Sadly it is too difficult, a legal right of access exists for pedestrians on the mountain and in general it’s not abused and unlikely to be taken away from them. A right of access also exists for cycling on some paths (the bridleways), where this access is shared with pedestrians. If this right is abused, which is what this thread is about, then this right will be taken away… Worth remembering the numbers here, this is almost certainly the world’s most climbed mountain with over 500,000 people standing on its summit each year… it’s amazing there isn’t more conflict, but there needs to be less…

Sorry dude, but it’s seriously realistic view from well below the summit and out of range of the train. I work as a walking guide on the mountain all year round and see just how many people walk up there. I agree it’s too busy to be fun, at weekends, especially during the day. At 6 in the morning on a weekday, it’s awesome…

I sit on the steering group that monitors the Voluntary Agreement, and therefore by definition, MTBing on the mountain and even in the NP in general, and incidents like this damage all the good work that has been done by mtbers on Snowdon.

If people don’t know the history, it is simple, the Brideways on the mountain were going to receive a TRO (traffic restriction order) and cycling would have been banned – end of. The voluntary agreement saved the situation and has worked well, and now the National Park look very favourably at mtbers. But it won’t take many of these incidents to turn that round again.

Sadly, the mountain has got busier and busier over the last few years (since the agreement was put in place), and now it’s just not worth going up on weekends outside of roughly the agreement times eg down before 10 or up after 5. It’s not that it’s inconvenient for walkers, it’s just not worth it as it becomes unrideable – up or down. If someone can host it, I’ll post a picture of the summit on Oct 2 last year. You can’t see the mountain for people – it’s like looking at a busy shopping mall.

The forecast was awesome for this saturday and it was obvious it would be busy and that there would be trouble up there.

I think sadly, we all need to realise how crazy things are on Snowdon these days and plan our trips for weekdays or if we can’t do that, for first thing/last thing in the day. And it would be great if we could try and spread this kind of message rather than having these debates after the event.

Pont Scethin trails are all clear on the ground – though not waymarked really. There are some sections that are soft and boggy all year round. Most of it works ok in the winter. But I would avoid if for a couple of days after really heavy rain.

Re carrying/pushing, you’ll definitely do some. If you ride the actual loop clockwise, then quite a lot, if you ride it anti-clockwise and can climb, then just a few short sections.

Let me know if you need more info or a local guide mtbguiding@gmail.com

You could hire a guide for the Gap for a lot less – just saying 😉

Head across to Ambleside – nothing like as far as Coniston – and ride the Langdales, Hodge Close, Loughrigg etc etc – awesome rocky, techy riding without any bogs or carries. Email me mtbguiding@gmail.com if you want a gpx. Or buy a really good guidebook 😉

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0957364504/ref=pe_1997891_155269631_em_1p_0_ti

I live about 5 miles from the summit and guide on it as well. I’d say that Llanberis, Rangers, Maesgwm, Telegraph Valley is a real classic and well worth the effort – and I’d also suggest it’s plenty technical enough for 90% of the riders I see on it. Rhyd-ddu is ok once you’re off the south ridge, but it’s a scramble from the summit down to there really, and only a trials jedi would ride it. After that it’s ok, worth doing if you have already done the Rangers Path, but not as good really. If you do decide on the Rhyd-ddu, I’d suggest pushing up it to where it joins the South Ridge, then descending from there. Little point in carrying your bike to the summit. Enjoy!

Cool! Deffo say hello from me. And tell them Steph and I will be back soon! One thing I recall is that they didn’t have a torque wrench – if you’re as fussy as me, you may want one when reassembling your bike! Enjoy!

Try Cycling Tenerife – Geoff and Mo. It’s a kind of B&B with meals (which are superb), and Geoff’s pretty fanatical about bikes… It’s also at about 500m, which means you don’t start from sea level every day – though you obviously have the option on the big days! If you get in touch, tell them Tom says hi!

Just about to invest myself. Not tried these but have had clients that have used them and recommended them. Would be interested to hear what you decide in the end – http://www.optilabs.com/

mtbguiding@gmail.com

Me? See my website http://www.mtbguiding.co.uk email mtbguiding@gmail.com if I can help? No bother otherwise – have a great time!

I broke my neck last May – C1 vertebrae. Was in a halo/brace for 8 weeks and off the bike for 8 months. Still, could have been way worse. I set up the turbo and just did a bit as often as I could. It was quite funny in the brace as I couldn’t move my neck so couldn’t do Sufferfests or even look out the window – basically looked at the stem, Chris Froome style, the whole time. I never managed much the whole time – it was just too difficult – but I did a little to keep everything working. And I read and studied stuff – especially Sport Psychology/mental training stuff as much as poss. And I just kept believing that I would get back on it at some stage. It was hard, but I have got over the worse now. Am as fit as I was – though a few knee issues that I didn’t have before – and am riding better than ever (and safer). My only real suggestion is that you forget what you were before and embrace the process of regaining fitness etc as a new experience. Don’t compare yourself to what you were before the injury, just enjoy the gains you make v’s yesterday. Good luck and if you ever need a sounding board.

Check out Pont Scethin – email me mtbguiding@gmail.com if you want a GPX. Really good loop.

If you want to enjoy the best descent – down to Capel – then clockwise definitely. I always guide it clockwise. If you do decide to go anti clockwise, then alter the loop slightly and drop down Sarn Helen all the way into Betws then climb back into the forest to wind your way back up to Capel. It is possible, though not strictly permissible, to climb to Sarn Helen, drop to Betws, climb back up via forest roads to rejoin Sarn Helen then continue as usual, adding another descent effectively. Email me if I can help any more – don’t com on here that often. mtbguiding@gmail.com

Definitely worth it – the descent down Middlemoor is great! And you could extend as suggested but it’s a good ride by itself.

I’d recommend me as a guide 🙂 http://www.mtbguiding.co.uk – used to live in the Beacons so know it well. I’d also recommend a good guidebook with some great routes in https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wales-Mountain-Biking-Tom-Hutton/dp/1906148139 But I would never want to be accused of being hard sell – in fact, I am usually accused of not being commercial enough 🙂 So if you just want trail advice/GPXs etc… drop me an email (I don’t come on here that often) and I’ll do what I can. It’s a great place to ride 🙂

I’d agree totally with KM79. Email me mtbguiding@gmail.com if you want some more info?

If you start from Llanberis at 6am and follow the route suggested above, and don’t choose a weekend, you won’t see 1000s of walkers… And the descent of the Rangers is superb… It’s a real experience and one I never get tired of…

The restriction on Snowdon is no cycling between 10am and 5pm on all the bridleways that lead to/from the summit. Pushing is fine.

If you’re going to go early, then start in Llanberis and push/ride alongside the railway, descend Rangers to the BW that leads back over Bwlch Maesgwm, then descend Telegraph Valley back to Llanberis. As long as you are off the Rangers and on to the Maesgwm BW by 10, then you are off restricted trails. If we’re guiding, we usually leave Llanberis at 6, summit about 8.15 and start the descent about 8.30. Leave the Rangers by about 9, by which time, there will be a few walkers coming up unless the weather’s awful.

If you’d rather do evening, then start at the Ranger car park at whatever time you like, climb up to the Maesgwm BW and then over Bwlch Maesgwm and down Telegraph Valley to Llanberis at whatever time you like – none is affected by the restriction. Start pushing up from Llanberis (ideally around 5 but 4’s unlikely to be an issue). Hit the summit about 7 and descend in your own time all the way back the Ranger 🙂

In my opinion, morning’s best.

If you need any other info, email me mtbguiding@gmail.com

On the left, and kind of pointy, is Crook Peak – part of the Mendip Ridge and rideable. On the right, is Brent Knoll – very round and no real bike access… Guessing you mean Crook Peak anyway – it certainly catches the eye.

The drop to Kentmere is still pretty wild – loose and rocky with plenty going on. I always enjoy it. The drop to Troutbeck is pretty smooth with just a few steeper rocky ramps that are cleanable on the way up, so not much of a challenge on the way down. Give us a shout (email on profile) if you need other route info from the area.

There’s a fair bit of permissive bridleway there – some isn’t marked on the map at all. Go and have a chat in the local shop – better still buy something – and I’m sure they’ll advise you.

£150 for guiding 6 is a lot of money? Just ask how much it costs to get qualified, keep qualifications up to date, cover liability insurance and all other business expenses. The guys are running a good business, and doing things properly (as does Colin from Flat Tyres), surely £25 per head ain’t a lot for a great day out…

Email me – address in profile – if you still need it. And I’ll fire you one across (even though I wrote a competitor guidebook!).

Needs to be today though as off on C2C tomorrow

Would use the Chiaran path the other way, the landrover track in that direction… just my opinion…

Good one Grum – great pics. And nice vid Gilles too… wish I was there now 🙂

Thanks for kind words munrobiker 🙂

Kenmore to Applecross is superb. And only a few short techy sections and loads of lovely singeltrack. Lunch in the pub and ride back – it feels totally different the other way round. There’s also some cool beaches south of Applecross, worth an explore. As others have said, the lollipop is pretty full on and Ben Damph, while sorter, is also pretty wild these days. The bigger loop from the Coulin Estate over to Achnashellac and then back over Coulags to Bealch na Lice to Annat is easier, but there’s still some pretty lumpy stuff on the drops to Achnashellac and to Annat. Drop me an email if I can help more…

I think the shorter route in that book, which is also in my book, is better – in fact it’s pretty awesome. HAB up in the first place then some great mountain top riding and a superb descent. The Ullswater stretch is best tackled at quiet times but has some great techy stuff…

One of my favourite guiding areas. Dare I recommend a great guidebook 🙂 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lake-District-Mountain-Bike-Routes/dp/0957364504 Feel free to email (address on profile) if you want some GPXs or general advice…

Thanks Sideshow, seriously, there’s a lot more to OpenMTB than this Wales Consultation, if you would like to be involved, and are able to put in some energy/experience/skill, please email me (on profile). We need hands on deck. Thanks…

I hate to break up the party fellas, but while you’re arguing about technicalities, the consultation is slipping by.

There will only be changes in our favour if these changes are deemed to be popular and arguing on a forum won’t do anything to show that. What we all need to do is respond by Oct 2.

Sure make your own response, that will hold more sway anyway, but respond. And rather than criticising an awful lot of hard work that has been done, voluntarily, for the common good, why don’t you just encourage others to respond too?

The Welsh Government has received over 1600 responses from mountain bikers through the OpenMTB/CTC/BC page – that’s 1600 more than they would have done without this effort. But 50,000 odd mtbers read the print magazines alone, so it’s a drop in the ocean really.

Why don’t we try working together for improved access for mountain bikers and keep our ‘I know better than you’ for private discussions 🙂

It would be very disappointing if anybody on this forum didn’t respond and also get all their mates to as well.

Who are the ‘notable Welsh activists’? Is there anyone from Wales in the sub-group. This is all very hush hush.

Bear with us, it’s not hush, hush, it’s just that we’re ordinary, busy people trying to make a difference.

I’m in the Wales subgroup, and I live and work in Wales. I also represent mountain bikers on the Snowdonia NP’s Snowdon Cycling Agreement Group, and often act as an advisor to the NP. 2 other members of the subgroup also sit on the Snowdon Agreement group, both of whom have done more for mtbing Wales than just about anyone. It’s up to them if they want to their names out there or not. Ultimately, we would prefer to be judged by our actions and what we achieve, rather than who we are.

Thanks to all those offering support – it’s appreciated!

If it makes the conspiracy theorists a little happier, I’m quite relaxed to say that I’m involved. I can also vouch for the knowledge, experience and professionalism of everybody else involved – not to mention the dedication and time that’s been put in just getting this far.

Nobody appointed us as a group per se because there’s nobody that actually can appoint us – the real driver was the simple fact that nobody was doing anything, and somebody needed to. And fast because of the situation in Wales.

There’s no major secrecy and I don’t think anybody in the group particularly wants to be anonymous. It’s just that we’ve all had our heads down trying to pull a campaign together and build a structure etc.

For info, there are twenty-odd different riders groups, representing several thousand riders, all of whom are cooperating for the first time to try and enhance the future of our sport.

None of us are in it for personal gain, and most people wouldn’t know who most of the members of the group were anyway, so there’s really little point in making a big noise about people.

Far more important is that we make a big noise about the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Ahem…

Other guide books do exist… http://www.walking-books.com/Lake-District-Mountain-Bike-Routes-22-Classic-Routes-in-the-Cumbrian-Fells-and-Dales.html

And the author is available if you’ve any questions etc. Just drop me an email (on profile).

I took a guided group on a road trip across Scotland in April – 2 days in and around the Cairngorms, 2 more around Torridon and then onto Skye… all awesome – great riding and jaw-dropping scenery. Have GPXs if you want them – email’s best. Personally, I’d save trail centres for the bad weather days…

What Ton said!

Another vote for the minortaur. Or… if you don’t mind travelling an hour, the Pendam at Nant-yr-Arian would be a good step up. And sectipns can be added/left out at will. Drop me an email (on profile) if you want more info on where to cut in and out.

@abeach, personally will ride FPs as long as I am 100% sure I ain’t going to piss someone off – my criteria for judging this includes time of day, time of year, day of week, popularity of trail, chances of doing damage to trail, and probably a few more that I can’t think of right now.

BUT… as a guide, I can’t take people on FPs, my insurance wouldn’t back me – so I have my hands tied which is pretty pants. And as a guidebook rider/magazine writer I can’t put FPs in routes, which means I can’t necessarily highlight the best places to ride in an area – again hands tied.

When I guide/work in Scotland, these worries go out of the window. So a change in these laws would make a massive difference to an awful lot of mtbers – especially those that were riding or planning to ride outside of their local area.

Don’t get that Ioddrik, Wiggins wouldn’t have won without his help. OK, he may have made a point, but he still did the job and basically helped the lesser rider to victory – a hard thing for any sportsman to do…