Yes there are some land rover tracks around Yr Eifl and a Very steep Tarmac climb from Nantgwrtheurn.
No real riding around Criccieth, possibly ” lon goed” an old road.

You may also find some riding above Maentwrog which is not very far away there is a very basic trail network around “coed y Garnedd” but they are in the process of harvesting the wood so may be closed.

Check this out some of the above riders are in action here ,

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/mtb/article/mtb20090713-Retrospective–British-Mountain-Bike-Championships-0

I had a crash in an MTB race and my crank bros clips failed to un clip, broke my tib fib and was on crutches for 5 months.
I don’t think I will ever go back to clips even though I had used them with no trouble for over 10 years prior to the accident.

I now use Five ten’s and flat pedals and have no trouble even on rocky downhills etc.

Take some time out from the bike and your ” need for speed” on a Bike will soon come back

Certain sections just aren’t rideable unless your a professional downhill racer! So be warned! – You must be Joking

Get some High rollers 2.35 , super tacky in the front and you will be fine.
Hope you enjoy

Work is progressing well, uplift road now complete.
The tracks have been cut and the surface and technical trail features are are in the process of being put in place and shaped etc together with laying of the final surface.
The work will be hopefully be ready for mid to late summer.
There are photos and updates on the “Antur stiniog” facebook page and there was a recent article on the pinkbike site a few months ago.

Went from a heckler to a Lapierre spicy, found the longer top tube a great help also the longer wheelbase.
I Agree with dickie above as I also have an EX8 and it’s faster uphill.

Ride on some slow rocky sections and get a feel of what the bike is doing. Then find a rocky track and freewheel down using your brakes, do it again and again until you can ride it with out using the brakes. Develop confidence but not over confidence, in time you will be able to know how far you can push without loosing control.
By doing this you can also learn to leave the bike to find it’s own line ( within reason) then if you go off line you will not panic

In time you will push it and fall off, but it’s part of learning.
Also know how and when to brake with your front ( and also when not to use your front brake)

Have fun

Ive got a Panasonic gf1, ditched my DSLR as it’s easy to carry in my pocket or with the bike. 12MP and raw format it’s ideal.
Does not have a view finder but I got used to it, the only draw back is that the shutter response is slow for action shots for this I dust down my Nikon.
The new Fuji micro four thirds looks promising see it here

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/fuji_x10_first_impressions.shtml

There is an open day this Saturday for locals and people who are interested to have look a walk on the tracks. It will be a few months yet before they are open.

Here is the pink bike link for up to date photos.

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Blaenau-Ffestiniog-DH-Centre-coming-this-summer-2012.html

Blaenau Ffestiniog

Ride up to the stwlan dam, above the hydro power station for some dramatic scenery and some James Bond vibes.
Dirt did a superb photo shoot here a few Years ago.
Also ceck out Cwmorthin near by above Tan y Grisiau, See if you can ride down some of the old Inclines !! Also you can then go up to Rhosydd abandoned barracks village and even go underground ( but take care )

located mid point between Coed y Brenin and Betws

After saying ” never again” to Crank bros SPD type pedals after a broken tib / fib and surgery and a 10 month recovery peridod it took me about 5 mins to get used to flats.

When riding my DH bike I find that I need to work my legs quite hard to follow the terrain, also slow the rebound down a bit to help.

Used to own a 55- 300 F 2.8, main problem I had was the focus distance
was about 15 feet in front. The VR may be different.

In the end I sold it as it was in the bag most of the time.

Used a lot of battery also.

I have 3 bikes XC, DH and and in between bike freeride bike.

It’s nice to do some old school XC loops, trail centre and uplift days.

Sometimes it’s nice to do some really technical DH rides over wet rocks
and roots others it’s just as much fun to do a a 5hr ride.
Also nice to push / ride a freeride bike up a mountain.

At the end of the day to me it’s just mountain biking.

Llanfihangel y pennant is the place to start.

Lots of farm/ grant roads to climb before the technical stuff, take care at the top if it’s misty or windy in winter, could be your last ride.

Go for it, however before you enter your first race do a few uplift days on the course this will teach you the lines.
It’s good fun, if you feel that someone will catch you up you can sometimes ask for the rider behind to wait another 30 seconds.
It can be superb fun but at the same time quite frustrating mentally, a run can feel fast but turn out to be slow.
When I first started out I found the Jumps quite daunting, the key is
practice practice practice. Good luck

Check out, Guitar noise superb beginner tabs and some theory thrown in.

Home

What an Engine, superb sound

Even in the 20th century pupils were apparently being beaten for speaking it in school.

This was also done in Wales to eradicate the Welsh language it was known as the “Welsh Not”

Mr Fry failed to say this !!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_Not

Flats all the way for me.

Used SPD’s or rather Crank bros clips, they did not release in a crash due to mus or a small stone.

Broke my tib / Fib 2 op operations and 5 months off work.

Use flats now for XC and DH,

If you’r bike is set up ok and you learn to use your legs as suspension
flats are fine.

Just got my fox 36 back today through the post, no problems. Went for the
custom valving option and upgraded SKF seals.

Penmachno loop 1&2 are good, not far from Betws y Coed ( Marin Trail )

The machines have just moved on site this week to start work on the uplift road. This will be followed by construction of the downhill tracks which will lead down to llechwedd.

The tracks will be graded from full on downhill to trail centre type single tracks be accessible to riders of differing levels of skill.

The visitor center cafe will also be built towards the end of the year.

The plan is for the centre to be open next spring.

A new web site is to be launched soon here is a link to the holding page so stay tuned.

http://www.anturstiniog.com/

Check out polypearl platinum – looks to be the best.
Will not wick moisture through the Cavity

Went over last week, lots of the bits at afan not open due to logging.

First time at the centre, did the whites level very nice singletracks

VW Corrado, save up a bit more and if you can get a VR6. 2.9, 190bhp from a light car 0-60 just over 6 seconds !

parcel force online , you also get a tracking no so you know it’s delivered and the buyer knows it’s on the way. Not bad price considering the service

Look at http://www.guitarnoise.com/

David Hodge does some superb tuition and it’s all free.

Well recommended.

Snowcard

Lots “visitors” rent a “supercar” or RR Vogue for the weekend and try and look the part !

Looking at the NCAP rating is a must.

Think also of expenditure of good tires for the car, have a look at some of the tests a Continetal sport contact against a Linglong – Budget tire could mean the difference between life or death and prevent the accident happening in the first place.

You think you get a good deal until the invoice for import duty and VAT comes from UPS and they will not release the item unless it’s paid.

If you go for a big hit make sure it’s got a 26 inch wheel at the back the 24 is limited in tyre choice.
I have got a big hit 3 and for the price it’s superb

Quote “In fairness any 2-storey extension should really be looked at by Structural Engineer anyway.” – Wrong

As long as the building is constructed to comply with Part A of the Building regulations it’s Deemed to satisfy the regs and no structural engineer’s calcs are required. When you go out of these regulations it’s up to you to prove that it’s safe.

The reach adjustment is a poor design, for what its worth remove the hose to see where the restiction is lever or caliper ?

Have a look on the housepricecrash forum, some horror stories about renting out!

I have seen quite a lot outstanding of tele skiers in Chamonix.

I made a plate / pice of wood the same thickness as the pad and rotor,to avoid containation of the pads. Just a tip !

+1

http://www.nsandi.com/savings-index-linked-savings-certificates

Local to the Area and I have done a section from “Tomen y mur” the roman fort across from the power station to the trunk road leading from Trawsfynydd to Bala. Went along a tarmc back road towards the top end of the Rhiw Goch camp site.
There is a chapel above here call ” penstryt” from here a track gets you into the heart of Coed y Brenin.

Stayed in Malchesnie a few years ago, rented a bike from the local shop, located near the lift.
The staff did not know ( or did not want to say) where the best bits where located, Taking the bike in the ski lift was not encouraged. Probably in case their bike got trashed !

Having said this I found a found some good downhills ( be warned brakes are handed differently )

Got the feeling Mountain biking was a bit disorganised 2009 , might be better by now.