Cycle up Mount Snowdon!!!
- Thread starter superbadger
- Start date
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andrew_s
Legendary Member
- Location
- Gloucester
There are rules about using the tracks up Snowdon on a bike. It's not just turn up and pedal - planning when is required.
Basically, not between 10 and 5, May to September
Basically, not between 10 and 5, May to September
subaqua
What’s the point
- Location
- Leytonstone
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=wqUFUQuygvs
one of my old mates from school did it a few years back. not sure of the route he took but he is a MTB nutter
the Video isn't him as i can't find his vid on Youtube
one of my old mates from school did it a few years back. not sure of the route he took but he is a MTB nutter
the Video isn't him as i can't find his vid on Youtube
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superbadger
Über Member
Thanks Andrew i know about the rules. I read someones blog who did it last year but not seen anything on you-tube....
Batmancaver
Senior Member
- Location
- Gronant
I cycled up Snowdon back in 1991 pre the voluntary ban. Also pre any form of suspension on my bike apart from fat tyres!
I went up the Snowdon Ranger path and descended down the main Llanberis path.
The Ranger path is steep and zig-zaggy and requires quite a bit of pushing!
The Llanberis Path is a more gradually climbing route, however, it is still steeper in parts and it is a long way up! There is also at least one section where the erosion control measures have resulted in them installing a long set of rock steps.
I would definitely recommend doing it. Yes, make sure that you stick within the rules otherwise the ban may get made full time and permanent but I'm sure you have the sense to realise that. Also make sure that you have good brakes!!
Above all else try for a day when there is a blue sky, the views really do make the effort worthwhile!
Oh, and ENJOY YOURSELF.
I really must do it again, but my legs wouldn't cope with that much off road and up hill at the moment!
I went up the Snowdon Ranger path and descended down the main Llanberis path.
The Ranger path is steep and zig-zaggy and requires quite a bit of pushing!
The Llanberis Path is a more gradually climbing route, however, it is still steeper in parts and it is a long way up! There is also at least one section where the erosion control measures have resulted in them installing a long set of rock steps.
I would definitely recommend doing it. Yes, make sure that you stick within the rules otherwise the ban may get made full time and permanent but I'm sure you have the sense to realise that. Also make sure that you have good brakes!!
Above all else try for a day when there is a blue sky, the views really do make the effort worthwhile!
Oh, and ENJOY YOURSELF.
I really must do it again, but my legs wouldn't cope with that much off road and up hill at the moment!
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superbadger
Über Member
Thanks Batmancaver... Wow that was a long time back! Oh i found a few videos now and its gonna be Llanberis up and down as it looks the better one for the bikes sake!. Yea it would be nice to have some great views rather than the mist and drizzle that is usually up there.
. I won't break no rules coz i got a horrid feeling that in a few more years they ban it altogether!!! 
. Yea it would be nice to have some great views rather than the mist and drizzle that is usually up there.. I won't break no rules coz i got a horrid feeling that in a few more years they ban it altogether!!! 
You could always try as an alternative the method used by the navvies building the railway track to the summit. At the end of the day they would rest the head of their shovels on the two inner rails then sit astride the shaft and put one boot on each outer rail then ride it all the way to the bottom.
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superbadger
Über Member
Out of interest, how long does it take to get down from the top?
While researching my pending trip i watched a you-tube video and they put in text that the fastest time is under 10 mins!!!
. They must have been nuts!!! Can't find it now... Damn!
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Been up myself in the early 90's (MTB's pre suspension) - Rangers Path then ended up carrying the bikes to the top at one point, then back down the main path that runs near the rail line. We all wiped out at one point where the path goes under the track - flying down, realised a sharp turn - nope not happening on gravel.
Done it loads of times, like others, in the early 90s. It was a bit of a rite of passage back then, not sure if it's still as popular? I went up and down on the same route, basically the path next to the railway line. First few hundred yards on tarmac was pretty steep I seem to recall, after that, the only difficult bit was the 'rock garden' near the top, I couldn't ride it anyway.
It was worth it back then for the looks on the faces of 99% of everyone else who went up on the railway "you rode a bike up here!!!???" etc.
I remember going through a number of inner tubes on the way down. What was happening was that when braking, the tyre was trying to rotate around the wheel and take the inner tube with it. This would cause the valve to tear off. I learned a long time ago to talc your tubes, minimises the effect greatly.
It was worth it back then for the looks on the faces of 99% of everyone else who went up on the railway "you rode a bike up here!!!???" etc.
I remember going through a number of inner tubes on the way down. What was happening was that when braking, the tyre was trying to rotate around the wheel and take the inner tube with it. This would cause the valve to tear off. I learned a long time ago to talc your tubes, minimises the effect greatly.
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superbadger
Über Member
Thanx dodgy... I will do that; I am not trying to break any records (or bones!
) So will take it easy; There's a slight twist in the tail with this trip though 
; I am cycling from Leigh,Lancashire down along the North Wales coast road,camping near Llandudno. Then i am cycling onto Anglesey and following the coast road anti-clockwise and camping near South Stack; Then its a short easy ride to the campsite at Llanberis; So then i get my tools out and strip the bike back into a MTB instead of a 'Tourer'. Hit the mountain about 6-7am next morning;get to the top take some pictures (i hope?) then back down the thing,watching out for hikers/children and dogs along the way!!! Get back to the site have a well earned rest! Well about an hour.... Check the bike over and transform it back into a tourer,pack all my kit away and cycle over towards a campsite near Mold; Have a very,very well earned rest!!!
. Then next day its the last leg back to Leigh and a welcome home party with friends . Thats the plan anyway. Have wanted to tour Anglesey for a while so it makes sense to do it all together; Also if the forcast is bad for 'Snowdon' i may have to cancel 
. Should that happen then at least the trip wasn't a complete waste of time! It be a long 5 days if it goes how i wish....
) So will take it easy; There's a slight twist in the tail with this trip though ; I am cycling from Leigh,Lancashire down along the North Wales coast road,camping near Llandudno. Then i am cycling onto Anglesey and following the coast road anti-clockwise and camping near South Stack; Then its a short easy ride to the campsite at Llanberis; So then i get my tools out and strip the bike back into a MTB instead of a 'Tourer'. Hit the mountain about 6-7am next morning;get to the top take some pictures (i hope?) then back down the thing,watching out for hikers/children and dogs along the way!!! Get back to the site have a well earned rest! Well about an hour.... Check the bike over and transform it back into a tourer,pack all my kit away and cycle over towards a campsite near Mold; Have a very,very well earned rest!!!. Then next day its the last leg back to Leigh and a welcome home party with friends . Thats the plan anyway. Have wanted to tour Anglesey for a while so it makes sense to do it all together; Also if the forcast is bad for 'Snowdon' i may have to cancel . Should that happen then at least the trip wasn't a complete waste of time! It be a long 5 days if it goes how i wish....
monkeypony
Active Member
I've gone DOWN Snowden on the downhill bike.
Very long hard push up but the descent was a hoot!
Very long hard push up but the descent was a hoot!
