MTB in Wales

After booking on for a PACKERS Peer Paddling trip as per usual everything but the rain went to plan. Early in the week Saturday was looking hopeful, however by Thursday night all hope was lost. 

Dan and I decided that the Mountain Bikes would be the best choice for the weekend instead.

Getting ready in the Carpark.

To spice things up a little we left early Friday afternoon getting to the Marin Trail carpark for just before 7pm. With lights on bikes and wearing head torches we were off. Not having biked at night before the first couple of miles were a bit tricky. Luckily the start of the Marin Trail is fairly easy with a trail climb then it continues on up fire roads. After the first couple of downhill sections we were getting into the swing of things.

With confidence building limits were starting to be pushed, until the inevitable happened… Coming round a sharp left bend a right bend quickly followed. Carrying slightly too much speed I was off over the handlebars, rolling through the air and landing on my right shoulder! Fortunately it was a soft landing onto a load of moss but still managed to wind myself.

Halfway round I had another off, this time down to a clip-in incident.

We had almost finished the trail when all of a sudden my back wheel decided to explode! I’d managed to put a piece of flint through the side wall of the tyre. A record tube change and temporary patch applied in the dark to the tyre and we were back on our way.
Back at the car in just over 2 hours including the pitstop, we packed up and headed to the bunk barn for a well-earned pizza and cider! A future day time lap will be a must as we both enjoyed the downhill sections.

Not too muddy after a great night ride.

Fantastic start to a Saturday for Biking, not so for Boating!

An early start on Saturday morning got us to Coedy-y-Brenin for just after 9am. We decided to hit Dragons Back. Stopping for lunch back at the center and then blast round MBR. Halfway down The Adams Family I decided to take another flying lesson over the bars. This time landing on a rock slab, again on my right shoulder. Slightly winded with cuts on my arm I was more concerned that the rear mech had been slightly bent in. Bending the hanger back out it seemed to change gear OK so carried on with the rest of the trail.

Dan then decided to break one of his pedals, somehow the axel had become separated from the cleat. This resulted in him being clipped in but could slide the pedal off the axel at anytime! On one of the last descents he came a cropped on a root, nearly impaling his handlebars on himself...

Saturday evening we headed out with the rest of the group who'd spent the day walking the Glen picking out the lines for wetter times!

Up early again to pack up and head over to Llandegla, great weather for biking again. Last time round there was a big diversion on the black route due to Forestry Work, thankfully this time round the whole trail was open. An incident free fast lap saw us back at the car in under 2 hours.