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16^th/17^th March 2002 Richard, Mike, Elliot, – Coed y Brenin

I have been waiting for months for this date to arrive and it doesn’t disappoint.

After a nightmare 7-hour journey through the carnage of a Friday on the M25, M40 and M6 etc. I arrive in Dolgellau shortly before midnight wondering if the trip was worth it. I go to bed thinking there will have to be some serious trails to keep me happy.

The next morning is clear and dry and after a couple of bacon rolls, plus the usual tinkering with bikes etc. we are ready to go.

We decide on the Karrimor trail and set off on the first climb through the woods. I won’t bother recording the routes as these are covered extensively on other sites but suffice to say, this is a monster. 35 km of hard climbs, technical descents, fire roads, singletrack – it’s got the lot.

The climbs soon begin to tell and the group splits into two. Richard, Tim and Elliott are up front, followed by the rest. However, Richard struggles to keep up with Tim who is in training for the marathon, and Elliott who is built like a typical king of the mountains.

However, disaster strikes as Tim stomps down on the pedals on a fast downhill section and rips his SPD out of the Race Face crank. We jam it back in but the crank thread is totally screwed. Tim struggles manfully on for the next few miles but makes an honourable exit when he bumps into the local ranger who has transport to get him back to base.

The other 3 catch up and we do the last quarter back to base for lunch.

Tim goes off with George in search of a new set of cranks and after a big lunch four of us set off to do the Red Bull route.

Mike has convinced us all that the red Bull is only 17 km but it seems much longer and is actually 22km. Never mind that though, the Red Bull is a fantastic route, very technical and the last long downhill section followed by the dual style berms and ramps leaves us all with big smiles on our faces.

This is a very testing route but it’s shorter length, less climbs and more rewarding descents make it a winner for me. I found myself tackling things that I never would have done before. It’s that kind of route, it make you want to ride it.

The Sunday sees Tim raring to go, having bought and fitted new Ritchey cranks, new chain, cassette and various other kit. We tackle the MBR route which can only be described as fantastic. This is full of rolling singletrack which takes you around and across the side of hills like a rollercoaster.

The group sticks together as we all seem to have a new lease of life. This is 22km of sheer enjoyment.

All too soon the trail finishes and we head for home but this has been a great weekend with the best riding I have ever seen. To those of you that have been there – you know what I mean. To those of you that haven’t – book a weekend – NOW!