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Mandy Rides Bikes
Приєднався 12 вер 2010
I'm an unfit middle-aged woman attempting to ride a mountain bike 😊
Find me on Instagram @mandy_ridesbikes
Find me on Instagram @mandy_ridesbikes
First ride on the NEW 2025 model Mondraker Crafty Carbon R
If you've seen any of my previous videos of me riding a Mondraker Crafty lent to me by my local bike shop you'll know how much I liked it but also that it had limitations that just wouldn't suit me long term. I'm delighted to say I've just taken delivery of a brand new Crafty Carbon R, which addresses all of the issues I had with the previous model. Christmas has come early for me this year 😀
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Відео
Swinley on the Mondraker Crafty, June 2024
Переглядів 14814 днів тому
I've been to Swinley hundreds of times but I'm not sure I've ever done a proper video there! So I took advantage of my time with the Mondraker Crafty and did one. How do I get on with it on trails I know very well?
The Re-graded and Refurbished Blue 'Tech' line at the Forest of Dean
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I had a look at the recently refurbished 'Tech' Line as it's now known on the newly graded blue skills area at the Forest of Dean. Disclaimer - I didn't stop to look at the drops too closely so take what I say with a pinch of salt and check the line out properly before you ride it. I didn't do the jumps line as I can't jump to save my life, but it looks very similar apart from a couple of new c...
Two Trail Centres in One Day on the Mondraker Crafty - Lanhydrock & Cardinham Woods, 19th June 2024
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Having ridden the Mondraker Crafty for the first time at Halton Forest I gave it a go the next day at Lanhydrock and Cardinham Woods in Bodmin.
Glentress - 49th birthday ride, 24th November 2024
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Riding the blues at Glentress Forest the day after my 49th birthday and the day after heavy snow. Not that's you'd know, it had all gone!
New Green Trail at the Forest of Dean - Old Bob's Trail
Переглядів 1,4 тис.2 місяці тому
The new green trail at the Forest of Dean, Old Bob's Trail, is a really great addition to the forest.
Haldon Forest on a Mondraker Crafty!
Переглядів 3125 місяців тому
Megawatt Mandy becomes Mondraker Mandy! How do I get on with a Mondraker Crafty at Halton Forest?
Moors Valley Country Park - 16th January 2024
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My first visit to Moors Valley Country Park in Dorset.
The Forest of Dean - The blue trails
Переглядів 33211 місяців тому
The blue-graded trails at the Forest of Dean - Verderers, Countdown and Launchpad with a detour to the wooden ramps on Freeminers thrown in too.
Cycling in Dubai - December 2023 & January 2024
Переглядів 11411 місяців тому
I spent Christmas and New Year visiting my brother in Dubai. Whilst I was there we rode mountain bikes at Hatta, did a loop of the Nad Al Sheba cycling track and rode the Dubai equivalent of Boris bikes along Kite Beach. It was quite an experience!
TERRIBLE riding, AMAZING views! Cwm Rhaeadr - 8th October 2023
Переглядів 165Рік тому
My first time at Cwm Rhaeadr, absolutely amazing viewings on an unusually warm October day. Slightly spoiled by twisting my ankle in a hole near the start of the ride...
Breeze Ride at Afan, White's Level - 5th November 2023
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Ladies Breeze ride at Afan doing the final 3 descents on White's Level - Energy, Goodwood and Darkside
Derwen Trail, Brechfa Forest. The best green trail I've ever ridden!
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I rode the green and blue Derwen trail at Brechfa Forest, I wasn't impressed with the blue section but the green was amazing! I really wasn't expecting such a fun flowy trail. Well worth it.
New GoPro Hero 12 with Max lens Mod 2. Which is best, Hyper View or Super View?
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Trying out the new GoPro Hero 12 with Max Lens Mod 2 for the first time. Which is best, Hyper View or Super View? I'm an idiot and I kept referring to Hyper View as Max View throughout this video...
Looking for the old blue trail and finding helicopters in Sherwood Pines!
Переглядів 195Рік тому
Looking for the old blue trail and finding helicopters in Sherwood Pines!
Epic MTB Trip Day 3 Part 2 - Kielder Forest
Переглядів 41Рік тому
Epic MTB Trip Day 3 Part 2 - Kielder Forest
Epic MTB Trip Day 3 Part 1 - Newcastleton
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Epic MTB Trip Day 3 Part 1 - Newcastleton
Cannock Chase 23rd May 2023 - Perry's Trail and Follow The Dog
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Cannock Chase 23rd May 2023 - Perry's Trail and Follow The Dog
Mandy and Amanda go to Bike Park Wales - 1st April 2023
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Mandy and Amanda go to Bike Park Wales - 1st April 2023
Bike Park Wales Ladies Coaching Day, 15th April 2023
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Bike Park Wales Ladies Coaching Day, 15th April 2023
Summit Trail at Nant Yr Arian - 7th April 2023
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Summit Trail at Nant Yr Arian - 7th April 2023
You say your not very technical, but talking about crank lengths etc, you sound very technical 😂😂
Keep up the good work, you will definitely get better. 😊
This is on my shortlist for my next bike. I would love to see a follow-up video at some point.
Nice. I’m hoping to get one next month here in North America. Glad to finally see a review. Good Luck!!
gonna need to pink it up a bit Mandy😀 great looking bike,
That bike was borrowed from my bike shop but I've just taken delivery of a brand new 2025 model Crafty Carbon, I'm editing my latest video right now. And yes it will be customised 😄
@@Mandy_ridesbikes looking forward to seeing it.
WHY would someone need to ride electric bikes on down hill trails?! For getting back to the top ... but if you used human power your legs and heart it would be FAR better for you. All of you.
Ha ha ha. Are you riding an electric bike? On downhill trails? Ha ha ha. Loll. People would be better off avoiding electric bike and using their own human power - legs, cardio, lungs, heart, etc. This is the way to get the most out of cycling and this is the way to get the most out of exercise and fitness. Electric bikes just cheat the rider and society and electric bikes dramatically reduce the health benefits of cycling.
wow, please ignore 99% of the above if you are interested in E-MTBs. they havemade a simple assumption that assisted peddling = lazy, and it's a really dumb assumption.
I wasn’t going to dignify the original comment with a response but thank you. There are many reasons why people ride emtbs, no one should feel bad or be made to feel bad for the bike they ride.
I'm 77 and riding these trails. I went over to an emtb at the beginning of 2023 as although I was still making the climbs back to the top they were becoming more draining on my stamina. The emtb lets me get many more runs in and continue with my cycling life..... so get off your high horse.
Love riding Swinley we meet three or four times a year there. Last visit - Sat 14th Dec 24 and it looked a lot different! Not surprising after the recent storms. Bit of Winter maintenance / repair going on, some closed runs, loads of wet stuff (Red 1 - 6 for sure), and lots of boggy stuff, but great fun. Summer or Winter its always a good ride out and the Crown Estate does a fab job of maintaining it. Will try it on a eMTB one day. Thanks for the vid.
I've ridden Swinley in all weathers, some sections always seem to be wet even when it hasn't rained for ages - Reds 1 - 6 being prime examples! I'm looking forward to riding Red 13 once it's reopened. Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for the comment, once you try an EMTB you won't go back... 🙂
This really inspired me to get on my bike.
Are you the lady i spoke to and you asked how the trail was running or something along those lines on friday?
I don’t know, maybe? I said hi to a couple of guys at the start of the skills lines and saw a couple of people on Verderers.
Great to see some lovely sunshine now winter is here!
I know, I was yearning for summer whilst editing this video!
I've only been the once to GT, watching that has made me want to get back there
I was there on the 24th the snow was awesome! Gray vid 👍🏻
I did a 49th birthday ride at Glentress on the 15th of November. Sweet!
Great video Mandy - thanks for sharing! Really good to see what a blue trail is like. I took my daughter to the new 'Old Bobs' green trail a couple of weeks back and we had a lot of fun on it, at least until she flew off it in a panic but just a few grazes and a knock to the confidence as a consequence!
Thinking of trying my daughter on this with her new bike at Xmas. Are there many climbs?
Do you know FoD? If you do, it starts a short way up the rocky road that leads to the start of Verderers. There's a gentle switchback climb from there. There are some short climbs but nothing severe and you can take your time and stop at the skills sections on the way. You can also bail and come back down the fire road if you think it's too much but it's a fantastic starter trail.
@@Mandy_ridesbikes yes I do. Thanks 👍
Fire road by the side of beast of burden is way quicker than this ! Ive done all routes up many times
Great riding! Keep Practicing corners, standing up with pedals flat leaning the bike and you will get better. Really nice green trails for learning!
Good to see you back Mandy. I'm honoured that FOD have named a trail after me, even though I've not made it down yet - hopefully you'll get your own trail too!!
I was there in 2019,glad to see it again ❤
Hay Mega :-) Found you via the FOD ride as my wife and I went there resently and did the basic loop. Verderers is next and we neeed to drive back up there :-) So watched your video to see what its like as I scream if I get more than a few inches off the ground and the wife just gets off and pushes. It looks perfect for us so thanks. Moores is out local track. Not great but fun and not been for a few years. I am just about getting to the point of being able to cycle then now and do a lap b4 heading home. Whatching this I must go back. You should have given the Pump track a go. Its very rollable :-)
FoD is great, you'll love Verderers. If you enjoy the descent try Countdown and Launchpad next. Have you been to Queen Elizabeth County Park? The blue there is fun too. Enjoy!
@@Mandy_ridesbikes Not yet but the guys from Dorset Rough Riders go there a lot so its on the list. My Mrs has only just started riding with me again as she had a few tumbles and lost her confidence. We are probably going to Moore's this weekend now if this darn weather improves. I am going to meet her there with her bile so that will save her the 40 min ride to get there. Then if I am knackered I can jump in the car and get a lift home :-) Turning 60 next week so i need to take it easy. Im off to Lake Garda to ride down Mount Baldo. I will get a EMTB as there are a lot of ups as well.
Nice. Chain slapper and snow white have been redone finally much better now.
This is our local trail centre! Hope you had a good time!!
15:40 you should be full speed 40 mph !! Send it 🙌🏼🤣👍🏾👍🏾
moving target....no thanks
🎉
That looks very flowy, but I bet falling off would have not been fun!!
Yeah, we only did the easy trails as my brother was due to take part in a half-marathon a couple of days later and didn’t want to risk falling off. It was very loose and rocky, falling off would take your skin off!
Think I prefer Super View. Are you using a chest mount? I normally have the gopro on my head but would like a different angle at times.
Pay for the uplift.. no brainier, wasted time and energy
Wow! Gorgeous scenery! Beautiful trail. I hope your ankle heals quickly. Thanks for the ride!
For a green trail it looks brilliant, shame it's such a long way from where I live.
It was quite a surprise, I'm surprised it's not better known. And yes, sadly it's quite a way from me too.
The quickest ways it to buy the uplift
some of it is defo quite enjoyable, but it's sooooooooo narrow!!!! i don't go there often, but when i do i really enjoy the piece and tranquility there as it's always so quiet!!!
I’d go back again if I’m in the area. I was tired having need to Castleton in the morning so it would be good to have more time and do the reds too.
Great video, I’m a beginner but after about a month I’m totally and utterly hooked. I’m lucky to only live two miles down the road in Hednesford so I ride on the Chase all the time. Love Perry’s trail and have done most of Follow the Dog, but like you I haven’t yet tackled the rock garden at the start.
have you ever been style cop up the road?😊
Well done. Would be interesting to see the time difference between the two bikes. The big question is which did you enjoy the most.
Ha, well there's a question! I like them both for different reasons 😊
Just found your channel and really enjoyed this video. I am a total newb to bike trails and I find the way you describe the ride and the detailed explanation of the features really helpful for someone like me. My first time on a trail was about 3 weeks ago at Sherwood pines where I did 2 runs of the blue trail, at the end of the runs I was grinning like a Cheshire cat. I am a 65 year old on an 20 inch folding fat tyre ebike. Both the bike and I managed the runs without incident. After watching this video I will be doing the red trail next time:) Thanks again for the great commentary while you are riding.
Thank you for this. I'm not a great rider and also find people explaining and describing the trails useful so I'm really glad you liked it and found it helpful. Enjoy the trails 😀
Another great effort. I sometimes used to come off the final rock garden on Nitrous, but if you just look ahead rather than down you should be fine, you can even pedal to keep your speed and balance.
Ive just discovered your videos and am really impressed with your attitude and content. If you are unsure about the first descent just cycle up to GoApe then straight up the fire road to get section 3. You will really enjoy the new section 5, its very flowy, you can pump and even get a bit of air, and session it if you like it. After seeing some of your other videos the final blue berm section is well within your skill set, and is one you can session if you turn left rather than right after the berms. My final comment is that if you can do over 30 miles round Dalby, even on an ebike - chapeau!!!
Thanks for your comments! I’m rubbish at tight corners, and Dalby has a few of those on the red! I like to try and work out my own routes to avoid bits I don’t like and link up the bits I do. I’m sure I’ll be back there again at some point 😊
Im really enjoying your video trip Mandy! You can avoid a lot of fire road by going straight up to Poltys from the Grove car park. Once you get used to the "horrible hill" you can wizz up it looking for the best lines and it does become a lot more fun. If you go all the way up to the top and do Section 13 you can miss the black Boneshaker trail and carry on to Special K on the red. You get a lot more downhill for the effort of doing the climb! If you are feeling fit (and confident!!) there is another descent down Pikes Teeth and Oddsox. Overall this is a better use of your time and energy than doing the full red loop.
Its a great place for building confidence, alas it does have regular diversions - with the felling. Great video!
Well done Mandy, you defo picked the right time to go with the weather!!!
I know! I was so lucky. My shock was knackered that week so I’m hoping to get back there again in September 👍🏼
How many climbs up get you do off a single battery charge?
How long does it take to get to the top. Only ask as I’m going back with an e-bike this weekend
i went there on the 7th of july and it was 26c and was dusty as hell but was amazing
not been there for years might have to go back and check it out
Nice one Mandy 💥
Its called the cottage climb....ebikes arent allowed on fire roads now
Wrong. You have to use the fire road to get to the Ebike climb 🤦🏾
Im not wrong ...read the signs😂😂😂😂
@kevinhart1667 I have, it's just for the uplift route, not all the fire roads. Also there's no mention of ebikes.. its all bikes.
@@kevinhart1667 As I said.. you have to use the fire road to access the ebike climb and half of the trails 🤷♂️
Ride it today for the first time, and tbf thought it was rubbish. They keep building these trails on flats with jumps in that really you aren’t going to jump ever. Those tight berms are pretty good but the rest was a shame. Liked your vid though! Thankyou
I’m glad it’s not just me that thinks jumps on flat blue trails are pointless! Glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks Mandy - really good info on the ride
Il stick to going up the beast route On average 4 runs per day and no ebike