Afan Argoed

On Monday 16 February, Hedd, Nev and Ed headed down to Afan Argoed in South Wales for a day of great biking, great weather and truely awful banter!

With a sausage butty fueled early start from Hedd's house, we were on the road before 7am and that meant an impressive arrival time of 9:30am at the Glyncorrwg mountain bike centre. In the morning we tackled the White's level trail which was fantastic fun, including the black section and the new 'energy' section.

Nev on the White's Level climb

The climb was hard work, but Ed didn't seem to be feeling it at all. All that 'snow biking' must have done him some good!

Nev at the bottom of the White's level black run

The black run was great fun as usual with everyone riding pretty well and with the weather picking up it was turning into a very enjoyable trip!

Ed tackling the jump that Ross previously struggled with on White's level

We all found some pace on the next section, and stopped near the windfarm to take full advantage of the photo opportunity. We then headed for the new 'energy' section which was an excellent addition with some tabletops and tight singletrack sections. We all had our moments along here with spills for Hedd and Nev and a diversion into the brambles for Ed.

In no time at all we were back at the cafe. The sun was shining and we were able to go for some al fresco dining (for reference, when they say spicy potatoes, they mean spicy potatoes!).

Nev and Ed enjoying the sunshine

Here's a map of our White's level route: http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=4242. Distance: 10.33 miles (16.62km) Ascent: 1428 feet (435m).

After lunch and a quick look around the bikeshop, we headed out to do part of the Skyline route known as July. This involved repeating the White's level climb and then heading off along some fireroads to find some more singletrack.

Ed finds the snow on July

This route took us a little higher than White's level which meant we found a bit of snow to play in. Whilst this route was enjoyaable, the lack of recent biking was begining to tell and we were all tiring. It was at this points that Nev's luck ran out. He'd been struggliing with his eggbeater pedals for a while, when he lost one of them on the trailside, leaving him with just a single bar to balance his right foot on. This couldn't have come at a worse time as we headed for the last downhill of the day.

Ed on the steps at the top of the last downhill of the day

Nev struggles with a single pedal on the final downhill

We got back to the car without further incident and headed home. We all agreed it had been a great day's biking with the weather making it feel as though spring was on the way!

Here's a map of our July route: http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=4243. Distance: 13.50 miles (21.72km) Ascent: 1923 feet (586m).

Coed-Y-Brenin

Despite a weather forecast promising very low temperatures, Nev and Hêdd got an early start and headed to Coed-Y-Brenin on Sunday 1 February. We were away by 6.30am and this meant clear roads and a 9am ride start time!

Nev makes a less than convincing start on "Cain"

The route was an attempt to put together the best bits of the man made trails with some more natural stuff and worked pretty well.

Nev at the bottom of the first natural section

We hadn't riden the first natural section before and it was good fun, with some (really!) tight switchbacks and a rather worrying drop to the right.

Nev at the bottom of "False Teeth"

The weather was cold, but we were prepared and it didn't concern us too much. We even saw a little sunshine from time to time!

Nev negotiates a large boulder on the second natural section - "The Edge"

The full route can be viewed with this link: http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=3885

April 2007 Video

Here's some helmetcam footage from our trip to the Lakes in April 2007.


Ad and Stu on the Loughrigg Terrace descent, Lakes from Hedd Roberts on Vimeo.


Stu on the Walna Scar Road Descent, Lakes from Hedd Roberts on Vimeo.


Ad descending from Iron Keld, Lakes from Hedd Roberts on Vimeo.

Malvern nights

Ed and Hedd headed to the Malverns on 5 December 2008 to give night riding a try. Ed had bought some pukka night lights, whereas Hedd went for the cheaper (but more powerfull!) option.

http://www.mtbbritain.co.uk/mountain_bike_lights_review_led.html

We headed down from Warwick in the car and despite the rain bouncing off the windscreen, we were both enjoying the excitment you only get when you're a bit scared!

We set off from the Tank Quarry car park and were soon enjoying some impressive views of Great Malvern by night.

Ed on the first climb on North Hill with Great malvern in lights below

We soon found ourselves descending for the first time, and it was great fun with plenty of light to descend at daylight speeds.

The fun was soon over and we started the biggest climb of the night up to Worcestershire Beacon. This turned out to be a bit of a slog due to the really high winds, but eventually we reached the top.

Ed close to the top of Worcestershire Beacon

A triumphant Ed at the Worcestershire Beacon summit

Hedd at the Worcestershire Beacon summit

From the top of Worcestershire Beacon we headed down the longest and best descent of the night. A growing confidence in our lights, not worrying too much about the things we couldn't see or meeting walkers coming the other way led to a pretty fast descent.

From the botttom, we contoured around and headed down a switchback descent to the car park. We both struggled a bit to pick the right line into the switchbacks, but this will come soon enough.

We got back to the car just as the rain started to fall - a perfect introduction to night riding.

Stackage Top 5!

Here's a collection of some of the best stackage we've captured on camera.

Firstly, here's Stu showing us all how not to do the gulley at Rhayader. More of a tactical dismount that a stack, but still pretty amusing.


Stu's unsuccessful gulley attempt, Miner's track, Rhayader from Hedd Roberts on Vimeo.

Next, it's the first entry from danger man Ross, as he finds some pace descending through Minton Batch (Long Mynd) only to be undone by a patch of mud.


Ross takes a tumble on the Monton batch descent from Hedd Roberts on Vimeo.

Now then, what happens if you don't manage to spot obstacles as big as fallen trees? Let Ash demonstrate on the descent to Periton near Minehead!


Ash and the fallen tree, Periton, Near Minehead from Hedd Roberts on Vimeo.

To the Lakes next, and Ad cuts one corner too many on the Walna Scar Road!


Ad takes a tumble on the Walna Scar Road, Coniston, Lakes from Hedd Roberts on Vimeo.

And now the winner. It's Ross again, this time getting some air in miserable weather on White's Level at Afan Argoed, but getting the landing all wrong!

Ross gets air and dirt on White's Level, Afan Argoed from Hedd Roberts on Vimeo.

April 2008 Video

Here's a few videos from our trip to the Quantocks & Exmoor back in April. This one features Ad and Ed descending through Somerton Combe.


Ad and Ed descending through Somerton Combe, Quantocks from Hedd Roberts on Vimeo.

And this is Ad and Ed heading through the awesome Smith's Combe.


Ad & Ed on their way down Smiths Combe, Quantocks from Hedd Roberts on Vimeo.

Away from the Quantocks to Exmoor next. Ad and Ed again, this time on the awesome Horner Wood singletrack.


Ad and Ed descending through Horner Wood, Exmoor from Hedd Roberts on Vimeo.

And finally, here's Ash at the bottom of the Lynch Combe descent.


Ash at the bottom of the Lynch Combe descent, Exmoor from Hedd Roberts on Vimeo.

Back in the Saddle: September - Peak District

Well, we finally managed to organise another well attended mountain biking trip at the end of September. The hockey players were away at Chesterfield on Saturday 27 September. Nev and Hedd headed up that afternoon, pitched the tent in Edale and headed out for an evening ride in glorious weather.

We rode from Edale and took the Jaggers Clough bridleway up to Hope Cross, from there we descended "The Beast", walked back up and finally headed back towards Edale by the same route to meet the victorious hockey players: Ed, Adam and Stu.

Nev riding from Jaggers Clough towards Edale

High spirited hockey players, a long wait for food and the arrival of another two riders that hadn't been near their bikes for a while (Tom and Ash) meant overindulgence on a rather grand scale and the Old Nag's Head in Edale.

We awoke early on Sunday morning with shocking hangovers to the sound of heavy rain pounding the tent - not ideal. The process of getting up and getting the tent down was a very slow one, but we eventually left the campsite at about 10:30am, not bothering to try and reclaim our noise deposit!

We headed to the Woodbine Cafe in Hope for some breakfast. We were still nursing hangovers, but at least the weather was improving.

After yet more faffing, we finally got riding at about 11:45, heading up to Hope Cross in the sunshine.

Ed and Ash after a spot of maintenance on the climb out of Hope

Rather than repeat "The Beast", we headed on to the Blackley Hey descent. Everyone enjoyed this, although Ad did take a bit of a tumble on some loose rocks.

Tom (with game face on!) and Nev at the bottom of the Blackley Hey descent

From Blackley Hey, we crossed the A57 and headed straight up the Rowlee farm switchback climb.

Ed, Ash and Nev reach the top of the Rowlee farm climb

We paused for a break at the top, we'd made good progress to this point but one or two of us were still not feeling at our best!

Eventually we headed North and took on the "Suicide Brake" descent. This was most peoples favourite from the day, with some great opportunities to gather some speed and a few mildly techy bits to catch the unwary.

Ed taking on the "Suicide Brake" descent at pace

After a puncture repair (Hedd) and some snacks at the Fairholmes visitor centre (near the Derwent Reservoir Dam), we headed off around Ladybower Reservoir and after helping a family with a snapped rear mech hanger and twisted chain, we began the climb up to Whinstone Lee Tor.

Team photograph at the top of Whinstone Lee Tor (Ed, Nev, Stu, Tom, Ash and Ad)

From the summit, we headed East and after a good start disaster struck as Tom and Nev missed the right turn that the rest of us had taken to deliver us to The Ladybower Inn. Adam set off to look for them, but unfortunately they'd decided to head back to their car so they could use their mobiles. Eventually the call came, and the rest of us headed back to Hope by road. It was a strange end to a very enjoyable weekend - good beer, good riding and great company!