[Closed] The Gap Loop - sub-zero

I've ridden that route most winters. The only issue if it's been wet and then icy is the top part of the descent from the gap can be locked entirely in ice. Which is a bit lively 😉

If it's a cold blue-sky day tho, I'd risk it. Likely to be quite busy with walkers (on the roman road up to the gap) but stunning on a day like that.

Oh and make sure you come back from the canal, not the long slog round the road.

Hopefully, early enough we can avoid a few walkers....
Otherwise, Cwmcarn... 🙂

There's only a light ground frost there at the moment. not enough to make it treacherous. There were also a load of tonne bags dropped along the roman road from the reservoir so I'm not sure if there's any works being carried out at the mo.

Oh and make sure you come back from the canal, not the long slog round the road.

Is there a route online you've based a ride on?
I've been looking at the MBR one.

Humans can generally exist in cold temperatures. I guess some of the daft ones die.

Point taken al....but I suppose it's really based on an effort versus reward thing. Is it a ride worth doing given mans struggle(my struggle) with the parky weather.... 🙂
I would plan to wear a coat of some description.

Alex - Im sure you had a picture of the gap where it was solid ice descending - please post for sh1ts and giggles.

Its a beautiful route on the right day, i've driven 2 hours to get there in the past and the rain was sideways in the village so we drove back home. Im looking to do it as well on a winters day so watching closely.

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https://www.strava.com/activities/745463670

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8573/15953975150_3845b200f1_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8573/15953975150_3845b200f1_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/qiNhZ5 ]Classic Gap MTB with Matt, Ceri and Haydn[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7567/15953980928_f0405c0384_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7567/15953980928_f0405c0384_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/qiNjGG ]Classic Gap MTB with Matt, Ceri and Haydn[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7467/16114667556_23d1562bea_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7467/16114667556_23d1562bea_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/qxZTeN ]Classic Gap MTB with Matt, Ceri and Haydn[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
day tho

The option this time of year is this:
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3763/12294154594_14c0145a92_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3763/12294154594_14c0145a92_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/jJoKQE ]Flashbacks..[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

I prefer the ice 😉

Nice pics Alex.

Absolutely cracking day on the Gap today. The weather was just perfect really. Freezing enough to harden up the mud but just beautifully sunny and clear.

Really enjoyed the ride. 5 mile climb from Talybont was pretty mellow. There were loads of hikerists going up the Gap road. Something going on as they all had massive packs with numbers on.

Some fun descents with crazy boulders. At the start we went up the Brinore Tramroad and had a good descent at the end and then at the Gap we pushed up the Fan Y big and came down the path at the end, catching some crazy speeds... 😀

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/760/32066655590_c4a26d83fa_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/760/32066655590_c4a26d83fa_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/QRBZwf ]Talybont reservoir[/url] by Kayak23 [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/79912681@N06/ ][/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/554/31599606284_72242b894e_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/554/31599606284_72242b894e_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Q9mf31 ]IMG_20170121_104304676-01[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/79912681@N06/ ]kayak23[/url], on Flickr[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/314/31632924073_ffcd8adb7d_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/314/31632924073_ffcd8adb7d_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Qci1fD ]Talybont reservoir[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/79912681@N06/ ]kayak23[/url], on Flickr[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/673/32293358052_5acc963a2d_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/673/32293358052_5acc963a2d_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/RcDUgo ]The Gap road[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/79912681@N06/ ]kayak23[/url], on Flickr[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/359/32066636750_27f1bf0a42_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/359/32066636750_27f1bf0a42_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/QRBTVq ]Fan Y big[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/79912681@N06/ ]kayak23[/url], on Flickr[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/549/32293338562_dc8450a5d3_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/549/32293338562_dc8450a5d3_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/RcDNtm ]Fan Y big[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/79912681@N06/ ]kayak23[/url], on Flickr[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/693/32066631980_10b35d197f_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/693/32066631980_10b35d197f_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/QRBSvb ]Fan Y big[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/79912681@N06/ ]kayak23[/url], on Flickr[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/481/32402926176_a45f4d252e_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/481/32402926176_a45f4d252e_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Rnkt3Y ]IMG_20170121_125554295-01[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/79912681@N06/ ]kayak23[/url], on Flickr[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/324/32066623920_d6ba1a0679_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/324/32066623920_d6ba1a0679_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/QRBQ7d ]Fan Y big[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/79912681@N06/ ]kayak23[/url], on Flickr[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/623/32064881580_675730fe8f_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/623/32064881580_675730fe8f_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/QRsUaS ]IMG_20170121_103512233-01[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/79912681@N06/ ]kayak23[/url], on Flickr

Mint day 😀

There ya go! 😀

Really got to tick this one off. Looks great.

Never seems to be a consensus on the best route or an associated gpx!

Was thinking of doing that ride today but went to Afan instead, being up there with a freezing wind is not fun and the report I saw said 15mph or so so I bottled it. Wish I hadn't now!

I ride that route loads as I grew up there, so many different routes you can take that I usually decide as I'm riding along!

Drove to a ride and bottled it for a 15mph wind?

Absoltely belting pictures.
did you see when heading up the tram road when it crosses a another road, looks like you could head up that road to the left and then drop back down to the tram road with some steep tech.

Yeah, there looked to be a few opportunities for that, plus that hillside was steep. There must be some trails in there! 🙂

It's a great ride. Yeah there's some not amazing bits but the views are just incredible up the top there.

Ive done it twice or three times (sure you were on one of those with me cynic-al?). Stunning scenery. My first or second time was on 14th December 2008 and we had a bit of ice, but luckily none off the top or down the chute shown above.

Rode it today. Cold and icy in places but always a classic. Start in Talyont on Usk usually take 4- 4.5 hrs. I am lucky enough to live 25 miles away so have riden it many times and it never disappoints.

Did you see when heading up the tram road when it crosses a another road, looks like you could head up that road to the left and then drop back down to the tram road with some steep tech.

Yep, a few trails up there that were built a decade or longer ago by me and a few mates plus two bridleways that are stupidly steep so don't get churned up by the horse riders 8) Go up the fireroad that head uphill back on the left and get to the old turning circle that used to be the go-to spot for burning out stolen cars. You'll see two trails heading down on your left. Or you can dig through the undergrowth to the right for about 50 yards and you might* be able to find an old clearing with a firepit. Face north and you should see what looks like a sheep trail heading off into the trees. Start on this then bear left to join onto our old trail that loops below the turning circle then snakes it's way down to join up with one of the bridleways just above the info sign on the tramroad. Haven't ridden that one in a few months as they were thinning out the woods for the last few months so it may be no longer passable, will take a look next time I ride there.

Drove to a ride and bottled it for a 15mph wind?

I lived local for years so know that a 15mph wind in Talybont means a gale through the Gap!! Forecast was obviously wrong 👿 Didn't get there and change my mind, just drove to Afan instead.

* I struggle to relocate it and I know where it is!!!

EDIT: just checked with one of the aforementioned mates and we built the trails 20 years ago 😯