Llangollen (one giant leap + others)

We’re off down to Llangollen for a few days family break over half term. Staying in Llangollen itself.

I’m hoping to ride the DH tracks at One Giant Leap but interested in other stuff in the area too. Its one of those breaks where I’ll just have to grab the time window opportunities as they arise. I’ll get maybe 2x 2-3 hrs slots tops, I would have thought.

Questions then:

1) For other routes that aren’t the DH tracks, what’s the immediate area like? Would prefer Enduro or technical trail riding, straight from the door. Also interested in more xc/gravel stuff also

2a) For one giant leap,. looking.on YouTube it looks more on the flow side, rather than tech..is that right?

2b) what’s the climb like /how long does it take if pedalling/pushing up?

2c) I can take either my normal Enduro bike or my e bike (again, Enduro). Given it looks quite flowy (rather than tech) , it looks a bit of a pig of a climb, and that I’m not going to get much time, I’m erring towards the eeb. Any reason not to?

Ordinarily I prefer to ride a normal bike because I prefer how they handle, particularly on tech stuff. But I think I’ll get more riding in on the eeb and it seems like the tracks would suit it.

For one giant leap,. looking.on YouTube it looks more on the flow side, rather than tech..is that right?

It’s pretty steep. I’ve not actually ridden it but stood at the top of the tracks on an off road motorbike ride and yeah. Steep.

It’s private so can only be ridden on uplift days I believe. Best to check on their Facebook page.

Thanks, I’ve already been in contact and should be able to ride. Martin is v. helpful

No uplift running though, so it’s pedalling (with/without motor) or pushing!

(Thanks to whoever closed the duplicate thread by the way)

Old Horseshoe Pass was the national hill climbing venue two years ago iirc.

I’ve ridden there on my eeb a few years ago. It was all quite steep, medium difficulty, good fun. The climb is a long (about 800ft elevation) boring tarmac road, I can’t imagine riding it on a clockwork bike.

There’s decent XC available

https://www.komoot.com/tour/1040405883

There’s the Worlds End loop – a really nice 25km ride out of Llangollen up to Llandegla (which you could then add on the trail centre loop if you’re fit enough / on the Eeb) and back to Llangollen.  The final return to Llangollen is absolutely superb!  I can send you the Strava link if needs be

I’ve recently done the beast of Llangollen ride and it’s on my YouTube channel along with a Garmin route.

Stephen Foster MTB if you want to watch it.

Quick edit, it sounds similar to the above route.

Worlds End route is way better than The Beast on all fronts. There is an off road climb at one  Giant Leap over at the left if you’re looking straight at the trails. Still a big haul getting up it be ok on an eeb.

Have a look here https://flattyres-mtb.co.uk/route-guides/north-wales-mtb-routes/ and scroll down to the Ceriog Valley and Llangollen section.

The climb up on or off road is brutal. I wouldn’t be doing that even on a e bike. Thats an uplift day or nothing day for most, unless you only plan on doing one or two runs.

The Beast of Llangollen is excellent but also brutal climbing wise, there’s a lot, I’ve done it on a real bike (non powered) and you need to be in good shape to get round that comfortably.

The Worlds end loop definitely is not better than the beast as the beast has so much more, its just easier pedal wise.

Wouldn’t do Worlds End on a weekend either as there tends to be a lot of opiniated walkers around who think they own the mountain.

Don’t forget the recycled bike clothing shop just over the bridge ! Recycledkit.com

Thanks all,

Had a look at the beast and worlds end routes, and various other stuff around there. Seems to be a load of stuff to go at 🙂

On ye olde heat map, I also spy several lines running down off the hill about a mile to the west of one giant leap (off the llywbr ceiriog trail / croes yr esgob hill)

Any clues on those ones?

Edit: OMFG emojis seem to be back

On ye olde heat map, I also spy several lines running down off the hill about a mile to the west of one giant leap (off the llywbr ceiriog trail / croes yr esgob hill)

Any clues on those ones?

There’s Allt y Badi which is an interestingly rocky landrover track.

For a decent day out start in Llan, ride out on the canal to horseshoe falls, Rhewl, up the BW west of Moel y Gamelin, BW east to Ponderosa up on to the masts, down the fence line to hop into Degla (this will be boggin), lap of colour of your choice to the Offas Dyke bridleway back out to the world’s end road then back either on Worlds end (but it’s often busy and not without conflict) or over eglwyseg mountain to Trevor rocks (less tech but nice enough). From Trevor Rocks drop down to the Sun Inn and the canal and back to Llan. You’ll get good value from the eeb on that. With the weather we’ve had I’d not bother with the masts descent, likely to be chewed up and unremarkable.