Llandegla
johnnyboy29
Posts: 100
Well its now time for me to have a go on a proper trail. :shock:
I've been on some of the small routes local to me and this wknd i'm going for the real deal.
Can't wait, just been tinkering with me bike and packing me ruck sac so i'm ready for action!!!
Wish me luck
John
I've been on some of the small routes local to me and this wknd i'm going for the real deal.
Can't wait, just been tinkering with me bike and packing me ruck sac so i'm ready for action!!!
Wish me luck
John
In the words of the GLC - Suicide is messy but it's money for free!!!
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Posts
Kona Kula
Duster
Mmmbop
But its all for a good cause like!!
Mmmm Bacon batches sounds like my kind of place heh heh.
Thanks for the advice
some gnarly bits there
If you survive the deadly Drop Shore
lol. Thats a killer
Kona Kula
Duster
Mmmbop
Drop shore is about 8 inches (no, seriously, stop and look back next time. REALLY! so many people don't realise how small it is!) unless you're tear-arsing it, and launch off the top, in which case it's about 3 foot max.
Bumpy shore bit is fine, not that high, but is arguably the most technically challenging piece of trail there, even though it's on the red not black route.
The jump bit is fun, and there's always newcomers there just rolling them, because, hey, that's fun too! - Don;t get caught unawares on the big one though. The left side is higher, and is a double, hit it at too low a speed and you might come a cropper - so stick to it's right hand side instead, which is a tabletop.
I have to say though, last time I was there, they had all-new sections pretty much ready to go, looked lovely, kind of like an Alton Towers roller-coaster for bikes!
I'd love to see how they've come along.
Everything is possible (can do the whole thing on a rigid singlespeed).
The cafe is fantastic!
I'm going there in a couple of weeks with a group of more experienced lads from work.
Crapping myself already lol.
Only thing I'm really worried about is the raised nothshore/boardwalk stuff. Have no experience of that type of thing. Have heard it gets very slippy etc. Don't fancy making a censored of myself, or breaking an arm lol.
Hope you had a good time!
I don't believe you can do the whole thing on a singlespeed.
I just don't think you could choose a gear to complete some of the steep climbs such as that steep rocky number that would also make you effective on any other section
Kona Kula
Duster
Mmmbop
Its all easy enough chap.
Kona Kula
Duster
Mmmbop
Cool, cheers Liam.
I need a few more responses like that to rid me of my nerves I reckon lol
I'm sure I will love it... Just fear of the un-known I reckon.
As for SS'ing Llandegla, i've not been for at least 18 months, but from what i remember it is very do-able. I run 32:18 on mine, which i reckon would be about right with a bit of 'grizzing' on the short, steep bits. With SS'ing you get used to a very low cadence on steep climbs, and use your whole body weight to almost throw the bike forward (Well i do anyway :? ).
It is a great place for a noob. Don't get too complacent though, it's so easy to overcook it on some of those jumps. One of my friends creamed in on the last part of the trail about 50m from the wash point a few weeks ago. Broken collar bone, pins in his arm.... :shock: .
Anyway, enjoy (The girls in the cafe as well as the trail
A Few Pics
Llandegla's lovely, and pretty easy - I can do all of the red no problem, with the exception of the second boardwalk (the bobbly log one). I've only been there twice, but I've never actually seen anyone ride the entire thing successfully - people either get off and push their bikes along it, or stumble and put their feet down at some point!
The Professor
Cletus
I'm an SPD convert, so I'm fearing the boardwalk lol. Can see me lying in a crumpled heap still attached to the bike lol.
The trick is to not put it in too low a gear, but also don't stomp the pedals. Use the power in your legs to rotate the cranks smoothly in a middle-ish gear - it's like riding upstairs.
Anyway, I love the feeling of the next section of trail after that. Once you're through the crazy buzzing of the lumpy boardwalk, the following trail feels buttery smooth, almost as if you've got a puncture
the hardest part is the log board walk but th way i conquerred it was to think about the trail as i was riding along:
lots of the rest of the trail is actually as narrow if not more narrow than the logs so there is no reason why you wont be able to ride along it. just be brave, carry some momentum onto and along it and look forwards where you want to go, not where you dont want to go.
tis all proper basic technique but as it is slightly elevated, you will tend to have a mental attack about it which is un-neecessary.
where is the jumpy bit?
ps. my fave bit is the last few sweepy bends right before the wash down,
On the red route, you go under a bridge, then climb up through some trees, well, the black section crosses the top of that bridge then drops down into the jumps section.
You can just ride the red bit, then join the bridge instead of going up through the trees, and do the jumps, the trail then drops you back on the red just before where the bridge is.
If you like the swoopy bends at the end, then you must love the black descents, they're some of the smoothest, fastest, well-bermed trails I've ever ridden
The 'big' drop off everyone is talking about is on the black route, the north shore nearon the red is a bit dodgy, but easy enough if you hit it with a bit of confidence, lots of new sections being built currently, a couple of short ones already open and they're real nice.
Si78, don't worry at all, it's all pretty tame really, I found the climbs the hardest once I first started, but thats coz I wasn't at all fit, it's all good now though. Come up with us if you want a head start on your work mates
I went this morning and it was fantastic
I have come to realise (rather quickly that i had little or no fitness huff puff huff puff :oops: )
Si78 don't worry about the north shore stuff its not as bad as you think but the up hill stuff creased me but i'm over weight on a bike that weighs the same as a mini.
But the only one thats an censored its the last board walk one the red run which is a bit rough and i bailed a couple of times.
Be careful on the last bit theres a bridge and if you hit that at speed and your not condifent enough your take of and end in a heap :shock:
I did some of the black run too talk about flight or fright he he
All i can say is that i can't to go again Woop woop
If any one was there this morning i was the one with met parachute helmet and yes it did cost more than me bike
Take care peeps and thanks for reading and your words of support
John
Up-hill doesnt bother me at all. Falling off boardwalks does lol.
Out of interest, how wide are the boardwalks, and how high off the ground?
Glad you enjoyed it mate. I guess I will find out in 2 weeks lol...gulp... :oops: :shock:
Cheers buddy
I'm on nights for the next fortnight, and the ride is scheduled for the first day off after nights...Don't think I will have time to squeeze any practice in...parp :oops: lol
Maybe I can join join yous at another time (if I survive lol). Atleast I will have had some practice then.
Don't really mind making a d!ck of myself in front of work mates...
Wouldn't want to make a d!ck of myself in front of pals off this forum tho lol
Cheers yeehaamcgee
My vertigo is really bad, but not that bad!
Had visions of having to ride on really narrow boards, really high up lol
possible, but painfull.
The long bumpy northshore section is fairly easy to be honest, just gotta concentrate and hope nobody bails directly in front of you!
On a side note, they've built a pump track (currently closed while it settles) and are in the process of building a dedicated jump section from the looks of things.
Go early, I got there for 9.45 and the first car parks were full already, although there was some kind of endurance 12hr race thingy on at the time.
Si78 - Don't worry fella, don't need to care about making a fool of yourself in front of us, the best part of riding in a group is the banter anyway, no one takes themselves less seriously than us!