The 'Org Mountain Bikers Welsh Weekend 2011

[xXBADGERXx]

Right , time to get the ball rolling (or tires ;) ) on the next full weekender of MTB activities for the Org , This time I am thinking of provisional visits to Coed-Y-Brenin and Machynlleth . Now this time it may be worth staying nearer to those places in a Bunkhouse rather than travelling many miles . So for starters we need to get our heads together on numbers , where and when ....... sound like a plan ? :mrgreen:

This initial post will be edited on a regular basis once it is all forming up into a proper weekender

Edit 1 : So far the Month of May is looking like a good choice for everybody so far

[northwind]

Sounds like a plan. Last time I was down we stayed at Reditreks bunkhouse in Machynltythtythth, run by the guy from Holey Trail... Basic, but nice enough and very relaxed. Had a bike store (well, a rubbish bike store to be fair), drying room... They had a wee camping field as well. It's a wee bit too expensive for what you get mind.

http://www.reditreks.com/php/Home.php

I'm pretty open on dates... Dying to get back to CYB, fantastic place.

[xXBADGERXx]

http://www.braichgoch.co.uk/

Thought about this place as it has a bar onsite as well <---- wriggles eyebrows
And is between Machynlleth and CYB too . Just an idea though .

[mattSV]

http://www.braichgoch.co.uk/

Thought about this place as it has a bar onsite as well <---- wriggles eyebrows
And is between Machynlleth and CYB too . Just an idea though .

230 miles - 4 hours and 40 minutes from my house :smt104





I'm in ;)

[northwind]

Only 328 miles for me ;) Assuming I make it I can take 3 others (2 easily, 3 with a bit more squeezing) down from edinburgh area btw though I reckon I'd want to take an extra day or two.

Or, the way with the least driving is to drive to stranraer, get the ferry to larne, then drive to belfast and get the ferry to Douglas, then get the ferry to Liverpool. But that might take a bit longer :mrgreen:

http://www.braichgoch.co.uk/

Thought about this place as it has a bar onsite as well <---- wriggles eyebrows And is between Machynlleth and CYB too . Just an idea though .

Location seems better riding wise... The Mach one has about 3 pubs within 5 minutes and a spar and chippy just at the end of the road so it's pretty good for dossing around in but the downside was, the living room bit was a bit small so if it's fully booked up that'd be crowded at times.

[Drew Carey]

Would be deffo up for this, but only if I can sort one quite major issue out......

Finding a place where I can hire a full sus for the weekend, at a cost that is not too hard to digest. Reason being; I need my bike for cycling to work. My hardtail got abused way too much on the last two.....plus I won't be able to afford to buy the full sus I want until the end of the year at the earliest.

[mattSV]

Drew - clicky (http://www.beicsbrenin.co.uk/hire.php) ;)

[Luckypants]

Coed-y-Brenin hire out bikes, no prices on website... http://www.beicsbrenin.co.uk/

R.H.Roberts bike shop in Bala also hires bikes out, he had a nice full sus Scott in the window on Saturday - 01678 520252 but a bit out your way if coming from Brum to Mach (depends on which BH we stay at.)

A google shows this bike shop in Mach does hire, but not listed on their website http://www.theholeytrail.co.uk/index.php

This fella also hires bikes, just down the road from Coed-y-Brenin http://www.dolgellaucycles.co.uk/

EDIT: This might be just what you are looking for.... http://www.mrx-bikes.co.uk/

HTH

[Quiff Wichard]

Drew - clicky (http://www.beicsbrenin.co.uk/hire.php) ;)


get some work done..

You dont even drive to see me that often ! and you will come up AGAIN for mountain biking..

I might come on this one.

[Luckypants]

I'll be up for this one as well, provided I can get dog sitter sorted. Else I'll make a day trip down to ride with you guys.

[northwind]

Just checked with a mate, don't think Holey Trail does rentals, it's a pretty small shop.

[Drew Carey]

Cheers guys, quite like the selection on offer at Coed-y-Brenin. Guess now it just comes down to when it is and whether am available etc.

[Luckypants]

FWIW Drew the bikes looked well looked after when I was last there. I was going to go back and try the Spesh Pitch they had for hire there, but then I saw my Trek...

[Drew Carey]

Its the specialized pitch pro I am saving up fpr, so will be good to hire either a pitch or an enduro to have a look at both.

[xXBADGERXx]

Shall we tentatively say that May would be a good Month to go on this , or do you want it earlier or later ? I am pretty much booked out for April with a Stag-Do , then there is that Royal Wedding malarkey and Ed has a rideout at the end of April that quite a few are attending .

[DMC]

Definately up for this, so long as I can make the chosen dates :-D

[northwind]

May sounds good to me. June's going to be busy

[maviczap]

Definately up for this, so long as I can make the chosen dates :-D

Same here

May sounds good to me. June's going to be busy

May & June are ok, April is too soon

Either I'll buy my new steed or do the same as Drew and hire something, might save some hassle

[Luckypants]

May works for me :)

[mattSV]

Early May is bestest for me

[DMC]

Early May is bestest for me


Me too, heading to the Alps on the 20th :smt040

[Drew Carey]

Weekend of 30th / 1st of May is not a goodie as on stag do.......neither is 21st / 22nd, as that is Mr Peachey's wedding....

So leaves weekend of 7th/8th or 14th/15th or 28th/29th......

Will decide nearer the time whether can afford to hire a bike, or may just use mine and see how it copes. Worst case, it does break / damage - have a back up for commute (Lily's Hybrid).

[Venom]

Possible, I'll confirm when a date is set.

[xXBADGERXx]

Ok , so far May is looking good , need to get a few more in here (Wolfy ?) and then pop up a Poll for the preffered dates .
I will be doing a recce on the courses at the end of March I reckon to see which ones are good for all abilities as I have never been to Machynlleth and CYB has changed drastically since I was last there .

[ThEGr33k]

Id like to but getting there may be a bitch (dont drive yet :S), dont suppose anyone going Via Barnsley or from the area? Or I could meet on the other side of the pennines...

[Drew Carey]

If I go, you are more than welcome to jump on a train on the friday down to Brum.

From there myself and DMC will be setting off. Sorted!!! :D

[Luckypants]

Assuming I make it I can take 3 others (2 easily, 3 with a bit more squeezing) down from edinburgh area btw though I reckon I'd want to take an extra day or two.

Id like to but getting there may be a bitch (dont drive yet :S), dont suppose anyone going Via Barnsley or from the area? Or I could meet on the other side of the pennines...

Brought to you by Luckypants Dating Agency...

[xXBADGERXx]

There ya go , sorted , make it so .

[northwind]

I'd be coming down the M6, hopefully with a wee diversion on the way down via Bacup to go and have a shot at lee quarry so that's probably not too bad a diversion... Could work, yeah

[xXBADGERXx]

I was thinking of a visit to Bacup in the near future as well Northy , is that the one that has a circular route around the perimeter of it ?

[yorkie_chris]

Bout 20 miles from me that, feel free to pop in for a brew

[northwind]

YC, might well take you up on that, might be a long day though.

I was thinking of a visit to Bacup in the near future as well Northy , is that the one that has a circular route around the perimeter of it ?

Not been before so not sure, saw it here... http://vimeo.com/14249035 I bet I'll look just like that if I ride it :smt104

[xXBADGERXx]

Yep that`s the one Northy

[Drew Carey]

Just to mention, my mate Al who came to Llandegla with us for the day trip earlier in the year would also like to come along.

He is currently in New Zealand for 5 weeks mountain biking and working on his old man's farm!!!! Alright for some!!!!

[xXBADGERXx]

I know , imagine all that sex he`s getting

[Drew Carey]

So.......we any closer to a date? :D

[Drew Carey]

No-one alive in the land of MTB? :D

[northwind]

It's raining and manky so I'm going into hybernation

[Drew Carey]

Boooooooooooo his booooooooooooooo..... raining and manky on an MTB = fun fun fun.

I think the Badger must have hibernated to his set also.

On a good note, won't need to hire a bike for the weekend now!!! :D

[northwind]

Nah, I went out at the weekend and all the local trails are swamped, ended up coming home early rather than rip them up... Though it was a good day for wandering around with a little shovel fixing drainage.

It's really bumming me out actually, I just got a new job (yay!) starting in 2 weeks and so my last days of freedom seem to be about looking out the window and moping :D

[Drew Carey]

I guess you guys have had more rain. Its drying out nicely round here. All the local spots seem to be holding out well.

[northwind]

It's partly snowmelt too. Wasn't even very good snow :smt069

[Drew Carey]

So rubbish snow.....crappy trails.....that's just poo.

But I won't play the violin for you as you get to ride the best trails available within easy reach rest of the year. Our choice........we have to travel fair wack to Wales for real fun!!! :D

Hence would love to get a date fixed for this so can plan and look forward to it. :D

[northwind]

Well later in the year if there's enough interest y'all are invited up my way, but I don't want to steal Badger's thunder just now so first things first ;)

[Venom]

*bump* ;)

[xXBADGERXx]

You`ve not been forgotten boys , was just on a back burner whilst I cared for a Loved One , will set a poll for dates tomorrow evening :)

[northwind]

Good stuff, hope all is well with you and yours mate... Not to say that our bicycling pleasure isn't considerably more important than your personal life :smt080

[Drew Carey]

No rush Mr Badger man.....know you have had a pooey time of it lately.

[Venom]

No rush Mr Badger man.....know you have had a pooey time of it lately.

Aye, well said Drew

:grouphug:

[Luckypants]

Popped my head into the MTB shop in Machylleth at the weekend, well stocked but small. They do do hire Drew, but are only running hard-tails for this season Drew. They have full sus demo bikes at £45 a day, but the shop owner was telling me to go to Coed-y-Brenin for a better selection of hire bikes...

[Drew Carey]

Cheers Mike for looking. But no need for a hire bike!!! :-D

[Luckypants]

What have I missed? Do tell! :D

[Drew Carey]

What have I missed? Do tell! :D

Got me one of these....

2010 Pitch Comp, last years model so got it at a discount.

http://www.evanscycles.com/product_image/image/865/668/2b1/42173/large/specialized-pitch-comp-2010-mountain-bike.jpg

[xXBADGERXx]

Right guys , had to put this on a back burner for a while , had to care for a very sick pet and then had to make a difficult decision with her . My mother is not very well at the moment and needs a Heart Valve replacing . She has had consultations etc and a date has been set for her op which is in mid-May . I am gonna have to help out a fair bit with her as dad is a bit infirm as well so I will have a lot on my plate that month and not sure what the month after will bring . So what I propose is that the same format happens but would you mind if I move it to July as the folks should be sorted by then ?

Nice set of wheels there Drew , was it me that mentioned the Pitch to you ?

[Drew Carey]

Badger mate, no worries on the dates......important thing is your mum and you....hope the op goes really well.

July actually works out much better for me.

[northwind]

Sounds good to me, hope things improve for you and yours.

[mattSV]

July is good for me too - just let us know where and when, and we'll be there :-)

[Luckypants]

Any update Badger? You got any spare time these days? :D

[xXBADGERXx]

Sorry mate , mum is doing well after her op but I am still running around doing stuff for them , I have given this some thought recently as well but don`t wanna get hopes up just yet with anything until I can definately commit .

[Luckypants]

If you need any help with anything, give me a shout.

Best wishes to your mum. :D

[northwind]

Hmm. Well I might regret saying this but since Badger's got more important things to do, does anyone fancy a scottish weekend instead? Glentress/Innerleithen... <checks ludicrously overstuffed diary> August some time?

[yorkie_chris]

I'd be up for it but it's a lot of diesel...

[northwind]

Aye, it'd be a good idea to do car/van shares. Public transport to Peebles is bloody useless but I could probably do some lifts from Edinburgh main stations.

Sure I started a thread about this ages ago but if we can get a decent group, a mate of mine runs a 4-bedroom guesthouse in Innerleithen that can hold up to 15 people (if they're cosy) and costs £370 for 2 nights so could work out well priced, save a few pennies.

Anyway. See what people think, could be good. Though I would say riders would need to be reasonably capable to get the most out of it, Innerleithen has only red and black trails and though glentress has a fantastic blue it's not going to fill a weekend.