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got this planned for July with the boys.
Their plan is Ebikes, but i'm planning on doing on a manual bike.
How long did it take you ? How much walking ? What gearing did you run ? Was it worth it ?
For me, it's just something to tick off, i'll be starting about 5:30pm thinking 2 hours or so going up ? Meet the ebike lads at the top who'll set off after me... See what happens from there 😀
do we still need to bounce our own threads ?
I’ve done it a couple of times. Took a couple of hours I think with some pushing. I presume you mean up llanberis down rangers. It’s just a long slog.
It wasn’t too bad to be honest - the worst bits were the steep road climb out of Llanberis to the actual bridleway start, and then a push after you go under the railway line up a very steep and loose ascent. There’s another bit about halfway up with rock steps you need to push / carry your bike up.
Would an ebike have helped me? Not sure - I wouldn’t have enjoyed the carry and push sections.
Are you planning to go down Rangers - I really enjoyed that descent - quite rocky and loose. A big heavy ebike might be a handful down that - or alternatively the weight might keep it more planted. Not sure which.
I’ve got 1 hour 51 mins in my mind. Assume that’s just the way up but I’ll have to look back over Strava to check. It might have been up and down. It was on day 3 of a trip and I had energy left to go and ride somewhere else later in the day.
I presume you mean up llanberis down rangers
I assume that's the plan, i was told we're starting in Llanberis, but i must admit this is as far as i've got posting this thread in terms of research.
I did it last weekend on an ebike, and have done it a few times on a normal bike.
It took about 50 minutes on the ebike, the stepped section that leads up to clogwyn station is a push, but the rest is ridable. Theres much less pushing when using an ebike .
On a normal bike , for me, its about a 2 hour ride/push - with a lot more pushing.
There'll still be a lot of walkers around at that time. Maybe push it 30mins or so later? It's about an 80% ride/20% walk. I've not owned an ebike, but I wouldn't fancy having to push one up the steeper unridable parts!
2hrs – 2.5hrs up / 45mins down if doing Llanberis path/Rangers gives a good amount of time (and allows for a mishap), assuming all have ridden mountains before.
Edit: and to answer the title question, it's ace! (Gorgeous views going up, excellent descending.)
assuming all have ridden mountains before.
we're all experienced MTBers yeah...
There’ll still be a lot of walkers around at that time. Maybe push it 30mins or so later? It’s about an 80% ride/20% walk. I’ve not owned an ebike, but I wouldn’t fancy having to push one up the steeper unridable parts!
Its fine pushing an ebike up the one bit that cant be ridden, just use walk mode - makes it no bother.
I love it, one of my favourite rides (on a sunny day!) - a bit under an hour and a half ride up - I'd agree with 80/20 riding to walking split. The rangers descent is brilliant too. well worth it, especially with the suns setting, which you'll get if you're lucky at that time. Would agree with possibly pushing it back a bit though - it'll be busy with walkers, which is less of an issue on the way up, but you'll want as clear a run down as possible... Enjoy!
It would be massively quicker on an ebike, because so much of the Llanberis climb is borderline rideable on a normal bike.
Well most of it is "rideable", but the amount that actually gets ridden depends on fatigue level, heat and individual fitness.
I'm in decent shape and was surprised how much I ended up pushing on my big bike on a hot day in April, a few days into a riding trip.
I don't care about how quick it is up on an ebike, i'll set off way before them, so we'll arrive and either i'll wait or they will and we'll come back down together, we'll then hit the hotel and get up in the morning for Lllandegla.
Done Snowdon a few times, last time was on a Litespeed hardtail with 100mm of suss. up Llanberis which took about 3 hrs, down the ranger and telegraph trails. Brilliant day out
Last time we did it we started at the ranger yha which puts you on the main llanberis path later and you’ll get a better chance of a clean run down rangers.
Checked strava- 2h56 for the full circuit. Of which rangers descent was 11m43… there is a lot of going up involved…
I’ve not owned an ebike, but I wouldn’t fancy having to push one up the steeper unridable parts!
Walk mode is for just this, they're a pita when there is a carry involved, pushing is fine.
I'd consider doing it up and down Rangers now Telegraph Valley has been ruined. More pushing that way but who wants to pedal everywhere anyway?
I don’t care about how quick it is up on an ebike
Well you might find it helpful for planning purposes.
As the above the steepest part is from Llamberis and its all rideable to the main steps past the half way house. After that becomes a bit of a hike a bike and push but easy up to the top in 2 hours
Yeah I found it more comfy to port my bike on the penultimate section after going under the bridge.
Eebs could probably just pedal straight up though.
2-2.5 hrs up. Been a while since I did it, but the last time LLanberis had been sanitised somewhat. All rideable up to the steps up to Clogwyn station (100m? carry). After that it is rideable depending on wind/fitness/determination/bottom gear choice, but you'd need to really WANT to do it.
Rangers WAS great - the view opening up as you drop out the cloud coming down the back of Clogwyn is jawdropping, but I think it's been surfaced now. Rhyd Ddu is another kettle of fish and has some proper jank on it.
Personally I'd leave it absolutely as late as possible. Its a very busy mountain. Last time I climbed it we did Crib Goch at sunset and bivvyed up at the summit and there were people coming and going all night.
Usual caveats apply - despite the railway and the cafe at the top, it's a proper mountain, and the weather can be lovely in the valley and absolutely vile by the time you get to the top (I've never had a view from the summit in 10 or so ascents). Plan for the worst and understand your escape options and how to find them when you can't see more than 20' and you can't stand up against the wind.
A team of us did it in 1989, went to Rhosneigr for a weekend windsurfing but the wind didn't appear so we decided to do Snowden instead. I was on a Marin Bear Valley with 27 Shimano Exage Mountain gears.
I was young, fit and always up for trying anything once. It was hot and more than half the team sacked it off before we got to the top.
We are in the area at the end of the month for a few days and thought about doing it again but decided to do Antur Stiniog instead
One of the best mtb weekends I ever had was leaving Sheffield Friday lunchtime, llandegla Friday pm, snowdon Saturday (late April, so able to go during the day, still loads of snow on the tops) and antur Sunday.
Five of us in a grotty static caravan near Porthmadog… bliss
What gearing guys ?
I think i've got a 32 on the front and a 42 out back.. I expect i could fit a 46 if needed to the bike as i arguably need a cassette soon anyway.
Assuming its 11 speed, at my age I would go 28 front and fit the 46 on the back. When I went from 11*42 to 12*50 I left the 28 on the front to try but soon swapped it out.
I wouldnt change gearing specifically for snowdon - it probably wont make any difference to whether you ride or push bits .
Can I ask what exactly is the condition of the Rangers..
Done it loads of times - last time was maybe 2 years ago and I seem to remember a bit of resurfacing at the top but the steep gnar was still steep and gnar. Has that changed now? Is it still worth it?
Not so worried about Telegraph - that was always a means to an end to get to Llanberis. Not sure how a wide and uninteresting trail littered with annoying water bars can be made worse?
Rangers is still a great ride.
Not sure how a wide and uninteresting trail littered with annoying water bars can be made worse?
Oh it can, trust me.
It's basically a gravel path now.
not a great deal to add other than it's brilliant when the weathers good, but can be grimly unpleasant at the top when it's not so pack for all eventualities as the valley to the summit can be very different.
allow 3.5-4 hours and that will give plenty of time for stopping, view gazing, mechanicals, food etc. in good weather it's impossible to get lost, in really bad weather it's all too easy, so if in doubt head for the train tracks.
ps the resurfacing work on telegraph valley is awful, so make sure you get maximum fun form the raggers path
Gearing… first time I was on 3x9 probably. Last time I was on 2x10 I think. Lowest gear 22x36. Still had to get off and push. It’s not about the bike… As Lance would say
Only ever done it once in the early 90's and we'd all just got 'rigid' MTB's (bunch of roadies).
Up Rangers and down Llanberis path. Must have been nuts.
Oh it can, trust me.
It’s basically a gravel path now
a really loose gravel path that was unpleasant enough to walk on, i can imagine it would be super sketchy at any speed on a bike
Was it worth it ?
Sort of, Yes, No. Maybe...The ride/push up shouldn't give any half fit MTB'er any worries, just take it steady. Echo comments about the weather, the boredom of the climb is helped massively by the views around you if the weather is playing nicely, and regardless of the ease of the ascent, it really is a remarkable view from the top.
Coming down can be exercise in frustration if Rangers is busy with folk still coming up. It's one of those descents that once you get in the grove/flow, it's a bunch of fun, but if you're having to stop/start it can equally be totally annoying/difficult.
If you're chilled out about not having "The greatest mountain bike experience that ever there was", it's a hoot. If it's rammed, it can feel like a tick box.
lucky enough to get a perfect sunrise on the solstice,unlike first attempt year before
Unless it’s easy I wouldn’t bother changing the gearing. I did it on a big travel bike that at the time had a 10-42 and 30t chainring. Maybe with my current 10-51 and 32t I might have peddled a tiny bit more, but I doubt it.
In terms of the number of people it goes without saying that you want to be away at first light.
If you do that then you should be down the rangers before all but the keenest of folk have set off up it. I have never encountered more than one or two. I know its busier now because of the Stay-cationers but they aren't getting up silly early - or are they?
In terms of the number of people it goes without saying that you want to be away at first light
We're starting 6pm.... well i am... they're starting at 7pm on ebikes.
No worky
but they aren’t getting up silly early – or are they?
I did it a couple of years back in April on a whim as the weather looked promising, got to that giant Llanberis CP next to the lake at 06.30am-ish, and I was the only person there...Great I thought, got ready, was clicking down through he gears on that daft-steep section of tarmac by about 07.00 latest, and the first gate onto the path proper, was....Rammed with folk...Like a busy high street.
I'd plan for it to be busy, if it's not, winner.
I made it to the bridge mostly on the bike with 34-36 setup. Can't remember much after the bridge as the weather came in but think I mostly pushed from there. So I wouldn't recommend swapping kit just for that last push
Steve, lots of variables here. I live about 3 miles from Llanberis, and was last up in March.
I rode a 160mm 650b bike on 34x40 from town to the half way station in 50 mins. Im not v fit. I would have liked a gear or two lower. Of that portion, the tough bit is a tarmac ramp before you get to the bridleway. Its a properly crap start to a fun half day.
There is a push/carry up rock steps at Allt Moses before the portion where you go under the railway line. After that its a loose shaley push for me, Allt Goch, until you get to a less steep area, where its all rideable again.
Its been SO busy there are people queueing for the summit cairn. This is made worse by weekend, also fine weather. If you are riding up at 6pm midweek then there will still be people coming down, but its less busy.
The decent down rangers os a mixed bag. Super fast fun start, then rocky enough to think pads for knees and elbows and fullface for me. I get forced off my bike in a couple of places, as i dont want to carry pads and FF up!.
Telegraph road has been ruined. All the water bars are removed and its surfaced in loose granite chippings. It possible to go very fast, but its a bit soulless. Also it used to be a decent ride up, so you may meet other riders coming up.
Its a good tick box half day, but i dont think it would be my fave ride in N Wales.
Ian
Echo Telegraph valley - we rode down it last year when it was being gravelled - awful surface for cycling and walking.
After recent rides, I'm honestly thinking I can't make this. Sections of todays ride were 14-17% and I simply can't see any way I can do that for 2 hours. Apparently it's 14.1% average.
So I think I'm gonna bail on it
Of course you can do it. I managed it twice and I’m 51 and not fit. You just may have to walk some bits.