Aberllefenni

[Cantclimbtom]

They'll probably try the same at Dinorwic next

I've watched pretty young kids cycle up that concrete cableway (or whatever it is) on the first big incline you get to (behind long sheds) when you walk in from Bus stop. Then turn around and come down again. If only I had a bike with big tyres and disk brakes and had a hill like that when I was a kid. Those rock hard Raleigh front brake rubbers on thin chrome rims wouldn't have been up to the job, I would never have stopped.
Even the Raleigh Bomber wouldn't have been up to it. I remember some kid zooming down a hill proudly on his new Bomber shouting to his mates at the top of his voice "Watch This! Back-pedal brakes" then he back pedalled, the back wheel locked, he totally lost it, slid across the road and ended up lying motionless with terrible road rash while all his mates were rolling on the floor wetting themselves with laughter. Kids of today , they don't know how lucky they are.

 

[Speleofish]

In the early 19602, we used to cycle around old slag heaps in Northumberland. Most have now been landscaped or levelled but in those days they were quite steep and very unforgiving to fall on. There were two schools of thought: wear shorts and get horribly scraped; or wear jeans, get slightly less scraped but get into trouble with you parents when you got home with your jeans in tatters.

The extra excitement was that some had slow burning, internal fires with a thin crust over the surface. I never encountered one but our parents used to tell horror stories about them (though I think it was really an attempt to persuade us not to wreck so many pairs of jeans).

 

[SamT]

The Athertons (2 brothers and the sister) are massive news in mid wales.  All world champs.  They have their very own hillside in mid wales where they build stupendous trails host the Redbull Hardline every year.  I'm sure they've got quite a lot of clout locally and I'll bet they did ask permission.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCew-XynokXzvaLr-zRV8APg

https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/videos/dan-atherton-hardline-course-introduction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC85QaN0hng

Rachel is hardcore!!

 

[ChrisJC]

Presumably they do more and more ludicrous stunts until they kill themselves?

Skating down past the quarries on razor sharp slate with fatal drops within a few feet is only going to end one way...

Chris.

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Good idea ChrisJC!
They should go back to Aberllefenni and repeat the same route but on rollerskates. You should suggest it. That will up the ante.

And to top that they'd need to rollerskate down the side of Twll Mawr holding a heavily sweated 4oz stick of gelignite in each hand after product placing a Red Bull first of course

 

[RobinGriffiths]

Good idea ChrisJC!
They should go back to Aberllefenni and repeat the same route but on rollerskates. You should suggest it. That will up the ante.

And to top that they'd need to rollerskate down the side of Twll Mawr holding a heavily sweated 4oz stick of gelignite in each hand after product placing a Red Bull first of course

I will up your rollerskates by a pogo stick.

 

[rjw]

I will up your rollerskates by a pogo stick.

All I will say is - spacehoppers.

 

[ChrisJC]

Frankly they will need either a jetpack or wings if they go in one of the holes near the top - they are 200m deep.

Chris.

 

[Cantclimbtom]

There we have it...
They cycle fast down onto a ramp, freestyle Motocross double backflip into a 200m hole and immediately deploy slider up base jump chute to land at bottom. Wild applause.

But will they have the b*lls to climb down the big ladder?

 

[Paul Marvin]

There we have it...
They cycle fast down onto a ramp, freestyle Motocross double backflip into a 200m hole and immediately deploy slider up base jump chute to land at bottom. Wild applause.

But will they have the b*lls to climb down the big ladder?

Yes it is big when you light it all up

 

[royfellows]

That big ladder is interesting. Ladders on a slight inclination are different completely to a vertical one. And the longest length here I would say is a good 60 feet and vertical. A tackle bag on your back tends to pull you outwards, I have the presence of mind to hang mine from a sling on the front of my belt, I find it makes a big difference.

 

[Paul Marvin]

That big ladder is interesting. Ladders on a slight inclination are different completely to a vertical one. And the longest length here I would say is a good 60 feet and vertical. A tackle bag on your back tends to pull you outwards, I have the presence of mind to hang mine from a sling on the front of my belt, I find it makes a big difference.

We lower ours down on the rope thats in situ if its still there ?

 

[Paul Marvin]

Roy can you upload photos on here ? I have a nice shot showing the whole of that ladder and chamber lit up or a very nice video but will that upset people ??  :-\

 

[SamT]

Living life on the edge is all well and good.. till you fall off......

https://youtu.be/_hRrA3_MvQ8

 

[Cantclimbtom]

... a very nice video but will that upset people ??  :-\

Please upset us!

 

[sinker]

Living life on the edge is all well and good.. till you fall off......

https://youtu.be/_hRrA3_MvQ8

Rescued by the tax-payer, fixed up by the tax-payer; I assume some of his Red Bull sponsorship went as a donation?!

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Suppose you twist your ankle in a mine, someone will say... Why did he go in that mine, isn't it dangerous, they should all be boarded up, etc, local hospital, my taxes, cost this and that, if only he'd just stayed at home, etc , etc. I even hear the same about steep hill walking from some people. ( for example my my mother in law considers grade 1 scrambling as unforgivably dangerous and selfish as it risks the lives of others who "inevitably" will have to rescue them),

I'm happier for someone to take a tiny fraction of my taxes doing something active and inspiring (even if stupidly foolhardy!!), than people who take a fraction of my taxes by years of neglecting themselves.

Not sure if I can go as far as defending the stupidity, but oddly I'm not comfortable that it should be criticised. I think we're all richer for having people as daft as him (although no I wouldn't encourage my kids to do that). Let's give him the benefit of the doubt.

I'm looking at that ridge, really think I recognise it but can't name it, kicking myself.. Where is it?

 

[sn]

It's a ridge above the minor road which climbs up to Bwlch Y Groes, just east of the Arans. On the OS map it's called Wenallt, or Tap Nyth yr Eryr.

Scary video !

 

[sinker]

Suppose you twist your ankle in a mine, someone will say... Why did he go in that mine, isn't it dangerous, they should all be boarded up, etc, local hospital, my taxes, cost this and that, if only he'd just stayed at home, etc , etc. I even hear the same about steep hill walking from some people. ( for example my my mother in law considers grade 1 scrambling as unforgivably dangerous and selfish as it risks the lives of others who "inevitably" will have to rescue them),

I'm happier for someone to take a tiny fraction of my taxes doing something active and inspiring (even if stupidly foolhardy!!), than people who take a fraction of my taxes by years of neglecting themselves.

Not sure if I can go as far as defending the stupidity, but oddly I'm not comfortable that it should be criticised. I think we're all richer for having people as daft as him (although no I wouldn't encourage my kids to do that). Let's give him the benefit of the doubt.

I'm looking at that ridge, really think I recognise it but can't name it, kicking myself.. Where is it?

My point was that with all his sponsorship and money raising hype, he could afford to pay towards the costs, in the same way that you and I can to a greater or lesser extent. When I go falling over on a hill or crashing my car It's a consequence of doing something work or for relaxation.
When you are doing something extreme for sponsorship, likes or for social media exposure then there should be a balance.
He may well have made a donation, if so great but I just guessed by the way he made a point of thanking everyone that he hadn't.
I wouldn't advocate leaving him there dying, health care free at the point of delivery and all that. 

 

[cap n chris]

In the event of an incident/accident of any nature you are not at liberty to make judgement calls about the whys/wherefores or wisdom of the circumstances leading to it.

If you were allowed to do so then pretty nearly every cave rescue would be a dire condemnation of the entire endeavour of all of us.