Snowdon – For a number of years I would go once a year in the winter to cycle up it, and it was almost always when they’re was snow up top, but for a few years I’d not had chance, the last 2 years were because of recovering from a broken wrist and having the plates removed a year later. However a few Mountain Bikers (including a couple or few off Cogs and Crags) fancied a trip up there. So the weekend was set (Sat Oct 15th).
We travelled over on the Friday night, but Friday morning Guy sent a text saying he was unwell and wouldn’t be going. So that left Pat, Marv, Little Chris, Andy and myself and the arranged time to leave was as usual with these things a little optimistic, but finally we managed to set off only to stop the once for chips at Knutsford …. I’m not sure so much amusement should be had in a chippy, but what’s wrong with a bit of banter to the staff …. they a) didn’t know what a Saveloy was b) didn’t sell Baked Beans (apparently it’s not usual around there but they did have Peas and 3 types of curry) c) they called Chip Cobs … Chip Balms. Why is it we know a cob a roll a balm a bread roll or a bap are all the same things, but those that don’t call em cobs are bewildered by any meaning other than their own local word!
Anyway pressing on we finally got to our Camp site shortly before midnight, a bit later than expected, but Marv was in his van so going was a bit slower than anticipated. With tents erected, which, in the wind was easier said than done with my tent, we all retired to our beds, but only once we’d bodged a plug for Pats airbed.
The morning quickly arrived and opening the tents up gives the most amazing sight of the Mountains in front, it was looking to be a good day as well in fact damn good for an October’s day inSnowdon. We all got ready and drove to ‘Pete’s Eat’ for a hearty breakfast and large mug of our preferred wet stuff (ooherrr). Bellies filled, we got back in the vehicles, drove to a car park and unpacked the bikes, setting off for around 10:15.
There’s a short road ride to get to the bottom of the path up Snowdon, the last part of this road is mega steep especially when we were far from warmed up, so a little pushing was required, especially with the build of my bike which just lifts the front wheel on that sort of upward facing incline !
Getting to the gate that leads onto the Bridlepath we were quickly bemused by the fact an exercise bike had been plonked next to the path inviting users to sit on it, take photo’s and upload them to Facebook ….needless to say we had to indulge ! Not sure they expected wheelies … should that be feeties as it had no wheels, and giving each other a backie on it!!
Carrying on, it’s a long slog up the path, Marv obviousley felt unsociable and had a lonely ride up to the half way café, where we all got together again, up to this point the riding isn’t to bad, well not compared to what’s ahead. More drinks of tea and cake were had by the others, and Andy decisded to feed the Dragon !!! (see photo), a quick group photo and we were off again heading towards the summit.
- Little Chris
The going starts to get a bit rockier and as we pass under the rail line, a fantastic view opens up looking down on Nant Perris where we were camped “Look mum I can see the tents from here”. A bit of a chat with people and we were again biking or pushing up the next section … this sections is steep damn steep! So pushing was in order again.
After what seems like an eternity the path gradually starts levelling out and allowed us to start peddling again, as we got to where the Pyg Track joins the Llanberis Path, it started to get crowded with people, I’ve never seen that many people up there, and on getting to the summit there must have easily been over 150 people up there.
We fought our way to the Trig Point at the summit and took it in turn to clamber on to it above everyone else and holding our bike above our heads for a quick photo … momentarily being the highest person in the England/Wales! a claim I’m sure held by thousands of people !!! 
Getting down from the trig we settled to refuel on sandwiches and what ever other stuff we may have packed. It really was bewildering just how many people were up there … damn that pesky train!!!!
It was now time for the decent, dropping away from the top it was a bit of a bore to navigate all the lazy arsed people who’d caught the train up but were walking down, I approached a group and gave an early warning of my approach, by saying “Watch out, I wasn’t particularly going fast, far from it, but thought it polite, one bloke shouted back “Watch Out” as if me saying that was insulting and thoughtless, but I just replied with “yeah, watch out” ….. our chosen path was the Snowdon Rangers Path (SRP), so I stopped where it branched off from the Llanberis Path, the others joined one by one, apart from Marv … it turns out the same bloke who thought he was big and clever shouting back at me was having a go at Marv. Now Marv ain’t no small bloke (apart from his Jack Sparrow legs), he used to be into his weight training and was a bouncer so you can get a bit of an idea of his build, so why is it so many people think they can have a go at him, he hadn’t done anything wrong! Anyway this other blokes mate joined in as well, putting his face right into Marv’s face (probably thinking he was all big to his mates … arse!), Marv told him to shut up or he’d deck him, and rightly so, some people deserve it, anyway that must have calmed the situation down cos Marv was now walking down the path with them and shook the blokes hand … alls well that ends well I suppose! . 
Anyway back to the decent ….. I’ve ridden the SRP once before and thought it was amazing; where the descent down the Llanberis Path is fast and skittish at times, the Rangers Path is a lot slower as an average, with huge rock gardens to navigate over and technical zigzags and drops off to go down, this is where my bike comes into its own, and I zoom off ahead of the others, stopping frequently for them to catch up for the next section.
Pats new to biking on this terrain and he was loving it, but wisely, he knew his limits and walked part of the descent ….. although at one point when he caught up he clearly had missed a section that he should have walked, so out came the camera to catch the evidence of his bleeding knee J !!
Setting off again, Andy took lead, I then set off but was being slowed down so Andy moved over on a corner allowing me to pass, unfortunately there was a clunk and my rear rotor took the brunt of a drop, I didn’t stop but I knew it wasn’t right, there was some serious grinding coming from the back, and slowly the brake got worse and worse. I had a look and I’d put a bit of a crease in the rotor and it was quickly grinding the pads away, until the back brake was useless, neah mind controlled use of the front would be fine.
Another stop and we had a snack, before setting off again. The others got going, just as a lady started to speak to me about not wearing a helmet (this subject is one that always pops its head up, and one I feel quite passionate about; so before anyone reading this starts having a go …….. I know what your argument cos it’s always the same, but this is my argument …it’s my choice and you’ve got no right to dictate what I should and shouldn’t do just cos you’ve been brain washed into thinking everyone should wear one … there’s far more people who wallop theirs knees and elbows but are you preaching to them that they should wear knee and elbow pads .. what’s that …. NO …. didn’t think so, and what makes you think you’re so right all the time and gives you the right to tell others what to do) anyway …. I told the lady that it’s just a personal choice, and that I don’t know any rider who actually likes wearing one, I’m an old-skool biker, we didn’t wear them as kids and people didn’t feel the need to tell everyone they should wear one, but we live in a world where Health and Safety is being taken out of our control and used as an excuse for everything, and so is risk assessment, I feel I have the ability to control my bike, I can decide for myself on whether to take a risk or not and what the likely outcome is and so far that belief has served me well, sure I’ve had a couple of off’s, if your not on the edge you’re not pushing hard enough is my thought for myself. She understood where I was coming from but said she use to road ride and had had 2 accidents where it was a good job she was wearing a helmet … she was clearly trying to tell me that I should wear one … but I’ve heard people go on and on about this time after time, maybe for that person a helmet is right, maybe they don’t know how to fall, maybe they don’t have the ability to control their actions sufficiently what ever it is I do wish people would stop judging others that don’t do what they would do. God help it if they somehow ever managed to make it law to wear a helmet … I’d be getting lots of fines, but policing such a law would be impossible and I know it ain’t going to be happening any time soon.
I eventually caught up with the others as the ground had levelled by and they’d got a good pace on. Eventually we reached the section where it’s a climb up to the path around Foel Goch, this last section is a fast sweep along the hillside, with water rut jumps, potential for punctures was high but we all made it without a single attack from the dreaded snakebite!
We rolled into Llanberis and decided to go to the Snowdon Tea House (Pen-Y-Ceunant), this meant riding the lowers steep road section of Snowdon again, but even thought tired, being warned up it was alot easier. The owner there is a true character, some might say he’s a bit odd, but he’s very friendly and very talkative, very generous and likes a funny story and seems to have plenty to tell. We ordered hot drinks and cake, but he also bought out some free home made lemonade to us. We’ve been here before and he’s always the same, so this teahouse is highly recommended. In the evenings he even allow you to bring your own food to eat, he’ll have wandered off to bed but allows folk to stay in the place even serving themselves to the beer and using the honesty box to pay for stuff … where do you get trust like that!
Eventually we left and headed back to the campsite to get changed and go for food at the Tyn-Y-Coed pub in Capel Curig, food was as good as always and Marv even took advantage of the table salt, to quite literally salt the table using it to design a logo for this very site, the staff thought it was quite amusing and didn’t mind one bit, if I recall they even took a photo of it themselves (possibly for evidence .. we won’t know until the next time we go there J )
Heading back to the campsite we all retired to our tents pretty much straight away and I think we probably all had a good nights sleep
The next morning we headed back home leaving Snowdonagain, but going to the View Point on the A498 to take a group Photo … I think group photos at this point are going to become a bit of a must as this is now 2nd and they never fail to be an amazing photo …. best in B&W.
…. but wanting a new rear mech, I ordered an XT Rear Mech from Chain Reaction Cycles, in error I ordered a Rapid Rise (Low Normal), I was tempted to send it back but I decided that I’d give it a try … there’s always eBay if I don’t like, but after fitting and having a quick ride on the street my initial thoughts are that I actually quite like it … don’t get me wrong, it feels weird; clicking the shifter makes the rear go up to an easier gear rather than dropping to a harder gear, so it goes totally against what I’ve ridden for years but it makes sense.
It was still good to see it though. We scrambled back down which was more amusing than the ascent, Al, Ginette and Graeme really seemed to be struggling.
