Betws-y-Coed and beginners
angrymeerkat
Posts: 134
Hello all,
myself and the other half are heading out to Snowdonia for new year, and the trail centre at Betwys-y-Coed is one of the main reasons my vote went for north Wales. Now I'm no beginner, just a bit crap - however she's very new to the sport and would probably need a blue grade, given the ground will be less than perfect in midwinter. I've never been and don't know how the land lies.
bikewales.co.uk hasn't got much info at all - so, how likely is it we can find a gentler ride for both of us before I hit the harder stuff when she has a coffee?!
myself and the other half are heading out to Snowdonia for new year, and the trail centre at Betwys-y-Coed is one of the main reasons my vote went for north Wales. Now I'm no beginner, just a bit crap - however she's very new to the sport and would probably need a blue grade, given the ground will be less than perfect in midwinter. I've never been and don't know how the land lies.
bikewales.co.uk hasn't got much info at all - so, how likely is it we can find a gentler ride for both of us before I hit the harder stuff when she has a coffee?!
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Llandegla has been suggested for me and my new to mountain biking girlfriend. They have a blue route - http://www.coedllandegla.com/Mountain_Bike_Trails0
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angrymeerkat wrote:Hello all,
myself and the other half are heading out to Snowdonia for new year, and the trail centre at Betwys-y-Coed is one of the main reasons my vote went for north Wales. Now I'm no beginner, just a bit crap - however she's very new to the sport and would probably need a blue grade, given the ground will be less than perfect in midwinter. I've never been and don't know how the land lies.
bikewales.co.uk hasn't got much info at all - so, how likely is it we can find a gentler ride for both of us before I hit the harder stuff when she has a coffee?!
You probably wouldn't want to take her around the Marin then. Most of the trails around that area are for more experienced riders and neither the Marin nor Penmachno have trail center Cafe's/facilities. She would just end up walking most of the sections.
If I where you I'd take her to Llandegla (blue/green routes) or maybe Coed y Brenin. I understand they have a sports trail there and its just down the road from Barmouth (nice beach).0 -
That, sir, sounds like a plan. A beach and some pretty views - however cold the weather - will be a huge selling point. Coed-y Brenin looks to have a green route, and loads of family-oriented facilities. Llandegla is a bit far, however ideal the blue graded trail looks.Dirtydog11 wrote:You probably wouldn't want to take her around the Marin then. Most of the trails around that area are for more experienced riders and neither the Marin nor Penmachno have trail center Cafe's/facilities. She would just end up walking most of the sections.
If I where you I'd take her to Llandegla (blue/green routes) or maybe Coed y Brenin. I understand they have a sports trail there and its just down the road from Barmouth (nice beach).
Betwys will have to wait, that is unless we get some intensive training in the interim!0 -
Take her to CYB, do Yr Afon novice trail,go to the cafe then head down the road to Dolgellau and do the Mawddach Trail on the cycle track that runs along the Mawddach Estuary to Barmouth (20 miles there and back, in total)
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Spamming again?0
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Whats your problem, im directing people to far more North Wales specific forum than this. You must have an extremly sad little life if you dont want other people to get the best advice avalible, far better than your dribble 0
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What annoys me is that you're using someone else's forum anbd traffic as a free ad.RZASKAR wrote:Whats your problem, im directing people to far more North Wales specific forum than this. You must have an extremly sad little life if you dont want other people to get the best advice avalible, far better than your dribble
If you ran a shop how would you feel if I was wandering around inside, giving out flyers for my competing shop, and telling them how much better my place is?0 -
what about nant yr arian. good facilities,excellent trails (not too technical but some good climbs) and i made it around without incident(and i'm from norfolk!). the two shorter routes are excellent tasters of welsh mountain biking0
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yeehaamcgee wrote:
What annoys me is that you're using someone else's forum anbd traffic as a free ad.RZASKAR wrote:Whats your problem, im directing people to far more North Wales specific forum than this. You must have an extremly sad little life if you dont want other people to get the best advice avalible, far better than your dribble
If you ran a shop how would you feel if I was wandering around inside, giving out flyers for my competing shop, and telling them how much better my place is?
Its not about competeing, i dont make a bean from our site and forum, we run it purely to help people out and arrange rides around North Wales. I tell people about it to help them out and to let them Know there is a site out there with the wealth of information that they are looking for. If there is a good article on bikeradar we often post links to it on our forum as we are a pretty grown up bunch. If I were selling somthing then maybe your comments would be valid but as it stands they are not 0 -
I see ads on your site. More traffic = more money.0
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yeehaamcgee wrote:I see ads on your site. More traffic = more money.
Nope what you see is one google add that earns littrally pence every month, the only reason that is there is to give us a higher position in the google search
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Say whatever you like, but I still don't like the way you're advertising your site here.
I don;t understand why you want to herd all NW based topics to your site. Does it make you feel important or big?0 -
yeehaamcgee wrote:Say whatever you like, but I still don't like the way you're advertising your site here.
I don;t understand why you want to herd all NW based topics to your site. Does it make you feel important or big?
Actually take some time to read the site and you will realise what it is all about. You are obviously just out for an argument as you have nothing better going on in your life. Well im affraid im not going to give you any more of my time. How about you let people make up there own minds.
www.mbnw.co.uk
Mountain Bike North Wales0 -
Now that Mawddach trail looks like a definite; nice views and industrial archaeology will have us both covered...RallyBiker wrote:Take her to CYB, do Yr Afon novice trail,go to the cafe then head down the road to Dolgellau and do the Mawddach Trail on the cycle track that runs along the Mawddach Estuary to Barmouth (20 miles there and back, in total)
Nant yr Arian looks lovely too, just a bit far from Porthmadog, where we're staying. Would rather spend time doing than travelling, even if it's 'doing' at the coffee shop at Brenin. Lots of good suggestions here, will keep us occupied next time as well.
FWIW I also found the site RZASKAR mentions pretty interesting, it looks like a lot of work has gone into the 'routes' section, so thanks!0 -
rustybug69 wrote:what about nant yr arian. good facilities,excellent trails (not too technical but some good climbs) and i made it around without incident(and i'm from norfolk!). the two shorter routes are excellent tasters of welsh mountain biking
awesome idea, +1.0 -
To be fair to it, on riding the Marin trail it is 70% or more fire road and epicly dull till the last decent, head to Coed Y brenin or Landeggla where you can mix it up a bit so no one falls asleep
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There is nothing that could be called techincally demanding on the Marin trail, but it does require a fairly high level of fitness to make the most of it - and there's no trail centre or cafe or anything.
Mawddach is a good idea for a newcomer, as is the "afon" trail in Coedy.
I took a friend of mine (sort of) on the Afon trail for his first ever taste of mountain biking, and he loved it. There's even some awesome scenery there to take their minds off the pain!0 -
Try Beddgelert Forest. Park by the big wooden arty things. Go anti-clockwise, back to where you drove into the forest. Over the raillway, then up! You can circumnavigate the outer traiIs which will lead to nice lake for lunch. Midges in high summer...
Then using the outer anti-clockwise fire-road on high ground, this will take you to caravan site, main entrance etc. Over railway twice, then head towards Beics Beddgelert but go straight on.
Bear right, over railway again, then over packhorse bridge, sharp left on you're back to the car park. Only technical section towards caravan site with steepish DH and blind/slate corners. Get back to me for full route etc. About 6 miles or so.
I can do this in 1hr 15mins, so allow 2 - 3 hrs for beginner or getting lost!
Lots of climbing, but views to Snowdon well worth it.
This forest was the FIRST Mtb forest in the UK. DH races were 9mins for Men, 12 mins for women. Stopped them dus to speed was getting stupid, nearly 50mph !!!0 -
I would go to Beddgelert forest too. It's only 15 mins away from Porthmadog. Go to the bike shop, which is accessed through the forestry campsite and see Peter the owner. He will give you a map to follow that will take you past the lake. It is all waymarked now too, so hard to get lost. The views really are to die for...if you can see anything at that time of year...or any time of year, it is North Wales after all
Steve40 year old pussy who "still" hates the thought of falling off!!0 -
15 mins travel... definitely sounds like more of an "and" than an "or"!! Probably not see anyone in the shop, however, due to the time of year we're going. It's always good to plan ahead (and to be honest I've wanted to go to Snowdonia for years)Darra8 wrote:I would go to Beddgelert forest too. It's only 15 mins away from Porthmadog. Go to the bike shop, which is accessed through the forestry campsite and see Peter the owner. He will give you a map to follow that will take you past the lake. It is all waymarked now too, so hard to get lost. The views really are to die for...if you can see anything at that time of year...or any time of year, it is North Wales after all
Maybe we can fit in a brief jaunt August bank hol... now there's an idea...0
