[Closed] Got time for a 5hr ride in South Wales now, where?

Hmm no interest, clearly forgot to ask what tyre to fit

Cwmcarn Twrch and Cafall? If only so you can report back to me whether Cafall is drying out or not 😉

Also may be stretching the definition of an hours drive from Swansea, depending how quick you drive...

Black Mountains or Afan

the cafall was mostly dry on sunday

with that and twrch my legs were tired!

Brecon Beacons are about an hour from Swansea on the A4067. Plenty of riding there.

Personally I'd do Afan. You'll get 5 hours consistent riding without needing to plan or think too much...I prefer big sky adventures when I've had time to pore over a map with mates...If I wasn't staring down the barrel of 5 hours of meetings today I'd be out there too!

Double post...

Unless you already know a 5hr ride in the Beacons ect, I cant see how you can plan one in 5 minutes after breakfast. I'd go to Afan, but Cwmcarn is about an hour away, Cafall and the Twrch probably isn't a 5 hour ride but your legs will think it was 😯

Sorry, missed the 'now' bit (as in right now). Afan is probably the best choice then.

Yeah, I'd avoid spending a few hours in the Beacons unless you know you're way around or are with people/mates that do.

Stick to the centres IIWY.

Personally I'd do Afan. You'll get 5 hours consistent riding without needing to plan or think too much...I prefer big sky adventures when I've had time to pore over a map with mates...

Spot on.

You could spend 5 hours riding within 5 miles of Swansea city centre if you know where to go. And on very, very good tracks as well.

Kilvey Hill to the east of the town centre has something like 5 or 6 MTB specific DH/tech tracks on it plus the Alpine trail. (

as an example.) I can spend a few hours there without repeating tracks too much.

Clyne Valley starts almost from the beach at Blackpill and can be accessed with a very easy ride along the seafront cycle path. It is wet but should be drying out given the current weather. Currently Back on Track are building trails but there is still plenty of stuff to ride.

And of course with 5 hours you get a very decent ride around Gower.

All without having to get in a car. There's plenty of other stuff around here as well. Unfortunately I'm too busy to offer myself as a guide but let me know if you want more info. If you are here for longer a bunch of us meet for a night ride (normally around Clyne) on Thursday evenings.

And sorry scotjohn, just realised that you moved to Swansea a few years ago? (I seem to remember having an exchange with you when you were looking for a house.) So you probably know of the places I've mentioned.

Thanks all for your replies. Ridden loads at Afan so felt I needed something different and with the weather as it was then big views are in order so...
I headed North and stretched the hours drive a bit to end up in Rhayader. Had a quick chat with Clive Powell of that there Clive Powell Mountain Bikes fame who kindly provided me with a route, a map and some trail advice in the Elan Valley. Needless to say I had a stunning ride with absolutely everything you could want in a good proper old school solo bike ride. Big climbs, big downs, lots of rocks, steam crossings, very little thick mud, amazing views, no people. Sheer bliss
He's organising a challenge ride this Sunday over the same route AFAIK, so if this sounds your thing check out his website for details

IdleJon cheers for the post, yeah have ridden almost everything I can find locally and was up Kilvey just the other day scouting for trails. Always looking for riding partners though as getting a bit bored of always riding solo. Are you in the uni cycling club?

No, far too old for that! 🙂

I ride with the MTB Pigs. www.mtbpigs.co.uk I was going to suggest you log on the forum anyway - with about 150 local users if you'd asked this question on the Pigs forum you'd undoubtedly have had some useful replies very quickly. And possibly somebody to ride with. They're a friendly bunch and there's always someone riding somewhere.