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Right, we are riding snowdon tomorrow.
I think we should be riding up llanberis trail, then back down the snowdon ranger (part way) and then make a turn part way down so we meet the llanberis trail again - this route only being about 10 miles and taking about 3 hrs.
My mate thinks we go up llanberis trail then all the way back down snowdon ranger for a big old road slog back to where the car is parked (llanberis) - route being 20 miles & taking about 5hrs.
Who is right? or are we both wrong.
Also if you have any tried and tested tips then they would be appreciated,
(BTW we are all experienced walkers/climbers etc & have walked/climbed snowdon in all conditions - just needing a bit of clarification on the best biking route - and yes we will be taking a map/compass)
Thanks
From what I understand you are saying, you are partly right and your mate is not wrong.
😉
Arguably, the best way is to ride/push up Llanberis, then ride down Ranger path. Once it settles down, you hit a load of drainage bars, and then see a bridleway sign taking you up a grassy slope. Follow this, and you will end up riding on the bridleway that drops you into the campsite above Llanberis. So you do not rejoin the Llanberis trail.
If your mate wants to ride all the way to the bottom, then ride around to Llanberis on the road then I'd just let him. You can meet him in Pete's Eats!
"I think we should be riding up llanberis trail, then back down the snowdon ranger (part way) and then make a turn part way down so we meet the llanberis trail again"
I don't think you can actually do that
I think you mean something like:
I think we should be riding up llanberis trail, then back down the snowdon ranger (part way) and then make a turn part way down so we descend 'telegraph' valley coming into the back of llanberis
I've ridden the other way (the rest of the rangers + the road + b.way sections
The lower section of the ranger path was mostly slate drainange gulleys to bunnyhop and some (not difficulty tight) switchbacks and I think one or two very short interesting bits
There will many more involving switchbacks on the upper sections of the ranger path anyway
The road section wasn't that interesting. The road climb wasn't pleasant. The b.way climbing and travesing was alright, but as with the road just a means to an end. The b.way descent into llanberis was nothing special, just dual track stuff, fast enough, but not techincal before descending mostly on tarmac
The 'telegraph' valley has a load of slate drainage gulleys very similar to those on the bottom of the ranger and as you'll probably be doing them faster, they should be more fun and be less chance of pinchflatting on one of them
From what I understand you are saying, you are partly right and your mate is not wrong
im glad you understood my lack of articulation!
So, is it 'better' to make the turn at the drainage steps and drop in to llanberis- if not then how much of a slog is the ride back round to llanberis?
Don't know tbh. I've ridden it the way I've described a couple of times, sometimes coming from the top of Snowdon, the other time just out for a bimble on the bike on a nice evening. Telegraph valley is great fun too, with some scarily fast sections and really sweet singletrack, It has tons of drainage bars, some of them pretty big, so you need to be cool with your bunnyhops!
Also ridden up and straight back down the Llanberis but wouldn't discount it if you love high-speed, flat-out blatting down rocky stuff. It's really good fun too.
Thanks guys - better go get some kip for my 4am alarm call!