I’ve got a little psytrance festival lined up, up North this weekend and Eat Static in Wolverhampton on 25th November.

I just got back from Bontddu near Dolgellau.
I rode the Pont Scethin loop from there.
You could ride down the Mawddach trail and over the toll bridge at Penmaenpool to do that. (Hell of a road climb to the start though, especially ss!), but it’s worth it! A degree of walking will be involved on some of the climbs, but the descents are awesome. I rode it clockwise (as Bikefax or VG Guides) but can see the attraction of both directions. The views are spectacular!
Might be a bit longer than you want – I dunno. The main route is only about 18k, but much harder than that would hint at. I think it took me about 3 hrs from Bontddu and back, that’s taking in a good number of photo stops.

My last two bikes were bought because so much kit was worn out at the same time on my old bike that it was more sensible to buy a complete new one, than spend loads on new parts to hang on a frame several years old.

I’m kind of in that situation again now and looking at complete HTs.

I just spent a week’s hol. camping in North Wales with the family.
Rode the Pont Scethin loop, (which I’ve been meaning to do for yeeeears!) and the Beast at CYB for a bit of contrast. Both awesome in their own way.

There’s loads more I would have ridden if I wasn’t lumbered with the wife & child! 😉

Well, I’m back from Wales, having ridden Pont Scethin and the (full) Beast at CYB.

I have to admit, despite the on-line grumbling about sanitization and so on, the trails are riding better than ever IMO. Some parts were looking a bit tired on my last visit, but they have been armoured or re-routed now to withstand more traffic and I think the route is much improved. (Even if they did try to kill me by diverting up the mega steep tarmac climb to the “Beginning Of The End”, while I was riding singlespeed! That hurt!)

The new Adam and Eve section is a blast to ride. My problem with it though, (and the Minotaur) is that these more “bike park” style tracks are a bit of an eyesore and really stand out from the beautiful woodlands. As fun as it was, I hope there’s not too much of this kind of thing planned as it spoils the look of the forest IMHO. I prefer trails a bit more sympathetic to the surroundings. Perhaps when it’s worn in and weathered a bit, it won’t look so bad.

In conclusion then, I had an outstanding day on some of the best singletrack I’ve ridden and look forward to going back.

Here’s one of me on my old Cindercone at Coed Y Brenin in August 1990, AT4s present. 😀

[/url]
Coed_Y_Brenin_Aug1990[/url] by franklini10[/url], on Flickr

Looks pretty lean & purposeful Rich. 😀
Could be right about the plastic tubes with the internal cable runs.

Here’s an old one of me on my Rascal:

Plenty of older ones I could post, but I’d have to upload them again, as I lost ’em all online when fotopic folded.

[/url]
n759618369_674274_5040[/url] by franklini10[/url], on Flickr

Anybody remember this? I think they got about three editions out:

Yeah, I bought them all! Good mag, as I recall.
Check out that Flexstem! ( I had one of those, too.)

Can’t argue with that!

I thought it dragged pretty badly. Couldn’t get into the feel of it, really.
I think it was quite good, but not great. I bought the DVD, but after watching it once haven’t been tempted to sit through it again.
Much prefer Sin City, V For Vendetta and 300.

I’ve always stayed at Bracelands near Christchurch. Been going there for years with no problems. It’s a nice spot and much quieter than the Christchurch site just up the road.

http://camping.forestholidays.co.uk/camping_and_caravanning/our_sites__locations/england/forest_of_dean/bracelands.aspx

I first rode the Peak in the days before front suspension was available for the masses, let alone full-suss, on an old Diamondback a size too big. Guess what – I had a great time!
A month or so back I rode up there on a rigid singlespeed and also had a great time.
I’ve ridden the Peak loads on various hardtails, went faster downhill, but didn’t enjoy the rides any more.

I’ve never been interested in owning a full suspension bike. (I’m aware that I could descend even faster on one.)

How does that make me need one?

…and as far as the mx argument goes – you don’t have to pedal a motorbike. That’s the difference!

26″ is spot on for me. I tried a bit wider, but although it was good for descending it felt horrible climbing.

I rode the DS back in the ’90s with my brother(not sure what year now) on my old Klein Rascal with Project 2s, Campag Centaur bits (so crap it’s unbelievable) , pink taperlites and Ritchey Megabites.
Gut sunburned pretty badly as I recall!
Got pics somewhere I should scan. 🙂

Got to be Gong for me:

http://youtu.be/8FOtwGJRPpU

Will give it a go next time I’m down that way. 🙂

I’ve no problem with the claimed speeds these guys reach.
I managed 52 mph on my road bike, but had to slow back down as I ran out of hill. That wouldn’t be a problem in the big mountains.
Those guys are proper nails though, I’d back off long before they did!

I think the mag is very inspiring. Certainly head and shoulders above the rest in that respect, but I guess it depends on your type of riding.

If there’s one criticism of Singletrack I have, it’s that too often the photos accompanying atricles are very small and there seems to be an unwritten rule about not showing too much of the rider or their bike.
I understand this probably makes for a better / more arty photo (as long as it’s not a close-up action shot, obviously), but it is a bike mag after all and I’m sure can’t be the only one who likes to see what bikes and bits others are riding. (Not that I’m a gear freak these days, but just out of interest – like!)

LOL! Just seen this thread for the first time.
I work in a distribution centre and ship using Fedex every day.
I’ve never noticed the arrow in the logo and still had to read the explanation a few lines down under the pic to see it! 😳

Saw them play Glastonbury on TV. The missus and daughter liked them a lot, but they did nothing at all for me.

rOcKeTdOg wrote:

i like a magazine i can read that’s written by adults who do the same sort of riding that i do or aspire to do, not a comic for children with a limited attention span, that’s why i buy ST

LOL! Yeah, thay kind of sums it up for me too. 🙂

[/url]
100_2186[/url] by franklini10[/url], on Flickr
[/url]
100_2188[/url] by franklini10[/url], on Flickr
[/url]
100_3027[/url] by franklini10[/url], on Flickr
[/url]
IMG_0502[/url] by franklini10[/url], on Flickr
[/url]
100_3032[/url] by franklini10[/url], on Flickr

Cool, thanks!

Trail Monkey wrote:

Kingston Crown Court heard he had taken LSD and valium before the incident.

Anyone else thinking that this is a) un unusual cocktail of gear, b) a really odd cocktail of gear to go out on a demo on.

Yeah – valium is used to take the edge of heavy LSD trips if they get a bit too much to handle. Perhaps he’d been having a bit of a rough ride! 😕

LOL at Sharkbait!

Helen & Tom are my faves.

I’ve not bivvied, but I’d like to give it a go one day.

Yeah, I know all that, guys! 🙄

I learned years ago from the horse’s mouth why local stealth trails should be kept quiet and as many are of dubious legality, obviously they wouldn’t be published in the mag.

Cannock especially could do with less riders on the trails rather than more as far as I’m concerned. At least most of them stick to the Dog / Monkey now and don’t clutter up and wreck the hidden stuff quite as much.
I know my way round Cannock and the Wyre well and used to ride over Clent with Si Paton and my bro. when we all used to race xc together back in the good old days. From the point of view of a newb though, I see little value in the feature.
Just seemed a waste of a route guide to say basically: “here are some forests with some good riding, if you can find it” and draw a circle round them on the O.S. map.

I wouldn’t say it’s one of the best trail centres in the UK, it is a lot of fun though IMHO. Well worth a trip for something a bit different.
I’d go for fast rolling rear and grippy front btw. 😀

[/url]

In the ’70s I had a cheap ‘n’ nasty Lew-ways Apache – bit of a Chopper copy, for scrambling duties, followed by a Raleigh Burner.

http://youtu.be/uFZCiLvuWpY

Most likely Cannock on Sunday.

HaZe, is that picture of your Cotic taken at Clent?

I’ve not had much success with bbs since the old square taper UN72.

IME, Isis last a bit longer than external types but then totally self destruct.
A few gritty winter rides with loads of standing water and they’re both knackered. 🙁

I’ve still got the Mycycles Malvern Hills Classic VHS vid at home somewhere. Have to dig it out for a giggle! 😀

I’ve ridden up the Wayfarer to Cadair Bronwen and down via Moel Pearce to Llandrillo and then back over the Wayfarer. (Many moons ago.)
Proper wilderness riding and not the best fun in the misty conditions I rode it in. The trail was badly rutted, making it unridable in places and there were deep puddles and huge bogs to contend with.
I imagine on a nice day it would be superb though!

😆 The Blackley Clough descent in the second photo is anything but boring!

Not too bad in the Peak on Sunday…

[/url]
IMG_0519[/url] by franklini10[/url], on Flickr

[/url]
IMG_0530[/url] by franklini10[/url], on Flickr

I hope not. I just shaved my little chin tuft off this morning! 😯