The most popular trail at Coed y Brenin just got better. The Minotaur has another loop and the little shredders, aka the Coed y Brenin Dragons, and the women from HSBC UK Breeze MTB club were given a sneak preview last Saturday. As I arrived in the car park about 9.30am my heart sank. The sun I had left 15 miles away had been replaced by driving, stinging hail. Yes, hail. Luckily it didn’t last and the sun did reappear..
The first section, the ‘Sacrifice’, was a bit of a shock to the system. We were warned that the new loop has been designed to add progression and prepare riders who want to take the next step, or pedal. It’s steep, but not rocky, so it’s very easy to ride (too) fast and the corners arrive quickly and are much tighter than anything else on the Minotaur. Nearly everyone, apart from the little shredders, dabbed on the final tight corner.
The second section, ‘Y Cleddyf’ or the Sword, was my favourite with lots of whoopy rollers – there were actual whoops to be heard – and swooping descents.
The third, ‘Mordaith’ (Journey over the Sea) has some climbing but was goes down must go up.
And if you’re not a fan of the final slog back up to the visitor’s centre, there’s some good news. The trail wizards haven’t quite managed to smooth out the ascent but there is now a singletrack climb twisting and turning up the hill so while you still have to go up (no pain, no gain) it’s a much more fun way of doing so and aptly called ‘Hero’s Return’.
