Five days, five mountain bike trail centres in Wales. I caught the train up to Wrexham to meet up with a couple of mates and their car. A little 306 diesel that coped admirably with the three of us, three bikes, camping kit and spares. First day was at Coed Llandegla. Then a drive to Dolgellau to a bunkhouse.
Bikes and kit unloaded we were into Dolgellau for a pint and a curry. Hard partiers that we were, bedtime was about half 9.
Coed y Brenin the next day. Great scenery, but the start was marred for me by having a small off which wedged the saddle into my groin, and then being stung twice by a wasp. A larger off followed about half an hour later when I wedged my front wheel into a rock drop.
There might have been some piss taking...
Next up was the Raven trail in Brechfa forest. No pics at all from this day as it was so wet and muddy the water was running out of our shoes whilst we cycled. Still, it can't all be sunshine and smiles. The trail was fun, and breakages amounted to only a puncture and snapped chain.
Glyncorrwg at Afan next up, and it was a bloody hard climb straight off. I managed to have a very impressive off at a standstill whilst trying to negotiate a gate. Thankfully no pictures but there were witnesses. The grub at the visitors center there was delicious, although my offer of marriage to the lady who made the tiffin was turned down. Great tiffin.
Driving back and someone wanted to get a little shuteye in the back, so my wheel got a wash courtesy of the drool from sleeping. Someone woke up just as I was trying to document this...
Cwmcarn on the final day, a nice easy finish to the set. Things that struck me were first of all everyone we met or dealt with were friendly, polite and helpful. The food at the visitor centres was not only good value, but really tasty too. The quality of the trails was better than I was expecting, and the parking was very reasonable; between £2-4 a day.
Thanks Wales.
