For some reason I've decided it's a good idea to cycle from Merthyr Tydfil to Ledbury for a festival. For some other reason I've decided that doing it on a cargo bike is also a good idea. Lots of space for flashing widgets and Raspberry Pis, you see.
Anyway I've got no idea what the barriers on NCN 46 are going to be like for a long and heavy cargo bike, so maybe I've bitten off more than I can chew.
Anyone familiar with that part of the country got any tips on routing? The route I've planned so far is here: https://cycle.travel/map/journey/321672
I would have thought you could make plenty of good meals, with all that storage space. 😉
That festival sounds great! Have you been before, is it actually is interesting/as much to do as it sounds? Are you giving a presentation?
I've ridden most of the route east from Pontrilas on your map. That's all fine, in fact you're going to be about 1 mile from our house as you come through Hoarwithy. There's a few hills on that section, lovely ride though and you a couple of pubs you can stop off before you get to Ledbury if that's your thing.
Also ridden some (but not all) of the other section. I remember lots of inward slanting gates at shoulder height that you could get through okay on a gravel/road bike. Not sure how they'd be on a cargo bike.
zilog6128: It's even better! I've been to the previous iterations and it's always excellent. Loads of interesting stuff to see/do (the best stuff is the random unofficial stuff you come across wandering around). Not much of a speaker, nope!
Alex: Thanks, that's exactly the sort of thing I was after. I'll definitely be building in a couple of pub stops! I've scouted the route as far as Brynmawr and it's fine with the exception of one small detour to avoid a kissing gate. Bike goes through the A-frame barriers you describe fairly easily.
The main bit that concerns me is the stretch between Brynmawr–Abergavenny, it looks like it could involve lots of hilly backtracking if I come across a impassable barrier.
I live in Llanelly Hill but haven't cycled that section as much I should have (twice in 6 months since moving in) BUT I don't think there's anything that'll give you hastle there. There's a (former) kissing gate just after Llanelly Quarry, just before the viaduct, which has been modified so it opens fully outwards. Otherwise it's standard A-frame barriers and a few cattlegrid type things which are plently wide.
My only bit of advice would be don't miss the turn just before mile 15 on your planned route (instruction 59) its easy to bomb past in and then have to climb a section of station road which is one steep mother. TBH I reckon if you found something impassable you'd probably get away with dropping down to the canal then following that until NCN49 & 46 cross again then just hop back on 46.
Op the section around the base of the Blorenge 15-16 has an awkward gate that may take a bit of finegling to get through. Then it’s all down hill to Llanfoist. A nice run. The section on road 20-22 is rather uphill. If you have a chance get a nice coffee and something tasty at the Angel bakery in Abergavenny, right on the corner.
Sounds absolutely great OP
Sort of on-subject, if anyone knows a decent cycle-route from (West of) Hereford City to Ledbury that
1. Doesn’t involve overly-risking being squashed on ‘fast’ bendy roads
and/or
2. Takes a couple of hrs (vs half a day) riding
I’d love to know!
@p7eaven. This is how I ride to ledbury.
www.plotaroute.com/route/1923097
Not flat. But nice quiet roads (as much as possible). Happy to help with others if you need.
Thanks for the info, that's given me some confidence that it'll be OK.
Will update the thread with photos after the weekend!
Great festival!
2018 talks online here:
https://mirror.netcologne.de/CCC/events/emf/2018/h264-sd/
But as above, the real fun is the other stuff!