Kinnerton-Llandegla MTB loop

Mountain Bike: Higher Kinnerton-Bwlchgwyn-Llandegla-Red MTB Trail-Cefn y Bedd-Higher Kinnerton
Distance/Climb: 70k (1000m)
A very early morning attempt to squeeze some hopelessly late training in for the imminent Tour of Flanders. I arranged to meet Rich at Llandegla but cycled there from home at first light in beautiful cold, crisp and pin-sharp conditions. The ice was melting as I got into the steady ascent from Cefn y Bedd to Bwlchgwyn. This kicks up steeply in places, and is far harder on the knobbly tired mountain bike. Still, I thought it would do me some good - surely quite similar to the short, sharp climbs of Flanders. I added an extra very steep climb: from Bwlchgwyn over to Gwynfryn, then extended the approach to Llandegla MTB centre. Met Rich, then enjoyed an excellent blast round the old favourite 19k Red Route. Punctured on the long climb, then found the outer reaches almost unrecognisable from my 30 or so previous visits: wind damage may have altered the route? Some superb flowing singletrack and exhilarating fast descents, and a very different lakeside route back to the Centre. Tried to push the climbs as much as possible for training purposes, but was a little tired after an early start from home with lots of climbing (not to mention yesterday's race). After a brief snack, I headed back down a different route - the bridleway to Bwlchgwyn. From here, a quick descent to Cefn y Bedd then home.