Off to North Wales this weekend for Saturday/Sunday riding with a couple of mates, any STW preferences of the two above? Would also be looking at suggested B&B at either places for the Saturday night?
Don't know about B&Bs, but I prefer the trails at CyB.
It's more of a trail centre and there is a good mix of technical and fun trails.
The Marin and Penmachno are a bit separate to be seen as a centre.
Penmachno is pretty remote-feeling which is nice and has some great bits in it.
Marin is getting on a bit. I haven't been for a few years, but last time there were a couple of highlights in a fairly dull track.
There are lots of natural options at both CyB and ByC though, if that's what you're looking for.
In between the two centres you've also got Antur Stiniog if you fancy that.
Marin is appaling, if it was at the end of my road I wouldn't ride it again, let along drive hours to get to it.
Marin appalling? What? It's brilliant. It has a couple of dull fire road climbs but CyB has far too many of those too until you find the shortcuts as well. Do the whole Marin loop then session the new final descent a few times. A great track.
Penmachno is better the fitter you are but Loop 2 is beautiful and singletrack heaven on a nice day. It comes alive the quicker you can go I found. Loop 1 has all of the best bits on it and could be done twice if you like more bang for your buck.
Coedy is fantastic because it has the most bang per buck and is all weather resistant. At this time of year you'll only get wet from surface water too as there's barely any mud there.
Antur Stiniog is uplift assisted and totally awesome too. Well recommended but pad up because it's rocky.
Ah that's great, cheers guys, one of the lads going is a 'newbie' so will possibly try Coed Y Brenin as a starting point for the variety and different levels. He's done Cannock a few times so I was thinking of trying 'Cyflym Coch' unless anyone thinks otherwise?
gelert - Member
Marin appalling? What? It's brilliant. It has a couple of dull fire road climbs but CyB has far too many of those too until you find the shortcuts as well. Do the whole Marin loop then session the new final descent a few times. A great track.
I'd do the final descent a few times, and skip the rest, which is dull.
A load of us are going to Coed Y Brenin this weekend too. May see you there 🙂
Ha ha what a funny thread.
I HATE Penmachno it is like the worst of the trail centres, they just built a rocky trail at the bottom of the river bed with no drainage! It doesn't flow and is generally just crap.
Marin trail on the other hand, yes some boring climbs but not different to CyB and the descents and fun single track bits make up for it.
I would do CyB but do the Red Dragon just take all day doing it and go carefully. Stay away from Tarw Du the original one that is complete pony!
I rate the MBR at CYB, thats my fave trail there. Not sure if its particulary suitable for complete beginners but there is a lot of fun stuff on it. Is the Tarw Du the old Redbull trail on the original side of the road? If so I did it a bit ago and it was a lot of fun. Its only about 10km if I remember rightly.
Marin and Penmachno are different but both good in their own was. Marin in about 25km and a bit more gentle then the shorter Penmancho (never done the new loop so not sure how far that is). Pick one and ride it, it will be fun whatever.
At this time of year, any of the trail centre based trails are your best bet, and none of them are exactly dull, just all very different!
Coed Y Brenin is the most diverse and weatherproof. It doesn't pretend to NOT be a trail centre and I'll be honest the first time I went I thought it was a bit ... meh. Once you get to know it, and cut out some of the big dull climbs though it makes a lot more sense. As a winter ride venue, it would be hard to beat.
Penmachno is pure singletrack and very exposed in parts. It holds water so if it rains the trails become mini-streams. It is a hard, long, tough slog to do the full loop so I'd pick your day accordingly. That said, the Welsh Enduro loop picks out the best bits and is do-able twice. Even the triple traverse can be re-ridden without too much effort climbing back up the fire road.
Marin is somewhere in the middle. The full loop can get a bit soul destroying as you constantly wait for a downhill to appear ... and it doesn't. It does have some highlights but they aren't perhaps as stand out as others. As above though, the final descent is bloody good and I'd happily spend a whole ride just doing that again and again.
For a mixed group winter ride though, Coed Y Brenin.
Cyflym Coch is a great introduction. Can be done pretty quickly though, so either do a few laps or move on to MBR.
Penmachno a slog? I loved it. It will be horrendously wet though and could easily put a newbie off very quickly. Hated the marin, dull as dishwater, utilises far too many bridal ways for downhill bits, the end isn't worth the miles.
Cyb is mid ground, nicely armoured so stands up well, just don't try and jump the dip in the bottom of false teeth 😳
Surely penmachno is the answer, views, natural feeling & way more flow than the Marin. Much much quieter than CyB too
Too late to edit my post above but due to work I seem to have ****ing bridal ways on the brain. I meant fire roads!
you see a lot of weddings on your rides wrighty?
Come and ride some non trail center local stuff in betws you will love it! And for the Marin trail haters there's more to ride then just that trail!
The main loop at Penmachno is a lot of fun. Very natural and somewhat eroded. The last third of it contains a load of superb descents. It'll be very wet though, you'd want to pack your Sealskinz socks. Marin is a bit meh. It does have some good bits of singletrack and the last two descents back to the carpark are excellent, but all in all its a bit too fire roady for me. CyB is a great trail centre with something for everyone. Quite a lot of climbing (particularly the black loops) but a lot of fun descending. You've also got Llandegla which is great. Where you headed from? If South, East or even North of Wales I'd consider doing CyB on day one and then Llandegla on day two on the way back..
Where to start with non trail centre local stuff please?
You might want to check the weather forecast.. Its going to be very wet and very windy. Head for the most sheltered if you go anywhere..