NEW Penmachno Video

that this style of trail represents the style that lots of people who are into modern mountain biking like

Really? Any evidence for this or is it just a hunch?

^dont you think the popularity of Cannock, Llandegla, Glentress, C-y-B, etc is evidence enough?^

I do however know Andy, the mountain bike ranger who was in charge of the build.

Don’t think he was to be honest .

dont you think the popularity of Cannock, Llandegla, Glentress, C-y-B, etc is evidence enough?^

What about the popularity of natural trails too? Plenty of people on them too. A look around the car park through a pair of misery coloured glasses is hardly good evidence.

Personally, I like variety, and I welcome it. We now have greater choice in riding than ever before. This can only be good.

We now have greater choice in riding than ever before. This can only be good.

they will be round with the pitch forks, there is only one kind of valid mountain biking and it’s the kind I do.

Don’t you come round here with your new fangled ideas and fun clap trap.

nonk – Member

I do however know Andy, the mountain bike ranger who was in charge of the build.

Don’t think he was to be honest .[/quote]

If he wasn’t then my apologies. It’s just that he’s normally looking after trail construction around various forests in North Wales.

they will be round with the pitch forks, there is only one kind of valid mountain biking and it’s the kind I do.

Don’t you come round here with your new fangled ideas and fun clap trap.

I don’t really think that’s the case, but for me, the appeal of Penmachno was that it didn’t have the new-style trail sections and feel of a trail centre. I’m happy to ride them, but it’d be nice to have at least one trail centre that didn’t include them. What’s wrong with the odd low-key waymarked trail, sympathetic to the countryside and offering something away from the bike-park experience?

What’s wrong with the odd low-key waymarked trail, sympathetic to the countryside and offering something away from the bike-park experience?

Well, I think the idea is that if they waymark a trail for horses or bikes, it’ll get lots of traffic, and if it does then the trail surface needs upgrading.. which is how you end up with trail centres.

You can still ride the fire-road at Penmachno by the sound of it, so you can keep it as it was. Fire roads are much more low key and natural of course 🙂

So some chat on Google+ about this (yes the place isn’t dead yet 😛 ), and DestinationConwy replied to my at the time negative reaction with the following, which does explain what’s going on and indicates it should evolve into the same style as the original trails. Plus very good point on it being a solution to the fireroads which were one of my main issues with the place anyway.

Copied their reply below…

“We understand where you’re coming from – we love the current trails and our dream was to build 2 sections of skinny, challenging singletrack that would blend perfectly with the current trails. We spoke to the crew who built the original trails so we could replicate the specification, however, it turned out that when the trails were first built they were wide (around 80cm), and rolling, and it’s taken 10 years of riding to turn them into the amazing singletrack they are today! One of the reasons for the original construction method is because the Penmachno ground is so wet (not that you’d notice!!!), so a wide base/platform needs to be put in so the trail doesn’t disappear into the Penmachno bog. At this point we could see our dream disappearing so considered a hand built trail, which would allow a narrower trail to be built. However, it was super-expensive and left us with 2 options – 1 short section of narrow hand-built or 2 long sections of wider machine built trail. After a lot of deliberating we went for the second option, on the basis that it was how the original trail was built and that in a few years it will narrow up, ride-in and evolve into true Penmachno singletrack. Plus it would replacing riding along forest track so it would be a definite improvement. It has been a painful learning process which has included a few shattered dreams for the community team, however, we have learned to look beyond what are 2 very new and uniform sections of trail and see what they’ll be like in a few years time when they’ve ridden in. So, we totally understand where you’re coming from but hopefully you’ll enjoy them more than riding on forest track and in a few years time you’ll love them!!!”?

Rode the enduro there at the weekend, hadn’t been there before and loved it. Great mix of tough natural narrow singletrack and new stuff. The new stuff is a great repalcement for a fire road. I am sure the haters can ride the old fire road instead.

Given that, deadkenny, I think the video does them a disservice as it looks like they’re trying to make out that the new trail is teh awesumz.

Some good insight there. Thanks Deadkenny.

For what it’s worth……
I love Penmachno. It’s a hidden gem. While everyone else stops off at Llandegla and queues up in a line to go down the next section, I can be blasting down singletrack with not a sole in sight. Now that the new section has been done and with this video, I just hope it doesn’t pull to many people away from their pampered trail centre. The new sections look good to me and will just add to an already top trail. Planning my next visit soon, hope it’s quiet.. 😀

If that really is just replacing fireroads then I’ll definitely be going next time I’m up that way as I really like the Penmachno apart from the fireroads. Just hope they don’t tame to many of the other bits as that’s what makes it different to most other centres.

I can be blasting down singletrack with not a sole in sight

Feet firmly on the ground…?

I would ride penmachno any time over llandegla.
Rode on Sunday no sign of any queues

Four pages of crap.

If you don’t like it, don’t ride it.

Quite simple really 😉

molgrips – Member

I can be blasting down singletrack with not a sole in sight

Feet firmly on the ground…? [/quote]

Or firmly in plaice on the pedals.

Sorry.
I can’t help it.

Just seen the video, looks awesome to me. Way better than fire road at any rate. But I love that kind of fast jumpy riding, I’m not a huge fan of slower techy stuff.

molgrips – Member
I can be blasting down singletrack with not a sole in sight
Feet firmly on the ground…?

Or firmly in plaice on the pedals.

With all that water, not as ridiculous as it sounds 😛

joat – Member

With all that water, not as ridiculous as it sounds 😛

Good point.
😀
It always amuses me when people whinge about it being wet.
It’s North Wales ffs, what do you expect?
‘Hordes of wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plain?’
An Ambre Solaire concession next to the honesty box?

Do these people not ride any natural stuff?
Or does your £2500 Enduro rig dissolve at the first sign of moisture?

Get real – it’s a wonderful, locally built track that can stand comparison with any trail centre on these islands.

Can’t wait to get back.

I didn’t think that was a moan, just an observation…

Not aimed at Joat in the slightest, his post made me laugh.
Apologies if it came across that way.
Aimed at the arch miserableists who seem to know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

just looks a bit raw, it will wear in.
never done penmachno before, but heading to N Wales early next year and its on the to do list.

Just read the golf R thread and then the first page of this one – I give up on this place. What a miserable bunch of **** hang out here to express their tedious opinions.

Penmachno is a fabulous place to ride. I make a point of going there when I go to north Wales.

davosaurusrex – Member
Just read the golf R thread and then the first page of this one – I give up on this place. What a miserable bunch of **** hang out here to express their tedious opinions.

First reaction stuff to a perhaps misleading video that’s all. Now I’ve seen the explanation behind it, it makes a lot more sense and hopefully will turn out right in the long run.

The video just bills the improvements as a major change to the whole place and filled me with dread of motorway riding in a place that is a polar opposite of that kind of trail. However if it’s just replacing the fire road sections and basically the same method of construction as the original trails were done and intended to evolve into the same narrow raw style trails then all is good.

Anyway, nothing wrong with having a moan. It’s fun 😀 , and it allows us to drill into any concerns and resolve or answer them. Far better than everyone being swept along by hype and then being disappointed.

This

will ‘evolve’ into this…….

(I apologise in advance for having an opinion someone else may disagree with)

Are the new sections replacing fire road sections which were uphill?

Well I’m in the “that looks like a hell of a load of fun” camp. Will be heading up that way ASAP.

The wider stuff will clearly bed in and mellow. Once next Spring / Summer’s growth has taken hold the trail will blend in massively. it’ll rut out and be far less obtrusive. It’s just the same as we have with newer sections of our trails at Cannock which receive uproar.

However this move towards “New School” (shudder) trails does seem to fit in with what seems to be a new breed of MTBer who can afford their 160mm Enduro bike, pink top and yellow shorts and wants to ride like their on Pinkbike. At the end of the day that’s cool and it’s good to see that there is a choice of places to ride on this little island.

Trail Centre haters will always take issue with Trail Centres regardless of how they are built but again there are miles of other trails to ride in most places.

No the new sections do not replace fire road sections that were up hill they replace a flat bit of fire road with new trail that is 70% up hill then you loose all your height in two shit berms. It also has some up hill rollers in this new section that are shocking.
The other first new bit just joins up with the section of trail numbered 1.9 this means you miss out some switch back turns and then a section of fire road approximately 200m long

It’ll be amusing if the kind of rider who likes smooth bmx track type trails goes to penmachno thinking it’s all like that, they are in for a (pleasant) surprise

70% uphill?
Didn’t feel that steep.

new trail that is 70% up hill then you loose all your height in two shit berms. It also has some up hill rollers in this new section that are shocking.

Ah, someone who’s ridden it! I though I’d taken a wrong turn and was riding it the wrong way!

Well I’m in the “that looks like a hell of a load of fun” camp. Will be heading up that way ASAP.

Is there an entry in the guinness book of world records for most disappointed person ever?

No the new sections do not replace fire road sections that were up hill they replace a flat bit of fire road with new trail that is 70% up hill then you loose all your height in two shit berms. It also has some up hill rollers in this new section that are shocking

Unbelievable. What a huge exaggeration. There are two new sections, one is deffo downhill all the way, the other which I assume is referred to above is downhill overall but probably only just. I thought those berms were quite good when hit properly. As for the rest of that bit, it is designed for people who are fit and who can ride a bike properly. A decent rider would probably be able to ride it without pedaling (i couldn’t as I am not good enough). It reminded me a bit of Cragg quarry where you really need to pump the bike to get the most out of it and the more you do the better it is.

a huge exaggeration..quite good when hit properly..A decent rider would probably be able to ride it without pedaling

Maybe by a rider who won his category at the race there perhaps? 😉 ( far too modest to say it themselves)
A better representation here
http://www.pinkbike.com/video/387494/

Maybe by a rider who won his category at the race there perhaps?

😀
Has someone just made themselves look a bit silly?

Jesus wept. What a bunch of miserable sods. What I find hard is the lack of diplomacy. A bunch of guys worked their arses off to build it and its put up here and a bunch of keyboard warriors can’t wait to get stuck in with vitriol and angst. Bet you’d all be a bunch of laughs in the pub.

I’ve ridden Penmachno many times and love its superb, rocky, watery singletrack. At the same time I’ve nothing against bombing along some swoopy, flowy track as well (the blue at Whinlatter springs to mind). As numerous others have said, this doesn’t replace any of the classic Penmachno, it looks like a good thing. And to those who are complaining that they might have to pedal…..get a life

+1 to the volunteers and people who put time and effort into this. I for one appreciate what you do. Any investment into the sport is a good one 🙂

As others have said the new sections are short and only replace fire road so are a slight improvement over that.
All the lovely (wet) old stuff is still there.
I like the video if it puts people off going there, I love penmachno but I don’t love crowds on the trail.
It does give a totally false impression of what penmachno is really like to anyone that has never been there though.
When me and my mates road those sections last week we were laughing saying they have put a wheelchair access in.