I enjoyed it, and managed it all, but as a fairly new rider found it quite intimidating.
Is it a standard type Red route, or is it considered harder?
Llandegla Red, which I rode in the afternoon was a little boring by comparison, although some of it was closed off so I may well have missed the best bits.
What are peoples thoughts on it?
I know I need to MTFU, just finding my feet at the moment...
ive done Llandegla- all doable ! havent done Penmachno yet but my friend has..i,ll ask !
Seems to be a route that most people like - tough but not too tough for newer riders and challenging enough for most, dependent on the speed you ride it at. The extra loop makes it worth the drive (for those that need to).
Nope not really intimidating....
There are bits that feel a bit isolated especially if your on your own
Did you do both loops combined??
The only bit I find slightly scary is the final descent. Not because it's technical, but because it lets you go incredibly quickly with that huge drop on the right. Other than that I don't really remember anything too intimidating.
I've never done the whole of llandegla red - always do the black bits, but in general it does seem to be fast and flowy rather than technical.
which bits? i remember thinking the first climb was actually going to cause a heart attack!! i remeber it being fun, fast and flowy with no real tech challenges but i can't remember a lot of it.
Nope, not intimidating at all. Rode it on my own a few weeks ago in the P-ing rain. A little 'bleak' in places, but I like it like that. Just thought it was a bit short 😀
It's a pretty standard red.
As a "new rider" you're supposed to find a red trail a little tough. But sounds like you got round ok so dont let it put you off other reds and you'll progress well.
Llandegla Red does feel a little easier as it's a more sanitised and less exposed trail. But it's one of those trails that's designed to be ridden faster to make it harder. Btw, you might want to give Llandegla black a go, which is about the same level as most red runs.
I would say it is a bit more intimidating than the normal trail centre red - it's more natural, rockier, and the last descent is faster. Also, I guess it feels more isolated.
These are all good things though - best trail centre trail I've ridden.
I'd say Penmachno is a brilliant trail. I'd say a bit tougher than the average red, but not massively so. I'd put Penmachno and CliMacx together, but CliMacX only because of the last section which is so fast and still quite technical. I think I've had more 'moments' there than anywhere else.
I thought it was excellent, fast, flowy, lot of interest, not intimidating in any sense.
Easily one of my favourite trail centres and I'd imagine a newish rider would find it intimidating.
Not particularly intimidating, but my favorite man made.
As a new rider though I can imagine it would be pretty tough.
I've taken a few less experienced riders round it and some found it a bit tough because it's quite pedally and exposed.
Same reasons a lot of people like it probably.
Thanks all, don't feel quite so bad now!
I'm pretty sure we just did loop one, didn't log the mileage but it felt like 10-12 miles or so.
My favourite bit was the real rocky section in the middle, wasn't so keen on the final descent with that very steep rocky run in, and I'm not a huge fan of the drops to the side!
It was pishing down with rain as well which didn't help, as a Southern softie, unused to riding on rock, I didn't know what sort of grip was available.
Looking forward to improving my skills and going back to do the place justice. Next time I'll remember to turn the ETA off on the descent as I got a painful reminder it was on when I got spat off...
I was put off Llandegla Black, purely because it was a Black but I'll have a go at it next time.
I don't think it's particularly tough.
It feels harder work to get round than the length and elevation would suggest for some reason, but technically it's fairly tame - the only real danger as I see it, is taking the descents too fast and getting caught out.
It's the first trail centre I rode, and still my favourite.
I've been riding off road for ages, but still find bits of it testing - the climb up to the exposed semi-circular loop where the trees have been felled often has me pushing and couple of bits on the final two descents are quite tricky when it's wet, and if you do come off, you'll roll a long way!
My partner had only been riding for off road for six months or so when she fisrt road it. She found it very intimidating - one of the steep drop-ins (off to the right, near where the second loop goes off) and a couple of the rockier sections had her off and walking. She did it again a year later and found it much more fun.
Have a go at the Marin next time you're up there, it's great fun.
Loads of superb natural stuff in the area too, Conwy Mountain is a particular favourite.
Don't be put of the Black at Llandegla - you can miss out most of the harder bits if you don't like the look of them. If you got round Penmachno ok, you'll find it a breeze.
Try it covered in ice 🙂
not intimidating - just WET!
I tried it covered in ice Diane. With melting snow running over the top of it like streams. After 10 minutes I as so C-C-C-COLD I barely registered what the trail was actually like
Thanks for the recommendations Rusty, I'll be back up there soon so I'll investigate.
Ride it on ice? madness!!!
We rode it in the ice/snow earlier this year. It was great fun, if a little on the cold side. Plus I nearly killed my self in the car taking a wrong turn up a forest track with 3 inches of snow trying to find the car park. That was way scarier than the ride.
One of the more natural feeling hand-built trails - feels a bit more out there. Is more narrow in general than most hand-built trails IMO.