Aberystwyth SY23 3AD
Review by: davewright83 on 24 June 2017
Summary:
Single track fun
Review:
Single track fun. good mix of climbing and going down fun and new skills area good
Review by: Downisthenewup on 12 September 2016
Summary:
A very different ride in the wilderness with some nice surprises
Review:
I enjoyed the wilderness nature of this long route. In the middle there were some extremely fast and gnarly sections that came as a great and welcome surprise. Trail centre sections were fine. Last climb up is a killer. Its amazing to see the kites at the centre as you emerge out the forest.
Review by: scHeckler on 9 April 2013
Summary:
miles and miles and more pointless miles
Review:
this trail starts off so well, and then goes down hill, or rather uphill, then flat then bloody uphill again.
at first you think youre on a winner because the Italian job is awesome, very fast nice switchbacks and a corking set of dropoffs before you finally reach the fire road again leaving you well chuffed and eager to hunt down the next section, which is a bit bland, more of an afterthought/shortcut to the next interesting bit
the next interesting bit is really just a long peddle along a very long rocky fire road out to where it gets extremely rocky, the descents here are more like giant rock gardens, which i did enjoy, but the knowledge that each one would be followed by such a long ride to the next curbed my enthusiasm greatly.
to be honest its all down hill after the long ride around the lakes, down hill as in miles of rubbish peddling over hill and down dale and through part of a little village at one point, the point where i lost the will to peddle.
in short if you like Epic scenery and beautiful untamed wilderness in which to test your skills, and recharge your soul
go and ride Penmachno.
Review by: Slacks on 22 February 2012
Summary:
Excellent (even in the rain)
Review:
Possibly the best all round trail in Wales. Fun, challenging and a fair distance. The swooping Italian Job, which clings to the cliff edge in some parts starts this trail off in fine style and all the downhill sections keep up this standard throughout the trail.
The Leg Burner isn't so much a burner just a bit of a boring but necessary climb to regain the height you've lost. The only negative is the seemingly pointless Emmanuelle section half way up the climb home.
You can also cheat and do the Italian job and Drunken Druid/High as a Kite loop over and over to maximise the fun ratio.
Review by: TheMaarze on 5 June 2011
Summary:
Majestic, swooping singletrack at warp-speed
Review:
Hidden gem is such an over-used term, but it doesn't do this trail justice - it's a DIAMOND!
The trails are superbly designed - encouraging you to push harder and faster with each section. The Mark of Zorro is a tour de force of design. We were all grinning from ear-to-ear and spewing superlatives by the end of the trail (and I haven't even started on the Italian Job yet!).
Do the Summit trail but include Hippy Hop, Diggers End and The Spine from the Pendam and you will have a ride to remember.
A word of warning, if rocky technical stuff is your bag you won't find much to please you. This trail is all about storming down, swooping sinuosity and it's a total triumph.