Two trails in one day, how hard can it be??
- Phill - Head Guide
- Jun 21, 2018
- 1 min read
Very!!! Dan was over from the British Cycling MTB Leadership Team in Manchester and wanted a little company while he did a pre-ride for a Level 3 assessment that Dave over at Wye MTB was delivering that weekend. So, the idea was to do the Gap ride with an add on, then skip to Gwyrne Fawr and ride over Lord Herefords Knob and back up Y Das. Simple. Oh my days...
My legs stopped screaming 48hrs later, that was one tough 70 hard kilometers!! Might not answer the phone next time ;-)
Alright, you both convinced me. I’m getting poles before my next trip for sure. Crazy to think that back in 2018 we thought two trails in a day was no big deal… youth really is a different kind of energy 😂
Haha, same here! After a full day on the trails, all I want is food, a shower, and zero movement. And Lena, yeah — poles are worth it. Even cheap ones help on rough terrain. Think of it as a third and fourth leg for balance 😄
Definitely use poles, especially on long descents — total life-saver for joints. I used to think they were just for older hikers, but once I tried them, I never went back. Also, random tip: after a long day like that, I like to unwind a bit — sometimes I’ll just open something light and relaxing online while stretching out. Helps me chill after all that physical effort.
Haha yeah, “pacing” wasn’t really in my vocabulary either. I underestimated how much the downhill section would wreck my knees. It’s not even the cardio — it’s the impact. Do you guys use hiking poles? I’ve heard mixed opinions, but I’m tempted to try them next time.
Good call on that! I tried a similar challenge in 2018 — Yosemite’s Mist Trail in the morning, then Taft Point later that day. The views were insane, but by the time I hit Taft, my legs were trembling so bad I almost sat down halfway through. Now I stick to one long hike or two short ones max. Gotta pace yourself!