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Hi Both
I have a week down in the mumbles next week and I am trying to decide on a bike to take - looking at the local area, there seems to be a mix of stuff - the Clyne Valley way quite close to where we are staying and I think it’s tarmac? So, I am thinking maybe gravel bike rather than full on fat bike for general riding ? Doing a bit of road biking too - anyone know the local area ?
Best
Lee
Take all of your bikes. The MTBing is awesome, road is great and gravel biking around Gower is good as well.
MTB - Clyne has loads of excellent tracks, both official and not. On the other side of town you’ve got Kilvey Hill which is steeper and techier. The trails aren’t marked but are obvious. You can get there easily along the seafront and up the river - all along cycle paths until you start the climb.
If you get bored of these -IF! Bear in mind that each site will take several hours to explore fully - then there are other places.
I live near the town centre and can easily ride MTB every day if the week without repeating myself or getting in a car. 😁
Try www.mtbpigs.co.uk for advice. We ride Clyde every Thursday evening, and other rides happen through the week.
Thanks IdleJon - I’d be interested in the gravel riding potential around Gower, do you have any good links for that type of stuff ?
Best
Lee
Not really got any good links, unfortunately, because I know my way around! 😁
It’s not too difficult to navigate around (because it’s a peninsular) and the roads aren’t overly busy during the week. The few bridleways aren’t very long until you get to the ridge along Gower, Cefn Bryn, which is worth heading for for the views. I’ll try to dig out a route. It’s worth checking Strava.
I might be around on Wednesday if you want a guide - not sure yet.
That MBR route is a good start. If you check an OS map you’ll find some quieter roads and tracks which will take you out to the start at Penmaen.
Bear in mind that people are using that route as a two day bivvi trip on MTBs, starting near Mumbles. (It’s perfectly rideable in one day!)
C'mon then, let us know what you did? Did you bring a bike? Did you enjoy the riding (and the holiday?)
Sooo - yes, in the end I did take a bike, the fat bike went out and terrorised the good people of the mumbles for a few days. I was generally greeted with ‘what the f@@k is that’ and ‘where’s the engine?’ - I mostly cycled along the cycle lane, but lost count of the amount of times I had to circumvent pedestrian’s of a certain age who felt the need to chuck themselves in front of me. The place we rented wasn’t very bike friendly, so when the rain arrived for most of the week, I binned off the biking and walked instead. Didn’t find any really good off road loops, and the roads around there were nuts!
But still, fat bike got some love 🙂
More importantly, did you have a Joe's ice cream?
JP