UKBouldering.com
the shizzle => shootin' the shit => two wheel spiel => Topic started by: Bubba on September 21, 2008, 09:07:43 pm
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Being totally unfit - fucked knees and recent sprained wrist :boohoo: I thought I needed to beast myself on some XC.
Thought I'd go back to Penmachno (near Betws-y-Coed) in order to get a few miles in and sample the new "loop 2" that has been built since my last visit. The last time I did "loop 1" was a few years back and I was on a Patriot 66 - not the ideal bike but fun on the downhills. This time I took the trusty hardtail.
"Loop 2" is really an optional extension to "Loop 1" rather than being a separate trail. You could do it on it's own if you knew the road crossing points but can't see the point really . The two loops offer a combined distance of 30.5km. Loop 1 has lots of climbs (mainly fireroad) and descents. It's a fine circuit in it's own right.
Loop 2 is different in character as the climbs and descents are much smaller but I really enjoyed it. It offers 14km of nearly continuous singletrack which is fun, in places quite technical and although you're never really far from a road it has a wilderness feel to it. I only saw 3 other people on the loop and the views are stunning.
So all in all a nice day out. Due to my level of fitness I hogged the granny ring and had a lot of rests and it took me 3.5 hours. If you're fit and didn't stop you could knock an hour off that.
The fast loop 1 descents became a bit of a handful at high speed on the hardtail and I've knocked my (very strong) rear wheel out of true. A light full susser would be better for those. The HT was just fine on Loop 2 though.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/2876730284_eb2e439232_b.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/2876723140_07d4dcfbfe_b.jpg)
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sounds good. i might go wednesday if i have a car key.
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If you go, Loop 2 starts at sign #122 - you go left for Loop 1 and go right for Loop 2 :)
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good knowledge.
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cool, i'm interested
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I've put a few more picks on my blog thang
http://articulated.me.uk/2008/09/23/penmachno/ (http://articulated.me.uk/2008/09/23/penmachno/)
(big versions on my Flickr) (http://flickr.com/photos/sauteedbraincells/)