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doing a Cardiff to Prestatyn ride tomorrow (yep seen the forecast 😳) couple of lads concerned its too rough in places for 25mm and deep section carbon wheels...from memory I thought it was mostly tarmac for first few miles at least? Just looking for a safe route out of the city heading up to Pontypridd... been years since I cycled it last.... any advice from locals appreciated please
Pretty sure it's tarmac all the way to Pointy.
Which route are you taking and how long are you planning on taking?
It does take a lot longer than the road though, I would not (and do not) use unless MTBing locally.
Proposed schedule for Sat
If we left at 5.30 from Tavel inn in Wenvoe, Millenium stadium at 6am
Merthyr 31 miles 7.30am
Brecon. 49 miles 9.00am
Builth Wells 66 miles 10.15am
Llandrindod 73 miles 11.15am
Newtown 99miles 1.00pm
Llangynog 135 miles 3.00pm
Corwen 152 miles 4.30pm
Prestatyn 7.30pm -8.00pm
Cheers Moley routes above planning on 15mph average so ideally roads, originally I'm from Ynysybwl so know the old roads further north but not fancying pedalling over Gabalfa flyover!
At that time of day on a Saturday the roads should be fairly quiet.
I'd suggest not charging up the taff trail as it's shared use rather than a dedicated cycle lane.
There are offroad subways to get across the Gabalfa interchange, but I tend to just go round the roundabout, it's 20mph and will probably still be quite quiet on Saturday morning 7-8am.
The A470 gets a bit fast and furious just before Tongwynlais, I don't know how to direct you passed that, but I'd probably drop onto the old cardiff road a4054.
The otehr option would be to stay on the Western side of the river all the way out of Cardiff into Gwaelod and Taffs Well.
Oh blimey yes - there'll be no traffic at 5.30am on a Saturday. You could just blast up North Road if you like, it's quick, the flyover isn't bad if you manage the lane changes at either end - or from town you can go up Cathedral Road, then through Llandaff and Radyr and join the A4054 at Tongwynlais. That isn't significantly further, but will be quite pleasant. Bit of uphill but nothing compared to what you'll face later in the day 😉
The A4054 is the old road to Merthyr and is what you want. The A470 isn't really required at all.
Does this link work?
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/51.5423716,-3.2676257/west+gate+street,+Cardiff/ @51.532976,-3.2658811,14.04z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x486e1cb1cc8c2b6f:0xb678ff79795de499!2m2!1d-3.1805909!2d51.4797803!3e0
The Taff Trail is indeed tarmac all the way to just past Pontypridd, good quality too. But as others have said the roads through Taffs Wells and up the east of the Taff will be fine at that time of day. Just remember that the A470 is a no cycling stretch past the Taffs Wells turning but there's absolutely no reason for you to ride on it!
Thanks folks....if you can have a word with the weather forecast please it'll be much appreciated!