Coed-Y-Brenin changed much?

x-isle

In that case, it's sort of the way there or the way home.

It's marked on this map, you can see Bala and also Penmachno.

http://www.multimap.com/maps/#t=l&map=5 ... o,%20Conwy

I know the above won't work fully, so copy the entire link into your browser.

spittle

I'm planing to do a trek with a load of mates in a couple of weeks in Snowdonia. I'm considering coming down early on the Friday to see what the MTB trials are like in the area just not sure which one to do. I don't want do a lame one, nor do I want to get my arse kicked. I'm not sure how I'd grade myself - the only other official trail I've done was the technical circuit next to pedalabikeaway in the forest of dean and thought it was ace, was able to do it at fair speed with no problems. I've got a fair bit of bottle, it's just when I'm looking at the different routes with good reveiws they all say red/difficult, black/severe and I've got nothing to campare them to.

Can anyone compare for me/ give me some suggestions. Thanks

Dave

Santibes

Difficult to say without knowing your fitness/skill level + that of friends.

I haven't done anything Machynlleth so can't comment.

although not snowdonia i'd say llandegla is a good start point for anyone, & build up from there. both the black & red are relatively ok, everything is rollable + there's jump options if you want. good centre for food etc. a lot of people comment the black is more comparable to red routes elsewhere.
http://www.coedllandegla.com/

Marin & Penmachno are both a bit tougher I think, due to the amount of climbing and rocky sections, which are all still very do-able, but you really don't want to fall off. both have great views!

Coed y brenin has more choice - I've only done the dragons back though.
this has a more man made feel than Marin & penmachno + I had to walk a technical bit ("Gomez").

I'm a very much tyres on the ground rider & coped fine with these trails, I'd say fitness is the main thing in choosing which to do (especially now it's cold). getting carried away with speed on the downhills is also the big danger on trails you don't know.

sorry i can't be more vague & inconclusive

have a trawl on youtube/flickr

UK-MTB

spittle

no that's good advice - fitness wise I'm ok - I can cycle up most long steep hills I'm faced with and can do small drop offs and will give stuff a go unless it's really silly! I'll be on my own, not ideal but if I did things always around other people all the time then I'd miss out. Thanks for your reply.

dodgyknees

I was at Llandegla and Coed-y-Brenin in August and October and would agree with Santibes comment that Llandegla is a good start point.

I'm no hard case rider and to me the red trail at Llandegla is a great route. Quite a long tough climb to the top and then some pretty stiff climbs as you make your way back to the visitor centre but still great fun. I also thought that the Landegla centre had a great biking feel to it.

In my opinion the trails at Coed-y-Brenin are tougher both on a technical and fitness level. All the routes start and finish with tough technical sections of narrow trail over jagged rocks and the like. I only did the shorter Temtiwr trail here and found it quite hard going, although enjoyable. The MBR and other red trails are much longer (about 12 miles) and climb to around 450 metres, and the black trails climb to around 700 metres.

So, if you feel you have a pretty high level of technical ability and fitness you will probably enjoy CYB. But if you want to test yourself a bit first start at Llandegla.

spittle

Thanks, will prob take your advice and hit Llandegla and see how I go - can always head over again in the Spring. I'm heading up from Bristol, so it's quite a trek.