Strava Challenges - The May Massive.



I've tried a few Strava challenges in the past, I usually end up pretty near the end of the table. The same is more or less true this time round, but I did manage to reach my target of 250km and get a 'challenge badge'. With only a few days of the challenge left to run I still needed around another 60km, I'd done a 60km ride last month, so I thought I'd try for a 100km MTB ride. That would get me to my target distance of 250km and also it would be a distance I would never have imagined riding.

It was a mostly dry day, but the wind was awful, with some sections having a brutal head/cross wind, I never seemed to find a tailwind though! In Margam Park, I took a slight detour to my planned route to ride a section of the XC route from last weeks WMBS race. I continued along the track (rather than turning left), the track zigzagged through the clumps of trees on the hillside to a steep descent back down to the main track. I've watched several MTB races at Margam, many of them have used this descent, and I've seen a lot of people crash or decide to carry their bikes down it. I was worried about the descent, I didn't consider the trail through the trees, as it turned out the section through the trees was tight and rooty and I found it quite tricky. I had second thoughts about riding the descent when I was at the top looking down, but thought I'd give it a go. The surface was loose soil and rocks, I was braking to heavily and the wheels locked and slid on the surface, releasing the brakes the bike straightened up, but picked up speed quickly. I managed to find the right balance and then I was at the bottom and back on track.

At about half way, my route took me over some moorland towards Cymmer and then Blaengarw, it was at this point I realised that I wasn't going to get to the 100km. I reached the top of a small hill, with views down to Maesteg and over to the Afan trails (where I was heading). The soft-ground, cold headwind and spits of rain sapped my strength, I thought it would be better to finish than ride past the point of no return. This was one of the few places on the route where I would have used the same section of trail twice, I turned around and followed my tyre tracks back to the relative shelter of the forestry road.

Once out of the wind, I fuelled up and set off again. My route followed parts of the old (but hopefully soon to reopen Penhydd trail) and the start of Y Wall - Alpha, Elevator and the fireroad climb. Rather than turning left up to Rhiwgregan, I continued onto Glyncorrwg where I had a rest and a bite to eat. Then back down to do Y Wall - where I had a brief chat with a fellow group of riders, I got the impression the thought the climb from the visitors centre to Rhiwgregan had got me to my current b****y knackered condition!

76.5km, just under 7000ft of climbing and 7hours in the saddle, not exactly a blistering pace, maybe I'd have got further, quicker with the Kona Kula (but she's in need of TLC). But if anyone asks, "Can I use the Giant Trance for a long XC ride?", my answer would be Yes!

This challenge, it seems to me like most of the Strava challenges, is very much road bike biased, my MTB 250km target for the month, is ridden by some on a single ride. It would be nice if they would have some challenges which have a MTB bias - though I don't know how they'd achieve this.

Welsh Mountain Bike Series, Rd 4. Margam Park.

2013 Welsh MTB Series Rd 4. Margam., a set on Flickr.

Day 4 - Innerleithen.

Day 3 - Glentress.

Day 2 - Kirroughtree

Day two - The remainder of the group arrived during the course of Friday, so a full complement set off for our second destination - Kirroughtree. The weather was far better than yesterday, sunny spells and high cloud. After another good breakfast and some faffing (increased the pressure to my shocks and reduced the pressure in my tyres!) we set off. I didn't know where Kirroughtree was, but I expected it to be closer! Quite a long journey, but the beautiful countryside made it worth while. When we got to the car park, the pay and display machines weren't working, so we parked for free.
Fortunately the small bike shop on site was open, so the quicker amongst us at getting ready headed off there for a coffee and a bite to eat. The rest of us joined them once we were ready, I took the opportunity to get an inch removed from the seatpost.

Kirroughtree is a trail that a dropper seat post is made for! Short techy climb followed by short descent followed by techy climb..... with fresh legs, may not have needed quite so many seat adjustments. Strangely, we actually sessioned an uphill! a steep, rutted slab on a sharp left turn in the trail. I didn't make it to the top, but a couple of guys did, some making it look easy!


Screen shot of Strava Gradient map.

After the initial singletrack sections we dropped down onto some forestry road - black was up, red was down. I really was in two minds about attempting the black and McMoab - whatever the hell that was! The terrain up until now had been not to dissimilar to home, but as we climbed the fireroad, it began to look more like what I expected Scotland to be like, the hills had become rougher and heather covered with patches of snow remaining from the heavy falls earlier in the year.
The trail turned left, off the fireroad and onto rounded granite outcrops - this was going to be interesting!
There is a line marked on the rock with blue arrows, I tried to follow them, until my back wheel got pulled out of the dropouts, this almost sent me flying down the slope. I can't have tightened the QR enough, but word of warning, check your QR's before riding this section!
We weaved our way back and forth over the granite until one of the guys had what appeared to be a really innocuous fall off. He fell over to the left into a pool - a soft if cold landing. But he had done, was hit his head on a tree stump, this had broken his helmet in 3 places - without the lid, it would have been his head - yet another example of why you'd be foolish to ride a bike without one! A quick change of wet clothes and we continued along the granite. The scenery was dramatic - and the closing weather made it seem even more rugged and remote.

The final section of granite before McMoab.

After several zigzags on the granite we dropped onto a short loop of single track, this lead us around and back up onto McMoab! A 15 to 18 ft lump of granite, with a steep drop down onto the fireroad.

Over the top - McMoab.

I looped round to the bottom of McM' and watched the more adventurous of us ride the slab. I was getting quite chilled, so decided to ride up the track to have a look for some photo opportunities, but only a short way up the track I came to a tarmac road, the A712 - it was a bit of a surprise to find the road, as the area had felt so remote.

The trail crossed the road and headed up a steep climb, which seemed to go on forever! At the top we took a forced break for a puncture, whilst it was been repaired, the rest of us had a bite to eat and tried to shelter from the cold wind. Tyre repaired and we set off, a short section of fireroad and then back to the singletrack. The track twisted round some rough terrain of short climbs and descents, by now I was struggling, I didn't have much left in the legs and was beginning to worry. The amazing views from this section of the track did a little to raise the spirits. But the fact that we were only about 50% of the way round, meant there was still a lot of riding left to do. The singletrack eventually dropped back down onto the A712, which we had crossed earlier. The rest of the guys were here waiting for me - this was one of my concerns before deciding to go - I didn't want to be the guy holding everyone up. I used the rest of my energy drink up and had some more to eat, before setting off. Two of the guys had held back, whilst I fuelled up, they set off and I followed on what I hoped would be the long downhill back to the car. If I've not already mentioned undulating - then I will now, as that's certainly the best way to describe the final 'descent', for tired legs this wasn't good! It was difficult to get in a rhythm, and once again it was seatpost up, then seatpost down etc. I was glad to get back to the car park and sit down.

Today was our last day in the B&B, tomorrow we up camp and set off to the forest lodges in Glentress.

Day 1 - Dalbeattie.

A good nights sleep and a full English, Scottish breakfast, ample time spent faffing and we were all set to travel the short step down to the trail at Dalbeattie. Today was cold and wet, a harsh introduction to MTB'ing in Scotland. We spent a little time on the skills park adjacent to the car park and then headed off for the Hardrock Trail, a Red graded loop with some black (very black!) features.

I'm still getting used to the Trance and I didn't have the suspension setup correctly (this was only my 2nd proper ride on the bike!) It's quite a technical trail which I found tough going, the constant pedal strikes began to get on my nerves and some of the features were out of my league - Kudos to the other guys who rode them (maybe even enjoyed them!)


'The Slab' at Dalbeattie

After the Qualifier and the Slab, were the Twins, two slabs of granite with a short transition between them. The Twins were far less kind than the Slab, the granites legendary grip let two of the guys down with a bang. I was already in two minds, so after seeing better riders than me loosing out to the damp stone, I decided to take the 'chicken run' which looped round to the right.

By the time we'd got back to the carpark, the drizzle had stopped, it was now just pouring down! We were soaked, cold and some of us bruised. On the way back to the B&B we stopped into a small bike shop, a few minutes drive from the trail head. While some of the guys looked for a new Sram rear mech - (victim of the Twins) I took the opportunity to have a look at a new Kona Kula - I do still like Kona's.

Personally, I didnt enjoy Dalbeattie!

Some tweaks I need to get done on the bike -

the brake leavers need to have their reach wound back slightly.
More air in front forks
More air in read shock
Check the tyre pressures.
and find someone to shorten the seatpost.

Made it to Scotland

We're north of the border - weather not quite as nice as when we left home, but it's dry. Time to 'bag' the best rooms before the rest arrive. The other guys from Swansea set off earlier, so they've managed to fit in a ride at Ae. It's a bit late for us to go for a ride, but even if there was time, we're tired from the journey and pretty hungry. Time for some pub grub!

Brand new van!

The weather is cracking this morning, couldn't have asked for a better day, does seem a shame to spend such a lovely spring day in a van, but it should make the task of driving much more pleasant.

The hire company has given us a brand new Mercedes Sprinter van - there's only 4 miles on the clock! I do hope that they don't mind a little mud. On the plus side, there's plenty of room, all that "..shall I take it, shall I leave it.." wasn't necessary, can fit everything, including the kitchen sink in here! 2 Bikes and gear stowed, time to pick up the 3rd person and set off for the north.

Packing for Scotland



Heading off for 5 or maybe 5 1/2 days (depending on traffic) riding the 7 Stanes trails in the southwest of Scotland - not sure what to expect! There are several groups making their way up to the B&B near Dalbeattie, some from as far a field as Holland. I'm just hoping I can keep up with the pace set by the rest of the gang. The one thing I'm sure about, is that it's going to be a long drive in a hire van.

I hate packing....