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Post by mtbman on Dec 16, 2008 17:51:26 GMT
 Not really impressed with the Mach3 today. The views were stunning, even through the mist. On a clear day the views may make up for what is really an uneventful ride  After 10miles of near constant climbing, there still wasn't any real thrill sections to make you forget the climb. The chute was a big anti-climax for me. Large chunks of loose slate on a steep gradient isn't really my idea of fun. Then once you get through that your back into the open trudging across farm land with no real flow due to the constant stream of gates  Still all that aside we made the most of it and had a good day out, just not somewhere I would recommend. If cross country and fire roads is your thing then you might love it. If you enjoy the thrills and spills of a trail centre then give it a miss. Pic's to follow
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Post by martinw on Dec 16, 2008 17:58:31 GMT
Hit the mach 3 today with mtbman and rattiya. Just short of 30k's. I don't think it was what any of us expected, it was all just, fire roads and farm tracks, no single track at all. So if you go down expecting coed y brenin type trail riding don't bother. Straight out of the car park and up the road you were straight into a climb for about 5k's, got to the top of that just to hit a fire road and go down, more or less to the bottom of what we just climbed. Then it was climb again, for about another 5-6 k's all on fire road as we finally reached the top to start our ride down we hit a grass/stone farm road that lead us down to the start of the chute, that was hard work riding down over massive stones. The rest of the ride was undulating. along fire roads and grass tracks, the ground was wet so making it hard going, and making the bike pretty twitchy in the mud and soggy grass. The main 2 climbs from the start were very demanding and really took it out of you for getting to the top, nearly to the point that you had no energy to ride the top and back down. Needless to say, we had a laugh and the weather was on our side, although the trail is very very exposed, and at a guess could be very nasty up there in the wind and rain. Was nice to bag it. Would I go again? No. That was just Mach 3, Its possible that 1,2 and the climax offer something different. Pics will follow. |
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Post by gar on Dec 16, 2008 18:04:25 GMT
They cilm-achx is actually a trail. You guys should have done that one 1st. The last section of the dh is a must. Really long and technical. The mach 1 and 2 are the same as the 3. Full on xc.
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Post by mtbman on Dec 16, 2008 18:18:12 GMT
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Post by dyls on Dec 16, 2008 18:28:30 GMT
Yeah I've heard that Mach 1,2 and 3 are not that good.
Take it you didn't do the Climachx? Now thats a good trail albeight a little bit short at around 15km.
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Post by mtbman on Dec 16, 2008 18:43:02 GMT
Yeah I've heard that Mach 1,2 and 3 are not that good. Take it you didn't do the Climachx? Now thats a good trail albeight a little bit short at around 15km. No we didn't do the climachx  With the Climachx at 15k we thought the 130mile round trip was a bit excessive. So we thought (and I use the royal we) that we would do the 30k Mach3 and then time/legs pending maybe look at the climachx in the afternoon. Due to all the climbing on water logged grass and the lack of any real flow to what down hills there was time and legs failed us all Climachx would have to be phenominal for me to travel all that way for 15k's worth of riding  I think I'll wait until I see some more reviews and photo's. But never say never |
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Post by John on Dec 16, 2008 19:09:01 GMT
We did the climachx back in October after riding at Nant-yr-Arian in the morning was a top ride would have been a lot better with a fresh pair of legs  still the last down hill back to the car park was wicked as mtbman said don't think I would travel all that way for 15k specially as you have to pass Coed y brenin which has plenty to offer  |
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Post by ady on Dec 16, 2008 19:10:40 GMT
Thanks for the recky boys..saved my legs there will give that one a miss . Stilll always good to be out for some nice scenery, banter and good company..good lycra day out. |
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Post by ninja penguin on Dec 16, 2008 21:17:45 GMT
Good pics as usual mtbman What you and martin have said pretty much sum up my thoughts, apart from myself, my clothes, my bike and my car stank of sheep excrement. I'm knackered, and don't intend doing the mach3 again. So much climbing and so little reward. Martin's bike is really, really nice. It even makes hi scream like he's crashing on the downhills even when he's not crashing ;D Can't wait to get back to ldg tomorrow night ;D |
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Post by mtbman on Dec 16, 2008 22:18:16 GMT
Martin screaming like a girl at a west life gig was definately the highlight of the ride ;D I was expecting the crashing sound of alu on slate any second, but the scream just kept on coming. I wish I'd seen it for comedy value alone ;D ;D The only other memorable moments was Martin laughing at me as I snaked my way down the grassy tracks power sliding every flippin 20yds  Tactical manouver of the day goes to Rattiya: Whilst ejecting from the bike on the chute he actually some how managed to hold onto the bike with one hand and keep it up right (so as not to prang them frame on the multitude of rocks) whilst tumbling down the hill. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't have seen it, quality ;D ;D |
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Post by martinw on Dec 17, 2008 23:08:02 GMT
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Post by robcorney on Dec 20, 2008 0:59:23 GMT
I've done the mach 2 before and wasn't very impressed-there were some fun bits though. Cli-machx is definitly the trail to do in that area though, good to go round 2 or 3 times if you want mor km's-i never get bored of it. Theres supposed to be loads of other non marked trails in Dyfi forest aswell, so some locals might be useful to know down there. Still, looks like you guys made the best of it, some nice pics.
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Not really impressed with the Mach3 today.
"Guess I must be trying then"
Go Rattiya Go
