Sunday, 28 July 2013

Lee Quarry MTB

After an early alarm, 4:55am! We where on the road and heading up to Lee Quarry. Driving through the sun of the Fens and into the rain of the North wasn't looking good for a days MTB, luckily arriving at the car park for Lee Quarry the weather had cleared and the sun was out.

There are no facilities at Lee Quarry, just a car park off an industrial estate and a couple of blue loos.

Once ready we set off round Lee Quarry and headed over to Cragg Quarry. Few long climbs over to Cragg Quarry but then on the return a long descent.

We played on the trails in Lee Quarry for an hour or so then headed back down the car park.

Saturday, 27 July 2013

Monday, 22 July 2013

Sunday fun day at Llandegla

Sunday
After a well earned sleep the alarm went off at 6:30am for breakfast, all were up in good time apart from Zanussi who's cycle must have been over running...

All packed and on the road by 7:45 heading to Llandegla. The clouds had rolled in over night and by the time we had got to the trail centre there was a bit of a breeze and drizzle in the air from the low level cloud cover.

Heading out of the trail centre on a trail called "The Somme" seemed fitting for the conditions, a recently harvested, barren forest across the top of a hill with low cloud and drizzle falling. After 3 miles of this we started the first part of the red trail proper. The difference between riding it in the wet and now the dry was amazing, lots more speed and grip! A mixture of switch backs, board walks, fast descents and a few jumps thrown in took our minds off the weather but before we knew it the weather had cleared and the sun was out, although this didn't help Richie with his sweet box helmet on!

We got to the first black section in good time. Starting with a drop off the black runs down one side of the mountain with numerous switch backs, jumps, doubles and berms. Unfortunately after this first serious descent the hard climb back up began, this didn't go down well with Zanussi who claimed we had totally lied about the climbs.... obviously we hadn't.....

More fast descents and slow climbs later we got to a diversion due to logging. Heading the wrong way back up a red we got to the start of a raised board walk section.
Dan dropping off to start the board walk section

After the board walk came a fast descent followed by another steep short climb. Dan managed to stay mounted this time down, unlike has last descent in the rain. Martin was getting to grips with his new bike and lowered seat post.

After a few more climbs we accepted that Llandegla might have been a bit more hilly then we remembered. However I still knew we had "Cardiac Arrest" climb just after a switch back, though I kept this hush hush from Rob.

The last trail was "Final Assault" which took us back to the centre. Everyone was keen to do another lap but not the black so we decided to take the short blue. It splits from the black just after "The Somme" heading back to the centre. A few small jumps but nice flat trails saw use all back in the centre by lunch. We decided to stop and have a little play on the pump track which we didn't exactly master. Moving onto the free-ride section me, Dan, Richie and Martin decided to do the tight board walk section. This also didn't end too well with Dan getting a puncher and Richie and Martin falling off.

Once back in the centre we loaded up and headed home.
Richie testing out the passenger seat

Sunny Saturday at Coed-y-Brenin

Saturday
An early start saw us all meeting at Rob A’s to load Richie’s van up. 
With a quick meat stop at Shrewsbury Sainsbury’s we made it to Ferndale Cottage in just over 4 hours.

Unpacking the Van and changing into biking gear was done at near recording breaking time and we were heading onto the trails. 
Dragons Back (red) was the aim of the day, with maybe adding a little more on if possible.
A massive change from last time we were at Coed-y-Brenin as there was no snow on the ground but glorious sunshine! With temperatures peaking at 30°C we were making good progress around the very dry and loose trail. A large root and cleat incident saw me part company with the bike momentarily down the side of the hill.
Much to Rob's dissapointment the Uplift wasn't running....
After a quick pit stop at the café we endured the road climb up to the start of the Adams Family. Another wrong line saw me heading into the trees, although this time I managed to stay upright. Confidence was building and Martin was getting used to his new back we were making good progress round the trail. Before we know it we were back at the start and deciding what to do next. Rob was feeling the burn so headed back and left me, Dan, Richie and Martin to carry on. Yet another wrong line saw me heading over the handlebars in slow-mo in the bottom of a ditch, this time managing to draw blood.
After completing the first part of the return of MBR, Martin decided to head back to the cottage on Minor Taur leaving the three of us to continue round MBR. After completing about half of MBR we decided to take a short cut back to the cottage and fire up the BBQ.
Meat Feast!
Knacker from a long days riding

Sunday, 14 July 2013

Saturday, 13 July 2013

Morning Road Ride

Early Start for two members of the crew for a road ride round the hills to Northants.

Alan made it a little further by biking to Richie's, adding an extra 19 miles each way, just need Dan Green in the peloton the complete the team!

Monday, 8 July 2013

Monday, 1 July 2013

Editing Time.....

Our trip out to Italy in early May seems all but a distant memory. However editing of 130Gb of video footage and pictures has begun, watch this space for sneaky previews and the final edit!