Natural trails...

d00m

After more wrecked bearings and knackered bike bits from riding trail centers almost non stop for the last few years, I decided enough was enough!

So last week, I did a loop around the gower in south wales, from penmaen to rhossili down, to hill end and back, and it was great. Blazing sunshine, blue sky, blue sea, green hills, and great singletrack on rhossili down. Beach was nice too but best of all, the feeling of exploring and making it up as I went, plus the fact my bike wasnt left needing a strip down, and wheel truing at the end.

Saw similar sights to guys in this link: http://www.mtbbritain.co.uk/gower_to_rhossili_bay.html

Planning to do the black mountains soon too.

Anybody want to share some favourite natural trails and loops? Pics would be great too, something I forgot about :oops:

Anonymous

I enjoy just randomly heading out and finding new natural trails too, but you have to be kidding me if you reckon they're less damaging ont he bike than trail centres :shock:
Hub-deep mud, huge-boulder-strewn trails, and tracks that were never designed to be rideable at all. They can all lead to far more bike damage, and wear and tear, than a trail center.

Thewaylander

yeehaamcgee wrote:

I enjoy just randomly heading out and finding new natural trails too, but you have to be kidding me if you reckon they're less damaging ont he bike than trail centres :shock:
Hub-deep mud, huge-boulder-strewn trails, and tracks that were never designed to be rideable at all. They can all lead to far more bike damage, and wear and tear, than a trail center.

Dude try riding at Afan, Trail centres at the moment are more builders sand than mud and what this does to sensative bearings and chain set ups is horrific.

The other week one set of smooth headset bearings were turned into cheese graters in one ride by the feel of them at afan

Anonymous

Ok, but it's ludicrous to claim that all off-piste riding will be like a loving massage for your bike. Regional differences aside, almost all the untracked stuff here is bike-ruining material.

Thewaylander

true, but mostly cos half the people have MTFU on the natural trails as it actually gets a bit steep and sketchy unliek the well groomed centres.

though still love a good centre specially when its wet so i don't have to go wading

.blitz

d00m wrote:

After more wrecked bearings and knackered bike bits from riding trail centers almost non stop for the last few years, I decided enough was enough!

I guess a lot depends on where you ride. My Rize was fine up until the Monkey trail was opened and then all kinds of shit started going wrong with it. 2/3/4 times a week round a red trail takes its toll.

My idea of natural is not super-gnar it's more like long distance on trails that are basically routes from A-B and in this sense they are not technically challenging and they are also a lot easier on the bike. I've been riding in the Cadair Idris/Towyn area and further south the Preseli Hills since the mid-90s and although there are some big climbs and descents it's not what I'd call technical. The trails tend to find the easiest way up and down, it's more a question of fitness rather than technical ability and there's no need for a heavy duty bike.

Anonymous

Non techy trails? Sounds a bit dull

Thewaylander

Up by us luckily our local trails are far more techy than trail centers and to be honest share more in common with the black DH than the red trail at Cwm Carn

In fact there what made me swap to a 6" slack bike, as the special was a bit scary with the front tucking on the really steep bits :O

.blitz

Thewaylander wrote:

Up by us luckily our local trails are far more techy than trail centers

There you go. Cannock is like an earthquake zone, it's much easier riding round those gentle, rolling Welsh hills

Thewaylander

Heeh i know, But i wouldn't call them hills, ant hills? or mole hills maybe ?

.blitz

We've got hills as well. It takes at least 2 1/2 mins to ride down Lower Cliff and the other day I was riding down hill for more than 3 minutes at Stile Cop

Thewaylander

I was refering to the welsh hills there hehe attempting some humor... dangerous for me though not being funny like

Anonymous

Thewaylander wrote:

I was attempting some humor... though not being funny like

Oh I know that feeling!

bails87

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Non techy trails? Sounds a bit dull

Tell me about it!