Hi,

Nice pictures. Some advice please, any recommendation as to best direction to ride the ‘full’ length. North -> South?? I note the boggies routes seem to do northerly section northwards and southerly section southwards..?
Many thanks
Paul

My problem with BBC weather is the lack of isobars. At least with them you can predict the weather yourself, or build in a bit of ‘play’ around their predictions.

Find the Europe – West maps and animations. That has isobars.

Paul

Metcheck is not really specific enough in my opinion, see the BBC weather thread…

I use this for up to 8 days
http://www.stronge.org.uk/charts.html
see pressure and cloud cover at the bottom

This for upto next 48 hours
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/satpics/latest_uk_vis.html
use Rainfall radar, observation and then forecasts links

…and http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/10209 for animations, though are harder to use nowadays.

To get a decent forecast you have to pull all the stuff together yourself over a period of hours and days ahead. Careful use of the Met Office rainfall radar can really make the difference in not getting piss wet through, choosing a route and time of ride.
Paul

I use this for up to 8 days
http://www.stronge.org.uk/charts.html
see pressure and cloud cover at the bottom

This for upto next 48 hours
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/satpics/latest_uk_vis.html
use Rainfall radar, observation and then forecasts links

…and http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/10209 for animations, though are harder to use nowadays.

To get a decent forecast you have to pull all the stuff together yourself over a period of hours and days ahead. Careful use of the Met Office rainfall radar can really make the difference in not getting piss wet through, choosing a route and time of ride.
Paul

Or you could bear right just before the first mast (coming from the Ponderosa) to do the great singletrack down to the road, turn left for a few 100m and do all the boardwalk in…
Paul

Skills Loop and Pump Track are WIP. Other sections have opened up alongside where the Red and Black split, above JJ Jumps and by the Tin Hut before Not Shore.

Paul

OK STWers, time to reelaxx.

Am a Dr but now work in IT and not registered, insured or sueable. Also sat at home recovering from the worst cold that I’ve had for years. I hope it was H1N1! Been working in the West Midlands and East of England recently.

The response to H1N1 seems to have been correct. Initially under reporting of the trivial cases in Mexico made it appear more lethal than it is. The UK is good at reporting therefore appears to have a higher incidence.

It may mutate slightly and you can therefore get it more than once, though you could argue that it is a different flu.

If you are in an at risk group try and get your antivirals as soon as any contact is known, only other option is to stay at home until the vaccine is available (untenable).

Being summer try to be outdoors and not in confined spaces with others, a main reason for peaks of illness in winter.

Otherwise contact NHS Direct or your GP by phone for advise.
Paul

Started MTBing about 14 months ago and have ridden Tarw (inc Pins and Needles) ~5 times over the period. Had to walk and push bits first time, rode with a few dabs second and then ridden completely with increasing confidence since.

Similarly on other rocky sections at CyB.

Seems to me that they have it exactly right. The route descriptions, advice and ‘qualifiers’ all match up to the trails.

Though obviously all *way* to sanitised for some…
🙂
Paul

PS Have always found the tea and cake at the cafe very nice..

most of my pics come out like that due to astigmatism so I routinely level them before posting. Of course some people call that “Photoshopping” as if it were some crime against Art…

Some absolutely magical images there! And there is nowt wrong with a bit of PS to create something special…
http://cid-2d834224a28608d3.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Public/M42%7C_desktop.jpg
…these are all done with a standard Canon 40D, 200mm lens and a bit of digital wizardry.
Paul

CyB is a victim of its success and the old rooty and randomly rocky trails are not ‘sustainable’ with traffic levels as they are now (one could argue that trail sanitisation is a cause of this increased traffic, chicken and egg).

Definitely worth a visit to make your own mind up and…

…put the midge repellent on **before** opening up in the car park!! 🙂

Paul

If, as taka said, you had a 90 minute stop at the pub in Littondale you must have been motoring round!

Hi Simon, I guess we were at the pub for an hour or slightly less and 15 mins by the ice cream van at the Tarn.

Thank you to the photographers!

Pity I’ll miss the next one as having an operation on a torn knee cartilage in a couple of weeks 🙁

Hope the weather works out! 🙂
Paul

Yes, many thanks to all for the great company, great ride and great cakes!

Superb outing.
Paul

Llandegla and World’s End

Conditions are stunning!! Did this solo last night, about 34k. Not a soul to be seen once out on the moors 🙂

Paul

PS Best bits of vid are from about 4 mins.

clarkpm4242, I love you. Have I ever told you that? I havent met you yet but still

snowslave, look! Ive encountered crazy Germans in Ibiza. I like….I also like the rolling images..

Whoa there! We’ve not been formally introduced!!

Thomson do package deals to normal resort hotels, if you get serious about this make sure you stay on the **WEST** side of the island (not near the airport)!! We do flights only and book villas/appts privately over t’internet.

Bikenfun run a full ‘winter’ programme and also do rides *all* year.

They are brilliant to ride with 🙂
Paul

I’ll be going to La Palma in October. Yes, it is a Canary Island!

It is the ‘most mountainous island in the world’ apparently! This will be my 4th visit and each time I’ve used http://www.bikenfun.de

Excellent family run business catering from easy through singletrail to full-on downhill madness.

Direct flights by Thomson from Manchester and Gatwick.

Paul

hey, I don’t think anyone claimed it was a beginner ride! I rate it as a ‘difficult’ Also it was unkind of you to mention Dave’s absence

Fishing is good here 🙂 Hoping next Sunday can make up for Dave’s disappointment last time!!

All being well I will tag along, thank you.

I really enjoyed the ‘beginners’ ride that sfb took us on over the Howgills whilst you fumed at the roadside.

The route looks brilliant! Have negotiated a Sunday ride, usually do Saturdays, the Beast at CyB yesterday was a good warm up.

Paul

http://www.mtbbritain.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=11123&st=20&start=20

Red Bull, pah!! Relentless is what you need!! Twice the volume, twice the hit and…
..twice the side effects 🙁

Need to be well hydrated before and after to make up for the peeing. Take 30 – 60 mins before the ride. Certainly gain a mental buzz from these drinks (or mucho coffees) and I bet that the increased mental drive will outweigh physical effects in most?
Paul

PS the increased cardiovascular risk has been known about for years as a caffeine side effect.

As evel says!! This will be perfect. Did the same as you on the way from Manc to stay near Ingleton 🙂 Took GF to get used to her new bike, also new to MTBing.

Ride the existing Red anti-clockwise some hills to get exercised and flat and gentle downhill singletrack to develop some skills.

Get there via a great road from Clapham village.
Paul

While you’re waiting for sfb. Camera has no viewing screen so no people shots..!?

7 in total…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38136212@N07/sets/72157619108160910/
Link top right to run Slideshow.
Paul

Lovely video of a stunning day!

Thank you John!!
Paul

Blox to any ‘instructions’!

Stunning weather, stunning scenery, stunning ride!!!

Thank you to *all*.

:))

Paul
(Specs, pads, Kona 4 delux)

Looking at the forecast…is there anywhere to top up the (non-alcoholic fluid load part way around?

Penmachno is brilliant if you’re more XC than DH. It’s for riders that know how to pedal 🙂

I know the route as a whole, never broken it into loops. Only suggestion is start from CP and follow the signs.

Cheers

Relatively new on the Forum. Should be there!! Maybe need a staggered(!) start if so many turn up 🙂
Cheers

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2434/3563026075_fa824f35e1.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2429/3563026719_0b7b5c6a29.jpg?v=0
Yorkshire Dales, magical ride near Austwick 🙂

When I did it the boardwalks were like ice, self lubricating (muddy slime squeezing out of the wood) rather than self cleaning. Needs to be done after a good dry spell.

Found it a bit scrappy and bitty as the above was lethal.

Still went round it twice though as it’s quite short.

Paul

PS Broke a rib on the first circuit 🙂

Yes Chris. Cool vid and uber cool canine!

Paul

There are these 2 that I’m doing this w/e with my gf…

http://www.mtbtrailfinder.co.uk/html/SAMPLE%20-%20N%20Wales%20-%20Tanat%20Valley%20Berwyn%20Hills%20(Medium)%20-%20MBR%20May%2008.htm

http://www.mtbwales.co.uk/RouteDetails.asp?fldid=2

Weather permitting 🙂

Paul

Brilliant wasn’t it!!

We may have passed you going the other way on the tops by the fort. Took my lady for her 1st real MTB ride. Elan Valley trail then up and over at Craig Goch and the fort. Then uphill to descend the superb double track down to Rhayader.

Paul

As you’ve got the time, do something different for a change :))

If you are really fit enough to do Penmachno and the Marin in one day go to CyB and do Dragon’s Back followed by Tarw. If you have a slight doubt about the distance just go for the Beast :))

Oh yes, and a good warm up around the car park area will help set you up for the first section of the Beast/Dragon’s Back 🙂

Good luck with the weather..!

Paul

Adlington (Lancashire not Cheshire) is about 2km from the trails around Rivington Pike.

Paul

If you pass a bespectacled gent doing Dragon’s Back, CyB Saturday morning on a grey/white Kona 4, that’ll be me. Usual partner-in-crime recently FCUKed his elbow, so please pick me up if I’m accidently ‘resting’.

Cheers
Paul

http://www.mtbbritain.co.uk/rhayader_round.html

Paul

Great High Street vid and soundtrack.

Just wish I was there now!!

Cheers.

Because caffeine doesn’t have the anti-social side effects of other drugs – alcohol, crack etc people tend to underestimate how highly addictive and powerful it is 🙂

If going cold turkey headaches (or rather one very loooong headache) are very likely for 2 – 3 days. Use Paracetamol. Main problem is then getting over the slumps that you’ve hidden with caffeine. Takes a while but the body sorts itself out. Find something else to drink as a replacement. Falling asleep in afternoon just means you’re an old f**t :))

Paul (chronic relapsing old f**t caffeine addict)

Try La Palma and http://www.bikenfun.de I’ve used them twice in 2008 and will be again this March.
Paul