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Don't usually do trail centres, although have done Glentress & Dalby but my niece has invited me & mate down to 'do Llandegla'.
So, is it like GT & Dalby, in general? I'll be on a Norange 5 & mate will be on a HT (which is probly irrelephant) Is there any raised 'North Shore' type stuff to contend with?
Ta
The black has one raised section of north shore, it's all doable on an HT. Tyres in good condition as the shorter sharper climbs can be a bit greasy.
small childs bike with a basket on the front and pink tassles on the handle bars. It's jolly nice thoughit's all doable on an
Not technical at all, but masses of grip on pretty much every tyre i have used there last time was maxxis ignitors but nobby nics or the like will be fine for the sharp ( ish ) climbs which are very short.
But even though its not technical its bloody fantastic the speed you can do around it its like being on roller coaster but your in control the small jumps come very naturally and its just a smile inducing fun trail centre.
The north shore part is just a slightly raised platform about 6 ft high but about 3 ft wide so plenty of space to put feet down its roller able.
There is a new northshore section on the red where additional jump section is. It isnt officially open but is finished and used.
Its a pile of shit for the lycra clad choco boys. 😆
what is a lycra clad choco boy?
It's good for people to start out on and work their way up to the big outdoors, and also good for a quick winter blast with 2 laps round the black.....
At least it was until they turned it into a BMX track.
It's a good trail centre but not very technical.
The black runs are easier than the red at Cannock.
I would say it's exactly half way between dalby and glentress in terms of hills, fun and general gnar.
Its a pile of shit for the lycra clad choco boys.
Choco?? You referring to darker skinned races? What is Choco?
Oh ****, looks like It's a long way to travel for summing mediocre then. Is there any natch trails what might be better for a proper day out in the area then? Me & matey are old hats at long days in the hills but cousin is a newbie.
Ta some more.
It gets rammed, I mean proper rammed. Forget stopping for a view as there will be 30 other tiers there. No one makes eye contact to say hello, they grunt and look at your bike. I've been going since it opened but I won't go again. Think of blackpool pleasure beach. Thats what llandegla is.
Yep...Got to agree with lowey there.
Also been going there for a long time but it,s now a no go.....for me anyway.
Think it came to a head when a i heard a guy behind me say(I just could not get enough air on that off camber twin stepped uphill bermed jump).
Thought to myself WTF am i doing here..Good bye Degla
No one makes eye contact to say hello, they grunt and look at your bike.
I find folks very friendly there, maybe you're the problem? 😀
People who don't like it:
- can't jump
- aren't riding it fast enough
- have lost the idea of having fun on a bike
Llandegla is a great place to have a laugh on a bike. Some nice descents, awesome jumpy/bermy stuff and decent drops and jumps at the end in the skills area. Granted, its not for everyone but for someone who isn't scared to shove their seat down and 'send it', its great. Dude.
I go all the time, a bit later in the day to miss the crowds. It's a good place to introduce new riders, and it gets better the faster you ride. The coffee is good and Katy is lovely.
No one makes eye contact to say hello,
I do, if I see someone that won't talk I just think "city folk" and pedal on.
Agree with Daveyboy
Yes it gets busy and yes its not the most technical of places but its great fun with a couple of friends, isn't that what it's all about?!
I think Cannock is better, as is CyB
It is good fun but get there early. Once the deathstar has docked then it's crawling with stormtroopers!
it's a laugh on a singlespeed and cx bike and it offends the storm troopers massively 😆
Some people like....some people don't.
Theres no accounting for taste.
DBW +1
I've not experienced the crazy busyness yet though, that doesn't sound like much fun. Mind you I was at Laggan last weekend and it was absolutely heaving. I even got held up by a group of about 20 beginners - but yet still had a great time somehow.
Penmachno, its just betterer 😉
Nothing wrong with the place just good honest fun. Another +1 for everything DBW says here
Even when the car park is heaving it never seems that busy when you're actually out in the forest.
Skills section is fun too, great set of dirt jumps for learning on, good drops line and a good pump track. Only thing that doesn't quite work is the freeride line where it's a bit too much effort to get up to speed.
Depends on the style of track you like really rather than skills.
Personally I prefer the more natural feeling trails like CyB, Marin, Afan which are rocky and techy but still have lots of flow. The BMX stlye tracks like Llandegla, FOD, Brechfa which are generally wider and smoother with lots of berms, tabletops, dirt kickers etc feel a bit artificial in comparison. Its just preference though.
Its ace. Just set out after 3 in the afternoon and you won't see a soul.
Llangdella certainly isn't difficult, but it is a lot of fun if you go fast. The car park is always busy but it's never been that congested out on the trails.
Horses for courses, I prefer trail centres when they ride like a big BMX track. That's one thing they can do better than natural trails.
Penmachno, its just betterer
The man (?) speaks truth.
Penmanchno feels more 'natural' & is more technically challenging/interesting than Llandegla
No on-site facilities though.
EDIT: although Llandegla is good for all the positive reasons mentioned in previous posts. depends what you want on the day you're in the area.
Degla really does polarize opinions. I used to love it, like stated above, ride it fast and it does flow very well, but the last time I went, the sheer numbers just put me off.
Penmachno, well, that is just ace. My favorite man made trail.
It's the best trail in the UK.
For somebody who has a morning meeting in Wrexham on a nice sunny day, and can take the afternoon off.
Otherwise, it's a pleasant day with some nice views. I tend to ride it on a singlespeed and only have to walk a couple of bits.
CyB etc aren't 'better', they're just different. If you want a real nice big ride, loads of rocky singletrack, big climbs, big views and get back to the car feeling knackered and happy then CyB etc are the ones to go for.
For a couple of hours messing around on the bike, ripping around stuff flat out, jumping, sessioning bits and getting back to the car feeling as if you might have conquered something new be it a jump or drop thats always evaded you then Llandegla is the place.
As someone else said, horses for courses. Llandegla is like one massive BMX track come skills loop come Stainburn on a massive, slightly more mainstream scale. Can't really compare to the likes of CyB, Glentress, Penmachno etc etc.
And as an introduction to mountain biking with its proximity to big towns etc, you can't argue its a bad thing?
If you don't like it then you have no soul and shouldn't be on a bike!
Its fast fun with good cake!
I'm always surprised how un-busy the trail actually seems when the car park is absolutely heaving. Granted there are usually groups gathered at the usual spots, but not so that's it's actually restrictive. My problem with it is I just find the second half a bit dull, although to be fair there are new bits appearing all the time. I think it's good for a quick blast and then away.
I must say I do find the fat people smoking fags and eating fry-ups fairly distasteful when I'm having my post ride brew. *climbs down off high horse and carries on working*
Llandgela, or Wrexham as it is known to the educated, is the dog's knob. Go there. Take your friends, you'll have loads of fun. After Wrexham there is most definitely no need to ever go to Scotland. No siree.
Seriously, if you can't enjoy yourself there then you are so far up yourself that the chips on your shoulders will be in there with you.
Penmachno morning, Llandegla afternoon.
A game of two halves, shows how much variation there is in 'trail centres'.
I've really enjoyed the few visits to Llandegla that i've been to. Fast and fun with some cracking jumps and climbs.
It really is a lot of fun.
I prefer a trail centre to be a bit less rocky, as my local trails are covered in rocks and I ride them all the time. Those complaining can just ride 'natural' trails at their pleasure.
Surely the point of a trail centre is that it isn't natural. Go to your local woods if you don't like it so smooth.
Fun is the name of the game. Oh, and the fried breakfasts are nice too. 8)
Penmachno morning, Llandegla afternoon.
Yes. Do this.
The BBQ is jolly nice when the sun is out don't you know.
Never quite understood the fondness for Penmachno that people have, I rode it years ago, can't remember anything of note, apart from one rocky bit.
What's the score with bringing the bairns to Landegla? Is there a skills loop or a blue bit out the way? I've just moved down south and it's reasonably close so will be heading over at some point.
I took our kid to Glentress a couple of times on the balance bike and he loved it (he's 3.5). But GT is often really quiet. Sounds like Landegla is heaving at the weekends, which wouldn't be great for hitting the trails at 1 mph with the wee fella.
To the OP's response, you could always do Llandegla with the neice and do another set of trails; either Penmachno / Marin Trail (as suggested) or chose a natural trail from one of these: [url= http://www.ridetheclwyds.co.uk/rideclwyds/index.asp ]ride the clwyds[/url].
And to Garry Lager, there are green and blue routes and skills loop, although the skills loop is more a bmx track and gets busy. The blue is one big up (the same as the red/black) and then a lovely flowly down, which is great fun and usually empty, but your kids' enjoyment of it will depend on whether they are fit enough to get up the hill without being knackered. Had a friend who chose to bail out at the bridleway because his son was too tired, which is such a shame as he was nearly at the 'top'. The green route is just fire roads, as far as I know.
The green route takes in the first third (appx) of the climb then does a loop round the reservoir. Much shorter for young legs.
I have been a few times and always enjoyed, true not very hard but some things dont have to be hard work to have a good time,
its easy access via the road network, about 4 quid i think to park your car, and a great cafe to boot, not a lot really to not like if your just out for a bit of fun,
I would say go and make your own mind up, not the end of the world if its not for you
might even go this afternoon and avoid the masses