Pyg / Miners track - possible or ticked off?

bluechair84

I've walked snowdon a few times now and love the ascent. I've ridden it four or five times, once in the dead of night getting to the summit for dawn (see avatar ) And every time I've been up I've looked at the Miners route down and thought what if...

There's some sizeable drops at the top quarter, some switchbacks and boulder fields... it must be about as tough as you could ever do on a bike short of having to push downhill...

So - would you? Could you? Has it been done? Anyone want to do it and pencil it in before the summer ban?

scale20

I have done Snowdon quite a lot. I have ridden/walked/carried up the Llanberis path & the miners to the top, the miners is a cracking ride down when its quiet but can get busy, one of the best decents is down the Rangers path, then Telegraph valley into Llanberis.

I have not ridden down the miners yet but it is on the cards, taking the bike up that way is emotional, its a carry up all the way from the lakes. I would say that the best bet may be to go up the PYG track with an initial climb/carry. It gets you up a fair bit fairly quick and then levels out to looks what may be a nice levelish ride along way above the Miners.

Like the Llanberis path the miners can get busy, so if you want to come down it will have to be an early one up and down. You can do it in the summer before 10 am.

Failing that go up after 5pm in the summer, bivi on the summit and then head down in the morning for a fry up in Llanberis. Its nice to do that and sit up there in the silence brewing up at night.

bluechair84

Yeah, I'd be tempted to do it before the summer whilst it's quieter. The route I'd tempt would be up Llanberis and down Pyg, then road it back to the village. Primarily, because I think I'd do it in armour and DH tyres - carrying that lot could lead to a hernia :?

Glad to see someone else has spotted the potential there!

scale20

By driving up the Llanberis path to Pen Y pass you are effectivley half way up the mountain. that way you only have the other half to get your bike up.

The miners would be better than the PYG to come down. The bottom section of the PYG would be mostly unridable I think.

What bike you on?

If I get my forks by the end of this month I will head up there with you.

bluechair84

Awesome

Well, the only thing about the top of the Miners is the boulder sections. Steep as hell too so I thought Pyg might be better to get the most out of the ascent. But, both look to offer the most technical ascent this side of Glencoe.

I'll be turning up on an Ellsworth Moment (6"er), Fox 36s... and about a meter deep in bubble wrap. Scratch the Ellsworth. A zorb ball.

yours?

scale20

Providing my forks turn up in time my new Niner RIP 9. failing that a rigid on-one scandal 29er.

If you want to go downhill fast and mental it's either the llanberis path or the Rangers path.

If you want slow and very tech, the miners or PYG

bluechair84

Uber technical. I've done Llanberis and know the routes around Moel Elio - Used to live in Bangor. Living in Newark now has left me with a big hole in my soul where technical riding used to live...

scale20

My GF moved from Newark to North Wales because the mountain biking was poo there!

She would probably beat you up if she knew you moved from Bangor to Newark

Do you come back often? When are you thinking? Still some snow and ice up there at the mo, deadly stuff.

ilovedirt

Scale, where are you based mate?
I'm at bangor university and i'm absolutely itching to do snowdon at some point!
I'll be on a hardcore XCish bike with little protection though (see the GT in my sig)

and yep, the mtbing in nottingham/lincolnshire is poo! Hence why i'm at uni in north wales! (originally from notts)

scale20

I live in Penmaenmawr just along the coast from Bangor.

I run a forum in my sig, feel free to join us on rides.

ilovedirt

Yeah that would be cool, i ride with the guys in the university mtb club too, but they ride mostly DH etc, it would be nice to get out on some local XC rides if possible

scale20

No worries, I will happily show you round some local XC routes on the hills around bangor and along the coast.

You will be able to get me on mtbplanet.com.

We have a ride down Coed Y brenin Sat if you can make it?

bluechair84

Yeah? Are Ed and Rob still there? We used to meet in the Nelson Friday nights to plan rides and drink...
Though I wouldn't call coming down the miners track an XC ride :shock:

ilovedirt

Fraid not, i'm currently in nottingham, returning to bangor on saturday, otherwise i would (if i could have hitched a lift, i don't drive :roll: )

BigJimmyB

I was born in Colwyn Bay and lived in Penmaenmawr until I was 2!

Not been back (to Penmaenmawr) since, but have visited N Wales a few times...seeing pix of it makes me realise what a beautiful place it is and that I should go back more often (I still have family there).

Dying to go back 'home' again one day soon and up for some riding so I may well try and hook up with you in 2011.


Sorry for the hijack!

scale20

BigJimmyB wrote:

I was born in Colwyn Bay and lived in Penmaenmawr until I was 2!

Not been back (to Penmaenmawr) since, but have visited N Wales a few times...seeing pix of it makes me realise what a beautiful place it is and that I should go back more often (I still have family there).

Dying to go back 'home' again one day soon and up for some riding so I may well try and hook up with you in 2011.


Sorry for the hijack!

Small world

Drop me a line when you are about, happily get out riding with anyone who wants to ride the local mountains 8)

bluechair84

scale20 wrote:

My GF moved from Newark to North Wales because the mountain biking was poo there!

She would probably beat you up if she knew you moved from Bangor to Newark

Do you come back often? When are you thinking? Still some snow and ice up there at the mo, deadly stuff.

The boys running the sherwood pines bike club work hard to provide regular, varied rides but there really isn't much to test us around here.... The Mrs and I are looking for work to get us back to Yorkshire, otherwise, I've not been back to Wales riding for a years - I put my driving in North to Scotland now.
I can't get away in the week but I'd do a weekend planned in advance, if we get the thread going and a few volunteers we could set a weekend aside anytime the snow has gone?

scale20

Yeah, my Mrs did have a lot of praise for sherwood pines but I suppose there is only so much riding you can do there.

We are spoilt up here. I can only do weekends, so with plenty of notice we can sort something.

ilovedirt

bluechair84 wrote:

scale20 wrote:

My GF moved from Newark to North Wales because the mountain biking was poo there!

She would probably beat you up if she knew you moved from Bangor to Newark

Do you come back often? When are you thinking? Still some snow and ice up there at the mo, deadly stuff.

The boys running the sherwood pines bike club work hard to provide regular, varied rides but there really isn't much to test us around here....

They've done some VERY good work on the new freeride park there, some of those trails are a lot of fun, albeit short, though I'm still thoroughly unimpressed by the kitchener trail, which is apparently a red?!

tsenior

i've walked up snowdon by pretty much all the routes (but usually up crib goch and down the miners) and am looking to ride it for the first time this year: probably up from llanberis and down to rhydd ddu.

i have some reservations about riding both the pyg and the miners, especially the latter as from the pass between cryb y dysgyl and yr wyddfa down to the lakes its pretty steep. the pyg is more rocky but a steadier incline with only a coule of bits which would be very dicy. let us know on here how you get on if you have a crack at either!!

i usually ride alone although dont feel this is good practise in the big hils so may get in touch via your forum looking to tag along some time, albeit much later in the year once i have a bit more time on my hands.

BigJimmyB

scale20 wrote:

BigJimmyB wrote:

I was born in Colwyn Bay and lived in Penmaenmawr until I was 2!

Not been back (to Penmaenmawr) since, but have visited N Wales a few times...seeing pix of it makes me realise what a beautiful place it is and that I should go back more often (I still have family there).

Dying to go back 'home' again one day soon and up for some riding so I may well try and hook up with you in 2011.


Sorry for the hijack!

Small world

Drop me a line when you are about, happily get out riding with anyone who wants to ride the local mountains 8)

I will do - thanks!

bluechair84

tsenior wrote:

i have some reservations about riding both the pyg and the miners, especially the latter as from the pass between cryb y dysgyl and yr wyddfa down to the lakes its pretty steep. the pyg is more rocky but a steadier incline with only a coule of bits which would be very dicy.

It's not for the faint harted by any means, the gradient is steep but I think it's alright from past experience. It's just the rubble and boulders that need some serious work.

scale20

Off the brakes and keep your weight back, whats the worst that can happen?

Land in the Lake, Pack a towel

charitydraw

bluechair84 wrote:

Uber technical. I've done Llanberis and know the routes around Moel Elio - Used to live in Bangor. Living in Newark now has left me with a big hole in my soul where technical riding used to live...

Hey man, im a tourist coming over from Singapore and i have a question~
Sorry to hijack the thread a little!

You mention the route around Moel Elio, mind to share it with me? Ill be living very near moel elio and would love to ride a route around it. i was thinking of using the paths shown on the map ( Sanoodi) , to cross moel elio, foel gron, foel goch and then descend back down to the road.


Any possibilities that it is rideable? mind to share with me your route mate?

Thanks!

And actually, i was REALLY interested in riding the PYG / Miners track as well as one of my possible accommodation is the YHA at the bottom of the PYG/MINERS track.
do let us know after you've done it so i could know if its well worth it or not

Thanks!

anjs

The zig zags on this route are a know accident spot as they are prone o getting very icey over the winter. One to bare if planning on doing it anytime soon.

charitydraw

The zig zags? you are referring to that of the snowdon ranger track?

I will be going over in september, which i suppose is autumn?

Richie63

Back around '89/'90 i rode up the railway then dropped straight down pretty much to the lake at the bottom. there were lots of " off " moments but nothing to serious and there was alot I remember as quite rideable. I've never come across anyone else whose tried it. Since then the top zig zaggy bit has had work done to it to turn it in to steps so should be a breeze to ride now though I suspect the lower sections are pretty similar to what I encountered then.
The bike was borrowed from a friend I was staying with in 'beris at the time and by the time i got it back the rear mech was shot and no suspension either......ah those were the days.

joec1

im riding Snowdon in April (first week sometime) if someone fancies showing me around? havent really pin pointed a date yet within the week, because i want tp go with the best weather day lol. having read this it sounds most sense to ride the pyg track down? (as it will be my first time on the mountain) i also plan on walking it that same week.

tsenior

most people ride these routes

http://www.flattyresmtbroutes.com/Snowdon.html

Anonymous

scale20 wrote:

The bottom section of the PYG would be mostly unridable I think.

You great jessie!

I'm definitely up for trying to descend down the PYG track. I really don't know if it's rideable or not in sections.
There are definitely a few bits, even on the way down that you'd have to carry your bike UP, unless you're a trials god. And good line choice on the drops are essential.
It's also evidently not a high-speed descent - one small slip and you will easily fall to your death.
I will definitely be trying it once the weather settles down a bit.
I also fancy trying the far steeper, but shorter descent from the PYG to the top of the miner's path.
Once you're actually on the miner's path, it all smooth balls-out high speed fun.

Pipster3

Have look at link lots of info on Snowdon MTB routes http://www.flattyresmtbroutes.com/Snowdon.html

But I think you'll find the Pyg track is a footpath and only half of the Miners a bridleway so your call but your going to get loads of abuse from Ramblers