A road trip around Wales
Moderators: Bearbonesnorm, Taylor, Chew
A road trip around Wales
I've had the idea of riding around Wales for a little while and given recent circumstances it became more possible.
Changed the plan a bit, so went to each furthest compass point that can be reached by roads, or road bike at least and also crossing the highest road pass (Gospel Pass). Tough route, 985km with 12,000vm+.
Not sure how to embed a video, if its possible here. But link to a video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HZf-R64FIE&t
Changed the plan a bit, so went to each furthest compass point that can be reached by roads, or road bike at least and also crossing the highest road pass (Gospel Pass). Tough route, 985km with 12,000vm+.
Not sure how to embed a video, if its possible here. But link to a video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HZf-R64FIE&t
- In Reverse
- Posts: 1821
- Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2015 9:08 pm
- Location: Manchester
Re: A road trip around Wales
Great idea for a ride. Will watch the vid later.
- RIP
- Posts: 9081
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 7:24 pm
- Location: Surfing The Shores Of Sanity Since 1959
- Contact:
Re: A road trip around Wales
Yep nice idea and nice little fillum.
I've had an idea on the backburner for a long time which is exactly the opposite of yours but I'm still trying to work out how it can be done .
I've had an idea on the backburner for a long time which is exactly the opposite of yours but I'm still trying to work out how it can be done .
"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
The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....
"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
Re: A road trip around Wales
Fairplay fella that was some route. One I won't be taking on out of interest what bibs had u got on matt?
- Bearbonesnorm
- Posts: 23943
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
- Location: my own little world
Re: A road trip around Wales
It's odd because I always think Bwlch y Groes feels higher than Gospel pass. Must just be the surroundings that give it that lofty feelalso crossing the highest road pass (Gospel Pass)
May the bridges you burn light your way
Re: A road trip around Wales
I had that same thought stu!
Re: A road trip around Wales
Bwlch y Groes definitely feels higher and its significantly harder... but not (quite) the highest.
For once I am glad of it.
Doing Bwlch during TINAT, which would have been maybe 250km in the legs, but a light bike and gravel bike gears was hard enough. Loaded and 36/30 smallest gear I am sure I'd have been walking.
For once I am glad of it.
Doing Bwlch during TINAT, which would have been maybe 250km in the legs, but a light bike and gravel bike gears was hard enough. Loaded and 36/30 smallest gear I am sure I'd have been walking.
Re: A road trip around Wales
ASSOS Equipe. My backside isn't too fussy with bibshorts, but for longer trips I stick to ASSOS and they work. Not a tiny bit of discomfort at all despite not taking them off (literally) for the whole trip. Sleep in them, ride in them.
Re: A road trip around Wales
just bought some cento evos to try. When are you going to hammer around the big bear route, it passes your foot door ;0)
- In Reverse
- Posts: 1821
- Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2015 9:08 pm
- Location: Manchester
Re: A road trip around Wales
I have to do the 200 before the 300?
ASSOS bibs, assuming the ones you have are the same miss out a section of stitching in the middle of the chamois and I think this might be key. I don't know any other brand that does this.
Hard to fault Castelli or Sportful either mind and I have a really nice set from MAAP, although only the single jersey/shorts so hard to comment much on the brand as a whole.
- Bearbonesnorm
- Posts: 23943
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
- Location: my own little world
Re: A road trip around Wales
No, he means the Big Bear 530 Matt. It's simply a route and not an event ... although finishing will feel like an eventI have to do the 200 before the 300?
May the bridges you burn light your way
Re: A road trip around Wales
thats ya bugger stu
Re: A road trip around Wales
My Endura bibs are like this, but they might not have originally come in the box with this feature...
Re: A road trip around Wales
Tell me more!Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Fri Jul 24, 2020 1:03 pmNo, he means the Big Bear 530 Matt. It's simply a route and not an event ... although finishing will feel like an eventI have to do the 200 before the 300?
Re: A road trip around Wales
Enjoyed that, made me think of my 4 day trip in March. Jealous that you crossed Barmouth in daylight and of the weather you had. I wasn't expecting much in those terms though... it was March after all.
I had been thinking about doing Birmingham to St Davids and back at the end of August. Seeing the quick shot of the Cathedral in your video has pushed me to do it a little more.
I had been thinking about doing Birmingham to St Davids and back at the end of August. Seeing the quick shot of the Cathedral in your video has pushed me to do it a little more.
Re: A road trip around Wales
Wales certainly presents itself as an ideal country to circumnavigate and that looks like a good ride - even better over a couple more days for the dawdlers amongst us!! Fair do's to you though, that was a great effort
A couple of years ago I did a ride around the boundary of Pembrokeshire via bridleways and quiet roads - somewhat shorter but equally as rewarding. CX bike from Lamphey near Tenby to Amroth Castle via Saundersfoot, then heading north past Narberth to Maenchlochog and across the edge of the Preselli Mountains to pick up the Cych then Teifi Valleys to Cardigan and then follow the coast back around via Fishguard/Goodwick to St. Davids, Pembroke Dock and Stackpole and back to Lamphey. That took me the same time as your ride Matt but coffee stops and visits to craft breweries are my excuse
Your outward route linked with Stu's Offas Byke route would indeed be a true circumnavigation of the Principality.
(p.s. I know you were just a bit tired (!!) but it's the Wye at Bigsweir Bridge on the way to Tintern, not the Usk )
A couple of years ago I did a ride around the boundary of Pembrokeshire via bridleways and quiet roads - somewhat shorter but equally as rewarding. CX bike from Lamphey near Tenby to Amroth Castle via Saundersfoot, then heading north past Narberth to Maenchlochog and across the edge of the Preselli Mountains to pick up the Cych then Teifi Valleys to Cardigan and then follow the coast back around via Fishguard/Goodwick to St. Davids, Pembroke Dock and Stackpole and back to Lamphey. That took me the same time as your ride Matt but coffee stops and visits to craft breweries are my excuse
Your outward route linked with Stu's Offas Byke route would indeed be a true circumnavigation of the Principality.
(p.s. I know you were just a bit tired (!!) but it's the Wye at Bigsweir Bridge on the way to Tintern, not the Usk )
We go out into the hills to lose ourselves, not to get lost. You are only lost if you need to be somewhere else and if you really need to be somewhere else then you're probably in the wrong place to begin with.
Re: A road trip around Wales
Enjoyed that Matt, good ride. Quite a few familiar spots /roads but loads of new stuff to me. I always find it reassuring when other people go through the "20km to home that way, or 200km this way" dilemma - glad you made the right choice!!
Re: A road trip around Wales
"About 380k now and my legs are starting to feel it"
Re: A road trip around Wales
Will watch that Later Matt, sounds like an interesting route. Just got back from a S-N-S road-packing ride across Wales inc some of the TINAT route so I probably crossed some of your path. Glad I'm not there in with the sun on my back straining up the Bwlch in the 29 degree heat forecast today!