[Closed] Black Mountains?

A good friend of mine does guiding round there if you don't want to get lost and fancy someone showing you round the super landscape.

http://www.wild-rides.co.uk

There is a MBR killer loop route which was fun but don't have a gpx for it
Stunning area and for me far better than bpw.

Think we parked here
Dropped pin
near Brecon Beacons National Park, Cambrian Way, Brecon LD3 7HP
http://goo.gl/maps/yJCDx

Yeah plus one for black mountains, I go around clockwise as I think you get more bang for your buck.

I did BPW on a Sat, and the classic 'gap Black mountain route on the Sunday, last year, and it was a good combo!

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[URL= http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q137/max_torque_2006/Lapierre%20Zesty%20714/GAP_2_zpse75ea093.jp g" target="_blank">http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q137/max_torque_2006/Lapierre%20Zesty%20714/GAP_2_zpse75ea093.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]

Get in touch with

http://www.trailspotting.co.uk/#

Great guy, lives near Merthyr and knows a lot of routes in the Beacons.

I did find this route. Anyone familiar with this? Any good?

Yep. OK, but if you've not ridden around the area before then there are better.

The classic 'Gap' should always be on any tick list. A few GPX routes are on:

[url= http://www.mtbtrails.info/Trail_main_page.aspx ]MTB Trails[/url]

Hth
Marko

I'm considering The Gap Ride for tomorrow or Friday. I need to sort out directions and a map. I'm off to a map shop today, anyone know which 1:25000 OS I'll be needing? and clockwise/anticlockwise? any other tips? info?

Clockwise gives you a nice easy warm up along the Canal, then a long but smooth/not very steep wind up, which is 100% rideable to the Gap (well except for the 50yard up slope on the stream crossing gulley), then you get to ride down the Northside of the Gap, and you can then cut back along a load of really fun bridleways back to the start.

@ maxtorque - what tyres for 45 degree camber?

That second picture is giving me a headache.

MBR Killer Loop is a cracking ride. Some big ups and downs! Proper epic stuff.

The Gap loop is great too, basically one huge but steady up, fantastic views over the lake and off The Gap, smashing down, and pleasent run back along teh canal.

We've always done a bike park trip on Friday, Killer Loop on saturday and Gap on sunday - the gaps more a half dayer.

If doing the gap, after the descent there's a narrow bridleway in a rocky gulley where you meet the road which is quite good fun. Then a bit of road but there is another section of BW which you can link onto before dropping down to the canal.

[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/47933770@N07/sets/72157636260655736 ]Pics of both routes here to give you a taste[/url]

MB Wales used to have the routes on their website, but it just seems to send you to the National Park website now

Thanks all. Will check out the guide options and the MBR route this evening.

I rode the Gap a few years back with the wife. Very nice ride it was too.

@maxtorque, A few years back, I watched two blokes cycle up the gulley bit. I must admit I was impressed.

Rather than start a new thread, I thought I'd hijack this one 😀

I'm going to have a go at the Black Mountains Classic ride from the Vertebrate Publishing book in July, is it a decent route?

As the author of the Black Mountains route in the Vertebrate book (and the Classic Ride in Singletrack a few months back), I'd definitely recommend the big Black Mountain loop over anything in the area. I tweaked the final climb and descent for the latest update on the Vertebrate Wales book - makes it totally rideable up and a better descent - but if you want a GPX of these, drop me a mail (address in my profile). Would offer to guide you myself but am currently out for at least 3 months injured!

40mpg

If doing the gap, after the descent there's a [b]narrow[/b] bridleway

Especially in the summer!

[img] :large[/img]

😆 We all looked like we'd had a fight with an angry badger (and lost) when we got to the end!

love the look of that bridleway haha.

Thanks mtbguiding, I'll check out the Vertebrae book too.

I was looking for something techy and rocky. Coming from Essex there's not much like that in this part of the world (understatement of the century) so like to mix it up when I get away.

I did the route today. Fantastic weather & visibility for the views. Before dropping down The Gap we popped up to Pen Y Fan for lunch and then returned to descend The Gap. After The Gap we rode that old rocky stream bed of a bridleway. Planned to head up the Brinore Tramway from Talybont and descend to Cwm Callan Forest but missed the turning headed up and ended up too low. A nice day out.

@MTBGuiding that route around the black mountains was awesome, great fun ride, what a classic! I've done sections of it before but it was great the way it linked together. The views and variety made it a top ride.

I can heartily recommend the Wales vertebrae book too, we've used Southern and Mid Wales routes in there previously and are planning a return to North Wales to nail couple more next month.

We rode the Gap ride the day after, and I can report that the overgrown bridleway really wasn't too bad, someone has done some cutting back down there. It was a very good ride for a second day of a cracking weeks riding in Wales.

@Captain_Sponge - really glad you enjoyed it (and the book!). And glad the week worked out well for you...