Let's offroad / mountain bike / mtb / ride dirt

Thanks andy.

Well, if you want an honest review, I'd probably never ride that route again. They had had heavy rain for the past 2 weeks, it was incredibly wet, even tracks that should have been rideable were pretty sketchy, and climbs over 10% were walking climbs after the 20 or so people ahead of me had churned it all up.

The hike a bike sections we massive. The first one started on a track that was actually a river, so wet feet. That took two hours to cross the tussocky bogfest, carrying the bike on my shoulder as you couldn't even push the bike through the tussocks and reeds. There were a further 2 or 3 massive hike-a-bike sections, one which lasted nearly 3 hours, in the dark with reeds taller than me! I rode into a puddle on a farm track that was deeper than i thought, it went up to my headset, and then i fell on my side into it, filling my waterproof gloves with water. Once it got dark, the massive valleys filled with freezing fog, my feet got really cold even in winter boots with 2 pairs of merino socks on, my only choice was to take off my shoes, wring out the socks, then put the socks on and put a plastic sandwich bag over my socks, to keep the cold water from the boots soaking into the socks, I did this twice more during the night. There's incredible scenery up there, and as a test of mental resolve, I couldn't recommend a better ride. But the route had too much unrideable stuff. It basically felt like a road ride (7-10 mile sections of road) connecting up death marches across wasteland that even the hardy welsh sheep don't bother with.

26 hours and 44 minutes of hell. I'm glad I did it.
http://www.strava.com/activities/206674292

Barmouth viewed from the other side of the Mawddach Estuary

Cadair Idris viewed from above Barmouth

The hike-a-bike bit. I'd rather forget, not sure why I took a photo!

There is bog water (corrosive) in everything. Time for a deep clean.

Chapeau, @gabes !

I rode into a puddle on a farm track that was deeper than i thought, it went up to my headset

Sounds awful, with so much great riding in wales this nonsense can do one.

Glad you seem to have enjoyed it tho. You mental...

You're nuts.

tracks that should have been rideable were pretty sketchy

Fatbike.

climbs over 10% were walking climbs after the 20 or so people ahead of me had churned it all up.

Fatbike

you couldn't even push the bike through the tussocks and reeds

Fatbike

It basically felt like a road ride (7-10 mile sections of road)

Ok not Fatbike.

Not something I'd sign up for, even with a fatbike. Massive respect for finishing it.

No-one rode a fatbike, one guy was on a 29+, he didn't finish.

Seriously impressive! Not sure it sounds like my idea of fun though.

After losing my MTB mojo, I decided I needed a new bike. Got a Stanton Slackline frame coming and I can't wait to get riding again.

I have ridden up and over the valley in Barmouth (fatbike) with Annie (fatbike). Our descent was a river bed- v rocky, eventually she just rode the bike over the bog, the entire group were impressed with her decision.

Have to agree give the fantastic riding round there the chosen route for your weekend sounds a little questionable. Well done, you are a stupidly hard bastard.

You are mental @gabes, but are seriously worthy of respect for that.

I thought Rich made it round on his Krampus?

... and well done again, from what I've seen/read so far, I don't think I'd be back yet. Probably should start training now if I enter for next year...

I don't know rich, didn't see a krampus, but there was a lot of people milling about at the start so he might have!

The range between Barmouth and Machynlleth was the best part of the route I think, i've ridden round there quite a bit, and there's lots of lovely stuff. Once coming up out of Barmouth to the north, it got progressively worse, and more remote, I guess there's a correlation there. Then over towards Coed y Brenin it got better for a bit. Then the death-marches really started.

Fair enough, it's dark red and sparkly, not the usual green.

By the sounds of things it's a good job the route is changing again next year! Just seen Dave's video and some of the 'paths' you had to navigate...!

We have rented a cottage on the mawddach trail for a week in early November, hoping to get a few days at coed y brenin.

I can send you a really nice route around there if you want [winkyface]

off to Swinley in an hour or so if anyone is free to come along

@gabes

I think Annie would never ride a bike again if I tried to get her to follow your Barmouth jaunt.

I can point you at some amazing old drovers roads up around there, and leave out the horrendous hike-a-bike. If you want.

Ok that's awesome ^^

Swinley tomorrow

Anyone else riding there?

@gabes

If possible show me some of the drivers roads, assuming they did not go past livestock - annie gets worried the hounds might worry sheep though thankfully it's not the lambing season now.

Ah, drovers roads are used to moving stock, so tend be between fields around farms. There's some a really nice one that goes from Dolgellau towards the barmouth bridge, but higher up the side towards Cadair Idris. It comes out at a campsite in a small valley called Hafod Dywel. Beautiful spot, but if you've got the dogs, I guess it's a no go :(

Change of plan for tomorrow , queen Elizabeth country park, just cos we have the day free and feel like a change.

So this happened. Thanks @BareNecessities and @Alkali for the advice. Crisp condition. very happy. Non tapered HT, but I'm not really fussed at the moment. Around 150g heavier then then SL4, which totally shocked me.

1 Attachment

Ooh.. shiny 853!

And with rack mounts!!

Non tapered HT, but I'm not really fussed at the moment

There's still a decent amount of non-tapered steerer forks kicking about for 26" wheels :-)

Yeah that's pissed me right off. Now I'll be forced bike pack.
There are eyelets on the underside of the DT. The hell are they for? Spacing too big for another bottle surely.