Another Day Mountain Biking in Wales
After working yesterday morning whilst it rained outside, it brightened up in the afternoon so I decided to go out for another ride on my new bike and explore some likely looking trails.
I set off from home and cycled along the road to Tre’r Ddol and then found a bridle path that I wanted to follow. Unfortunately it was far too steep, far too muddy and far too difficult for me to cycle up so I ended up pushing the bike. Not a great start, but once at the top the views back down to Ynyslas and Aberdovey made it all worthwhile. From there I followed a muddy track acorss the top of the hill and then made a tricky, rocky descent down towards the mountnain road that goes from Talybont up to Nant y Moch. I then rode all the way up this long climb to the top and then headed off on the forest tracks towards Anglers Retreat.
After a wrong turn which menat another little climb I followed the orest tracks right around the top of Moel y Llyn. The track here feels as though it is perched on the side of the hill with great views down into Artists Valley and beyond. A fast descent through the forest on wide tracks with loose stones and I was soon out on the Artists Valley road which I followed towards Furnace. Just before the end of this road I turned off left onto a small track which at times was muddy and other times rocky, but was just perfect for mountain biking. This led to a small road which I followed before finding another little track towards Tre’r Ddol. At the end of this forest track were several jump ramps that someone has built, but I didn’t attempt them and then the track became a windy single track with a few little rocky section in it before emerging onto the main road at Tre’r Ddol. From here it was a short, but by now tiring ride back to ynyslas into the wind.
40km altogether and it took me 3hrs 40 mins.
Next time I’ll follow the road to start with rather than the impossible bridle path, and with fewer stops to check the map it should easily be achievable in under 3hrs… Still not quite a quick ride from home though, but I guess the ride out across the bog and back is always going to make any ride from here fairly long.
