Grab MBR Magazine November 2015 - it has a full feature visiting Antur. It was dry too!!
Did it in a glorious sunny day a couple of months ago. I loved the place. It's been built very well. I'm absolutely crap/ terrified of jumping but I was clearing doubles and drops with ease and confidence. The black is more than do-able. I started a run down the double black but ripped my mech off in the first big rock garden so just pushed back up and got a lift back down to the car park. The lads said it was pretty full on. Took a look at the mad drop at the bottom...no chance!
The blues and reds are great fun. Nice and flowy. Really want to go back.
We had a pretty good day back in August
[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5681/20246103763_14d78dc983_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5681/20246103763_14d78dc983_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/wR5zhx ]Antur Stiniog - Birthday Ride[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Started on the blue, then the red - loved that trail, even after I stupidly crashed near the bottom. Managed the black after lunch, but didn't ride the very steep roll/drop at the top of whichever one it was. Mate did, ended up turtle, thankfully unhurt. Never got close to riding that insane drop at the bottom - even the chicken run was a bit lively.
Did 10 runs I think then mentally lost it and stopped before crashing badly. Ace uplift, nice cafe, fun trails. Totally different to BPW.
Wrote a thing: http://pickled-hedgehog.com/?p=3454
Alex - MemberWe had a pretty good day back in August
Antur Stiniog - Birthday Ride by Alex Leigh, on Flickr
Brilliant write up, very entertaining. 🙂
We made it to AS this weekend. Was supposed to be riding on both Saturday and Sunday but the weather on Saturday, Storm Desmond apparently, put paid to that. The trail centre very generously said we could re-book for another day in 2016. The weather brightened up a lot for Sunday so it was game on.
I can see what people mean about the gradings. A Stinky blue is way harder than a 'normal' blue (obvious really, innit). As we only had one day of riding and I'd never ridden downhill before we stuck to the Jymper trail and mixed in Drafft when we felt more comfortable.
I spent the day wearing soft pads and did feel a little exposed. Thankfully I stayed upright but I'll be getting proper protection for my return visit.
I must admit to be very nervous early on. It's quite daunting when you see the downhill rigs that most folk are riding and the car park didn't seem the place for banter as riders were usually flitting between car and minibus, keen to make the next uplift. On the minibus was very different with a relaxed atmosphere and a 'get stuck in' attitude. Reminded me of my first bike track day.
Can't wait to go back again. Must learn to jump instead of mincing.
I stopped into the On One showroom on my way there as I'm seriously tempted by a Codeine 27.5 but having ridden at AS, I don't need a new bike with 160mm - I wasn't using the 130mm I currently have and that was with letting some air out of the fork.
A busy but productive weekend. Thank you for all the advice too, it's greatly appreciated. 🙂
