[Closed] Llandegla Clientele

Once wore a full face at CYB, why?

Because I felt like being stupid that day on trails I loved. I was genuinely laying off the brakes and hitting speeds out of my comfort zone and whereby I felt I'd need maxillofacial surgery if I hit a tree.

Other people wear body armour and full faces when they're starting out, which makes sense.

Let people where what they like.

I'd imagine what you're on about is marketing and advertising bullshit. Buy this this and that and go to this place to do this this and that and you will become this and this and no longer this and that. It's all about money and selling a person an idea. It's a big market this outdoor "extreme" sports image. Big market. Huuge market. kerrching! Maybe you are just getting sentimental for the old days of hopping on a bike and going for a ride in the woods/hills[i] to get away from all that crap..[/i] After all, a bike is cheap and a forest/hill is free and ann easy way to have fun/exercise. you can still do that! Just don't go to Llandegla! Personally - It's not what I want from my cycling. Cycling to me is a freedom/escape from all that .

Mostly I find there are not enough places at trails like llandegla to crack one off over my own superiority while mocking the unfortunates around me.

I might have to get a ride top done with my top results so people know how fast I really am when I pass them.

People where what they are comfortable wth. I work knee shin when work had issues with cuts and grazes from small spills rocks and thorns. I can also get up hills fine. Time to get over yourself and worry about important things like lining up the logos on your race lycra properly

I've never worried about work being bothered about me turning up a bit smashed up. Turned in with a great big black eye, badly scabbed forehead, and swollen face last week. **** 'em. They've got used to it.. oh it's just Kev. The managers are mostly fat and stupid anyway! They, and the company certainly don't care about me! I'd rather a bit of external cosmetic damage than mindless physical apathetic idleness!

if work [i]had issues with cuts and grazes from small spills rocks and thorns[/i] Unless you are a male model, tell them to do one. It's [i]your[/i] life.

There were a number of legal requirements regarding open wounds that made work a priority really that and having constant grazes nicks and bramble cuts was a pain.

Turned in with a great big black eye, grazed forehead, and swollen face last week.

20 minute first climb? What are you doing, stopping for picnic halfway up?

Trying to ride around storm troopers Tazzy! 😉 however I was actually referring to how long it would take him at that effort level.

Shame we can't agree on this one as I backed you up on a recent Cotic Vid slaughtering, but it seems you have now turned into one of those miserable lot that you negatively referred to only days ago.

My lap time for Llandegla is 43 mins. Just pulled it off the Garmin. I love it on here where some people feel the need to make something personal because they don't agree with the thread, even though many do and many don't. It's not as if I came on and said all armoured guys should be off the trails. There's a lot of fors and againsts.

Some of these emotional responses have got me chuckling.

Followed a storm trooper a few weeks back and his riding friend, he lost control and hit a tree pretty hard, so I guess he was right to be wearing all the protection, he must have know his skills where not quite there yet, he had white armour from head to toe, did save him though 😀

An average speed off road of 18ish miles an hour is impressive bloke... well done.

My lap time for Llandegla is 43 mins. Just pulled it off the Garmin.

I take it that's not for the full black, if it is you're a full 15minutes faster than a national champion, and would equate to a 10min first 3mile climb if it is

When we were in the Alps last year, waiting for the ski lift up Les Deux Alpes, my other half and I looked totally out of place with our xc hardtail bikes and Lycra kit amongst all the DH bikes, full body armour and flashy DH clothes. I was seriously worried that I was going to be out of my depth on the trails. While we saw some of the DH guys riding the black and looking very impressive, a lot of them went pootling down the other trails with us, stopping every 50 metres for a fag and getting in our way. So, appearances count for nothing in my book.

I went last week and was charting to a guy with who rode around on a cannondale SL trail single speed. I think the biggest issue is the large groups that stop mid trail or block the exits.

It's all riding innit? They're happy, you're grumpy. They've got it right in my book!

Like most on here, I ride what I want and wear what I'm comfortable in. Each to their own, as the OP says it's about getting out and enjoying.
Always makes me laugh though when someone asks a fair question and gets slated by the ST masses. Occasionally the same question has crossed my mind. I wear a 'std' bike helmet and occasionally clip it to the camel back on big climbs. Personally, if I'm knackered by the time I get to the top, I rest cause the down is so much better.
Anyway, what ever you wear or ride, carry on getting out.

What he neglected to tell you was that he had his 'move over, trail-police'sign on when he set that time.

I wear a full face at deggers. I do this so that my face is protected if i fall off. You could have figured this out without starting this thread if you had stopped to think about it

Probly need more protection for the insidey bit 😐

What tyre pressure with full armour at Degla 😆

I just find it easier to hate everyone; it saves me the trouble of having to generate some self created, and self restricting rules, which i can apply to others (without telling them) and feel relaxed sneering at how much better i am than them. In fact, i don't know why i am telling you this, bellends.

I ride with a mate who can only afford one helmet and one bike. He rides mostly DH and only has a full face.

He's faster and fitter than most of the people we come across. His wife makes him wear pads because it's not just him in their family.

If you're pissed off at the slower riders then please forgive them. Not everyone is fortunate enough to come out of their mother's womb as a fully formed DH god!

Dressing like Ricky Carmichael to ride a fairly mellow trail centre does seem a little over the top. Even then, if you come off properly you'll hurt yourself whatever you're wearing.

Plus, it's debatable that wearing a full face can increase the risk of neck injury.

Love the reverse-snobbery.

I've seen blokes in tracksuits ride much better than the right-gear crowd. Kin hate strava loving ****s. If you are serious about bikes you go there as you can jump/DJ or your newish to riding and its a great place to get into it. Why rides thousands of pounds round a red or black run there? All the gear or natural too gnarly?

Kinda agree with OP. The full on DH setup, trooper armour and then crawling round can be quite funny. Mostly because of how seriously they seem to take it themselves. This is the funny bit for me. A bit like the spoilt kid at school going for a kick around in the park in full Man United kit including socks, shinnies and headband.

Each to their own. I'm sure they probably find me hacking around terribly on my Decathlon special just as entertaining. If they can see through the mirrored goggles......!

The only thought I have seeing people dressed like that for an XC loop is that it's a shame MTB must have such a radcoresickgnarlextreme image that people feel they need to, or want to dress like that. Experience on a bike would say it's often ott, I think that's what the OP is getting, if it's about trying to progress too fast I'd agree. OK some may need to stay injury-free for work, but for many I think it's about risk perception and I wonder why they see it as such a high-risk sport. Pics of massive hucks and bloody injuries in the mags maybe.

I'm feeling old.. MTB was 'wilderness racing', adventure and rigid bikes that you were amazed could go off-road at all when I was younger. I guess if you get into bikes now there's a different set of images projected. Chances of injury hasn't changed though - or perhaps the bikes going faster more easily (full-sus and better brakes) has increased it for novice riders?

I ride with knee shin pads on a enduro evo
The bike is way over the top for the trail centres I ride with my mates. But I like riding that bike
And I ant slow up hill so who cares

Think I'd rather see people over-geared than under. I don't really see what difference it makes to anyone else though.

Plus there's always this: "I ride with a mate who can only afford one helmet and one bike. He rides mostly DH and only has a full face." It's easy to sit there all smug with your bouncy bike, your singlespeed, your downhill bike, your uphill bike and your boughtiit-cos-it-looks pretty bike, but not everyone has the luxury (or, hell, storage space) for multiple loadouts and have to go with what they've got.

Couldn't agree more cougar.
A past riding buddy who now [b]always [/b]wears a full face as he saw close up what had happened to one of his previous riding buddies who really came a cropper, and came to the conclusion that with a full face they would have avoided a hospital trip, massive dental work and all the rest..

Let people wear what they want, but if people ruin the trails for others, or drop litter, shoot them <ahem>. 😉

Now TJ is not around the general consensus would probably be that helmets are a good idea. So a more protective one would be a better idea. However some people could maybe do with a nudge in a more comfortable direction. The oddest I've seen at sherwood pines is full on team lycra, riding racy bar-ended hardtail with full face and goggles. Not saying it was wrong, just a little anachronistic. Or maybe it was a top racer in disguise.

I sorta see where op is coming from, I personally have never worn any form of armour other than a helmet and we do plenty of risky stuff so to speak

I've seen lots of these armoured people at Cannock too head to toe, and most of them are really quite slow at riding in general, it does make me smirk inside a little as I just can't see the point at Cannock/llandegla etc but I just think well at least they are getting out and enjoying themselves....which is all that matters really I guess, but it still makes me chuckle when you expect them to be peaty esque descending but then see them pushing down the black sections at cannock as you ride past with a puzzled look on your face

And blooody he'll 45 mins for a fulll new black run at Llandegla? We did it in 1hr 40 mins straight after we'd done the beast at coedy brenin, but even still with non knackered tired legs getting an hour off it would be pretty amazing

If your mortgage/job needs someone who talks etc then why bregudge someone who wears a fullfacer?

Also gasfitter/plumber who are self employed.

Stop being arrogant ffs. Your hardly DH/XC pros

Trying to ride around storm troopers Tazzy!

I do get where you're coming from though. Strange thing these days that "mountain biking" is such an all inclusive term and if you look a DH rig to an XC race bike they are miles apart and totally different sports/hobbies/call 'em what you will. Most mtb mags and sponsorship of events by red bull etc... promotes the more rad side of things so it is no wonder that folks who may be new to it, could have a tendency to believe that full armour and DH jimjams is the norm.

as long as folks are riding bikes and enjoying themselves, that is the main thing, but it is a real shame when there is the potential for someone to be put off a fantastic past-time/thingy-wotsit by wearing the wrong kit and suffering like a dog on climbs or mauling a heavy All mountain rig around a more mellow trail and then ultimately giving it up as far to hard.

Maybe some of it is also that folks need to be a bit more honest about their riding? do a Large percentage of us really need the latest all singing all dancing 6" travel super bike for a riding a trail centre or weight weenie carbon bling to amble around. If you want it 'cos it's shiny and looks ace then brilliant, but let's not kid ourselves that we're danny hart or christoph sauser then biffle around. 😀

as long as folks are riding bikes and enjoying themselves, that is the main thing, but it is a real shame when there is the potential for someone to be put off a fantastic past-time/thingy-wotsit by wearing the wrong kit and suffering like a dog on climbs or mauling a heavy All mountain rig around a more mellow trail and then ultimately giving it up as far to hard.

This is very well put.

Well put Cougar.

I only Own a heavy meta 5 with 7yr old Z1's. Guess I'm not CTD'd up for some folk. I also wear pads but the next time Im at llandegla I will find a 29'er ti on one with kashima forks and a reverb to lord it over lesser beings huh

I do get where you're coming from though. Strange thing these days that "mountain biking" is such an all inclusive term and if you look a DH rig to an XC race bike they are miles apart and totally different sports/hobbies/call 'em what you will. Most mtb mags and sponsorship of events by red bull etc... promotes the more rad side of things so it is no wonder that folks who may be new to it, could have a tendency to believe that full armour and DH jimjams is the norm.

Lot's of MXer's are coming over to DH because of the expense, they're used to wearing full faces - and rightly think that if you're travelling at speeds that will see similar impact forces to a crash on an MX track then you should wear a full face.

I was riding the Chicksands dual once, it isn't that hardcore but you can get some pretty good speed on it - most people wear half lids on it. It was a hot dry day and I was wearing my DJ piss pot lid, hit one of the berms fast and leant the bike over hard and low.....lost the front wheel in the loose stuff and the next thing I knew I was stumbling around feeling as if someone had struck a bell over my head. These days I just wear my full face for anything other than 10+ mile XC rides. If I'm out to piss about and section trails then I'll take my full face.

Protection is all about whether you are pushing your limits - just because a n00bs going slow doesn't mean to say they are not pushing their own limits and that is the time you are likely to crash. If your doing stuff you're not comfortable with the first time, I think it's a really good idea to wear a bit of extra protection.

Perhaps everyone should just ride naked then?

Experience on a bike would say it's often ott, I think that's what the OP is getting, if it's about trying to progress too fast I'd agree. OK some may need to stay injury-free for work, but for many I think it's about risk perception and I wonder why they see it as such a high-risk sport. Pics of massive hucks and bloody injuries in the mags maybe.

I'm feeling old.. MTB was 'wilderness racing', adventure and rigid bikes that you were amazed could go off-road at all when I was younger. I guess if you get into bikes now there's a different set of images projected. Chances of injury hasn't changed though - or perhaps the bikes going faster more easily (full-sus and better brakes) has increased it for novice riders?

****ing don't get this thread at all, full of XC riders who's sole idea of a ride is an XC loop.

The kind of riding I do doesn't tend to be of the XC loop variety..... I like bike parks, downhill tracks or going out riding with the specific aim of finding interesting features to section. Whenever we ride we want to try and do something new that we haven't done before. We go out riding with friends and goad each other into doing increasingly silly things, so yes, many of us like to go out with proper lids on.

I once passed a bunch of fully lycra'd cyclocross weirdos on a trail loop, whilst I was riding my 32.5lb Mega decked out with supertacky High Rollers. What was even funnier was that I had my seatpost slammed.

Were they XC walts? Probably not, they looked fit but we're probably tired after doing a bigger ride. I gave them a smile and hello and they seemed friendly back! That's what it's all about.

full of XC riders who's sole idea of a ride is an XC loop.

you may find there's a few "Xc" riders on here who have raced at international level or represented their country in MX enduros, even on an XC bike they can blow most Gnarcore DHer's out of the water. just sayin like so you don't feel bad if a lycra boy or some niche odd bod destroys you on a rad line dude 😀

EDIT: not me by the way, i mince more than lord mincey of mincington and couldn't get a bike up a hill without a oxygen mask and at least 2 cake stops and a fag break. Even asthmatic snails carrying heavy shopping are quicker than me.

What's an "xc loop" ?

Tazzymtb. Do you feel qualified to be their spokesperson for this subject?

once witnessed a lad on a shit trek hardtail in track bottoms do a rooty jump/drop. I asked him to wear my lid first! A better rider than all the gear me. Just because someone puffs on the way up doesnt mean theyd be slower than xc-you on the dh

yes thanks hora 😀

hows the sandy vag?

Of course they probably can - elite mens can get away with riding DH tracks fast butt naked except for an XC lid. Why - because riding within 80 percent of their ability is still fast and unlikely to bring them off.

If a youngsters sole goal on a ride is to go out and section a downhill or hit some drops/gaps then they should probably be wearing a full face.

I've never seen anyone (except my brother who is an ex-sponsored rider) hit a large drop at speed on an XC hardtail with an XC lid.

My aforementioned brother did the biggest drop at Chicksands on a 24 inch rigid dirtjump bike with no brakes and no helmet..... he's a different kettle of idiocy.....but he'd still usually wear his full face when he had days off from his racing and we'd go and mess around at trail centers in Wales or naughty trails that friends showed us in local woods.

The people that you should be laughing at are the people that judge others.

If a youngsters sole goal on a ride is to go out and section a downhill or hit some drops/gaps then they should probably be wearing a full face.

totally agree with this.

in fact I don't really disagree with anything to do with bikes and riding, it's all fab and should be enjoyed to fullest by the whole wide diverse church of "mtb riders". I love watching skilled folks in fully armour ride mental lines as much as I marvel at nutters riding XC stuff at a pace that would make me puke, as long as you're having fun who really cares? 😀

The people that you should be laughing at are the people that judge others.

unfortunately mankind's inherent tribalism means that those that don't fit into the chosen "tribe" are usually mocked or treated with disdain, same in the world of skiing vs snowboarders, trad climbers vs sport vs bouldering, DH vs xc vs roadies...and so on. I have no bias, I'd have sexytime with each and every one

As long as your having fun who cares?

You and a sizeable majority on this topic do. Im roadriding soon. ****ed if Im dressing like an advertising hoarding like most roadies. But hey they wont like it. When I see a logo'd up roadie I think of man utd fans wearing their football shirt in the pub.

You and a sizeable majority on this topic do

hora darling, I really don't, I just like seeing people out on their bikes. (and please point out to me where I've come across as being like that?)

you ok? you don't seem your normal happy hora self?

[i]Im roadriding soon.[/i]

Sweet baby Jesus.