With the great memories of the recent LFRW at Tarenig with Geraint Jones fresh in my mind, it didn't take a lot of encouragement when Phil400 suggested heading up to Bridgend this weekend. So preparations were afoot. Stuck a new front tyre on the CRF (thanks Phil, you did most of the work ), and with the weather in mind picked up some Polaris waterproof gloves from Partridge Cycles (£25, plenty of dexterity, nice and snug, with a neoprene cuff - more on this later).
At Phil's the afternoon before and it was clear the big Husky was less excited about going on an adventure, as the battery was as flat as a Very Flat Thing. Some 200 kicks of the kickstarter later and it was clear that the bike didn't want to play. Sadly for Mr Husky's finest, a temporary kick up the a** from an SP1 battery denied it the pleasure of the weekend off, so we set the bike charging for the evening and kept our fingers crossed that it would be enough.
So, in the early hours of a cold and frosty Sunday, everything was loaded up and in a couple of hours Transportered up to the hills North of Bridgend.
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The LFRW guys are a friendly bunch, everyone got to sign in and collect a high viz waistcoat to reassure other forest users that we were allowed to be there, however ten minutes after our arrival, Phil caused a minor 'diplomatic incident' by removing his jacket to reveal an England Rugby shirt
A pretty good turn out, mainly local boys, but a few from further afield. A good mix of bikes; Husabergs, KTM Six days and a Freeride, a handful of 2 smokes (and a CRF450X and Husky TE510 of course). Bikes were started, and amidst the 2 smoke fog, I could see the look of relief on Phil's face when the Husky started on the button first time.
So, five minutes out of the car park and we arrived at the first hill, 'The Bench'. This looked reasonable enough, although there was a fallen tree half way up which meant it wasn't quite straightforward. In the next ten minutes of slipping, sliding, cursing and sweating, it took until four hours later and the downhill return to the van for me to even notice that there was a bench there. And back to the gloves, which, owing to my body temp now being akin to that of the Sun, were removed and replaced by my summer gloves, and never to go back on again during the day. But they seemed great for an initial use! Our run leaders assured us that The Bench, although an early challenge, was about as tough as it would get. Now that's still open for debate, but not far off
Fire road respites were few and far between, the guides really knew the area and we were never off a technical trail for long. The terrain was pretty varied, from technical singletrack and deep muddy bogs, a 'mini mx track' on an old coal tip, to devilishly slippery routes through the fir trees and a rock road made by a bulldozer that looked like a surefire ankle breaker if you slowed and put a foot down. Anything anyone got stuck on saw our guides coming back to help drag, push and offer advice.
Abilities varied and the guides ensured each group was comfortable. We had a TEC and an additional one in the middle. Luckiest rider of the day was a newbie on a KTM 450 who surprised everyone by rolling head over heels out of the forest, minus his bike, to land at everyone's feet by the fire road, but unscathed owing to comfortable bed of moss. Considering he'd only been off road a few times he did brilliantly. Second luckiest was the WR rider who opted to take the tyre track section of the Very Deep Puddle instead of the middle and came perilously close to flooding.
And so on it went; some sections I cleared and Phil didn't, some he cleared and I didn't. Some we both cleared. Traction came and went. Bikes slid away on roots. Bikes were put down and picked up. Much sweat was sweated. I learned new swear words.
Overall though it was a great experience and all part of the learning curve without being intimidating. Get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself - the local boys, being able to practice on this terrain, had some impressive skills. For £12 (plus getting there, obviously) I'd recommend you give it a go!
Loved out ride out in Wales with ore a few weekends ago. Well worth going. Poor jack delve aka poppy couldn't take the welsh ale tho. Lol. Me cole on the other hand could defo handle it. Great area to ride.
the only down part of the day was when i sat to eat my sandwich, said i could really smell petrol bad but no-one else could? then realised why...... my spare petrol had leaked all over my sandwiches, didnt taste to good. was repeating on me for 2 days
), and with the weather in mind picked up some Polaris waterproof gloves from Partridge Cycles (£25, plenty of dexterity, nice and snug, with a neoprene cuff - more on this later).
