Marin or Penmancho?

Muttly1981
Muttly1981 Posts: 815
edited September 2011 in Routes
Heading to Wales next weekend camping and it'd be rude not to get a couple of rides in while i'm there, we're staying in Abergele (almost Rhyl) so i'll probably give ether Penmancho or the Marin trail a go but having never ridden them before which is the better trail to ride?
What if your dreams and fears existed in the same place? What if to get to heaven, you had to brave hell? What if everything you've ever wanted cost you everything you've ever achieved? Would you still go there?
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Comments

  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    right, i haven't actually ridden penmachno but everyone says how good it is :D

    i've ridden the marin and in my humble opinon it's very dull, lots of fireroad climbs and descents, the singletrack is good (what there is of it) but from what other people have said i'd reccomend penmachno. hope that helps a little anyway :lol:
  • scale20
    scale20 Posts: 1,300
    You will get many mixed opinions on Penmachno, it's very 'Marmite'

    It's one of my local trails and I hate it! I would go for the Marin over Penmachno any day but thats me.

    You just looking at riding one of the days or both?
    Niner Air 9 Rigid
    Whyte 129S 29er.
  • DaveL
    DaveL Posts: 188
    In the dry, I love Penmachno, but if it's wet I would do the Marin

    Dave
    Strava
  • scale20
    scale20 Posts: 1,300
    If it didnt rain for 3 years Penmachno would still be wet :lol:
    Niner Air 9 Rigid
    Whyte 129S 29er.
  • DaveL
    DaveL Posts: 188
    :lol: Fair comment

    If it's slightly wet, I love Penmachno, if it's really wet I would do the Marin :)

    Dave
    Strava
  • Briggo
    Briggo Posts: 3,537
    Penmachno ftw +potato and monkey juice.
  • x3man
    x3man Posts: 85
    Penmachno all the way. Lots of singletrack and the last two descents are fantastic. The Marin only had one really enjoyable bit right at the end. Unsurprisingly, they're both good for scenery.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Penmachno. It is quite simple the finest mountain bike trail in the galaxy, it's just awesome. There's so much flowing singletrack there that you really do wonder how they fit it all in.
    scale20 wrote:
    {Penmachno is] one of my local trails and I hate it! I would go for the Marin over Penmachno any day but thats me.
    This man rides a rigid bike, with a sticker proudly proclaiming "no shox" on it, ignore his opinions, he is not a mountain biker.
    I repeat, he is NOT a mountain biker.
  • scale20
    scale20 Posts: 1,300
    You don't need suspension for any of those trails. 8)
    Niner Air 9 Rigid
    Whyte 129S 29er.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    You don't need it, no, but it makes your opinion worthless.
  • scale20
    scale20 Posts: 1,300
    It helps though!

    Ive ridden penmachno no end in the hope it will grow on me but it doesnt. The last bit of singletrack to the finish is pretty good but the rest of it does nothing for me.
    Niner Air 9 Rigid
    Whyte 129S 29er.
  • DodgeT
    DodgeT Posts: 2,255
    Penmachno. Ridden it in the sun and in the pouring rain and it is fantastic.
    Although saying that, I've never ridden the Marin, but it just sounds dull. Shall have to try it one day for myself, but just seem to end up at machno.
  • Muttly1981
    Muttly1981 Posts: 815
    Well i'll be giving Penmancho a blast on Yeehaa's advice because he has a magic full susser i swear it's the transformer of the bike world
    What if your dreams and fears existed in the same place? What if to get to heaven, you had to brave hell? What if everything you've ever wanted cost you everything you've ever achieved? Would you still go there?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    My bike isn't magic, I am. Sometimes.
  • Muttly1981
    Muttly1981 Posts: 815
    I want one of those magic buttons on my bike to make climbing easy(ish) instead i'm stuck with an Fox R with internal pro pedal for all the use it is :-( I aim to be awesome this weekend but i take it a full face will be overkill at Penmancho :oops:
    What if your dreams and fears existed in the same place? What if to get to heaven, you had to brave hell? What if everything you've ever wanted cost you everything you've ever achieved? Would you still go there?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    The climbing is down to the rider, more than any shock technology. Keep climbing, and it gets easier, and faster.
  • Muttly1981
    Muttly1981 Posts: 815
    yeehaamcgee wrote:
    The climbing is down to the rider, more than any shock technology. Keep climbing, and it gets easier, and faster.

    Wow me and my mates must really suck then :lol:
    What if your dreams and fears existed in the same place? What if to get to heaven, you had to brave hell? What if everything you've ever wanted cost you everything you've ever achieved? Would you still go there?
  • John Moore
    John Moore Posts: 580
    Make a day of it and ride both linking them together with the Sarn Helen trail

    The next bit is copied as I coudn't be bothered to write it all out :oops:
    "Another way is the Sarn Helen trail (Old Roman Road). Cross over A5 by Ty Hyll and take right over river on B road up towards Pont Cyfyng. Left by farm 3km up and climb up track for approx another 3km into forestry. Decsent takes you down into Dolwyddelan. Cross the A470 and climb again on Sarn Helen (more or less straigh on after bridge). Remember to hang a left half way up the climb and head towards left edge of the Forestry over the top (more like straight on, but other track goes off to the right up towards y Ro Wen). Boggy decsent brings you out on Loop 2 of Penmachno trail. It should be shown as a trail most OS maps (either green or red dots)."
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Thing it, if you're (no offense) th ekind of rider to think of changing bike bits to make climbing easier, rather that just riding more climbs, then the Marin+Penmachno monster will quite likely kill you :lol:
  • Muttly1981
    Muttly1981 Posts: 815
    yeehaamcgee wrote:
    Thing it, if you're (no offense) th ekind of rider to think of changing bike bits to make climbing easier, rather that just riding more climbs, then the Marin+Penmachno monster will quite likely kill you :lol:

    TBF i've kept my bike pretty stock but i love the Bionacon's the way you can change the geometry for a mor attacking position for climbing and my climbing skills are 10000% better for last months visit to Glentress. Friday was a killer (blue), saturday wasn't as bad (blue and red), sunday bottom car park up to Spooky wood with minimal rest stops. It's amazing what you can learn over a weekend i rememeber one of my first goals was to get to the top of op of the main climb at Llandegla in one go now i can do a full red in one go.
    What if your dreams and fears existed in the same place? What if to get to heaven, you had to brave hell? What if everything you've ever wanted cost you everything you've ever achieved? Would you still go there?
  • scale20
    scale20 Posts: 1,300
    Full face might be a bit hot on Penmachno, especially on the climbs unless it's a MET parachute type?

    Prepare to get wet! Its been raining non stop for days but at the same time it's pretty warm.
    Niner Air 9 Rigid
    Whyte 129S 29er.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    It's worth mentioning also that Penmachno is one of those odd trails that leaves you physically battered for no real apparent reason - kind of like Coed y Brenin.
    There's something about it that just seems to either make you push harder, or just drains you.
  • scale20
    scale20 Posts: 1,300
    It's defo a trail that makes you work hard, I tend to get to the last bit of inward singletrack and physically drained.
    Niner Air 9 Rigid
    Whyte 129S 29er.
  • Muttly1981
    Muttly1981 Posts: 815
    You were right about it being wet, went through a puddle which submerged my feet :-) not 100% sure on what I think of the place the climbs are challenging and didn't feel rewarded on some of the singletrack sections however the back end of the loop is fantastic but something needs to be done about the brambles as I've been left scratched to death. If I'm in the area I'd certainly ride it again but doubt is come back up especially to ride it like I do with Llandegla. I can understand the marmite analogy but I'd give it a solid 6/10 for me
    What if your dreams and fears existed in the same place? What if to get to heaven, you had to brave hell? What if everything you've ever wanted cost you everything you've ever achieved? Would you still go there?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    See, I reckon the singletrack IS the reward most often. Not all singletrack has to be level, or descending.
  • Muttly1981
    Muttly1981 Posts: 815
    yeehaamcgee wrote:
    See, I reckon the singletrack IS the reward most often. Not all singletrack has to be level, or descending.

    Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the ride and can see how it could become a favorite if ridden regular as you get to know the place, got to admit I found it a little strange only seeing one person on the whole trail in 2 1/2 hours :-s
    What if your dreams and fears existed in the same place? What if to get to heaven, you had to brave hell? What if everything you've ever wanted cost you everything you've ever achieved? Would you still go there?
  • scale20
    scale20 Posts: 1,300
    Its one of those trails that you do have to ride a few times and get to know it, then it will either grow on you or it wont.

    I thought it would have been wet up there today :lol:

    I think on the wetter days people tend to give Machno a miss and ride the Marin just up the road. Its not too wet in the rain and the trail drains pretty well.
    Niner Air 9 Rigid
    Whyte 129S 29er.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Whereas Penmachno never, ever drains :lol:
  • scale20
    scale20 Posts: 1,300
    Ive never seen it dry :lol:
    Niner Air 9 Rigid
    Whyte 129S 29er.
  • thistle_
    thistle_ Posts: 7,218
    Muttly1981 wrote:
    however the back end of the loop is fantastic but something needs to be done about the brambles as I've been left scratched to death.
    Your wish is my command....

    Well someone else did a lot of it today so it's a bit better.
    yeehaamcgee wrote:
    Whereas Penmachno never, ever drains :lol:
    Hopefully some bits on the first singletrack drain a little bit better now :D

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