Night Riding - Alternatives to LDG

[mtbman]

The wednesday night ride at LDG, which started way back in October has been increasing in popularity right throughout the winter. On the last outing we had a group of ten and propably average around 5-6.

However the recent closure (due to bad weather), threw a spanner in the works and got me thinking if any of our regular nocturnal riders had some other trails/routes that would make for a good night ride.

Main ingredients:- Safe Parking, 7-15Miles of riding, within a 15mile radius of wrexham, Local Pub/Cafe for post ride food/drink.

Possible areas: Moel Famau, Hope Mountain, Ruabon Mountain, Gresford

If the ride takes in small sections of road to link to more off road, then just let people know to bring a rear light

Let me know what you think

[thistle]

That's such a good idea!

I just measured out the Hope Mountain route (the bridleway bits) and it's only about 5 miles which is a bit short. Also unless you want a decent road ride you'll have to come down the track you go up.

I think the best bet for decent lengths of off road is further out towards Moel Famau/Arthur but someone might know of something else nearer Wrexham.

[ninja penguin]

Struggling to come up with routes that fit the criteria really We could do something like this www.ridetheclwyds.com/rideclwyds/moel_famau/map.asp?l=reset

Not particularly technical, but would be a good workout. Goes from the top Moel Famau car park, not far from the Loggerheads pub if we go for food afterwards.

Phil, we incorporated most of this (and a lot more) into that loop we did the other week.

[ninja penguin]

Feb 8, 2009 19:20:47 GMT ninja penguin said:

Struggling to come up with routes that fit the criteria really We could do something like this www.ridetheclwyds.com/rideclwyds/moel_famau/map.asp?l=reset

Not particularly technical, but would be a good workout. Goes from the top Moel Famau car park, not far from the Loggerheads pub if we go for food afterwards.

Phil, we incorporated most of this (and a lot more) into that loop we did the other week.

Balls, just seen the diversion on the site, scrap that ;D

[ninja penguin]

Just another thought - if we're not limiting ourselves to LDG, then we don't need to limit ourselves to wednesdays only ;D

[thistle]

Shame the Delamere cafe closes so early - less likely to be affected by bad weather than Llandegla (maybe?)

[Russ]

The Moel Famau car parks have their barriers locked when it goes dark so about the only place to park is the layby by the toilets where you'll only get a few cars in. Where the logging is happening it's probably impossible to ride thru and walking around it is pretty fraught too. Cilcain is a better spot to base nightrides from as there's lots of places to park up and you have a pub for post ride drinks. The car park at the bowling green in the centre of the villiage can be out of bounds as you can annoy the locals if you fill it up on a night that they have stuff on the go, however there's space down by the pump house or up at the viewpoints for a fair few cars.

Pump House is here >>

www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=317220&Y=364762&A=Y&Z=120

and the two viewpoint car parks are here >>

www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=316725&Y=365244&A=Y&Z=120

[ninja penguin]

Feb 8, 2009 20:44:17 GMT Russ said:

The Moel Famau car parks have their barriers locked when it goes dark so about the only place to park is the layby by the toilets where you'll only get a few cars in. Where the logging is happening it's probably impossible to ride thru and walking around it is pretty fraught too. Cilcain is a better spot to base nightrides from as there's lots of places to park up and you have a pub for post ride drinks. The car park at the bowling green in the centre of the villiage can be out of bounds as you can annoy the locals if you fill it up on a night that they have stuff on the go, however there's space down by the pump house or up at the viewpoints for a fair few cars.

Pump House is here >>

www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=317220&Y=364762&A=Y&Z=120

and the two viewpoint car parks are here >>

www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=316725&Y=365244&A=Y&Z=120

Cheers Russ, viewpoint is a good call for parking - if you carry on up the road from there and turn left at the crossroads, follow up to just before the ridge there is a decent descent on a bridleway back down to the pumphouse. If you follow the road then back to where the cars are, then straight on at the crossroads onto the drovers road then half way towards moel arthur there is a decent descent which takes you to star crossing (phil - this is the descent where I got the puncture the other week). Only downside with that route is the 2 mile (easy) road climb back up to cilcain to the cars.

That could actually be a good (and legal) route for a night ride, About 14km or 9m, road and track climbs and some pretty technical descents?

[Russ]

Good loop is left at the crossroads, up to the ridge and down the other side down into Llangynhafal, turn right then turn right at the next crossroads and do the climb up to Moel Arthur then right onto the track back towards Cilcain then if you want a good bit of fun turn left down Keegans Lane which will pop you out on the road back up to Cilcain.

Or you can turn left at the ridge line and do one of the concessionals which brings you out on the Clwyd bridlepath where you can turn left for the descent down Ffrith mountain (aka Vomit Hill) or turn right for the Mangler down to Llangynhafal.

[ninja penguin]

Yeah, keegan's lane is the bit in my post above where I got the puncture. I've not done down the other side down into Llangynhafal so am up for learning a new one

Are you up for joining us sometime?

[Russ]

Yeah I'll have to show you some of the good stuff, won't even have to go anywhere near any of the cheeky trails either as there's plenty of good Clwyds legal trails.

[ninja penguin]

Sounds good, let me know when you fancy it and we'll try and get a few out.

[Russ]

send me your email addy I'll send you some maps of routes in the meantime

[ninja penguin]

pm sent

[Russ]

Four nightride routes sent