there... tech, fun trails and good uplifts. No point in going unless you're on a big bike. Unfortunately the online contact details for the farm and/or organisers have vanished, perhaps it can be found through the midlands superseries site http://www.superseries.info/ (http://www.superseries.info/) but there's not a lot there at the moment. Much better than Ae in my opinion. Innerleithern is still the original and best out of the Scottish venues...
Go to http://www.dragondownhill.co.uk/ (http://www.dragondownhill.co.uk/) or http://www.pearcecycles.co.uk/events (http://www.pearcecycles.co.uk/events) for uplift days, all the tracks they do uplifts on are fantastic. Mtn. Ash has given us the best fun over recent years, a mellow DH track by modern standards, but long and flowing. It's been at least a year since I was there but I can still remember almost every corner (probably a bit sad!)
Chicksands is small, but OK. Lack of big hills means it will always suffer, but the 4X track is great fun and worth a visit.
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Aren't the DragonDownhill uplifts always linked to race days? So many Welsh tracks to check out :bounce:
Maybe we should get a ukb Caersws uplift day organised :)
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Even further than 7 Stanes is wolftrax at Laggan. www.forestry.gov.uk/WolfTrax (http://www.forestry.gov.uk/WolfTrax)
www.basecampmtb.com (http://www.basecampmtb.com) some great tracks, but pretty short (although not been since the new red was opened). Uplift too.
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Maybe we should get a ukb Caersws uplift day organised :)
I'd be up for that...
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Indeed. Though I need to go and dig out my big(ger) bike...
So, what about natural trails? I have got the Dark Peak MTB book, but I haven't actually got around to riding any of the routes.
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With the 7 stanes make sure you check the status of the tracks before you go. We rode Ae 2 weekends ago and there were diversions on many of the descents including three quarters of the omega man.
Glentress red is still ace.
Innerleithen - traquair loop is now my favourite trail in the UK. Big easy climb followed by bmx track like singletrack with berms and jumps and more natural descents at the end.
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Indeed. Though I need to go and dig out my big(ger) bike...
So, what about natural trails? I have got the Dark Peak MTB book, but I haven't actually got around to riding any of the routes.
dont need a bigger bike for that, basically norton, tlr & i ride those trails most sundays: a bit of *local knowledge* helps somewhat as well ;)
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I meant the bigger bike for this Caersws place.
I'd def be up for a day or weekend there. Anyone? Anyone?
I might get in touch re one of those Sundays. A chum and I have pencilled in a couple of biking weekends in Nov.
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I know I suggested going to Caersws and might be up for a ride, but my DH bike is out of action at the moment. I had another look for uplift dates and can't find much. The best bet would be calling the farmer direct - he's perfectly friendly! Details on this old uplift form here http://www.nakedracing.plus.com/upliftcaersws.htm (http://www.nakedracing.plus.com/upliftcaersws.htm)
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We all had a great day today on the Cwmdown (http://www.cwmdown.co.uk/) uplift at Cwmcarn.
Perfect weather and we all got about 10 runs in. The track still rides really well and although not that hardcore is a lot of fun due to it's length and variety.
No major injuries apart from Fatboyslimfast sustaining a lovely club foot after twatting his ankle on-sighting a jump.
XC course looks nice too.
Here's a video of the very talented Rowan Sorrell riding the track as I wish I could
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flGKHUPg9k4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flGKHUPg9k4)
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I meant the bigger bike for this Caersws place.
I'd def be up for a day or weekend there. Anyone? Anyone?
We'd have to get 20 people together. Harder than it sounds but it could be done with a bit of work.
I've also read that Pearce Cycles will run similar private uplift for a minimum of 20 people. They run the uplift at Hopton and Bringewood in Shropshire. I've not ridden Hopton but Bringewood is great fun.
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That's a great video. I have ridden Cwmdown, but not quite like that.
I can't imagine having the confidence or ability to ride that track like that. Too many trees, rocks, roots, cambers etc, etc.
Glad you had a good day.
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Ok chaps... I haven't got my Dark Peak Mountain Biking to hand (it's packed away somewhere...)
Two winter days in the Peak. Two all day rides required. Bit of an adventure. Any thoughts?
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King of the Loops (or whatever its called, >100km) should bulk out one day nicely.
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the killer in mbr 2 moths ago
woodhead - over cut gate, turn R.... up lockerbrook, down flying mile... turn right.... turn L over viadcuct to ladybower inn..... left just just after up to then get to descend to fairholmes, cane it past dams to reverse cutgate to car.
- it will be very wet, very hard.... though the reusurfacing will be a blessing on cutgate.
or....... a more convoluted *cough* hard to link route around winhill, then dependant on wind / rain either the limestone of the kamekaze and pindale or the jacobs ladder circuit.
bear in mind all the rails are fully wet and the going is damn slow at the mo.. persoanlly i'd aim for a 4 hr ride than a brew, consider more riding, bag it off and go to the pub!!! all dayer in the peak unless the weather is kind at this time of year can be tear jerking affairs!!!
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personally if I was doing that circuit I wouldn't listen to the southerners, either mbr or fatdoc, hehe.
park at fairholmes(ish), warm up along road side of reservoir to slippery stones, up and over cut gate, back up and over cut gate, along far side of reservoir, up to whinston lee tor, down towards devils elbow, turn r to pub, cross to win hill, *cough* up win hill, down the beast, cross the A57, up hagg farm, down lockerbrook.
I'd forget the cut gate bit and add in a hope loop instead: yorkshire bridge, up hope side of win hill, hollins cross, jaggers clough, up valley on road a bit, lose hill climb (you'll need the granny ring), along the top Mam Tor, down the steps, rushup edge, *cough* to jacobs ladder, down that, up jaggers clough, down the beast, then either hagg farm loop as above or along reservoir, *cough* up straight path trail, *cough* down trail to the car park.
If either of them don't get you in bottom gear and fucked then I'll buy you a beer.
Other shorter top rides: white ****, f*****t, c****r, road, grouse, white *****, totley moss, blacka, Crown in Totley.
Anything involving Houndkirk and Blacka, preferably at night with mnml techno on the iPod :thumbsup:
Jacobs Ladder circuits are generally pants imho but good effort to VG for putting them in their books to keep the punter off the better trails.
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well having knowledge of the area I can say some that is totally uncomprehensible,
it sounds like jerry giving directions ( sorry slightly private joke for norton et al..)
but it does show that linking up basically anything from jon bs book is good - though often the wrong way round - and the *cough* use of less known trails to perform such links is pretty easy to sort from a map...
when you coming up here yoss??
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what makes you think I wanted them to find their way round?
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let us know when you are around Yoss, I'm sure we can do a bit of free guiding.
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i better buy myself a map then...
i was thinking one of the first couple of weekends in december. but need to sort out the troops.
i like the sound of cut gate, etc. i did have an ancient thing from mbr with a route covering cut gate and doctors gate. but i've lost it.
on the basis that we're all southerners, can you answer the following questions...
are they any pubs near woodhead that specialise in shandy?
can you suggest a decent boutique hotel? preferably with frette sheets and pol roger rose in the minibar?
what's the number for the local mountain rescue chap? just in case my feet get cold and i want to go home.
how do you say, "i liked your dog better before he bit me" in northern?
where can i get my gucci spd shoes cleaned?
any good helipads around?
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in answer to your questions;
three stags head, tideswell moor - bit of a way from Woodhead but respond well to Shandy drinkers
if I knew what a pol roger rose was it would help but I believe any hotel in Attercliffe, Sheffield will have some pols
0800 how's my riding
"here's a tenner, please don't let your cat loose"
fatdoc residence
don't know, I prefer knee, shin and elbow pads
trust that helps
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how norton has no -ve karma posts i have no damn idea.... in fact i'm sure i clobbered hime one recently :-\
Yoss, give me an email /txt /ring when you have dates, if you're lucky norton will also be free.. and if you're really lucky so will tlr (to get thrashed on the climbs) and... if you're extra specially lucky the *big wednesday crew* from our weds nite riding posse will be free... to get thrashed up, down and sideways :o
bit like last night!!!
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And if you are really, really lucky then Fatdoc will be available to accompany you to 18Bikes to wallet rape you.
Come in a big car so you can take all your shiny new kit home with you.
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And if you are really, really lucky then Fatdoc will be available to accompany you to 18Bikes to wallet rape you.
Come in a big car so you can take all your shiny new kit home with you.
And if you extra specially good - then after your trip to 18 bikes fatdoc will take you out for a quick ride & you can observe him falling off his bike at high velocity, and blame his shiney new fork. Which incidently he's just made you buy. Alternatively - drop into the doc's on your way - have a look round his store & equip yourself for your rides and then return on your way home, no doubt in better working order than when collected.
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how norton has no -ve karma posts i have no damn idea.... in fact i'm sure i clobbered hime one recently :-\
Yoss, give me an email /txt /ring when you have dates, if you're lucky norton will also be free.. and if you're really lucky so will tlr (to get thrashed on the climbs) and... if you're extra specially lucky the *big wednesday crew* from our weds nite riding posse will be free... to get thrashed up, down and sideways :o
bit like last night!!!
Yossarian - as per Fatdoc comments.
Fatdoc - I have no idea either but since your little chat to me the other night I will try to be nice and positive in online character mode. Perhaps I need a new name but Norton Shice just doesn't have the same ring to it :)
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I think Fatdoc might have met his match when it comes to buying vast quantities of over-priced kit...
A bold statement perhaps.
The Priory pioneered a cycling equipment addiction therapy especially for me. I was denied the use of my credit card and forced to ride around the capital on a 1987 Halfords special. The treatment backfired though - within two weeks I had shoplifted a pair of beryllium cranks, some trispoke wheels and a camo saddle.
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Fatdoc does seem very concerned about Norton negative karmaing him for wearing lycra. What this little chat then? sounds intersting.
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I think Fatdoc might have met his match when it comes to buying vast quantities of over-priced kit...
A bold statement perhaps.
The Priory pioneered a cycling equipment addiction therapy especially for me. I was denied the use of my credit card and forced to ride around the capital on a 1987 Halfords special. The treatment backfired though - within two weeks I had shoplifted a pair of beryllium cranks, some trispoke wheels and a camo saddle.
:lol:
See Fatdoc I could develop my character to be more like this nice funny chap Yossarian but then wouldn't the internet become a trite and boring?
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Ok, here we go
I want a new fork 8)
seriously!!
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so, I'm here at work - having a bit of a lull.
i gets thinking, would be nice to have a plusher fork (yes yes i know) and i've got a fair bit of kit that I'm currently selling on. dont want to spend more than i get from it, so that's about £300 then...
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/marzocchi/55-ata2-ec001692 (http://www.evanscycles.com/products/marzocchi/55-ata2-ec001692)
hmm... fit's the bill, my brakes fit it...... my 888s are the plushest most reliable things in the world....
tempting... ludicrous but tempting..
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this, however is the daddy
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fox-shox/36-talas-rc2-fork-ec016092 (http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fox-shox/36-talas-rc2-fork-ec016092)
and I really need to go and find some work to do....
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this, however is the daddy
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fox-shox/36-talas-rc2-fork-ec016092 (http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fox-shox/36-talas-rc2-fork-ec016092)
and I really need to go and find some work to do....
Here we go again - fatdoc needs another trip to 18bikes!!!!!
How many forks do you have in the garage???? And how old is that Magura??
Now go and do some work & stop day dreaming.
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:lol:
Jon don't ever become an audiophile is all I can say!
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http://www.evanscycles.com/products/marzocchi/55-ata2-ec001692 (http://www.evanscycles.com/products/marzocchi/55-ata2-ec001692)
Aren't all the 2008 'zocchis supposed to have major QC issues? With huge amounts of play in the bushings being considered 'normal'? SouthernDownhill consensus seems to be avoid.
36's sound good...
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Here's a link for fatdoc to help his slight equipment buying fetish....
http://www.priorygroup.com/forms/AddictionsAssessment.asp (http://www.priorygroup.com/forms/AddictionsAssessment.asp)
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http://www.evanscycles.com/products/marzocchi/55-ata2-ec001692 (http://www.evanscycles.com/products/marzocchi/55-ata2-ec001692)
Aren't all the 2008 'zocchis supposed to have major QC issues? With huge amounts of play in the bushings being considered 'normal'? SouthernDownhill consensus seems to be avoid.
36's sound good...
cheers Oli...
probs why it's sooo cheap...
I'm in a quandry about 36s: i would prefer air, i would prefer a 20mm axle... but that's no biggie the 15mm fox ones can be sorted with spacers to fit my Hope hub I believe... and a 6" post mount so i dont have to upsize my Hope 185mmm to 203mm as i believe you have to do to go post mount to IS...
another way to go is too finally just accept i cant climb (on a mtb that is.. ;) ) and get a coil 140mm fixed length. I really wish i didnt seem to have developed an allergy to rockshox.... but after 3 pairs of pikes going back this spring i'm never getting them again...
reason for daydream??? I dont like having to use the compression damping to the degree you have to to stop the fork diving... yet it seems quite slow through the stroke... wnat it more lively but not linear
I'll try some different settings (again) but if i cant get happy with it may as well sell it on IMO... has to be said... an adjustable non rockshox through axle coil is really what i'd like to try....
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Probably the wrong MTB thread really, but;
What do you gurus make of this?
http://www.southerndownhill.com/forum/index.php/topic,174050.0.html (http://www.southerndownhill.com/forum/index.php/topic,174050.0.html)
I'm quite tempted. But slightly pricy (although it does look mint)? Non replaceable rear drop outs. Usually single pivot disadvantages. It does look in good nick and it's been upgraded to a DHX5 which is a bonus.
Anyone ridden one for sizing ideas?
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i've sat on one, tlr has one.
i'm 5 ft 7, i'll be wanting a small than??
i always wanted a bullett. IMO this frame is the best one they ever did.. the new one is too steep and jacks up too much and in reality the unique position it had in the marketplace has now been flooded by all and sundry
this frame:
is worn but a manual tied to it??
looks in good nick
i'd be a hardnosed, lets face it they are reasonably common if you are patient in SDH, £300 - 325 posted, with seatpost and front mech... it's an iconic but old used frame at the end of the day
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i'd be a hardnosed, lets face it they are reasonably common if you are patient in SDH, £300 - 325 posted, with seatpost and front mech... it's an iconic but old used frame at the end of the day
I might email the chap and see what he's prepared to do. I'd need to justify it to myself somehow... and then find some decent forks to build it up with. I think my old pair of Stratos mx6's wouldn't quite cut it. ;)
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http://www.evanscycles.com/products/marzocchi/55-ata2-ec001692 (http://www.evanscycles.com/products/marzocchi/55-ata2-ec001692)
Aren't all the 2008 'zocchis supposed to have major QC issues? With huge amounts of play in the bushings being considered 'normal'? SouthernDownhill consensus seems to be avoid.
36's sound good...
:yawn:
is there even any point in trying to influence your decision? no
cheers Oli...
probs why it's sooo cheap...
I'm in a quandry about 36s: i would prefer air, i would prefer a 20mm axle... but that's no biggie the 15mm fox ones can be sorted with spacers to fit my Hope hub I believe... and a 6" post mount so i dont have to upsize my Hope 185mmm to 203mm as i believe you have to do to go post mount to IS...
another way to go is too finally just accept i cant climb (on a mtb that is.. ;) ) and get a coil 140mm fixed length. I really wish i didnt seem to have developed an allergy to rockshox.... but after 3 pairs of pikes going back this spring i'm never getting them again...
reason for daydream??? I dont like having to use the compression damping to the degree you have to to stop the fork diving... yet it seems quite slow through the stroke... wnat it more lively but not linear
I'll try some different settings (again) but if i cant get happy with it may as well sell it on IMO... has to be said... an adjustable non rockshox through axle coil is really what i'd like to try....
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Chicksands was fantastic today. Ok - too wet for the shore really (although it looked really good Bubba) - a mate came a bit of a cropper sliding off a fairly high ladder, but the 4X and dual courses were perfect. They're going to extend the latter too.
The best day biking I can remember for a long time.
And I'm not in hospital.
There was also a van offering piping hot thai green curry. If you're that way inclined....
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Sampled Dalby Forest yetsterday with Fatdoc and Fatkid and, for a trail centre, it was quite entertaining with some tricky step downs on the black. We mainly did the red circuit so can't comment for the whole of the black. It's long rather than hard but I would certainly rate it above Llandegla and definately better than Coed y Brenin or the Marin trail. On the NS mtb scale 3/5 for quality and 2/5 for the red circuit technicality (3/5 for the harder black section).
And the 'Doc didn't break anything :o, although I did, doh. :'(
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fair go on the grade, though annoyingly the best bit of red is also the best of black... did black 1st time, red y'day...
i seem to have injured my left quads.. no doubt not aided by the A64 traffic & the evil clutch on the van on the way home :(
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after two days at coed llandegla i can offer the following observations....
my new cove that performed so well on the 4x at chicksands was a total pig to pedal uphill for any distance. my gang spent an awful lot of time waiting for me to crawl up at a pathetic pace, and indeed spent a lot of time speculating about what deviant activity i might've been up to in the proceeding days that might've explained my performance. smoking crack with an orgy of angolan prostitutes was the favoured explanation.
the north shore stuff was fairly pointless.
the first little black graded section had a collection of very rocky "dirt" jumps that were not particularly pleasant, especially when you fall off the side and land on your head. my friend big ben was in a&e this morning having his neck looked at.
winter mountain bike fashion is a terrifying thing. norton can try to argue this one all he likes, but even the most outrageous roadie get-up (full pink once outfit included) doesn't even come close. baggy shorts and black tights and booties and silly glasses and stretchy camo fleece combine to create a look so hideous that the united nations should really try to get together and stamp it out as soon as possible.
the dolphin in mold is a fine pub. if you like dribbling beryl cook models vomiting lager and chips trying to karaoke the summer of 69
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Some vailid points made about Llandegla and winter fashion.
So when are you coming up to the Peak for a weekend? I thought it was going to be early December some time?
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i was aiming for the 6/7th, but it depends on appeasing the GF. especially considering the fact that i am trying to negotiate a third biking-related weekend in a row.
if i'm lucky, she'll admit that she's forgotten what i look like, in which case i will send a massively well-endowed (she will remember some characteristics i expect) gigolo along until i get bored of arriving back home late on a sunday with a car full of mud and energy bar wrappers.
are people still keen for an uplift day sometime?
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6 th working 24 hr shift, 7 th daughter's birthday....
might be able to have normal early morning sunday ride.. but if i'm up all night it's a no no.
I usually dont arrange a ride in these circumstances - if it's a light shift I wander off on my own for an hour or 2, as the pace is very slow!
If i get a passout to ride trail centres within easy of reach of peak / sheff I'll not be going to llangdella, dalby is way way better.. although the whole trail centre concept is a bit MTB *lite* anyways... good once in while mind!
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Ah, well, maybe the new year would be a better plan. The troops are being a bit unreliable at the moment too.
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first ride of da year yesterday and first in about 3 months. linked the two reds at nant yr arian again. it's shocking how quickly fitness darks you. still seem able to ride the fun stuff though but got a bit over confident on some sheet ice. word.
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whereabouts is that?
and has anyone done the karrimor at coed y brenin? i'm quite into the idea of some longer xc type things at the moment.
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here (http://www.nantyrarian.com/) word. bout 10 miles east of aberystwyth. got family nearby so it's handy.
in the same area the cli-machx trail (http://www.dyfimountainbiking.org.uk/climachx.html) just north of machynlleth is also very good. only one trail but most of the climbing is done early on - gets it out of the way - and it finishes with the longest man-made singletrack descent in wales. and it's a good one too. prefer to do nant yr arian as linking the two reds makes for a slightly longer ride.
never ridden coed y brenin. intend to this year. could probably nip down to cli-machx easy enough from CyB.
[blatant plug alert]we've a book that covers them all, obviously. (http://www.v-outdoor.co.uk/products/mountain_biking/mountain_biking_trail_centres_-_the_guide.php)[/blatant plug alert]
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i know! i must get myself a copy...
i thought coed y brenin was ok, but then we only did whatever the old over-caffeinated sugary drink company course is now called. what used to be called the karrimor trail is meant to be great. hmmm.
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I did them both on the same weekend a while back. It was the first time I had been on a bike for about 10 years, and was a shock to the system.
My first biking of New year was on the Wildcat trails at Golspie. Only did the red circuit which was good butvery treacherous in ice and frost and glad I had skill compensators on when I lost it going over a small kicker and landing on ice.
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I did them both on the same weekend a while back. It was the first time I had been on a bike for about 10 years, and was a shock to the system.
My first biking of New year was on the Wildcat trails at Golspie. Only did the red circuit which was good butvery treacherous in ice and frost and glad I had skill compensators on when I lost it going over a small kicker and landing on ice.
:lol:
i know how who feel, i washed out on a well easy, though sodden, trail yesterday. have to say I'm just soo damn chuffed to have been ill for the last 3 weeks of still, dry weather to then finally get out to a day of harsh westerly winds, hidden sheet ice and a bit if sleet.... bollocks.
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Was it as bad as this?
(http://www.smuffandrooney.co.uk/d/3517-2/IMG_1391.jpg)
That's frost btw, not snow.
(http://www.smuffandrooney.co.uk/d/3513-2/IMG_1382.jpg)
Mate's pics from just before New Year.
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Nah, can't of been that bad. At least FD wears baggies over his leggings and non-roadie shoes and helmet :spank:
Good piccies though Chris, especially those on t'other thread.
Karrimor is now the black trail called Dragons Back I believe. I thought the first hour getting out to the 'Uncle Fester' descent was utterly boring being almost entirely forest 4x4 track. If you do go there I would thoroughly recommend shortcutting this section between Hermon and Gomez- I've not done this shortcut but it must be possible given all the forest trails. Add on the MBR trail to make a good day out (The Beast). I guess with the shortcut this would take around 2.5-3 hours.
Apparently work is ongoing on Uncle Fester section too so until that is finished I'd go to a different centre, check out the forestry commission website. Or up Snowdon.
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I can't find Norton's info on Dalby Forest...
Anyone been recently?
I should have a free midweek afternoon around there next week. Any advice on trails I should be riding? Other useful intel?
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Other useful intel?
it costs £7 to get onto the forest drive. worth knowing.
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do the red.... if it's not too wet do the black bit {that makes it a bit shorter....] BUT dont do all the black low northshore... either bag it and just do alittle (it's piss anyway) and then go off left to get back to to the red... which although that bit is a bit dull ( this is the farthest bit from the car park...) its more in keeping with the ethos of the trail (ie long) and gets you to the best bit... the last 7km are well good fun...
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Rode Kirroughtree last year. Did the red which is feckin' superb. Can't believe I'm typing this, but even the ups were good. Black looks even better so that's the target for this year. My other fav from last year was Drumlanrig which ios in the grounds of a stately home. Wierd. However, the red/black combination is full of fine singletrack, very rooty in places and much better, I'm guessing, in the dry than the wet. All put together by the guy who runs the little bike shop in the car park. Top bloke and top trail builder.
Oh, and Brechfa in S Wales is shit-hot too......
jh
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It sounds great, especially the McMoab bit...
Pity I'm so bloody far away. I need to work on the helicopter licence.
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It's well worth the trip! The red at Kirroughtree is 90% singletrack and designed by a genius. It mixes TTF with some brilliant super smooth, super fast trail, rocks chicken runs. What's amazing is that there's not a lot of height to play with, but the trail extracts every ounce of fun from the effort you put in. And, no, I'm not being paid by the Scottish TOurist Board!
You've also got Glentrool not far away plus a slightly longer trek to Dalbeattie, Ae, Mabie and Drumlanrig. Oh, it's heaven.....
jh
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went up and down snowdon on the bike yesterday. up ranger path, over the notch next to Foel Goch, down to Llanberis, up railway path, back down ranger path to start. brilliant. proper mountain day, having to get off and push seemed part of the experience. first time i've ticked snowdon summit too despite having climbed on cloggy.
lovely switchbacks on the ranger path:
(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d175/beardownproductions/John/mtb%20random/Snowdon1_JC.jpg?t=1237639237)
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Hang on, am I reading that right?! Did you go up twice Cofe? You're a sick man and no mistake.......
jh
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i guess the bikes were pointing uphill twice, but we certainly didn't go to the top twice! once was enough.
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Well, frankly mate, that sounds like mountaineering to me. I had a bash at some of the Black trail at Brechfa over the weekend. If the taste I had (Three sections) is anything to go by, it's bloody brilliant. Most memorable of all was a really steep succession of about eight BIG berms :great: - heart stopping and yet strangely brilliant. So that's my next project then, back to do the rest.......
jh
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Snowdon on a DH bike is still on the to-do list.
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Snowdon on a DH bike is still on the to-do list.
i imagine that would be amazing. but which way down to choose? you'd have to go up twice!
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They should put a bike rack on that train.
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:)
There's probably more chance of the Pope converting to Islam.
Anyway mtb's are designed for going uphill as well as down:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3242/2869640385_a8a224d527_m.jpg)
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They should put a bike rack on that train.
Tried to convince Cairngorm railway that they need to do this too, but they weren't having it.
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went up and down snowdon on the bike yesterday. up ranger path, over the notch next to Foel Goch, down to Llanberis, up railway path, back down ranger path to start. brilliant. proper mountain day, having to get off and push seemed part of the experience. first time i've ticked snowdon summit too despite having climbed on cloggy.
lovely switchbacks on the ranger path:
(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d175/beardownproductions/John/mtb%20random/Snowdon1_JC.jpg?t=1237639237)
Cofe - my geography is a bit rubbish. Is this fairly easy to work out from a map?
How long did it take?
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should be fairly easy. go up the first few zig zags from the car park nr the lake, then break off left towards beris (carry/push up steep grassy bank). descend to beris, skirt the village then slog up the railway path to the summit. then it's ranger all the way down. took about 5.5-6 hrs in the end. though we did have 7 pinch flats between us (i had none - look at me) and there was a bit of stopping for pics. getting up snowdon from llanberis takes the time. holler at me if you need more specific info.
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Will do.
That does sound like a good day out...
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though we did have 7 pinch flats between us
Stick a downhill tube in :)
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i'm just nimble like a tree frog, i am.
defo worth carrying spare tubes. big tubes ain't a bad idea too as you're pushing on much of the up.
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Bit of a late with this one but just returned from a trip with the family to CyB. Had a couple of early mornings out with my brother (who's a whippet up and down hills and tended to leave me trailing in his wake :-[ ).
Really enjoyed the riding - he had done a couple of previous trips so knows the routes a bit - we basically did a variation on the MBR one morning, then 2/3 of the beast then next. The Beast is an excellent trip and looks better than the Dragons back from how I understand the map - rocky start then smooth down hill of Dreamtime, short climb gets you to the start of the Pink Heifer which runs into Big Doug for a long singletrack section. We then missed the 2 fire road loops just taking in Gomez on the way up to the long single track descent down to Uncle fester. Seemed to make a good long route with lots of single track, just a little heavy on road/forest road climbing in the middle section. Finally climbed up the road (rather than another fireroad loop) to get to the Begining of the End so that I'd done all the singletrack on that side. Having not done much biking recently had a really excellent time, brother seemed to enjoy himself equally (by dint of going downhill a lot faster than me!). Also got my 9 year old and his 10 year old on the new (easier) red Cyflym Coch which takes in some of the smoother more flowing descents and they had a great time :thumbsup: .
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Three days at Brechfa and finally get round to doing the Raven Trail. Erm, what can I say. It's basically XC hell with two of the looniest downhill sections you've ever seen, completely unbalanced. Most of it is a grind, but the main downhill section is a bike park with giganormous tabletops and some fine berms. The other wild section is a series of steep berms where the trail drops straight down a gully - heartstopping!
So, overall :-\
Did the Gorlech red again though and that is fuckin' brilliant. :thumbsup:
And as for White's Level at Glyncorrwg, Windy Point is sooooo sweet......
jh
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Had a quick play on the final descent of The Marin. It was my first experience of a trail centre about six years ago and I remeber being blown away - which is kinda funny given that it's basically a xc loop and therefore, my idea of hell.
However, the final descent is damn fine! I'd completely forgotten how varied it was, reminds me of the red at Glentress in parts. So, old it may be, but there's life in the old track yet.......
jh
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personally if I was doing that circuit I wouldn't listen to the southerners, either mbr or fatdoc, hehe.
park at fairholmes(ish), warm up along road side of reservoir to slippery stones, up and over cut gate, back up and over cut gate, along far side of reservoir, up to whinston lee tor, down towards devils elbow, turn r to pub, cross to win hill, *cough* up win hill, down the beast, cross the A57, up hagg farm, down lockerbrook.
Seeing as I'm fairly mended now I was thinking of tackling this tomorrow... Would anyone like to translate it into something slightly less likely to get me completely lost. (I have the VG book, but it's hidden in a box somewhere, so I'll be just going from directions and a map...)
Or can anyone else suggest something along the same lines, in the same neck of the wood, up to around 3-4 hours max?
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Yoss, can I suggest a map........if you need a guide book you can borrow mine if ur up this way. Fairly easy to follow once you have a map in front of you!
Also for those that are a bit beardy, possibly up Derwent to trig point on Sunday morning to see the sunrise(solstice type thing) followed by burn back down for brekkie. Aint bothering if its raining!
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I have the map! The first bit sounds fine, but then Devil's Elbow is surely miles away? Unless there's another one...?
Would the best route be Whinston Lee Tor to Cutthroat Bridge then across to Yorkshire Bridge. And then is the route up Win Hill and down the other side fairly easy to follow?
And then Hagg farm back to where we parked?
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Start here, and cycle up left side of reservoir
http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=417217&y=389337&z=120&sv=417217,389337&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=730&ax=417217&ay=389337&lm=0 (http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=417217&y=389337&z=120&sv=417217,389337&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=730&ax=417217&ay=389337&lm=0)
till you get to here, start of cut gate
http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=417034&y=395354&z=115&sv=417034,395354&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=730&ax=417034&ay=395354&lm=0 (http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=417034&y=395354&z=115&sv=417034,395354&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=730&ax=417034&ay=395354&lm=0)
And follow cut gate till you get to the place on map marked as north america, there's a little loop here take the left fork as that's the best descent (imho). Then cycle back along cut gate and this time down right side of reservoir till you get here.
http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=418714&y=388399&z=115&sv=418714,388399&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=730&ax=418714&ay=388399&lm=0 (http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=418714&y=388399&z=115&sv=418714,388399&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=730&ax=418714&ay=388399&lm=0)
A testing slab stone ascent (I'll buy anyone who can ride all the way up the slabs, and through the gate at the top) starts off a testing ascent, up to Whinston Lee Follow this bridleway back round to Ladybower pub, easy to follow with a map but don't miss a fork off right when you get fairly near A57!
Then down to yorkshire bridge and across dam. I'd go up win hill using this path
http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=417376&y=386681&z=115&sv=417376,386681&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=730&ax=417376&ay=386681&lm=0 (http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=417376&y=386681&z=115&sv=417376,386681&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=730&ax=417376&ay=386681&lm=0)
then this little track
http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=417816&y=385556&z=115&sv=417816,385556&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=730&ax=417816&ay=385556&lm=0 (http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=417816&y=385556&z=115&sv=417816,385556&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=730&ax=417816&ay=385556&lm=0)
but only because it's the easiest way up - there are many ways up but some are steep!
Get to top of win hill then come back the way you came and carry on till this 4-way junction. Either go straight on or right here, I think most go right but I prefer straight.
http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=415973&y=387651&z=115&sv=415973,387651&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=730&ax=415973&ay=387651&lm=0 (http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=415973&y=387651&z=115&sv=415973,387651&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=730&ax=415973&ay=387651&lm=0)
Which ever way you go you're aiming for here, lockerbrook
http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=416443&y=389393&z=115&sv=416443,389393&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=730&ax=416443&ay=389393&lm=0 (http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=416443&y=389393&z=115&sv=416443,389393&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=730&ax=416443&ay=389393&lm=0)
Down this and back to fairholmes, bingo!
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Start here, and cycle up left side of reservoir....
Two (hopefully useful) things...
1. Try using....
[url=http://whatever.com/site/you/want/to/link/to]here[/url]
...instead of pasting long unweildly URLs (or alternatively shorten them using tinyurl.com (http://tinyurl.com/))
2. You could use something like Google Maps Pedometer (http://www.trails.com/googlemap.aspx) to mark out the whole route in one window overlaid on a map (last step gives you a URL you can send to people.
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all the way up the slabs
posibly fatdoc(when he was a fitter man!) defo Jerry, surely Nortons done it!
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That is awesome! Ta very much...
I will report back.
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[url=http://whatever.com/site/you/want/to/link/to]here[/url]
:oops: yes url code is a very good idea, i should :rtfm:
i avoided google maps type sites as i wanted to use the streetmap so that i was linking to an OS map.
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i avoided google maps type sites as i wanted to use the streetmap so that i was linking to an OS map.
Ahh, good idea on that front, hadn't thought about continuity, I just take my phone and use Google maps on it :P
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all the way up the slabs
posibly fatdoc(when he was a fitter man!) defo Jerry, surely Nortons done it!
slabs bit is doable, bits not slabed I haven't done..
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Slabs are fairly straightforward in the dry I'd say, I've ridden the rest of the climb as well, all except one bloody step that I haven't yet managed, but I've not tried it in the dry.
I guess it mainly depends what bike you have, all these long forked slack angled bikes would definitely make life a lot harder than an old fashioned single pivot xc bike.
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Had a spin round Follow the Dog yesterday at Cannock. Chatted to the fella in the shop and he says Clixby's trail builders will have finished doubling the size of the trail by the end of the year. New loop over towards Stile Cop, so bigger hills, (relatively) and nearly 8 miles of singletrak. He's ridden some of the new sections already and seemed pretty enthusiastic. If they're as good as Whinlatter, also built by Clixby's, I'll be a regular!
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Just been out for a run and found that the Limb Valley between Sheffield and Ringinglow has been levelled and resurfaced, so it would now make a nice, easy way out to the Peak, were it not a footpath.
Obviously nobody should ride up or down this trail.
Especially not at night.
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holy shit..
like it was a nightmare to walk up before.. NOT
bollocks.. burbage also the same..
rite.. thats it.. i've found a hill..
i will b putting the *gnar gnar* back into XC for the winter...
- oh. the landowner will never know... -
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Also went out for a 'run' yesterday to find half of the footpath up through Lady Canning's has been graded. Presumably this is to allow the fat bastards who've been for a meal at the Norfolk on Sunday lunchtime to walk off their excesses a little?
Meanwhile the top of Burbage Moor is looking worse and worse due to the 4x4's. :wall:
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Seems to be the councils new policy to level all the footpaths to enable all manner of people to use them rather than spend any money re-surfacing roads.
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Did the beast at Coed Y brenin last week, apart from the fact i havent riden more thn 15k in one session for months, i was riding a mini dh bike and it was a hurricane, it felt bloody hard work! Have to say about 15k was bloody fire road climbs to level single track but the Adams family descents were pretty good. After talking to Bubbs i think the mbr with bits of the dragons back would be better.
i had a complete whitey, was sodden and very dirty by the end.
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we really are running out of good trails out of sheff that are worth the aggro of climbing up to them....
this is not good... cutgate, the flying mile, limb valley, blakka classic descent, lady cannings, burbage etc.... however narrow minded MTBers may be on issues of access by all to the hills I want something more fun to ride than a flat path whilst out and about... with all the great assistance from the peak park to the MTB fraternity - not - I reckon it's all shite and I'm taking matters into my own hands.
it's time to take the trails back.... I just got a NATO issue foldable sad that actually works :whistle:
give me 50 hrs or so and I'll have made something really rather special.. sort of XC meets FR... full facers & knee pads only, small flowing jumps, can be done with any reasonable full susser and about 45 secs is the sort of trail I'm looking at.
storthes hall type track... more flowing though..
nite time this winter will be digging by headtorch!!
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I second that fatdoc and if you need a dig buddy, let me know.
Reclaim the Trails!
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Did the beast at Coed Y brenin last week, apart from the fact i havent riden more thn 15k in one session for months, i was riding a mini dh bike and it was a hurricane, it felt bloody hard work! Have to say about 15k was bloody fire road climbs to level single track but the Adams family descents were pretty good. After talking to Bubbs i think the mbr with bits of the dragons back would be better.
i had a complete whitey, was sodden and very dirty by the end.
Rode here a couple of weekends ago. We ended up riding a slightly shorted version of the black run using the roads to make the ascents. Basically swapping long ascents on fire roads for very short very steep ascents on road. Seemed like a good way to do it, lots of fun. :thumbsup:
We also tried the newer route "el tora" of someting. this was pretty shite, felt unfinished and way to much fire road for hardly any worthwhile descent. :thumbsdown:
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I might just have to start riding on some footpaths to make up for all the bridleways that are being graded. ;)
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I might just have to start riding on some footpaths to make up for all the bridleways that are being graded. ;)
Tis inevitable...........
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I would never do such a thing..
the walkers will break the jumps..
I'm goin for natural woodland ;D
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Guess I should be starting a new thread called 'Not the Dope trails.....' but this seems appropriate. Went to Sherwood Pines and rode the Kitchener Trail. What a bag. Poorly designed, rubbish surface and completely untenable in the rain. A complete waste of time and not by any stretch of the imagination a red - barely green.
So, stick to the now quite juicy downhill trails.......
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agree with that john. i was somewhat underwhelmed. it was almost as bad as llandegla... ;)
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Ahhhh, and I was thinking of heading there at some stage to see if it had improved since my last visit. I take it Llandegla's not lighting your fire then fella?
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yeah, thought it was a bit rubbish to be honest. not one i'd rush back to.
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For a trail centre I rate Dalby. But lets face it, these trail centres are MTb lite at best.
My 7 yr old enjoyed the sherwood pines.. Gives you an idea of the terrain!
I really enjoyed the north face trail I. The lakes, not too long to get bored!
I would be keen to try the newer places in the lakes & gisburn..
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For ones not to far away from Sheffield I rate Penmachno. The lack of visitor centre makes it a lot less crowded than somewhere like Llandegla and it has some lovely trail on Loop 2 and good descents on Loop 1.
MBR at Cody is fun for packing a lot of varied stuff in to a compact area but not as much character.
Must check Dalby out sometime.
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For a trail centre I rate Dalby. But lets face it, these trail centres are MTb lite at best.
Unless there ahve been any major upgrades or extensions, Dalby must feel a bit old school now, compared to some of the modern centres.
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still haven't ridden all of Dalby but was up there the other week checking out (not riding) the world cup stuff. looks like a decent little (about 7km) circuit.
i've enjoyed Ae, Afan (White's), Nant yr Arian and Climachx, but they really don't come close to what's available naturally - particularly now i've done a bit in the lakes. although i've heard penmachno is excellent and i'm really keen to ride it.
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Was just thinking it's probably 7 years since I last rode Dalby, must be a bit more there now than there was then, ie not a lot.
Pity Golspie is so bloody far away, best I have ridden so far. Be nice to do it again without frozen ground.
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Pity Golspie is so bloody far away, best I have ridden so far. Be nice to do it again without frozen ground.
I'd heard Golspie was the mutts nuts. A target for next year. Second all the comments about Penmachno - still one of my favourites. Agree with Cofe about White's at Glyncorryg and the Climachx, both brilliant.
Guess we could play Fantasy Trails. How about Spooky Wood, followed by the Dark Side from Whites, the final descent on Climachx and Omega Man from Ae. That'd be a guaranteed pumper!
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Resurrection for the Dope Trails thread - :bounce: New favourite trail is at Innerleithen, combining 'Make of Brake' with Caddon Bank - :o - How much fun can you pack into one trail? Must find out when they're doing an uplift day ;D
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How about a list of the best natural trails? Cos I never seem to get round to exploring or researching them thoroughly enough!
Also, down here in the SE there's not an awful lot of decent bridleways. They tend to be wide, mostly flat muddy lanes.
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What do you mean by natural? Surely any trail is manmade in some form or another.
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Natural - the result of years of use and the passage of feet, hooves and tyres.
Man-made - Involving the importation of foreign materials and the construction of TTF
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Ah OK. Tons of them in the woods round here, esp Fetteresso, Tyrebagger and Kirkhill (the bike park excluded). And every time I go I find more.
The local bike club has tried to document a few http://www.ecurieneep.co.uk/routes.asp (http://www.ecurieneep.co.uk/routes.asp)
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Ah OK. Tons of them in the woods round here, esp Fetteresso, Tyrebagger and Kirkhill (the bike park excluded). And every time I go I find more.
The local bike club has tried to document a few http://www.ecurieneep.co.uk/routes.asp (http://www.ecurieneep.co.uk/routes.asp)
Good link Chris. Always looking for more info on Scottish Mbiking, of which there is feckin' oodles you lucky bugger.........
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Some of those trails look really nice!
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Some great stuff around here, and great that whoever I go riding with has an ace up their sleeve they are keen to show me.
As there are no major trail centres anywhere nearby (apart from Fochabers Monster Trails, which is a good hour plus) folk are really keen on doing their own thing. Given that its mostly forest or estate land around here, and the hilly terrain, the potential is there, it's just the getting out and finding it.
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Rode Kirroughtree for the first time yesterday and can confirm Cofe's rating of being a top trail centre, certainly the best I've been to by a long way. It twists and flows all the way with some naughty little step downs and tightening turns. Unlike most centres you don't want to just plough over everything just in case there's a surprise on the other side, and sometimes there are. Even better, you don't really feel like you're climbing even when you are. Which was a good job since I broke my seatpost about 1/4 of the way round :o. Anyone in Sheffield got a 27.2mm spare seatpost in their garage that I can borrow until I get an adjustable one sorted out?
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I've a bit of a love/hate relationship with kirroughtree! Love it when i'm feeling perky, hate it when i feel like I'm spending all my time pedaling :shrug:
Which one did you do Norton old son? Red or Black?
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Emailed you re seatpost.
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I've a bit of a love/hate relationship with kirroughtree! Love it when i'm feeling perky, hate it when i feel like I'm spending all my time pedaling :shrug:
Which one did you do Norton old son? Red or Black?
Black, me old fruit.
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Ah, my next target me old china..... :P
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Checked out the new Monkey trail at Cannock Chase, (Con gain :yawn:) Well worth the trip. Considering they've got fuck all height to play with, Clixby's and the volunteers have done a cracking job. There are two downhill sections that will bring a smile to the face of even the most gravity orientated members of the UKB massive. Quite a few short sharp climbs but generally well built, some great whoops, easy rock gardens and some snaky singletrack. Track still settling in so some of the berms are a bit washed out in places, but I'm sure they'll be keeping an eye on it from the maintenance angle. Top marks and worth the trip from Sheff :great:
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A mate of mine who lives nearby has just ridden the new Cannock trail and confirms that it's indeed well good.
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I can recommend the Mary Townley Loop, 50 Miles of XC, plenty of rocky descents and some cobbled climbs keeps the interest levels up, only a few miles on road and no major conurbations.
PS its part of the pennine bridleway project
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Superb couple of days away last week. Lee Quarry is indeed as good as everyone says, seriously technical at times, some sweet singletrack with insane berms and, when they connect it across the moor to nearby Cragg Quarry, well worth a day out. Also checked out Gisburn, (in the pissing rain), and had a blast. More rocky lunacy, quite pedally, but always with an almost immediate payback. Includes my latest fav section, Hully Gulley. Insanely fast succesion of berms, wall rides and step-up jumps. :thumbsup:
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Forgot to mention Albert's campsite in Tosside (f'nah), only a mile from the trails, near a pub and with a gobsmackin' view. Call Albert on 01729 840 662
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http://danmilner.wordpress.com/ (http://danmilner.wordpress.com/) ;)
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A few pics of a long weekend in Chamonix and Verbier. Rather mixed weather but great trails.
One broken leg and one broken collar bone out of 14 people. Fortunately both the same person......
More here http://s534.photobucket.com/albums/ee345/TLR99/biking/MTB%20Verbier%202010/?start=all (http://s534.photobucket.com/albums/ee345/TLR99/biking/MTB%20Verbier%202010/?start=all)
(http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee345/TLR99/biking/MTB%20Verbier%202010/IMG_0456a.jpg)
(http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee345/TLR99/biking/MTB%20Verbier%202010/IMG_0463a.jpg)
(http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee345/TLR99/biking/MTB%20Verbier%202010/IMG_0477a.jpg)
(http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee345/TLR99/biking/MTB%20Verbier%202010/IMG_0480a.jpg)
(http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee345/TLR99/biking/MTB%20Verbier%202010/IMG_0487a.jpg)
(http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee345/TLR99/biking/MTB%20Verbier%202010/IMG_0494a.jpg)
(http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee345/TLR99/biking/MTB%20Verbier%202010/IMG_0533a.jpg)
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Looks rubbish.
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Looks rubbish.
:lol:
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Can we assume it wasn't you who bust themselves? Presumably that's you at the back?
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Presumably that's you at the back?
:lol:
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? Presumably that's you at the back?
Why? Do you want to borrow the outfit, I reckon it'd fit you. And no it wasn't me that bust up; it was the group doctor.
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And no it wasn't me that bust up; it was the group doctor.
Was FD with you!!!
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not the wife tlr??
hope not :'(
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No, not the Mrs. It was a lads trip, and one of the boys fell off in the Verbier Bike Park in the rain.
The bike park was bloody steep, and lethal in the rain. You boys might have enjoyed it but I prefered the more natural trails.
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gay
:P
hope he's OK though.. :)
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...and here's the vid from the trip, TLR does his cunning hairpin trick in the middle of the vid. Isn't he clever!!
I think the title should be something like "14 old muppets wobble down some Alps"
MTB Verbier/Chamonix 2010 (http://www.vimeo.com/15944037)
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Good work gents. Nice to see some good skills combined with good crashes and not taking it all too seriously ;D
We really ought to get a ukb cham bike trip sorted next year?
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Will probably be in the PdS at some point, but could nip over.
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That's a great video.
The trails look awesome as well. I'd love to go there - just think I'm too crap on a bike and would probably hurt myself/fall of the edge of an alp
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it is an ace vid. some of the trails look menthol, and taken at menthol speeds. nutters.
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What's the music BTW ?
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What's the music BTW ?
Silversun Pickups - Lazy eye
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nice,
is that reflective of the area... i.e: no climbing?
( thinkin how big a bike I'd take, 9 speed 170mm single crown vs. 150mm 18speed). I'm a gent who prefers the *bigger* bike.
I'm shit at that slow ubber techy stuff...so would be keen to have a go, esp if there's some belting fast stuff & jumpy bits on the lower slopes.
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That's pretty reflective yeah. We went with Mountain Bike Verbier and said we didn't want any uphill and they delivered. We were there last year as well. Can really recommend them, good lads, great food and great guiding tailored to your needs. Cracking stuff...
I'd take a 170mm over a 150mm if you have the choice. Most of us had 160's. Last year we were mostly on 140's and pretty much all of us upgraded.
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What's the music BTW ?
Silversun Pickups - Lazy eye
OK cheers. Had a quick listen to some of their other stuff on Spotify and it doesn't sound as good as that track - will carry on digging though.
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nice,
is that reflective of the area... i.e: no climbing?
( thinkin how big a bike I'd take, 9 speed 170mm single crown vs. 150mm 18speed). I'm a gent who prefers the *bigger* bike.
I'm shit at that slow ubber techy stuff...so would be keen to have a go, esp if there's some belting fast stuff & jumpy bits on the lower slopes.
Depends what you want to do eh? If you want uplift you take a bigger bike and do uplift. If you take a smaller lighter bike and do some climbing you get to the areas you wouldn't get to with a big bike. Some trails you can do both, you're just going to go faster on a dh bike. (Iron) horses for courses init?
Me, I prefer to be away from the crowds and for that you need a bit of local knowledge, an AM rig and some body armour ;)
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nice,
is that reflective of the area... i.e: no climbing?
( thinkin how big a bike I'd take, 9 speed 170mm single crown vs. 150mm 18speed). I'm a gent who prefers the *bigger* bike.
I'm shit at that slow ubber techy stuff...so would be keen to have a go, esp if there's some belting fast stuff & jumpy bits on the lower slopes.
I'd say 150mm rather than 170mm 9 speed. whilst we were all on 160mm, they were all long travel XC/AM or some other fabricated catergory rather than the junior DH bike that I suspect you have....
I think that Nash is forgetting the fair amount of very technical horizontal riding that we did - I am glad I wasn't on my Bullitt.
As Norton said, pay your money take your choice, but for what we did I'd rather have gone down to 140mm than up to a 170mm bike.
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fair play... AM rig seems better, horizontal means pedalling. If a bullitt was too big a bike then an SX would be way too big!
another potential holiday I'll strive for over the winter, great video.. thanks.
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That looks like it was a really fun trip! Nice to see an alternative to the usual Morzine style DH / A&E style stuff...
Verbier always sounded like a great place.
Anyone planning any weekend missions down to Spain early next year?
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Would love to get down to Basque region to do some riding with my mate Doug, but hard to justify flying down for just a weekend.
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Word from Cham is that the Marie are getting pissed off with mtb'ers using footpaths and are trying to close a load of trails to bikes which aren't the, allegedly, poor man made efforts there (not ridden them myself). In other words they don't want bikes using the (excellent) footpaths.
If you are heading there, you've been warned.
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shit, that's bad.... esp as you reckon it's one of the best places in the world to ride... :'(
what about a permit / pass that they get cash from? I bet money would talk them round.
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Not sure I'm qualified to comment on whether it's one of the best in the world but there is some rather fine natural singletrack.
Money . . . the lift companies own the lifts, not the trails. And you can pack more punters without bikes into any given bin than you can with bikes. That is especially true on the Plan du Midi lift which has always banned bikes, except for last bin, on the grounds that they take up room that would be paid for by another sardine.
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Here's a link to some footage from a jaunt down Snowdon last summer. It's more a of a video diary of the day than anything else.
It does reflect what it's like to ride. By the final stages both I and my bike are in a bit of bother... I will be back next year!
http://gallery.me.com/joncort/100080 (http://gallery.me.com/joncort/100080)
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I found myself watching it with my head kinked back trying to see further ahead...
Looks cool though. I fancy Cofe's Ranger Track route too.
Anyone up for a pre-Easter weekend?
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wide angle now purchased.
sorry...
gives a feel for the hill... shite vid I accept.
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So what happened to your bike - I couldn't quite work it out. Did you kill the rear derailleur?
I assume you guys have seen this - http://www.great-rock.co.uk/singletrack/Pass_Storming.pdf (http://www.great-rock.co.uk/singletrack/Pass_Storming.pdf)
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rear mech dead... shock blown.. hence the clankin and me grunting... front brake meltdown.
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Thought I'd resurrect this thread as spring is fast approaching. Five years ago, I swore I'd never return to Llandegla but finally got dragged back there yesterday, and it's worth the trip. Still the same grind across clear-felled land to get to the good bits and still the long, less than inspiring grind back to the visitor centre, but the new black trails make it worthwhile. If you like fast, swooping trail with numerous tables and drops and some enormous berms, you'll love it. Also on the credit side, the new pump track and free-ride sections look good too. After four weeks of inactivity, my little legs weren't up to the FR, maybe next time :-\ ;D
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http://www.pinkbike.com/video/186247/ (http://www.pinkbike.com/video/186247/)
interesting...
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Does get a touch boring after the first 30 secs.
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Great film, made me laugh out loud and late for pub. Good work!
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Thought I'd resurrect this thread as spring is fast approaching. Five years ago, I swore I'd never return to Llandegla but finally got dragged back there yesterday, and it's worth the trip. Still the same grind across clear-felled land to get to the good bits and still the long, less than inspiring grind back to the visitor centre, but the new black trails make it worthwhile. If you like fast, swooping trail with numerous tables and drops and some enormous berms, you'll love it. Also on the credit side, the new pump track and free-ride sections look good too. After four weeks of inactivity, my little legs weren't up to the FR, maybe next time :-\ ;D
imo Llandegla is excellent fun if you approach as a playground rather than a big trail day and don't generally understand why quite a lot of people have a downer on it. Our preferred way to do it is to to run some laps on the black sections - the first black downhill section now has 2 separate routes and it only takes about 10 minutes to ride back up the fireroad to repeat, similarly the next long section (with the switchback climbs) can be easily repeated. As you say the riding is flowy and fast with plenty of opportunities for air, the black sections in the trees are also very weather resistent.
Haven't ridden the freeride section either - its got some big stuff on it but my brother who likes that sort of thing says its very pedally, may be getting faster in the dry conditions.
As to the start and end I'm not bothered about the initial climb, you have to climb somehow but agree that the finish is a bit frustrating you've got plenty of height and it feels like it should have a big long flowing red / black finish.
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imo Llandegla is excellent fun if you approach as a playground rather than a big trail day and don't generally understand why quite a lot of people have a downer on it. Our preferred way to do it is to to run some laps on the black sections - the first black downhill section now has 2 separate routes and it only takes about 10 minutes to ride back up the fireroad to repeat, similarly the next long section (with the switchback climbs) can be easily repeated. As you say the riding is flowy and fast with plenty of opportunities for air, the black sections in the trees are also very weather resistent.
As to the start and end I'm not bothered about the initial climb, you have to climb somehow but agree that the finish is a bit frustrating you've got plenty of height and it feels like it should have a big long flowing red / black finish.
Good beta on the peddle back up for the black Ian. That's my target next time - nice warm day, take my time and session the blacks :thumbsup:
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Good to see that the banning order on motor vehicles is now in place on Chapel Gate. Unfortunately at the expense of another bridleway being turned into a flat 2m wide track. What is the agenda around the Peak at the moment - turn anything vaguely interesting into something completely boring? Any motor vehicles that would have been tempted to use it won't now anyway. Both the banning order and the resurfacing are completely pointless imho.
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And here is the next vid from exactly the same place in Verbier as the last one from last September.
We also had a day in Crans Montana which was pretty darn classy...
MTB - Verbier/Kranz Montana, June 2011 (http://www.vimeo.com/27472424)
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Rode the Snowdon Ranger Path yesterday. Story here - http://www.saltedmackerel.cc/ (http://www.saltedmackerel.cc/)
A crazy amount of driving, then a longish ride and push in the windy wet drizzle - not my usual criteria for an excellent day out, but that's what we had.
And someone gave us a can of lager at the summit, which has persuaded me that we are not turning into a nation of utter arseholes quite as quickly as I thought...
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All depends if it was a respectable lager or not.
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Of course it wasn't! It was marginally warm Fosters.
If we'd been given chilled bottles of Duvel I would've probably stabbed myself in the eye with a 4mm allen key to wake myself up from what would've been a nauseating dream about an impossible utopia.
On the other hand, as a dear departed friend used to say, sometimes you just can't beat a can of piss...
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darn good pic there dude.
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Great photos. The guy probably carried the beers to the top and realised he couldn't be hooped with carrying them back down.