Could I cheekily recommend http://www.walking-books.com/Lake-District-Mountain-Bike-Routes-22-Classic-Routes-in-the-Cumbrian-Fells-and-Dales.html

Email me if you want GPXs or similar

Enjoy

Tubeless or these http://www.onzatires.com/58-1-MTB-150mm.html

Can’t believe the way he’s vilified at the same time as Contador is a hero. Armstrong was just a better cheat than Contador. The bullying thing was disgraceful. And anybody slating him for that would get my support. But the drugs thing went through pretty much the whole peleton, including a fair few that are still riding.

i didnt realise you’d literally written the book on it!

Quite proud of it too – in a humble kind of way 🙂

Thats a great idea, i’ve got the dartmoor version which im working my way through – thankyou.

The Gap is looking favourite at the minute as the only epic im looking for are views and smiles

You’ll love it – enjoy! And feel free to ask if you have any questions about the Wales book/Wales in general.

Some good rides in the Black Mnts for sure. But the gap Boring !!!!! I hope I never get so jaded It’s not always about super technical gnar.

Glad someone said that – the head of Cwm Cynwyn is just awesome…

I’d eat in the Traveller’s – just a few metres out of town. Superb restaurant.

I could be cheeky and suggest http://www.walking-books.com/Wales-Mountain-Biking.html Esp, as I used to live in the Beacons.

The Gap’s wonderful for the big mountain feel, the big Grwyne Fechan Black Mountain Loop – as featured in Singletrack magazine a few issues back – is a much better outing but it’s pretty big. Email me if you want GPXs/more info – email on profile.

Yup, if you download some mapping… Viewranger etc…

You can do an awesome 80km loop around the Ben (and a whole lot more). Or ride the Ciaran Path from Kinlochleven?

Give me a yell if you want GPXs – email on profile

@monde I may be missing something but this loop, which I think is one of mine, isn’t actually from Hayfield?

Hayfield up to Chinley Churn, Peep o Day, Coldwell Clough, up towards Edale Cross and then down to Kinder Reservoir and up onto Middle Moor works. Usually then head up the A624 to Hollingworth and then south past Lantern Pike. There’s some cracking sections but overall it’s not AS GOOD as Jacob’s/Roych etc – what is?

Give me a shout if you want a GPX – email is on my profile.

Roych, Jacob’s Ladder etc seems to do really well in wet conditions – Vertebrate Graphics put this one their site a while back https://www.v-publishing.co.uk/blog/v-publishing-blog/2014-01-20—free-download-kinder-all-weather-circuit.html

There’s some solid stuff around Ladybower, but some of it does chop up bad.

Hope that helps?

I put an Easy route in MBR from the water park. May have a GPX if you want it but it was all pretty straightforward. Best to email me – address in profile. Check out MB Swindon on Facebook, some members may be able to advise!

The road stuff there is awesome. Go from Las Americas to Teide via Vilaflor and backdown again – about 2500m of climbing in one hit. Return to Vilaflor then drop via Granadilla or Fronton to San Miguel… probably the best road bike day I have ever had!

I led a really mixed group from Camasunary to Sligachan in April and it’s the kind of trail that will really depend on you technical ability. If you can attack it and keep rolling, 2 hours tops. If you’re on/off then as much as 4.

Noticed that the water bars are a lot less of a problem this year – some are full, some have eroded away.

The circular version’s fun if you don’t mid some road pedalling – it’s mind-blowingly scenic -but the track north/south over Strath Mor is frustrating in places. Some sections are great, other’s not so…

If you decide to do the circuit, I’d recommend clockwise and finishing with Gen Sligachan. Have tried it both ways but this definitely seemed more fun and it feels like there’s less height loss on tarmac.

Enjoy…

Not the one I’ve just bought (how heavy can they be? Shirely not enough to make a real difference), made by Hydrapack, it bloody ace.

The 2L Hydraulic was 100g heavier than the Source (half as heavy again). It matters to me. The hose doesn’t detach from the reservoir either.

I’d happily use either but know which one I think is best.

Not sure understand the Hydrapak bit of your comment?

Have just completed a magazine test of these. My opinion is that Source have the best reservoirs/bladders by a million miles. But the Camelbak bite valve is the best of these – I now have a Camelbak bite valve on a source bladder! The Osprey is really good, but heavy.

Email me if you want more info as I don’t check in too often – email on profile.

Marin Mount Vision XM8 or 9 if you can run to it. 140mm and by far the best bet of kit I have ever ridden. They are running a few demo days this summer so check them out. Disclaimer: am sponsored by them! Footnote: Would buy one if I wasn’t 🙂

@Captain_Sponge – really glad you enjoyed it (and the book!). And glad the week worked out well for you…

You’ll probably push some of the up but the down’s 100% rideable and I agree with the guy above who says it’ll take around 1hr – fast – to 1.5 hrs – steady! Have fun

Have a broken neck – C1 – sternum and a few cracked ribs! In full neck/body brace and halo and can’t even sleep properly let alone ride! Worse thing still, happened while I was instructing!

The missus is currently banging out about 200km a week on the road and rode Snowdon and Llyn Cowlyd this week 🙁

Don’t begrudge anyone the fun though – just doing my best to keep smiling 🙂

Take care out there peeps!

Get Memory Map for your area and then do it on this. You’ll have a whole bunch of ‘tracks’ in red as default, on the map. And if yo then want to draw up a ‘route’ (blue by default) you just draw over the bits of ‘track’ you want to include. It’s totally private as held on your hard drive. It’s how I do the whole country for guidebooks etc…

I’ve been let down a few times – if I want next day, I use Wiggle…

Snowdon’s the obvious one and brilliant – remember the restrictions though. Moel y Ci and the Quarries is great but a lot of tarmac. Can you travel a bit? There’s more good stuff starting in Capel Curig or up on the North Coast? Drop me an email if you want some GPXs etc

Co-ops a decent size – if you want something bigger then Tesco at Porthmadog isn’t so far away from the cabins. The Rhiw Goch in Bronaber is good for food/beer http://www.rhiwgochinn.com/

Bung us an email if you want a GPX for some Lustleigh/Eastern Moors riding. Address in profile.

+1 again 🙂

Other guidebooks do exist – Even if I do say so myself 🙂

http://www.northerneyebooks.co.uk/neb/books/lake_district_mountain_bike_routes.php

There’s a few in/around Grizedale/Coniston Water in this but think most of the good (mapped) stuff has been covered above.

Let me know if you want some GPXs from the book – should be able to sort.

The Hood Arms at Kilve is excellent but not cheap!

Borrowdale Bash is pretty techy too.

I’d recommend going north from Keswick and linking the classic Lonscale Fell trails with those lovely old mining tracks up on Calbeck Fells.

Check out http://www.northerneyebooks.co.uk/neb/books/lake_district_mountain_bike_routes.php if I can be so bold. Or drop me an email – address on profile – and I’ll see if I can dig out a GPX.

Check out this one. A few local lads enjoying some great trails and an awesome soundtrack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZigE87sMS8

Did a week with Freeride Morocco http://www.freeridemorocco.com/ Awesome riding (very technical) and great value. Would definitely recommend.

Perfect B.A. Nana!

I’m glad someone has said heavy feet, light hands… while in a neutral descending position, you should feel as though you could let go of the bars and wouldn’t fall backwards. Most of your weight will be through your pedals ergo bottom bracket.

In fact, think about your heels too. If you can’t drop them then you are probably too far back.

I’m glad someone has said heavy feet, light hands… while in a neutral descending position, you should feel as though you could let go of the bars and wouldn’t fall backwards. Most of your weight will be through your pedals ergo bottom bracket.

Nant yr Arian will be quietest and is fun. Coed y Brenin has loads of choice. Llandegla will be heaving…

Pont Scethin is your best bet – awesome ride with some great views. Check out http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wales-Mountain-Biking-Tom-Hutton/dp/1906148139 for other ideas in the area.

Note: I may be biased 😉

Ride Pont Scethin or similar then pop in Coed y Brenin for bike wash/shower – too much good riding around here to spend all your time in trail centres.

Anti-clockwise!

I could recommend this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wales-Mountain-Biking-Tom-Hutton/dp/1906148139

Or email me – email’s on profile – can probably sort a few GPXs