Ask the A&E dept at the Maelor Hospital if they think their 'customers' from Llandegla find it easy and pants.
Bike Forum
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Llandegla - Any good - what's it like?
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Posted 2 years ago #
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I've done it (the black) in under an hour. Anyone who thinks it's easy and crap should try it at that speed and get back to me. If you're doing it slower no wonder you think it's crap.
Oh, on a singlespeed.
/waves willy
Quote: "A canal towpath is hard if you ride it fast enough. - Samuri."
Posted 2 years ago # -
The cafe is great, the red/black combined trail is good too, but like others have said its more like a BMX track its very over man made! i really hate the last bit climbing back up, and it seems so flat after with very little variation but up until the end of the black or red its a good trail for honing skills etc.
Posted 2 years ago # -
i didnt like it at all!!!and the cafe was a rip off!!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Crap riders think its good because they can then boast on STW forum that they are some kind of ally superhero on a bike because they've bimbled around a woefully mis-named 'black route'. If you don't like it too technical (and con tray to the sword-weilding oriental its anything but, no matter how fast you ride it) then its worth a visit but otherwise better is available. And yes, I've ridden it on a singlespeed (on my jump seeking DB Holeshot), on a 'normal' singlespeed at a fair old lick and on a Giant Trance in order to give it a fair chance in case I was over/under biked but at no time did it provide anything other than exercise. It is MBR subscriber fodder or somewhere for locals to get an easy ride in and little more. Of course if you do find it technical then I'd steer clear of proper black routes and don't even think of booking a trip to the Alps.
Posted 2 years ago # -
That's a little negative. It's a trail centre. One of the tamer ones at that. Appreciate it for what it is.
If you don't like it so much just be thankful that all the 'crap' riders will be there, rather than on your super gnarly hardcore trails.
Yes I have been to llandegla as I have with a number of other trail centres. I do prefer natural trails but places like llandegla are a good (safe) way for people to get into mountain biking and also an easy ride out for us mere mortals when we fancy a change of scenery.
Posted 2 years ago # -
dp
Posted 2 years ago # -
Technical doesn't necessarily mean rocks. It means you need technique. Like Brechfa green at high speed.. very technical!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Andyhilton - Sorry if that came acrosd a little harsh, to be honest it was worded such to counter 'Samuri' and his tired, oft-repeated tripe that if you don't enjoy Llandegla you must be riding a Halfords special bike at walking pace or words to that effect. I don't like it there, I've given it a few chances and I'm not a bad rider, fairly rapid on an xc bike and not too bad on the technical stuff. I can see its appeal to a certain type of rider, someone who wants a no-frills jaunt without the risk of ending up broken and awaiting mountain rescuse in the middle of nowhere but it really isn't that technical, but for anyone who thinks it is then its the perfect place for them.
Posted 2 years ago # -
For what is quite a small block of forestry they have done well to get the length of trail in there. I always liken it to a big BMX track and I found it fun. As it is in a Sitka Spruce plantation the planting of the trees makes it feel a bit odd. Nothing like CYB which is nothing like Penmachno vive la difference.
Super friendly staff in the Cafe, bit up themselves in the shop but that is the norm.
Wrote my dissitation about them.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Fast & swoopy - what's not to like?
Some on here must be really boring to ride with!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Sooty&Jim. no real offence taken but it pisses me off when people just write trail centres off.
There are a lot of ubercyclists on here though.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Who says I'm writing 'trail centres' off? I love Dalby, have had some great times at CyB and many of the Scottish centres are absolutely cracking. I just find Llandegla particularly over-rated and am baffled at how riders with a fairly decent standard of ability can find it 'technical' at any speed. That said though we are all different, one person's technical is another person's yawn-fest and if we all liked the same things it'd be a boring world. If it floats your boat bully for you, but it doesn't mean that if someone else doesn't like it that they are riding it like a granny on the way to the Post Office!
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think the problem is that you've got the impression from somewhere that someone has said it's technical. Llandegla is easy to get to, is a bit of fun, it's nice and quick if you're short of time and if you want to, you can cut off the man made stuff at half a dozen points and ride some proper sketchy and long welsh trails.
I think it's ok for a bit of a laugh and likewise, can't understand why people like slating it so much so I'll get a post in as quick as I can to wind people up who take these things a little too seriously.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Llandegla is great. Its not an epic ride or anything or super techy etc but then its not meant to be. Recently rode Scotland - Glentress, inners, kirroughtree, mabie. Ridden most the other welsh trail centres too so not a noob. Its a nice flowy smooth trail. plenty fun and something for everyone. Im going this weekend (Sunday) with 20 others from my club. see you there.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I was dissapointed by a number of things. There were no rocky, rooty, steep, twisty, technical sections whatsoever (that I can remember)
I think I remember alot of it being smooth and bermy which is fun but i could go to the trails on my bmx and ride stuff like that but with proper jumps thrown in too.
My mate cleared all the black sections easily and at a fairly decent speed too. He doesnt even ride mountain bikes.
If your used to riding in the lakes then it definitely feels a bit tame.
It also had a centre parks feeling to it.
However, its nice someone has put the effort in to create something like that and Im glad plenty of people enjoy it, its just not for me. Whinlatter is a far better trail centre in my opinion.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think the problem is that you've got the impression from somewhere that someone has said it's technical.
Probably got that impression from it being graded red with black sections (IIRC).
I've ridden it a few times, wasn't my cup of tea / type of place.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Is it just me, or are there not actually that many jumps there either?
I remember some tabletops at the end of the climb, and a row of doubles after the bridge - but not much else. The rest seemed more like a pump track, as otehrs have said.
Only been twice though, may be defective memory. Would go back, but not not a busy day!
Posted 2 years ago # -
If you've got a jump bike, take it up there....
I spied the new 4x/dual track and the tarmac pump track there the other week.... Not open as yet but they look like fun!
Probably enough fun to bin off the XC route altogether and just go jumpin' and pumpin' for a few hours instead.
Anyone know when they will be open?Posted 2 years ago # -
Just got in from my first time there. i have to admit that im a little dissapointed. I just think that their idea of 'black run' is diffrent to what you get at Afan etc. However- it certainly is a nice set up with good staff etc. Some of the stuff they have fenced off at the mo looks amazing.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Thanks all
My Mate's now got Swine flu so will be postponing (giving him a wide berth)- If we went from his place Nanty is probably as close (nearly) Will take the kids to Llandegla some time as it doesn't sound too techy for themPosted 2 years ago # -
Its ok. Put some speed in and its good fun. I take my 8 and 11 year old girls there too. They love it.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Park up at the Ponderosa at 8pm on a wet and wild winters night, ride in via the masts and the boardwalk, fling yerself round through the woods, wish the cafe was open 24 hours, slog back up to the boring long straight climb, go back out onto the moors, slip and slide back up to the masts, zoom back down to the cafe, go to pub.
You can do the same thing during the day, avoid the overflowing car park and careless drivers, have beans on toast in the cafe (which is about 3/4 of the way round the route if starting from the Ponderosa) and then go home.
I don't think I'd ever bother starting from the cafe, in part because from Shrewsbury it's about 30 mins less driving, which is good.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Went round today, brake bumps ahoy!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Agreed deft, just goes to show how people cannot read the trail.
As for gradings, all trails are graded to IMBA specs - here http://www.imba.org.uk/WhereToRide/TrailGrades.html
Posted 2 years ago # -
only worth going when the weather has been crap all week imo
Posted 2 years ago # -
only worth going when the weather has been crap all week imo
Especially if you like that "covered in mud, trying to avoid the predator" look...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Love/Hate relationship here.
Agree with Samurai. If you are carrying speed round there, real speed, then its great. There are loads of jumps there. They don't have to be signposted to be jumps. Trouble is, if you're not carrying speed they will be ickle bumps, which will be just rolled over.
I don't expect a battering there - rocks, roots etc. However, I'm always suprised to see people rocking up on beefy 6 inch bikes, which look like being set up for the alps, with the owners padded up. Unless you are Mark Weir you're not going to pump/jump 35lb bikes around there. Thus, I agree with the MBR subscriber comment.
In summary, its great for a weekday blast when its quiet. IMO - avoid weekends at all costs.
NB. In addition, the disposal of used inner tubes into trees is not mandatory. Absolute throbbers.
Posted 2 years ago #
Topic Closed
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