Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Questions and answers about routes.

Moderators: Bearbonesnorm, Taylor, Chew

User avatar
In Reverse
Posts: 1819
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2015 9:08 pm
Location: Manchester

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by In Reverse »

I'd say you'd enjoy it most on a hardtail Ian.

Hope that helps. :lol:
User avatar
Bearbonesnorm
Posts: 23904
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
Location: my own little world

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

Yep, reckon I'd probably go 29er. I can think of some bits especially on the northern section that would feel like a chore on a gravel bike but a bit more like fun on a 29er - even rigid.
May the bridges you burn light your way
BreninBeener
Posts: 406
Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2014 1:47 pm

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by BreninBeener »

Andy and Stu, thank you!
User avatar
Mike
Posts: 2989
Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2012 9:36 am

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by Mike »

29er fully rigid, more than enough with 2.4s on. We did in the march, its was wet amd muddy and bloody tough going so choose ya weather slot wisely id say :wink:
Im considering it again this year but nearer to the summer as longer daylight hours. Once its dark things slow down slightly.
User avatar
RIP
Posts: 9007
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 7:24 pm
Location: Surfing The Shores Of Sanity Since 1959
Contact:

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by RIP »

"Im considering it again this year" - 'wrong' way round for variety?
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP

The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....

"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
User avatar
trob6
Posts: 228
Joined: Mon Jul 22, 2019 5:05 pm

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by trob6 »

Hello Stu
Could I have the gpx file please, would like to give this a bash in the spring.
Thanks
Tim.
What's the worst than can happen?
middleagedmadness
Posts: 1799
Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2017 6:37 pm
Location: Tir Na Nog

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by middleagedmadness »

Can only comment on the eastern and southern parts of the route and I wouldn’t really want to do it on a gravel bike ,first day was grand stuck to my estimated 9/10 kph , then woke up on the Saturday to hail snow wind , this dropped the speed down to around 3/4kph , third day was calm but knee deep “rivers” on a lot of the fire roads so after a soaking of the night I gave it neck , that was the last week of April , thinking about it again this year but it’s definitely gonna be June/July will still probably get wet but without the wind and snow
BreninBeener
Posts: 406
Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2014 1:47 pm

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by BreninBeener »

Wow sounds tough!! I will wait for sunshine :-)
slarge
Posts: 2641
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2011 4:49 pm
Location: MTB mecca (Warwickshire)

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by slarge »

As with any ride in Wales, a bit of a dry spell in the 2 weeks prior makes life so much easier. It's a cracking route - the better the weather the more enjoyable it'll be (apart from if it's too hot and you run out of water, although in Wales you're never that far from something wet.

And HT MTB is the ideal bike - there are plenty of bits that wouldn't be that enjoyable on a gravel bike
Leerowe76
Posts: 443
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2018 1:41 pm
Location: North Wales

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by Leerowe76 »

PM'd you Stu :grin:
Living On Dreams & Custard Creams
Leerowe76
Posts: 443
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2018 1:41 pm
Location: North Wales

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by Leerowe76 »

Leerowe76 wrote: Thu Feb 13, 2020 6:38 am PM'd you Stu :grin:
Cheers Stu 👍🏼
Living On Dreams & Custard Creams
Leerowe76
Posts: 443
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2018 1:41 pm
Location: North Wales

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by Leerowe76 »

Just out of interest has this route been placed on the ITT list ? Surely this would be a worthy contender looking over the route itself 👍🏼
Living On Dreams & Custard Creams
mfezela

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by mfezela »

Something Welsh For Winter. Or not :-(

After Storm Ciara moved on, I made a final decision for departure on Monday 17th. Four nights wild camping, three in bothies. As soon as I had everything packed and ready . . ******* Dennis!

I can weather (sorry) wet ground but the thought of rain filled days just doesn't appeal.

https://youtu.be/QirsBCrXNI0
User avatar
Bearbonesnorm
Posts: 23904
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
Location: my own little world

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

Given the recent spell of weather - I wouldn't be in any rush. Some sections will be a complete bog fest and any river crossings likely very high.
May the bridges you burn light your way
slarge
Posts: 2641
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2011 4:49 pm
Location: MTB mecca (Warwickshire)

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by slarge »

mfezela wrote: Sat Feb 15, 2020 7:44 pm Something Welsh For Winter. Or not :-(

After Storm Ciara moved on, I made a final decision for departure on Monday 17th. Four nights wild camping, three in bothies. As soon as I had everything packed and ready . . ******* Dennis!

I can weather (sorry) wet ground but the thought of rain filled days just doesn't appeal.

https://youtu.be/QirsBCrXNI0
My advice: wait for a dry spell. You'll likely wreck you and your bike there's so much water and grit around
User avatar
RIP
Posts: 9007
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 7:24 pm
Location: Surfing The Shores Of Sanity Since 1959
Contact:

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by RIP »

Big compliments for giving it a go at all - esp in Jan - it ain't a walk/bike in the park. But also IMHO 'relying' on a bothy to be where you want it to be when you want it to be just adds unnecessary stress and pressure. Or indeed relying on anything at all being available.
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP

The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....

"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
mfezela

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by mfezela »

But also IMHO 'relying' on a bothy to be where you want it to be when you want it to be just adds unnecessary stress and pressure. Or indeed relying on anything at all being available.
The bothies happened to more-or-less coincide with my nights, but I always carry a tent, etc.

Spent last night and this morning working out an alternative route that hopefully misses the worst of the worst. Holding thumbs.

First pedal stroke: 10 a.m. Tuesday 18th - unless Storm E...... suddenly materialises.
middleagedmadness
Posts: 1799
Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2017 6:37 pm
Location: Tir Na Nog

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by middleagedmadness »

I really really wouldn’t bother at the moment , I went end of April got caught in a storm , the Plato above Llandovery was above ankle deep in mud , it took a good 3hrs of pushing to get to the downhill after it , like stu says wait till it dries out or we have a good decent ground frost ,even the forest roads were like rivers
mfezela

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by mfezela »

I really really wouldn’t bother at the moment
Despite the general consensus to postpone my trip, I didn't. More fool me! My revised route was going to hopefully avoid the worst of the sodden ground by using road/forest tracks. Hah! I came to my (thoroughly waterlogged) senses on the third day just near Tregaron and bailed out - rather an applicable phrase given the conditions. Resorted to the train from Aberystwyth back to Ludlow.
Note to self: Listen to the locals for they know of what they speak.
User avatar
Bearbonesnorm
Posts: 23904
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
Location: my own little world

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

Well done for sticking it that long. I've never seen water quite like this, I really do feel for all those folk further downstream.
May the bridges you burn light your way
SimpleSi
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2016 7:06 pm

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by SimpleSi »

Can I get a copy of the updated route please? I still have the first draft.
Thinking of an ITT end of August....
What is the resupply situation like in rural Wales. Is much still closed?
Simple
User avatar
Bearbonesnorm
Posts: 23904
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
Location: my own little world

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

What is the resupply situation like in rural Wales. Is much still closed?
What there is with regard to shops / cafes is generally open. Pubs are a bit hit and miss and probably much more of a faff to use - booking etc.
May the bridges you burn light your way
User avatar
Chaz
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2021 6:33 pm

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by Chaz »

Hey, could I get the GPX file for the for the route please?

Looking for good tours for summer... :grin:
User avatar
Bearbonesnorm
Posts: 23904
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
Location: my own little world

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

Looking for good tours for summer...
It's not for you then :wink:
May the bridges you burn light your way
slarge
Posts: 2641
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2011 4:49 pm
Location: MTB mecca (Warwickshire)

Re: Something Welsh for summer - Big Bear.

Post by slarge »

Chaz wrote: Fri Mar 05, 2021 7:41 pm Hey, could I get the GPX file for the for the route please?

Looking for good tours for summer... :grin:
Have a search on this forum - I did a writeup of the route and Mike may have done also. It's a tough route but a real cracker. You'll need a good weather window (dry for a week or 2 before and hopefully during) - some of the terrain could be difficult in the wet.

If you are looking for a "gravel tour" type route this may not be it - there are tricky sections (nothing too daunting, but just hard work on a CX/gravel bike) - in my view it is a MTB route - at least a lot more comfortable on a MTB - and 4-5 days is a good estimate for most riders.
Post Reply