We try and do this ride every year on the 27th. Two years ago it was stunning weather but frozen solid. Last year (which I missed thankfully) was just wind and rain all day. Yesterday conditions about perfect. A bit more blue sky would have been nice, but trails fantastic for this time of year.

Being horribly hungover, I forgot my helmet. Managed to buy a £15 lid that sort of fitted in the only open outdoors shop in Wales! Anyway didn’t test it in anger, so it did it’s job as at least a placebo.

Such a good ride this. First climb is really nice and mellow with the view of the reservoir, roman road we had a tiny tail-wind and descent from the gap as good as ever.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Pp6WWH]The Gap/Talybont classic MTB loop[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Pmn26J]The Gap/Talybont classic MTB loop[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/QpzuDs]The Gap/Talybont classic MTB loop[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Qskn22]The Gap/Talybont classic MTB loop[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/QskKE8]The Gap/Talybont classic MTB loop[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/PmoQP7]The Gap/Talybont classic MTB loop[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Q4G3mS]The Gap/Talybont classic MTB loop[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/QCCwHX]The Gap/Talybont classic MTB loop[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/PmpgTf]The Gap/Talybont classic MTB loop[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Pp9YQB]The Gap/Talybont classic MTB loop[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Q4HYqb]The Gap/Talybont classic MTB loop[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/QCEN2P]The Gap/Talybont classic MTB loop[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Qzq6dS]The Gap/Talybont classic MTB loop[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Qzqw5A]The Gap/Talybont classic MTB loop[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/PpctEr]The Gap/Talybont classic MTB loop[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/QCBLNn]The Gap/Talybont classic MTB loop[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/QCGLxH]The Gap/Talybont classic MTB loop[/url] by Alex Leigh, on Flickr

Next year I’m not drinking the night before. Honest 🙂

Oh and I do like relive on a proper ride: https://www.relive.cc/view/812800762

Great pictures, as ever. Living in Kent makes me pine for such views and riding, very jealous.

Nice ride and nice pics.
I remember riding this a few years ago, when the uk got hit by those snow storms. We reached the deep cutting at the top having pushed and slipped up the snow and ice covered steep side. The snow got deeper as we went higher until it reached knee level, but we were fairly committed. We ended up carrying out bikes through waist deep snow with the sun rapidly setting, speculating whether mounting rescue helicopters pick up our bikes as well.
Good times!

Fourbanger – nice 🙂 2014 was icy but not snowy. The descent from the gap tho was solid ice until it flattens out a bit. Occasionally a bit of rock would poke through you had to brake on. It was mildly terrifying. I’ve never been so happy to have my feel splashed with ice cold water once we were through the worst of it.

Waist high snow tho? Respect 🙂

Looks great, i did in May a couple of years back that looks proper, itching to go again now, in Bristol at the moment too, but bikes are in sussex. 🙁

Looks great. It’s on the list but still haven’t got there.

Love that ride!