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Team Pic- Red Bull 'Mountain Mayhem 2001'
When so much is great about biking, it's a get out there and do it activity... why have a club?
Errrr.. no reason except way back in 1986 there were so few of us around with MTBs rarely did you know any other local riders unless you went to the early MTB race rseries all over the UK to keep in touch. It made sense to hang out together, mainly in those days at Beics Betws in Betws y Coed the home of local mountain biking pioneer Sion Parri and his partners Sian and Dafydd Roberts who later moved to Coed y Brenin Forest.
We began organising races, the first being an evening race at Moel Gasnach, Clocaenog Forest, other events are featured in our racing pages. It's notable in the last 15 years although the local road clubs took more interest in mountain biking and the many new riders MTB events attracted into cycling that we sadly remain the only club organising MTB events in North Wales.
The other benefit of the club was we were able to use our size, over 400 riders in the early 90's, to lobby official bodies to make greater provision for off road cycling. At the time there was no interest from the cycling bodies to protect riders interest or get landowners like the Forestry Commission recognise the sport and make facilities better than just merely cruising about on forest roads.
The club was instrumental in dissuading the Snowdonia National Park from imposing a complete ban on cycling on Snowdon. A role we had to adopt in the face of no co-ordinated strategy from any of the sports governing bodies as to who did what at the time. The picture still si little clearer, British Cycling ( Formerly the BCF) have fully absorbed MTB sport, but both IMBA or the CTC represent the non racing interests of cycling. The club is pleased to be able to work with many bodies to improve opportunity to enjoy mountain biking in one of its rightful homes.
If you would like to join NWMBA, an application form for membership can be downloaded from this page.
Womens Rides - after a popular trial in 2005 we are in conjunction with One Planet Adventure at Coed Llandegla holding rides aimed at women riders that allow you to pick a comfortable pace and avoid the long drawn out conversations such as 'Fox Vanilla vs Rockshox Pikes forks' and such gems that the blokes love to wheeze out as they plough the trails...... for more details
August 2005
We have upgraded the online stores, not only can you now buy the best guide books and tutorial dvd's, we have designed a number of original NWMBA t-shirts and in conjunction with the guys at Llandegla and Denbighshire Countryside Service exclusive Coed Llandegla and Ride the Clwyds dot com wear that is unique attractive and likely to be the bomb when sat in the Cafe at Coed Llandegla
June 2005
Check out the racing pages for updates on events in the area and entry forms for both the Cyffylliog Challenge and the Clocaenog Trailquest. Also see the new feature in riding on Coed Llandegla and the new MTB centre. We have been invited to take the wednesday ride around the new trails as a premiere for the work undertaken by One Planet Adventure. Further details will be posted on the forum when available
May 2005
Betws y Coed Hike and Bike Festival: Have a dirty weekend soon... especially aimed at those yet to venture in to the dark recesses of the Welsh Countryside, apart from bike maintenance courses at Beics Betws and riding tips there will be guided rides to suit all and every ability from world champ to your first attempt to leave tarmac with your young children. we recommend A++ check out the web site
Bike Maintenance courses, you can now study up to a City and Guild level in Bike Maintenance in North Wales. There are other courses including Hydraulic Bike Maintenance.. details contact CycleWales.net TalySarnau, PenyGroes, Caernarfon 01938 570680.
Judith Thornton, the Trails Ranger for Dyfi Mountain Biking the organisers of the excellent trails has reminded us of the excellent web site that exists for the routes at www.dyfimountainbiking.org.uk which apart from giving essential route info also will enable you to find out the dates trails in Dyfi forest are closed for Motorsport events although the Mach routes are not effected by this.
ridehiraethog.com sibling to ridetheclwyds.com has now been launched by Denbighshire Countryside Service. Routes have been developed by James Gaffney offering some new interesting routes around the Clocaenog forest, many used in our Trailquest Orienteering and the Cyffylliog Challenge events. ridehiraethog.com features all the unique nice stuff.. downloadable maps, 3d aerial views, flythroughs and tracklogs to download for your gps so there is no way you can get lost great news is many of the routes for a change are ideal for novices .. kids take your dad out next sunday to blow away the cobwebs.. but not on the 50Km+ 'Two Lakes' or 'tough at the top' routes only suited to mtb marathonists in training
Llandegla Forest.... opening delayed...as soon as we have news about the opening of the new MTB centre we will have information here. Latest guess-timates are mid June..
Mar 2005
AGM 1 March the Druid, Llanferres.
New Ad free just the scandal Beta Riders forum launched on Club Pages.
Jim Gaffney the mastermind behind the Ride the Clwyds dot com project is taking up residence to set up the new MTB centre at Llandegla Forest, a great base to discover NE Wales and some of the best riding in the UK.
iCal.. Mac users already know about iCal and we have produced two great online and downloadable calendars from it for anyone to use with the dates for UK and UCI MTB event dates in great demand worldwide.. may not be compatible with windows Bill G reckons.. tough
Shock.. 'Wayfarers' closed to cyclists - Nant Rhyd Whillan between Llanfair DC and Llandrillo / Cynwyd is temporarily closed by Wrexham County Borough Council..it's legal.. why?? because they lost a digger fixing a drain and a horse riding officer reckoned it was madness to take a horse .. so to be legal now you can't even carry your bike on your shoulders although it remains open to walkers. Imaginative access management in progress..........
Mar 2003... this years club ride calendar is now available. For more details.......
Feb 2003... Snowdon Bridleways are again under threat of closure due to repeated inconsiderate riding by a minority followed by an out of proportion response by local civic leaders. After a meeting between all parties including NWMBA the voluntary restraint will be continued. More details in our Ridezone pages
Nov 2002.....In a significant move in the clubs 11 year history NWMBA, whilst still supporting the Welsh Cycling Union and the British Cycling, recognise that these race orientated bodies are not able to meet the needs of riders seeking to enjoy the countryside which are by far the greatest group of MTB pilots by number. With immediate effect we have affiliated to the new UK group of the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) who are increasingly the only body working to increase riding opportunity. For more details.......
Club riders seen competing at 'Mountain Mayhem'
for more photographic evidence click here
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