You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Just about to head off with Mrs Bloke for a few days in an Airbnb near Abergavenny. I've chucked my FS in the car as a bit of an afterthought. She doesn't do bikes, and I don't want to kick the backside out of it and spend the whole week riding, leaving her on her own. However, the odd hour or two here and there if she's relaxing with a glass of wine and a book seems reasonable.
Any recommendations for a couple of hours chilled riding? I know about Dirt farm/BMCC and big epics around the Brecons but looking for something a bit more chilled and local to Aber. Woodland singletrack ideally, but open to suggestions.
And bonus question. Anyone know why the forum insists on changing the font size halfway through a post? 🙄
Lots of natural riding but it involves some big climbs!
One of my favourite epics is the Tal-y-Maes aka Hermitage climb, followed by a big fast rocky descent to the SW from the top, but you aren't left with many fun options to get back.
I'm OK(ish) with big climbs if there are fun descents to be had after them. Time is more of a factor, 2 hours tops.
Blorenge, Wales (MBUK 348) • Mountain Biking » outdooractive.com
The old tramway circling Gilwern Hill is nice with some cracking views of the Clydach Gorge, although not technical in any way.
Thanks all 👍
No woodland singletrack (they chopped it down) but there are some good descents around the Blorenge, here's a pair 2 hour loops that start in the centre of Abergavenny... pretty brutal tarmac climb up from Llanfoist though (not the tumble).
https://www.strava.com/activities/9681234646
https://www.strava.com/activities/6256758998
If you are around on Wednesday evening we will be doing something around there (it is our local patch. Welcome to join us but you will need lights). Otherwise i'm happy to give you gpx files for any type of ride you might fancy. Whereabouts is the AirB&B?
Just follow me on Strava and fill yer boots!
Welsh farmer your Strava name?
Might take you up on that WF. Will test the water with Mrs B. Staying in dry dock cottage Llanfoist.
This will do for a few days! We are on the canal and right next to Blorenge, so that will probably be my first call.
I've walked past there a few times - it's beautiful. You can just walk along the canal for miles - get to Gilwern and the pub there does great food (the Towpath Inn)
Have a great time
I’ve walked past there a few times – it’s beautiful. You can just walk along the canal for miles – get to Gilwern and the pub there does great food (the Towpath Inn)
and even further up you've got the coach and horses in llangyindir + loads of wild swimming spots
Can you grab a saw and take a walk up the steep valley behind your accommodation. Last time we rode down there were a load of trees down that ruined the flow! 🙂
The Blorenge is a great ride, if you go up the canal from where you are, turn up the hill at Govilon, you can then contour around to Keepers pond and take the trail down the the punchbowl or just bumble around on the top. Love it up there
The second of those routes 93 ra posted - watch out on the descent after crossing the lower tram road and doing hairpin left through the gate. There's lots of blind stumps on corner exits and it's generally a bit overgrown. I'm working on clearing it atm but only got the lower bit done last weekend.
Whilst people are here, can you ride south from the top of the Hermitage along the Cambrian Way on the ridge to Pen Cerrig Calch?
Not escaped on the bike yet, but had a great walk up Sugar Loaf today followed by a pint in Crickhowell. Hopefully sneak up onto Blorenge tomorrow.
I’ve run it quite a bit, but not been on the bike. I think it should be rideable, might be a bit of hike a bike up last bit of PAM and PCC, all cheeky though
Yeah I'd expect to carry some of it, but hopefully the descent is worth it. I might make that a day trip, haven't done one of those for many years.
molgrips said<br />"Whilst people are here, can you ride south from the top of the Hermitage along the Cambrian Way on the ridge to Pen Cerrig Calch?"
It is a great ride but best done after a long period of dry weather in the spring before the bracken gets up. One of my faves. There are a couple of ways down from Pen Cerrig Calch, both weith merit.
bikecurious said<br />"The second of those routes 93 ra posted – watch out on the descent after crossing the lower tram road and doing hairpin left through the gate. There’s lots of blind stumps on corner exits and it’s generally a bit overgrown. I’m working on clearing it atm but only got the lower bit done last weekend."
Good to know someone is tackling it. We only rode it a couple of weeks back and decided it would probably not be worth doing any longer due to tree growth since the clear fell. Was no fun at all. Even the old lane below has gotten too overgrown to enjoy. Where are you based then Bikecurious? Surprised we haven't crossed paths (maybe we have!)
molgrips said<br />"Yeah I’d expect to carry some of it, but hopefully the descent is worth it. I might make that a day trip, haven’t done one of those for many years."
https://www.strava.com/activities/8549233299
Vast amounts of cheekiness. Don't blame me if anyone moans at you. But choose your day and you probably won't see another soul.
EDIT. The final descent is almost exactly 600 vertical metres over 7 kms and represents one of the longest offroad descents in South Wales 😉
Thanks WF that is what I had in mind. No go at this time of year or just less good?
@welshfarmer . That looks familiar. We tend to ride up Patrishow (amazing 11th century church) to get around Waun Fach
Surprised we haven't crossed paths @welshfarmer. I normally ride with some peeps on a Thursday night. Either sugar loaf, blorenge or Blwch
We usually ride Wednesday night (more recently also on a Tuesday if all E-bikes). We are all based South Eastern Blacks/Abergavenny area so for our evening rides we often ride Staunton, Trellech, Blorenge/Loaf, rest of the Blacks, and occasional forays into the central Beacons too.
PS Hate the climb past Partrishow!
Where were all you lot as local mtbers when I lived in the area?!? Everyone was roadies and I hardly had anyone to ride with, now I no longer live there and there's seemingly loads of you 🤣
Should really do more riding in the area, it's only an hour away and I can have a soak in the bath at my parent's afterwards.
I'd be happy to organise a Big Black Mountains STW ride if there was interest. Just need the right weather and the bracken to **** off. Just got in from a ride and legs are scratched to buggery.... again!
There is interest.
When I lived in Herefordshire we'd take trips over there but it was the 90s and riding was different.
If the dates worked I'd be up for that
Whilst everyone is on here, what’s the acceptable way to descend the Deri these days?
It looks like the built track off the end has been partially dismantled and is (poorly) barricaded off at the bottom. Don’t ask me how I know.
Yep, rode it a few weeks back and noted the badly made barricades and the large rocks placed across the track. Much of the track was over grown too. Guess it has fallen out of favour with the youfff and now nature will reclaim it. Can always go back to the Hockenheim Straight if you like fast and furious. Has the same finish as Agro Alley. Or go off the right hand line like the olden days.
I'm at the opposite end of the park near Brynamman where the riding is nowhere near as good. I'd sign up to a group ride over that way.
So I snook out for a couple of hours this afternoon and did the mbuk route on Blorenge linked to by @PhilO above. Thanks 👍
It was part good fun and part ordeal! The latter because it pissed down for most of it and because of bracken. It was chest high in places and made some of the rocky descents a challenge when you couldn't see the trail. I did a lot of pushing on the ups and pulling dead bracken out of my mech and cassette. Now I'm pushing 60 maybe it's time to get an ebike!
Still fun though and some great views. I'd like to do it again in a dry spell and when the bracken has died back a bit. If that ever happens?
.
Pleasure to be of service, sir! 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it!