JB
Rookie
There's a fine line between fearlessness and stupidity
Posts: 87
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Post by JB on Jan 19, 2009 9:33:48 GMT
Is it just me, or has everyone who rides Llandegla noticed how the trail had changed a lot over the last seven or eight months? It seems to be much more rocky on the trails, as the soil is eroding away. I have definitely noticed I'm getting bounced around a lot more than previously, on my hardtail. It's probably a very good thing, cos it keeps it new, keeps you concentrating and doesn't allow you to get complacent on a trail you know well, because it keeps evolving. Maybe 'degla was always changing like that, but I just never noticed it over the Summer. Or maybe there are a helluva lot more people going up there since they started claiming the best bacon roll in the UK!!!
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Post by ftasb on Jan 19, 2009 10:51:37 GMT
I suppose us having a particularly wet winter has helped the trail erosion along a bit?
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dan78
Have-a-go Hero
Posts: 142
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Post by dan78 on Jan 19, 2009 12:08:25 GMT
I agree, the newly exposed areas of the trail (due to felling) are getting worn away by the elements.
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Post by thistle on Jan 19, 2009 12:50:06 GMT
I've noticed the same on the trails. The first few times I did the black it was pretty smooth in most places but by the end of the summer it was getting scabby and rocky - I put it down to the more and more people riding on it as they got better (me included!) Quite noticeable after little jumps which I guess is where people land with their back brake on! Some of the berms have got pot holes in them too (the one at the top of the red/blue and the last one on the blue)
It's holding up quite well though considering the battering it gets. I went down a b/way on Sunday that was eroding so badly that it had turned into a lake with 1-2 inches of sticky silt on the top side!
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Post by mdr75 on Jan 19, 2009 13:16:53 GMT
The trails are definately suffering where the tree felling has taken place, leaving them exposed. They keep you on your toes though.. I suppose it must be difficult for the One Planet team to keep on top of things with the daylight hours and current weather and hopefully when things improve they can get to work on them. Wonder if they could offer somekind of incentive to get some volunteers up there to do some trail maintenance once in a while to help them out???... The trails are still great for the area but yeah i do agree there are parts that need a bit of work..
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dan78
Have-a-go Hero
Posts: 142
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Post by dan78 on Jan 19, 2009 13:34:04 GMT
The trails are definately suffering where the tree felling has taken place, leaving them exposed. They keep you on your toes though.. I suppose it must be difficult for the One Planet team to keep on top of things with the daylight hours and current weather and hopefully when things improve they can get to work on them. Wonder if they could offer somekind of incentive to get some volunteers up there to do some trail maintenance once in a while to help them out???... The trails are still great for the area but yeah i do agree there are parts that need a bit of work.. I'm pretty sure Tilhill are responsible for the upkeep of the trails, if not whoever gets the £4 car park charge should be responsible, not volunteers.
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Post by danevs on Jan 19, 2009 19:24:39 GMT
I think it is probably for the best that the trail erodes slightly. My main problem with Llandegla has always been that it's just too smooth without a single technical or even slightly tricky section, great as a family trail centre but it just can't cut the mustard compared to CYB/Marin/Penmachno which all have numerous tasty bits. Hopefully the more the trail cuts up the better it will become? (Oh and the bumps/potholes in the berms are caused by plonkers braking around the corners instead of before them.) ;D
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Post by mikebike on Jan 19, 2009 20:41:27 GMT
It has cut up quite a bit just recently, I had a few a*s£ twitchers in the dark last wednesday
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Post by thistle on Jan 19, 2009 21:43:22 GMT
I'm pretty sure Tilhill are responsible for the upkeep of the trails, if not whoever gets the £4 car park charge should be responsible, not volunteers. £4 for the car park could buy lots of bacon butties for volunteers ;D
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JB
Rookie
There's a fine line between fearlessness and stupidity
Posts: 87
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Post by JB on Jan 20, 2009 10:26:45 GMT
I think it is probably for the best that the trail erodes slightly. My main problem with Llandegla has always been that it's just too smooth without a single technical or even slightly tricky section, great as a family trail centre but it just can't cut the mustard compared to CYB/Marin/Penmachno which all have numerous tasty bits. Hopefully the more the trail cuts up the better it will become? (Oh and the bumps/potholes in the berms are caused by plonkers braking around the corners instead of before them.) ;D Good point; well made. Like I mentioned before, it does become more technical, as it becomes more uneven, which is great for improving your skills (which I need, for sure), but one of the downsides to it, is that it also becomes slower. For me, anyway. I loved the more rocky, technical sections of the Marin, so if Llandegla becomes more like that in a number of places, I won't complain. I guess while it isn't as technical as some other routes, the thing I personally liked about 'degla is that it's more fast and flowing, so it was a different type of trail, giving a different kind of buzz. And any buzz is a good buzz, in my book.
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Post by sikora on Jan 20, 2009 11:03:52 GMT
Good point; well made. Like I mentioned before, it does become more technical, as it becomes more uneven, which is great for improving your skills (which I need, for sure), but one of the downsides to it, is that it also becomes slower. For me, anyway. I loved the more rocky, technical sections of the Marin, so if Llandegla becomes more like that in a number of places, I won't complain. I guess while it isn't as technical as some other routes, the thing I personally liked about 'degla is that it's more fast and flowing, so it was a different type of trail, giving a different kind of buzz. And any buzz is a good buzz, in my book. Totally agree. If every trail was the same, you'd never bother travelling somewhere else.
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JB
Rookie
There's a fine line between fearlessness and stupidity
Posts: 87
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Post by JB on Jan 20, 2009 11:06:34 GMT
You knows it, Sikora!!!
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Post by Taffydoo on Jan 20, 2009 15:43:55 GMT
It has cut up quite a bit just recently, I had a few a*s£ twitchers in the dark last wednesday Your lucky Oggy was not about with a*s£ twitchers in the dark. ;D
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Post by danevs on Jan 20, 2009 18:19:58 GMT
Good point; well made. Like I mentioned before, it does become more technical, as it becomes more uneven, which is great for improving your skills (which I need, for sure), but one of the downsides to it, is that it also becomes slower. For me, anyway. I loved the more rocky, technical sections of the Marin, so if Llandegla becomes more like that in a number of places, I won't complain. I guess while it isn't as technical as some other routes, the thing I personally liked about 'degla is that it's more fast and flowing, so it was a different type of trail, giving a different kind of buzz. And any buzz is a good buzz, in my book. Totally agree. If every trail was the same, you'd never bother travelling somewhere else. Yes but each trail should offer a variety of riding to keep people interested. Llandegla is great for a fast blast around once a month but once you've done it a few times there's nothing to test you (to prove this point even my mrs can ride around it ). Bring on some rocky gnarlyness I say. ;D
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Post by tomlaws on Jan 20, 2009 18:24:43 GMT
The "black" at 'degla is like a road. No really raggedy bits at all, just a few bits with loads of braking bumps. Good for flat out riding though.
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