Be ok to do the Marin trail by ones, self?

lesz42
lesz42 Posts: 690
edited September 2009 in Routes
might do a lap of it by my self, my riding mates cant or wont, i wanna have another go on sunday


safe to do so? not as busy as a trail centre so?
Giant Trance X0 (08) Reverb, Hope Hoops 5.1D, XT brakes, RQ BC, Works Components headset 1.5

Comments

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Yeah, it's fine, as long as you're reasonably competent on a bike. There's nothing gnarly there.
  • lesz42
    lesz42 Posts: 690
    my first lap time there was 5 hours :oops:


    am fitter now and a bit more skilled, want a time below 3 hours? thanks for the fast reply!
    Giant Trance X0 (08) Reverb, Hope Hoops 5.1D, XT brakes, RQ BC, Works Components headset 1.5
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    First prper trail I rode after my knee recovered. I took it very easy, so it took me about 4 hours as well. Was stoppping for a break every now and again cause I didn't want to wreck my knee again.

    Top tip for you... You frequently cross a fire road, if you're shagged, then the road will take you to Betws, or Llanrwst. Carry a map with you, and you can;t go far wrong.
  • ratty2k
    ratty2k Posts: 3,872
    I was there Monday gone on me tod, same as anything- tell people where you are going. Saying that tho' there are usually other people riding the trail as well...
    My Pics !


    Whadda ya mean I dont believe in god?
    I talk to him everyday....
  • lesz42
    lesz42 Posts: 690
    found it more tech and harder then my very local ride, Llandegla


    sadly have been training for it, i do the red once or twice and the blue 3 or 4 times a day

    get some miles in, if i do the degla red once, i feel short changed, like i done nothing, might not be very fast but need to do at least 40 miles in a day to feel content!? and tired
    Giant Trance X0 (08) Reverb, Hope Hoops 5.1D, XT brakes, RQ BC, Works Components headset 1.5
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    40 miles a day? you're going to absolutely monster the Marin trail then!
  • lesz42
    lesz42 Posts: 690
    ha ha, i wish, my mech hanger broke, taking out my mech/chain rear wheel

    was gutted kept me awake half the nite on how i can get back on the road for the weekend! lol




    using mine my oem wheels that came with the bike ( wheel thats a bit buckled is a dt 4.2d with xt hubs)

    got a new chain and SLX mech coming on friday (better be! :twisted: )





    just want to ride anywhere
    Giant Trance X0 (08) Reverb, Hope Hoops 5.1D, XT brakes, RQ BC, Works Components headset 1.5
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Damn that's bad luck.
    If I was going to be around for the weekend, I'd lend you my spare bike, and go with you. :?
  • lesz42
    lesz42 Posts: 690
    hey thanks!



    i know degla gets some bad press ( too smooth and stuff) but its fun, and tbh, maybe i am seeing things, i have only ever seen maybe 10 riders, at most , Pinning it, crazy speeds



    as in WOW, rest faster then me, but only a few, i say wow?
    Giant Trance X0 (08) Reverb, Hope Hoops 5.1D, XT brakes, RQ BC, Works Components headset 1.5
  • lesz42
    lesz42 Posts: 690
    edited September 2009
    going to fit the mech myself, read shimano docs/parktools and vids




    how hard can it be? next on upgrades is a better crankset then a new frame, rockrobster or malt 4 ( still 8 speed tho!)
    Giant Trance X0 (08) Reverb, Hope Hoops 5.1D, XT brakes, RQ BC, Works Components headset 1.5
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    I love llandegla, it's easy, but so much fun, and allows you go go at warp speed if you want to push it.
  • lesz42
    lesz42 Posts: 690
    only done the black runs once ( proper name for them) i dont do jumps ( as such) only real issue were the berms, steep and rough,



    need to do them again, practice eh?


    weird tho, theres one bit on the red where i get so worried about the faster riders, its a downhill bit with a left berm-ish turn then a switch back to the right ( 180) onto a slope


    am slower then most on it, and more worried about faster riders!? it sort of spoils my ride for the red, only other bit is the bit just before the bridge at the end, berm thats very rough?
    Giant Trance X0 (08) Reverb, Hope Hoops 5.1D, XT brakes, RQ BC, Works Components headset 1.5
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Oh dear!
    If you think Degla is rough, then Stay away from Coed y brenin until you feel completely comfortable with the roughness :lol:
  • lesz42
    lesz42 Posts: 690
    been there! well about 300 meters of it! :lol:



    i know it can be done, but at the mo, have NO intrest if doing that sort of trail ( lack of skill/fitness)


    wanted to do the MBR trail, but failed, and was happy to know where and how much i needed to learn ( if i want too)


    guess that will change when i get better?
    Giant Trance X0 (08) Reverb, Hope Hoops 5.1D, XT brakes, RQ BC, Works Components headset 1.5
  • lesz42
    lesz42 Posts: 690
    i want a FS only due to the control/comfort on a rough trail, less stress on my poor knees!
    Giant Trance X0 (08) Reverb, Hope Hoops 5.1D, XT brakes, RQ BC, Works Components headset 1.5
  • scale20
    scale20 Posts: 1,300
    You will be fine on the Marin on your own. You see a lot of lone riders there. I think its one of those trails that the locals use as a ride after work and so on so someone will come accross you on the trail somewhere.

    The tech sections are short but sweet and most of it is fire road. You will love the last section! 8)
    Niner Air 9 Rigid
    Whyte 129S 29er.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    scale20 wrote:
    You will love the last section! 8)
    Depends where you start, of course. I've talked to a lot of people, and get the impression that there's a handfull of "strting" points :lol:

    I know which bit you mean though (to be honest I find the rest of it quite dreary)
  • scale20
    scale20 Posts: 1,300
    I've started it from all over, there are good start points to get a quick ride in or if you only have time to get maybe half or 3/4 of the route in.

    I do prefer to start from the offical carpark though, get that climb out of the way to begin with, a climb that i actualy like :lol: and then finish on a high with the last section.

    I have started from Betws a few times, just to finish in betws where there just so happens to be a nice pub :lol: The only thing with starting there is the climb up to join the trail.
    Niner Air 9 Rigid
    Whyte 129S 29er.
  • ratty2k
    ratty2k Posts: 3,872
    Marin with any form of suspension (bar at night) can be a bit dull, rigid is the way round there! :D Some of the more interesting bits have been 'repaired' and it was the wear that made it fun. Although some of the work is starting to wear out which is good IMO
    My Pics !


    Whadda ya mean I dont believe in god?
    I talk to him everyday....
  • scale20
    scale20 Posts: 1,300
    I will second that, The repairs tamed it no end and took all the fun out of it.

    The trail doesn't warrant a full susser either, much more fun on a HT. It's been about 15 years since I last did it on a full rigid :lol:
    Niner Air 9 Rigid
    Whyte 129S 29er.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    scale20 wrote:
    15 years since I last did it on a full rigid :lol:
    Almost the same, 13 yearsa or so here since fully rigid.
    Most of the trails here in North Wales, either natural or purpose made, are better on at least a hardtail, but a full suss allows you to carry much more speed.
    But then again, those insisting on riding rigids are luddites.

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