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[Closed] Help me choose where to ride in South Wales

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[#5345559]

I know this is lame, but please humour me.

I've got the whole day tomorrow to ride, I'm in Cardiff. So:

1) Big loop from my house, heading up towards the valleys, 5-6 hour ride. Route planning is quite hard and would involve new trails probably and hence route planning and exploration

2) Drive to Afan - been there loads, bit dull mostly. Unless there's anything new in the last 3-4 years?

3) Drive to Brechfa - further, 3 hours lost to driving, but I've only been there once, that was just after the red was finished. What's new, and is there a whole day's worth there?

4) Drive to the Beacons and do something classic

5) Drive further up to Mid Wales and get the maps out again.

If anyone's got a decent long tracklog to share, that'd be appreciated.


 
Posted : 19/07/2013 1:18 pm
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Gower will be nice - the route in the MTB Wales Guide with the cheeky bit over Lanmadoc Hill.


 
Posted : 19/07/2013 1:25 pm
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I've done the Gower loop a couple of times already though. Plus it's likely to be busy in this weather!


 
Posted : 19/07/2013 1:29 pm
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OK, go and do Mynydd Mallaen and then a loop of Cwm Rhaeadr to finish - cracking day out.


 
Posted : 19/07/2013 1:33 pm
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Have you done the routes @ Glyncorrwg, just up the road from Afan? Really worth a look if you haven't..


 
Posted : 19/07/2013 1:37 pm
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I rode along the coast to Ogmore, that was really nice. I came back by A-road though, and that wasn't nice at all, so don't do that.

Oh, did you mean offroad? You could get up to Mach - bit of a drive I know, but in your Pious* it won't cost much.

*sorry, Prious ๐Ÿ™‚


 
Posted : 19/07/2013 1:40 pm
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If you are going to Mynydd Mallaen be careful on navigation. I am normally the map reader but I got pretty lost at a point.

Having said that I would think the weather is good for the ride as it was very boggy when I went there.

I did a ride starting at Talgarth, around Llangorse, about a month ago, it suffered as it was wet but should be great now so long as the bracken has not gone too wild. Quite a drive from Cardiff though.


 
Posted : 19/07/2013 1:41 pm
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Whats the planned route for Number 1 option?


 
Posted : 19/07/2013 1:43 pm
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Karin - it's more about time than cost. More driving = less riding. Kids are away for the weekend so I need to have fun times with Mrs Grips too ๐Ÿ™‚

Talgarth.. yeah that'd be the classic option.. Black Mountains epic.

No planned route for option 1 yet. That's part of the problem. Hard to pick a route through the valleys - I used to do it when I was younger, but I was on a fully rigid flat barred bike which ate up roads a lot better than my FSers do now. And I was single so I could spend each weekend exploring and finding out what was good. I've either forgotten all those routes now or I expect better singletrack and more fun trails.


 
Posted : 19/07/2013 1:46 pm
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I live up the rhondda if you needed any help with routes.


 
Posted : 19/07/2013 1:56 pm
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I don't think the Talgarth/Llangorse route is the same as the 'Killer Loop' or 'Black Mountains Epic' that I have ridden and heard reference to in the past but it may well be, I have sent a gpx to what I think is your e-mail so that you can check.

I agree the Gower option is not a good one, loads of people will be heading that way for the beaches.

Have a good ride wherever you go!


 
Posted : 19/07/2013 1:56 pm
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When I say 'Black Mountains epic' I don't mean any specific published ride.. I know most of the trails up there and nav is fairly easy.

Phil, local insight into upper valleys trails would be good.. do you have tracklogs of anything?


 
Posted : 19/07/2013 2:02 pm
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Its going to boiling hot and the roads will be packed with grockles heading for the coast.

Ride from your door.


 
Posted : 19/07/2013 2:40 pm
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Looking at Black Mountains now. Anyone know about the permissive path up on Bal Mawr, above the Reservoir climb? Is it any good?


 
Posted : 19/07/2013 2:59 pm