Coming to an end

My bike has gone online to be sold today

Ludlow blur

Hopefully winter will be hitting the Alps soon, but in the mean time I have been back in the U.K visiting friends and family.

Me and my Dad hit up Mortimer's forest for our classic autumn ride checking out the new trails he's found. There seem to be more each visit. A great sign of the building community of trail builders in the boarder Counties.

This past weekend I went to North Wales to visit some past haunts. Over the last 5 years I had only visited North Wales to complete International Mountain Leader courses, so it was nice to be finally back how it should be, with a mountain bike. However, over those 10 years many of the trails have been exposed to all the finest weather of North Wales, and many, many bike tyres. Penmachno was basically a solid stream, but a fun roller coaster despite getting soaked in under 2 hours.

After a big meal, plenty of ciders and a sleep in a local Betws-y-Coed bunkhouse we headed across to Llandegla as my mate was taking part in a Halloween night time enduro. The trails are perfect for a good laugh. Wide, smooth and with features to boost off all over the place. Unfortunately, as good as the flow was, every descent seemed to have a nasty climb 3/4 the way through in an attempt to make the "descent" longer. Not the greatest trail centre, but it did the job for my mate, his mates and the night race.

Night time enduro team

On the way back to Herefordshire I stopped off at Eastridge near Shrewsbury for a bit of a challenge. There's trails all over the place if you know your way. I don't, so I stuck with the marked red and had a blast. Slippery roots a plenty and even some quite steep descents for such a small hillside. The local's are really spoilt in this area!

Wonderful Shropshire morning light, but mud tan inducing trail conditions

Now my bike is online, hopefully the snow will arrive and I won't need anything till next spring, it's been a superbly "epic" riding season showing that there are many good trails close to home in Savoie & nearby boarding countries, but it's also given me a taste for southern exploration!

CHEERS!

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