[Closed] Welsh Ride Thing.....

I'm starting to think it might be a good idea if I've 'left town' by the time everyone returns on the Monday ... there's an awful lot of trees here you could throw a rope over 😆

Stuart

Oh the joys of being an organiser! I ran Trailquests all over this area from Machynlleth to South of Devils Bridge for 7 years without a single complaint from either riders or landowners until the last one where a rider moaned about there being too many gates!
I don't think anyone will have the strength to do a lynching by the time we get back. I do think you have made a tremendous effort to guide riders to some of the best riding in the area without it turning into a procession, if people chose to make life difficult for themselves then what can you do?

So, appart from the Doethie Valley 'must do', anyone want to share some hints as to other really good bits?

Loads of 'must do' bits Nick, ie you 'must do' them to get round and make it back 😉

Some of the views/locations alone are worth a push, carry, swearing session but I have to admit, it ain't no trail centre.

Ok 🙂

Glansevern Arms at Pant Mawr , is it still there, does it sell food and beer?

It was there last night. The Dyffryn Castell just down the road towards Ponterwyd is covered in scaffold though, don't know whether it's open atm. This route has the makings of an epic pub crawl, my route passes the Star, Hafod Arms, Miners Arms Tafarn Teifi, Red Lion, Black Lion, Dyfryn Castell, Blue Bell, hic

It was the Anglers Retreat, think I went near Teifi ponds on another adventure.

Frame bag is not one of Eric's, having one made locally.

nostoc - Member
I'd consider it if going downhill (anticlockwise) but not up.

Going down it is our Plan A.

If it doesn't rain between now and then it may stay in our plans.

What do the locals say?

Have a Plan B, and play it by ear

The bridleway from Teifi pools to strata florida is good, as is the descent off the north end of monks trod. I don't think most of the bridleways from Claewen to Teifi valley are very good. There's a bit of a line over Drygarn Fawr, but that's a bit too far east.

Going down it is our Plan A.

If it doesn't rain between now and then it may stay in our plans.

The wetness of the trail isn't the problem, the problem is that it isn't there or at least isn't visible from the forest exit. I rode across Esgair Garthen a few years ago and there seemed to be a fairly good sheep path leading across to the forest at Crug Yr Wyn, you could try exiting the forest there riding east along the edge of the forest to the corner and taking a NE bearing to pick up the bridleway at the highest point. Could be a bit dodgy in poor visibility and it is a long way out of your way if it goes pear shaped. Wouldn't be my choice. Definitely avoid the west side of Esgair Garthen SQ 80 &81 it will drive you mad.

so if coming from claerwen dam, could take the track up esgair garthen and then bear off on to sheep track in to forest at Crug Yr Wyn instead of the Afon Arban bridleway?

In theory but if the cloud or mist obscures your veiw of the thin line of trees you will only have GPS to go off. Also the Esgair Garthen track isn't exactly a motorway. Why are you at that end of Claerwen anyway, all the checkpoints are at the other end?

Down that end to make my route into a circuit and save doubling back, I hate riding the same route in both directions!

Moel Prysgau is the furthest south I go. Any further and I think the chances of me attending the wedding on monday is slim and I would be in much trouble....

Here's a thought then. From Monks Trod, Claerddu down the Llyn Eignant- Tynycwm track 😀 (bridleway is diverted to right just before Tynycwm) to Strata Florida, all the way to Moel Prysgau on the forest road then back to Strata Florida on the drovers road following the river bed and then parallel to the forest road down the hill which is a nice flowy double track. This means you only cross your route rather than ride along it in both directions. 100% ridable and wet feet guaranteed.

Oh yeah, the drovers road, another one burned into my memory, riding/wading it in the dark in driving rain on the way to Dolgoch YH.....

hmmm.

Moorland push is starting to sound more tempting!

I always take a pair of flipflops for such situations 😀

Bought a pair of neoprene shoes with grippy soles from cheap charlies in Aber on Saturday £5 bargain, now where did I put those water wings 😉

Got to work on the wife's sewing machine last night and made some dry-bag retention straps, tested on way to work this morning and my stitching held. Not bad at all:

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excuse the misty camera phone pics.

Yep that should float, about the right height as well 😀

Very nice too ... for anyone who can't be arsed making straps I've noticed that Gelert do some. They're a few quid a pair and come in different lengths ... sort of rainbow coloured.

You could just do what I saw a group do whilst on a DoE cycle expedition ... every morning they gaffa taped all their kit to their bikes 😯 worryingly, the school they attended means some of them may one day be running the country.

super sessions for some reason can't help but think that looks like you are about to deploy a life raft!!

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thomthumb - you don't realise just how close to the truth that may be.

Once I've got the one on the back I'll be all set for amphibious river crossings!

You could just do what I saw a group do whilst on a DoE cycle expedition ... every morning they gaffa taped all their kit to their bikes worryingly, the school they attended means some of them may one day be running the country.

Gaffa tape is like the force - it has a light side, a dark side and holds the universe together. 😉

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supersessions earlier

Ok complete route replan done as was planninng on going NE along the Afon Arban

Got 11 checkpoints so am all oficial and everything got fed up of clikclikclikclikclikclikclikclik so no idea of the distance but will be just over 100 miles I am guessing

Now to work out how to pack the bike

Oh and one rider has dropped out

Sort of looking forward to it again

Proper looking forward to this Hope the weather stays good!

Looks good supersessions, pretty much exactly how I've done mine, think there will be quite a few Alpkit dry bags about!

I've spent so long looking at the maps (highly recommend Mapyx Quo 2) that I can see them in my sleep....

My weapon of choice
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Yep I know I'm colour blind.

[url= http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=category&category_id=253 ]The new mats[/url] are in at Alpkit. Do I go for an Airo 120 or 180? Decisions, decisions.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25655510@N02/4615651177/
Here's mine but the red bag will have to come off.

Anyone know what their kit weighs? I'm told if it's sub 10lb excluding food then you can consider yourself "ultralight" and (god knows how) but if it's under 5lb then you'll enter the kingdom of heaven and people will fall at your feet for you will be "superultralight" 😉

Just over 11 lbs when I weighed the two bags the other day, that did include about a lb of food.

Nick taking into account your food it looks like you're heading for the dizzy heights of "ultralight" ... I'm awaiting input from flatfish who may be into minus figures.

i'm fully expecting shaggy to step up to the plate for the title of superultralight, however looking at the forecast for next weekend my kit will be around another 400g lighter if the met office are to be believed.
i reckon i can sneak below the ultralight limit though.

Morning, didn't think it'd take you long to arrive 😉

I take it good weather is on the cards then? ... I should know this already as Iori at the next farm down predicted it in Jan/Feb.

I reckon what's in my pockets would take me over the superultralight limit.

Still contemplating options for carrying stuff. I am look to carry stuff on the front.

Alpkit have sold out of 13l and 20l dry dry bags. Does anyone know of any other dry bag that has holes for webbing straps so that it fits securely on the bars?

I like the idea of the POD Airstream though concerned that webbing straps may come off.

Ive used an exped bag before, it had softish stuff inside and the straps compressed the bag pretty well and it never looked like the bag would slip and come lose. Bungees would work well too.

Nick taking into account your food it looks like you're heading for the dizzy heights of "ultralight" ... I'm awaiting input from flatfish who may be into minus figures.

Yeah I was quite suprised as it looks quite bulky, it's also got my synthetic bag in there at the moment, which is almost a lb heavier than my Alpkit Pipedream 400, if the forecast is dry I'll be taking the PD.

I reckon what's in my pockets would take me over the superultralight limit.

so it was you that won £84 million quid at the weekend?

Na, Dee won it and she just gives me pocket money ... in coppers!

Jimmers .. Also found that Alpkit were out of stock of the dry bag I was looking for, the Airlok XTra, so now have a Pod Airstream Lite Compression Sac with a couple of Pod elasticated straps looped through the cords and around the bars. Feels pretty solid in the shed test and will also make a handy map holder.

**** me - I dont want to curse us but it may be dry!!! If so I can lose half the bag at least!

Chunk / Orange 5 / www.thewoollybacks.co.uk/forum

Alpkit have been good enough to help us out with some prizes for the raffle so there'll be chance to get your hands on some of their dry bags ... but not until you've returned 😀

Can you book this weather for next weekend as well please?

I'm told the weather should hold till next weekend ... fingers crossed. It's still about 12 degrees here at the moment @ 10pm.

How are the midges?

Bloody awful the last time I was there

Midges haven't arrived yet but it won't be long. Some sort of midge spray/cream would be wise.

They're waiting for next weekend arn't they?

'Ello all.

I'll wade into the discussion at this late date with what I have planned. I will be doing 11 of the 13 (unless I fancy the Bothy) and trying to remain totally self-sufficient for food.

Weight of the kit so far is 11.9lbs including the sleeping bag that will be exchanged for a liner if the weather keeps up and the tarp left at home...saving a good pound plus, and possible drop the merino layers as well.

Kit will be carried in Epic handlebar harness (Alpkit drybag: Sleeping bag, bivvi bag, tarp and pegs. Pocket on the front has 1st aid kit, tools, tube, pump and maps in it) Epic seat bag (3/4 sleeping mat, clothes, cooking kit and personal kit) Camelbak will have 2l H2o and all food.

While I plan to avoid re-supplying on the trail (due to the extra mileage required and odd opening times) I might well stop for a beer if its a nice day 😉

I am going for the anti-clockwise option and will most likely stop at Nantsyddion bothy or in the woods south of Strata Florida depending how Saturday goes. Sunday night will be in the middle of nowhere NW of Elan.

Only bad news is that Becca will not be with me as she has damaged the tendons in her ankle and is only just walking again 3weeks later! :(I have promised her we can do the route later in the year 🙂

With luck (and the 2pm start) I should be there ontime and be able to meet the other riders before heading off...I just hope the Ride the Divide DVD turns up this week for inspiration!

SSP

Sounds good, if this weather holds I may ditch the sleeping bag for a sheet sleeping bag... massive weight and bulk saving!

Country File is usually very good at forecasting for the week ahead.

Today they said the temps will be dropping down it around 10 by Thursday with a chance of frost up in Scotland, but no real rain to worry us.

Friday should be dry so fingers crossed for a good weekend and hopefully it won't be as warm as it was today.

I'd wait until later in the week to decide on kit.

http://uk.weather.com/weather/10day-Machynlleth-UKXX1215

makes things a bit more changable

For weather, this site is usually on the button: http://www.yr.no/place/United_Kingdom/Wales/Rhayader~2639470/weekend.html

Kit weight will be ~9lbs with food, excl. water. I haven't quite got it all sorted yet, as Mrs IanB is currently working on a new frame bag for me.

Still deliberating on whether or not to put gears on the 29er, or leave it singlespeed (32/19)...

So looking at route options again..... looks on goggle maps and OS like there's a line across Cerrig LLwyd Y Rhestr passed Llyn Carw, (SN8460) anyone experienced it? Is it worse than Afon Arban?

i was planning on that route but i could be persuaded otherwise if there is a better alternative.

Never ridden it but looks better on Google Earth, the only indistinct bit seems to be where the track splits to the forest where there is a footbridge and decent looking track to the forest road.Distance of about a mile. Bear in mind that the Google photos were taken 4 years ago. I spent a frustrating hour looking for a track NE of Ponterwyd the other weekend which looked very distict on GE,a plantation had all but obliterated it.

It is a better track than Afon Arban though a climb either direction and some unrideable bits on top. Possible but not easy.
(Afon Arban going E is at least downhill)
I have never done the (multiple) climb approach from off the Tywi track though.

When I’m out that way looking for a route I usually go over Foel Drygarn and down Nant Paradwys.

At present I`m thinking of doing Llyn Brianne dam to Llangurig via Abergwesyn, Bwlch y Ddau Faen, Nant Paradwys, Elan, Rhayader. Things may change.

Been up Plynlimon then, Pistonbroke?

Although it's a bit further, I think it may be a better option than Afon Arban. I'm going to give it a go. What's teh worst that could happen?! 😉

No, I was looking for a circular route linking Nant Y Moch, Eisteddfa Gurig and Tarenig without the tarmac, it did go eventually but not without a long push. There appears to be a landrover track to the top of Plynlimon, or at least half way up but as it's a footpath I wouldn't know.

I've also ridden the Bwlch y Ddau Faen, Nant Paradwys route nostoc suggests, [i]looks[/i] OK on GE but tricky to follow in places. I think it depends how much the grass has grown/ been grazed as to how easy it is on the ground.

Riding the drovers road section twice is the lesser of two evils IMO, as pistonbroke suggested on page 5. Long time since I was last up there anyway, so looking forward to it.

I know riding the drovers road twice is probably a more sensible option, but this event is about the adventure...... so I'm going to take a risk on the llyn Carw track.

If i don't make it back, it's been good chatting to you on here.....

😀

stick with me then and we can get lost together. 🙄

Thought it was impossible for you to get lost ... with your gadget 😉

Doesn't stop me getting lost, it just helps somebody find my body.

As long as it stays dry I think the downhill Afon Arban will be our option as we'd miss out the Moel Prysgau point if we take the longer southern option.

Can any locals tell me if there are any good pubs or places to eat very close to the start for a meal at 12 o'clock on the Saturday before we start?

Maybe we could meet up there on route?

Choice is pretty limited John, however there's a Cafe in Llanbrynmair (3.5 miles from us) where you should be in time for an all day breakfast. It's on the right hand side of the main road ... it will involve not turning for Staylittle and carrying on towards Mach' for 100 yards.

There are a few pubs between Newtown and us but I can't say how many will be serving food. Other than that Newtown would be your best bet ...24 miles/45 mins from the start.

There's a reasonable array of places to eat in Llanidloes, only 20mins away which is a bit closer than Newtown.

11 to 11.30 at Llanidloes it is then.

Anyone else?

The Milk Bar in Llanidloes is closing down 🙁 Did a cracking breakfast.

I finally got out for my practice overnight cycle ride at the weekend to see how this wild camping worked. I laid out all of the kit that I had been accumulating over the weeks and rationalised it based on what I need vs like and managed to trim my kit down to an amount that actually fitted onto my bike! All up it is still weighing about 18lbs including food and so is still someway off light let alone ultralight.
I also changed my gearing from 34:17 to 34:20 and for the rolling hills round here worked really well giving the bike a similar feel to my unloaded bike with original gearing.

Camp kit is an Alpkit affair with wee airic, pipedream 400 and hunka and I was fricking roasting. Eventually I had to just lay on top of my bag to keep comfortable. Anyway to cut my ramblings short it was great and I certainly learnt plenty with quite a few adjustments needed before the weekend. The biggest of which is a change of wheels as I discovered that the rim on my front wheel had failed....how lucky was that? :

Was indeed lucky ... if you hadn't spotted it I might have been going out on thunderbird rescue 😉

Sounding like the nights will be a few degrees cooler than it was last week so I wouldn't worry about melting in your bag.

JohnClimber - Member

11 to 11.30 at Llanidloes it is then.

Anyone else?

Hi John,
I'd be up for lunch as I'm coming across from Barnsley, being awkward though, my route is via Caersws so I'd vote for the Aleppo Merchant in Carno, if you google it it says they are open for lunch from 12-2 and the menu looks ok as well. This is quite close to the start.
Also, if any one wants a lift, they're welcome, got room for another 3 bikes and bodies. Bet my home location has surprised a few.

I believe Johns route will also be through Carno ... he'll have to go past the start by about 13 miles to reach Llanidloes then come back again.

Pretty much anyone coming from the north will go through Carno and if coming from the south you'll be passing through Llanidloes.

Thinking about it it's not a big deal to divert to Llanidloes, I was thinking I'd prefer not to see those bloody big hills up the side of Clywedog more than once. I'll go with the flow.

Yep our route head south to Newtown then up via Carno.

So, we'll see you at the Aleppo Merchant inn at 12 sharp

http://www.thealeppo.co.uk/

I'll have the Lasange please

i reckon i can sneak below the ultralight limit though.

Saus n mash washed down with Double Dragon if it's on, can't wait.