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Sportbikes, Touring, Luggage & Zipwires - Wales

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-Matt-
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PostPosted: 22:47 - 19 Mar 2014    Post subject: Sportbikes, Touring, Luggage & Zipwires - Wales Reply with quote

Pics from last weekend. Headed upto Snowdonia with Ws4936 to test the luggage set up out for a future trip.

Camped in a huge Valley behind Chwarel Penrhyn Quarry [AKA Zipworld] to do Europes longest and fastest Zipwire the following day.

Video of the wire is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwdVixI&feature=youtu.be

My minimalist luggage
https://i62.tinypic.com/f93qw.jpg

Ws4936 prooving theres no such thing as too much luggage on a sportbikes Laughing
https://i62.tinypic.com/2pqc0z.jpg

First stop at some bridge, not a clue where to be honest Laughing https://i5.tinypic.com/msh.jpghttps://i60.tinypic.com/aud.jpghttps://i57.tinypic.com/f1.jpg

Second stop to get some thermals on as it started getting really coldhttps://i60.tinypic.com/98d8k.jpg

Really nice long roads
https://i62.tinypic.com/xb89.jpg

Third stop in some half-dead ex-mining town. People were very friendly and interested in the bikes, but still quite an odd atmosphere. 'Local town for local people' Shocked https://i60.tinypic.com/21l0t2.jpg

Had pre-planned a specific field spot on a side-road. It was more like a car wide gravel track than a road - but just about rideable. We aimed to arrive before dark but after delays in the morning ended up getting there much later than we would of liked - had just about enough light to get the tents up before it got really tricky.https://i57.tinypic.com/2rmch2.jpghttps://i62.tinypic.com/160ln7.jpg

Got my hotel set uphttps://i58.tinypic.com/716pv.jpghttps://i59.tinypic.com/sp8kj.jpg

Had a 'coffee', of sorts then tryed to get some sleephttps://i58.tinypic.com/333lsk.jpg

I somehow managed to sleep a solid 6 hours which is more than I would even at home, but woke up absolutely freezing cold. Whacked all my thermals and gear on at 6am and got out the tent.https://i59.tinypic.com/dq4gy.jpghttps://i58.tinypic.com/3511rn.jpghttps://i60.tinypic.com/30cqlz.jpghttps://i58.tinypic.com/2vrws6.jpg

Decided it would be a good idea to climb up the side of the valley shown in the next pic now I could see [just about in the mist]https://i58.tinypic.com/2d0arp.jpg

Tent site circled in red to the left of the pichttps://i61.tinypic.com/23uc7o.jpg

Went a bit higher to get a last few pics then decided it was a good idea to pack it in as I was on the verge of slipping in my boots and it would of been a rather painful long fall Laughing https://i61.tinypic.com/eafqx.jpghttps://i58.tinypic.com/1ugt1e.jpghttps://i61.tinypic.com/2qu2c3.jpghttps://i60.tinypic.com/353l09.jpg

Made it back down alive Cool https://i57.tinypic.com/20e.jpghttps://i57.tinypic.com/2l.jpghttps://i62.tinypic.com/y.jpg

Began packing away a couple of hours later after dossing around a while to make sure we got to Zipworld on timehttps://i59.tinypic.com/dmw38.jpghttps://i62.tinypic.com/27zcrk.jpghttps://i59.tinypic.com/2hxu2x.jpg

Then headed off to Zipworld about 10 minutes ride away. Took the truck up from the lake in the middle of the quarry.https://i61.tinypic.com/2y1y.jpghttps://i62.tinypic.com/b7ik.jpg

Got to the tophttps://i58.tinypic.com/181.jpghttps://i62.tinypic.com/jvr.jpg

Red line is the rough direction of the wirehttps://i61.tinypic.com/20nl.jpg

And did the Wire Smile https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwdRiixI&feature=youtu.be


Last edited by -Matt- on 00:37 - 10 May 2018; edited 7 times in total
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shereen
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PostPosted: 23:15 - 19 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cool thread but why have you blanked your face out? Laughing
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-Matt-
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PostPosted: 23:23 - 19 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

But of privacy where possible never hurts Razz

and i'm a melted gargoyle Shhh!
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ws4936
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PostPosted: 09:14 - 20 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Got to do a few more trips lke this. I learned that I needed a watch as a phone isn't always accessible, store more things in boxes, or bags to keep them organised, and Matt eats like a horse.
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Matt B
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PostPosted: 10:25 - 20 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Can I ask exactly which "half-dead ex-mining town" that was, because it looks familiar?
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Bubbs
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PostPosted: 11:08 - 20 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glad you had a good time in Gods country - also glad you made it out alive from the zip wire. 2 people have died on that!!

The only part i don't get:

Quote:
Had a 'coffee', of sorts then tryed to get some sleep


You had a coffee - as in "Man I feel tired, I better stop and have a coffee to wake myself up a bit" OR "I had one too many coffee's now im wired".

Then you tried to get some sleep?

Do you just enjoy a challenge? Laughing Are you like "Sleeping is too easy, let's make this interesting?"
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ws4936
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PostPosted: 13:03 - 20 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bubbs wrote:

The only part i don't get:

Quote:
Had a 'coffee', of sorts then tryed to get some sleep


I attempted to make him a coffee, but he claimed he drunk too much water and was no longer thirsty....I just don't think he liked my coffee. I would have said, "that's fckin' disgusting", but Matt is far too polite for that.

Bubbs wrote:

2 people have died on that


Source? Did look but to no avail.
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-Matt-
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PostPosted: 13:04 - 20 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Might not be such a half dead ex mining town - I just presumed Laughing it was half dead whilst we were there and we went past a load of slate mines in the area Whistle

Sorry if its your town Razz

Be to fair - the coffee wasn't bad considering its preparation conditions. I'd been gouging on overpriced sandwiches and pasty slices and a 2 litre bottle of water after moaning about being hungry all day so ended up bloated and collapsing asleep not long after trying to take on the coffee-challenge Laughing
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ws4936
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PostPosted: 13:28 - 20 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

-Matt- wrote:
after moaning about being hungry all day


That is such an understatement!!!!!!,,!!one!,11!!
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Llama-Farmer
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PostPosted: 13:37 - 20 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

shereen wrote:
Cool thread but why have you blanked your face out? Laughing


SAS iirc
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Bubbs
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PostPosted: 14:23 - 20 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

ws4936 wrote:
Bubbs wrote:

2 people have died on that


Source? Did look but to no avail.


I know for certain one little girl fell out when they first opened it. It was on the local news. The second I was told about was a heart attack - could be BS.
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Robster
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PostPosted: 17:51 - 20 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks like awesome fun. Would like to do something similar up in the Lakes then onto Scotland, my folks have a holiday cottage up in the Solway Firth that is pretty stunning
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Matt B
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PostPosted: 18:13 - 20 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

-Matt- wrote:
Might not be such a half dead ex mining town - I just presumed Laughing it was half dead whilst we were there and we went past a load of slate mines in the area Whistle

Sorry if its your town Razz


No I don't live there, but did have a house in Tanygrisiau and that was surrounded by old slate mines too.
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KLR600
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PostPosted: 18:20 - 20 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Matt B wrote:
Can I ask exactly which "half-dead ex-mining town" that was, because it looks familiar?


If it was 10 minutes away from Llanberis then it could well have been Bethesda. That's where it looks like to me but I could be wrong as that photo looks like a lot of places in North Wales Laughing

Bubbs wrote:
...also glad you made it out alive from the zip wire. 2 people have died on that!!...

...I know for certain one little girl fell out when they first opened it. It was on the local news. The second I was told about was a heart attack - could be BS....


Are you sure it wasn't the incident at Greenwood Forest Park just down the road from Llanberis? I haven't heard of a heart attack following a go on this zipline either. Nothing ever happens in North Wales so the press would have been all over it.
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Last edited by KLR600 on 16:57 - 21 Mar 2014; edited 1 time in total
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ws4936
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PostPosted: 19:52 - 20 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

KLR600 wrote:

Bubbs wrote:
...also glad you made it out alive from the zip wire. 2 people have died on that!!...

...I know for certain one little girl fell out when they first opened it. It was on the local news. The second I was told about was a heart attack - could be BS....


Are you sure it wasn't the incident at Greenwood Forest Park just down the road from Llanberis? I haven't heart of a heart attack following a go on this zipline either. Nothing ever happens in North Wales so the press would have been all over it.


This is all I could find also.
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Dischord
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PostPosted: 17:19 - 21 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks like Dolwyddelan to me...go on where is it?
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The Shaggy D.A.
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PostPosted: 18:06 - 21 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://i59.tinypic.com/dmw3f8.jpg

Is that a Vango Ark? I bought the 3 man last year, and not put it up yet.
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-Matt-
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PostPosted: 23:45 - 21 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thats Ws's tent - its definately a Vango, seem to recall seeing Ark on the bag too but I may be wrong. His is the two man if so but it looked like a really good tent - much more spacious and sturdy than my 20 quid '2 man' leaky cramped bit of rubbish Rolling Eyes
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ws4936
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PostPosted: 00:11 - 22 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Shaggy D.A. wrote:
https://i59.tinypic.com/dmw3f8.jpg

Is that a Vango Ark? I bought the 3 man last year, and not put it up yet.


It is, yes. Vango ark 200, awesome tent! Kept the wind out really well, kept its shape in windy bouts, if you've never put it up, I highly reccomend you do it in the front room before you set off. It won't free stand as it needs to be pegged, so you'll need helpers o hold the tent taught, but it'll be easier if you clip in the ground sheet and pack it away as one. Thumbs Up
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Llama-Farmer
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PostPosted: 03:51 - 22 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

ws4936 wrote:
The Shaggy D.A. wrote:
https://i59.tinypic.com/dmw3f8.jpg

Is that a Vango Ark? I bought the 3 man last year, and not put it up yet.


It is, yes. Vango ark 200, awesome tent! Kept the wind out really well, kept its shape in windy bouts, if you've never put it up, I highly reccomend you do it in the front room before you set off. It won't free stand as it needs to be pegged, so you'll need helpers o hold the tent taught, but it'll be easier if you clip in the ground sheet and pack it away as one. Thumbs Up


How heavy and bulky was it on the back of a bike?
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ws4936
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PostPosted: 12:14 - 22 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ben-B wrote:
How heavy and bulky was it on the back of a bike?


It wasn't that bad tbh. Handling was typically bad due to my making the error of not preloading the mono before setting off, but to be honest we were running late so I thought fck it. It felt like I was trying to transport a lardy dead person with a broom up his jacket to support him in an upright position, but kept moving around somewhat.
The weight on the tent was 3.45kg which isn't bad.....I was carrying heavier items, and my centre of gravity was high. But having said that you get used to it quickly. No damage was done to not altering the shock, but it did make for uncomftable bends.

If your thinking of getting the ark, it's a huge Thumbs Up from me. Incredibly spacious, easy to throw up - even in winds(once the ground sheet has been clipped in as when new they are separated)! And because of its shape it was great at cutting through the wind so it didn't feel like it was trying to blow away. The porch was pretty neat for leaving my boots when coming or going, kept the inside tent clean. Plus all the panniers etc stayed out there.
The tent packs really small, rolls up and packs away quicker than it goes up. 5-7 minutes to setup, about 2-3 minutes to pack away.
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Stevie GooGs
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PostPosted: 14:31 - 22 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Why carry a cover for the bike?
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ws4936
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PostPosted: 22:53 - 22 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stevie GooGs wrote:
Why carry a cover for the bike?

The original idea was to use a gopod, but with the rentec luggage rack, the gopod was too small. It was basically a dummy run for when I ride the bike to Malta in may/June. I took what I was going to take then. And I plan on taking a cover, because I love my baby.
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ws4936
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PostPosted: 22:57 - 22 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stevie GooGs wrote:
Why carry a cover for the bike?


To be frank though....matts bike was saturated like a hand sized sponge that had been sitting in a swimming pool the next morning......smug was an understated feeling.
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-Matt-
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PostPosted: 23:31 - 22 Mar 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mist-moisened I believe may be the technical term Crying or Very sad
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