So I'm planning for day 2 of WRT17. I've got a decision to make. Is the track from SN 823 671 to SN 899 719 the infamous Monks Trod? And would it be better to squelch across it for 6 miles or follow the tracks/lanes down the length of Claerwen then round Caban Coch, Carreg Du, Penygarreg and up Craig Coch for 17?

or

I will give you a clue... this is the monks trod - and its the nice bit too. Not the other bits that's are swamp or cut up to neck depth by motocross bikes etc.

If you try to follow the old wooden posts for the route have fun!

BBB_0001 by Dr. Jekyll, on Flickr

NorwayCalling wrote:I will give you a clue... this is the monks trod - and its the nice bit too. Not the other bits that's are swamp or cut up to neck depth by motocross bikes etc.

If you try to follow the old wooden posts for the route have fun!

BBB_0001 by Dr. Jekyll, on Flickr

OMG I guess an extra 12 miles is the way to go then.

Thanks for the replies all.

Matt and myself 'rode' it a few summers ago. The weather was stunning - Bugeilyn was even rideable in the most part. Anyway we joined the Trod at the very start SN808677 and pushed for the next hour. After having our feet nibbled by fish in we river and pushing up the next hill, we could kind of ride again. I wouldn't have missed it for the world but wouldn't have enjoyed it half as much had it not been very dry / sunny.

I know exactly where Mike is in that pic ... you can bypass that bit by climbing up from the reservoir before heading north(ish)

*Flashacks from 2014 and the Sarn Helen ITT*

Sure. Do it. It's fun. really. You won't regret it at all.

*Cries into his coffee*

Why did I get to this part at night, why.

I did it during a dry spell with a mate. This is his bike in one of the drier bits
Its character building ... and a once in a lifetime kind of route

Thanks for all the replies. I'm quite tempted to just go for it - a sort of right of passage thing. Thing is, if I have to push all the way at say, 2 mph it's 3 hours. 17 miles around the Llyns will take me 2. Depending on what time I get to the start it might be a goer.

In any case, it'll be more of an "experience" than grinding out miles on tarmac.

On the other hand... I found the route around the reservoir really enjoyable. :)

I just think the clues in the name.

A bunch of people known for modesty and not unknown for luxury lifestyles decided not to use the common words such as
-path
-road
Or
-way

Nope people who are used to sufferage, living in buildings with no roofs in nothing but hessian underpants used the word

Trod!

(Which just about sums it up)

If you want to experience it to it's full.

Wait until mid summer. Around dusk. On a windless day.

GregMay wrote:If you want to experience it to it's full.

Wait until mid summer. Around dusk. On a windless day.

I wonder if you'd be alone?

I don't know which way you lot all went, but from Elan Bridge south west it's mostly rideable. I rode it with Mike a few years back on fat bikes and hardly any pushing. I reckon it'd go without any dabs at all.

Ian wrote:I don't know which way you lot all went, but from Elan Bridge south west it's mostly rideable. I rode it with Mike a few years back on fat bikes and hardly any pushing. I reckon it'd go without any dabs at all.

I'm assuming you dropped down to Claerwen at SN 832686?

Yes, probably (can't check grid ref at the mo). Came along the ridge and down to the track coming out by the gate just east of the farm. The track round the back of the farm has always been rough.

Ian wrote:Yes, probably (can't check grid ref at the mo). Came along the ridge and down to the track coming out by the gate just east of the farm. The track round the back of the farm has always been rough.

Ah, you missed out the 'good bit'

Bearbonesnorm wrote:

Ian wrote:Yes, probably (can't check grid ref at the mo). Came along the ridge and down to the track coming out by the gate just east of the farm. The track round the back of the farm has always been rough.

Ah, you missed out the 'good bit'

Yeah, the white poles in the middle of nowhere.

P6170058.jpg by Greg.May, on Flickr

Ian wrote:I don't know which way you lot all went, but from Elan Bridge south west it's mostlly rideable

If....if... I try it, I'll be going the other way.

So I chickened out in the end and went around the long way. It was hard going battling against the wind all the way down Claerwen but I comforted myself by thinking that soon I'd have the wind behind me going back northwards. The cycle path along the reservoirs was very pretty. Flat too, and with the tail wind I made good time.

However! When I got back to BB Towers many folks were saying that they'd never seen the trails so dry - even Bugeilyn. It makes me think that I should have given the Monks Trod a go. I feel sort of, well, cheated , a quitter even.

No I'd have taken the 100mph headwind still.