Doesn't stop me getting lost, it just helps somebody find my body.
As long as it stays dry I think the downhill Afon Arban will be our option as we'd miss out the Moel Prysgau point if we take the longer southern option.
Can any locals tell me if there are any good pubs or places to eat very close to the start for a meal at 12 o'clock on the Saturday before we start?
Maybe we could meet up there on route?
Choice is pretty limited John, however there's a Cafe in Llanbrynmair (3.5 miles from us) where you should be in time for an all day breakfast. It's on the right hand side of the main road ... it will involve not turning for Staylittle and carrying on towards Mach' for 100 yards.
There are a few pubs between Newtown and us but I can't say how many will be serving food. Other than that Newtown would be your best bet ...24 miles/45 mins from the start.
There's a reasonable array of places to eat in Llanidloes, only 20mins away which is a bit closer than Newtown.
11 to 11.30 at Llanidloes it is then.
Anyone else?
The Milk Bar in Llanidloes is closing down 🙁 Did a cracking breakfast.
I finally got out for my practice overnight cycle ride at the weekend to see how this wild camping worked. I laid out all of the kit that I had been accumulating over the weeks and rationalised it based on what I need vs like and managed to trim my kit down to an amount that actually fitted onto my bike! All up it is still weighing about 18lbs including food and so is still someway off light let alone ultralight.
I also changed my gearing from 34:17 to 34:20 and for the rolling hills round here worked really well giving the bike a similar feel to my unloaded bike with original gearing.
Camp kit is an Alpkit affair with wee airic, pipedream 400 and hunka and I was fricking roasting. Eventually I had to just lay on top of my bag to keep comfortable. Anyway to cut my ramblings short it was great and I certainly learnt plenty with quite a few adjustments needed before the weekend. The biggest of which is a change of wheels as I discovered that the rim on my front wheel had failed....how lucky was that? :
Was indeed lucky ... if you hadn't spotted it I might have been going out on thunderbird rescue 😉
Sounding like the nights will be a few degrees cooler than it was last week so I wouldn't worry about melting in your bag.
JohnClimber - Member
11 to 11.30 at Llanidloes it is then.
Anyone else?
Hi John,
I'd be up for lunch as I'm coming across from Barnsley, being awkward though, my route is via Caersws so I'd vote for the Aleppo Merchant in Carno, if you google it it says they are open for lunch from 12-2 and the menu looks ok as well. This is quite close to the start.
Also, if any one wants a lift, they're welcome, got room for another 3 bikes and bodies. Bet my home location has surprised a few.
I believe Johns route will also be through Carno ... he'll have to go past the start by about 13 miles to reach Llanidloes then come back again.
Pretty much anyone coming from the north will go through Carno and if coming from the south you'll be passing through Llanidloes.
Thinking about it it's not a big deal to divert to Llanidloes, I was thinking I'd prefer not to see those bloody big hills up the side of Clywedog more than once. I'll go with the flow.
Yep our route head south to Newtown then up via Carno.
So, we'll see you at the Aleppo Merchant inn at 12 sharp
I'll have the Lasange please
i reckon i can sneak below the ultralight limit though.
think I was being too optimistic with my gear. Got 4 pounds to lose before I can join the ultralight club.
Saus n mash washed down with Double Dragon if it's on, can't wait.
I just called Tracey at the Aleppo. She says if I could call her on Thursday evening with the food order from their menu they will open up around 11.30 for us and make sure the food will be ready and waiting.
So order here but keep it simple for me.
Lasange x 1
Think we might trump you on distance, we're comming down from Leeds.
Quite keen on that lift offer. 2 bod's 'n' bikes if you have room
Oh the Aleppo looks nice, put me down for a lesagne x1 as well. Pretty much on the way for me too 🙂
Space in Car for 1 person / Bike on the way up from Cheltenham area if any one is from down this way 🙂
SSP
Holy crapola
I have just found out that all my route planning and replanning is going to be bloody pointless
I have just packed basic kit onto the bike for the 1st time ever no food and probably not everything else that I will need and then tried to ride it round the cul-de-sac
It steers like a drunk cow and the slight incline felt like a 1 in 4
Pistonbroke, I was surprised by your location, you must do some big rides if you class the WRT area as local
I have just found out that all my route planning and replanning is going to be bloody pointless
Once you are out in the hills it is amazing how little that line on the map matters 🙂
As for the drunk-cow handling...you get used to it and you can always push the bike up the hills (as I do!)
SSP
As for the drunk-cow handling...you get used to it
I hope so, I nearly fell off turning round at the end, all my day dreams
of pelting down Welsh hillsides evaporated in an instant
The Aleppo is a bit of further for me from Brecon, but I wouldn't want to miss out on a good meal and a bit of chit-chat, so count me in 😀
(Large) jacket potato topped with tuna and ham, please.
Definitely count me in for lunch at the Aleppo, I'll go for the Sausages and Mash.
[The Aleppo is a bit of further for me from Brecon ]
IanB I am heading up from the South via Abergavenny, do you fancy a lift?
Hi Chew, No prob on the lift, leaving about 9.00 I'm 10 mins off J37 M1 heading towards Manchester.E Mail me. Just a thought on roofrack, its designed for normal dropouts with front wheel out not these new fangled scaffold pipe things but could get them inside at a pinch.
Sausage & mash and double epo for me please...........
pistonbroke, no email in your profile, but there's one in mine.
Got my highlighter and mug off tea finalising our route.
@alfachippy - many thanks for the offer, but I need to head back on the Sunday as I have a birthday party to go to on Monday...
It steers like a drunk cow
Over active, I know what you mean the 1st time I rode a loaded up bike a couple of weeks ago it felt like I was riding with a flat back tyre all the time.
I have found that it helps a lot if you can get the front to rear weight balance right. I have moved my saddle bag from behind my seat to the front of the frame just behind the head tube, between top and down tube and it made a big difference as firstly the weight of all my tools is removed from the rear and also the pack on my rear rack could move forward quite a long way. Tyre pressures will also need to be increased.... 😉
A picture paints a thousand words.... 😉
[img] 
[/img]
There's a really alarming number of singlespeeds doing this event, do you know it's in Wales?
And this is what the broken rim looked like.....oooer. Best get out to the garage and start swapping my wheels over.
[img] 
[/img]
Somebody stop me I've just finally worked out how to upload photos 😀
pistonbroke - Member
There's a really alarming number of singlespeeds doing this event, do you know it's in Wales?
I was thinking the same, I've got 2 SS's I could use but the full bouncer with gears is coming this weekend.
I can't imagine how difficult climbing out of the saddle will be on a SS what with all that weight on the bike swinging around underneath you
There's a really alarming number of singlespeeds doing this event, do you know it's in Wales?
I know, but I can't resist. And I live here too. It must the all the fresh air...
Ordered a 20t sprocket today though from On-One to "play it safe" 😯
alfachippy - I do like how you've invertered your smaller saddle bag just behind the bars. I might steal that idea if it will fit.
Ahem ... I'm sure you'll all be pleased to know the midges have just hit town half an hour ago!
still s8tannorm - Member
Ahem ... I'm sure you'll all be pleased to know the midges have just hit town half an hour ago!
Whacko - Garlic bread with my Lasange on Saturday then
Ref your food order, please, please, please remember what you've ordered.
I'm not making a note of your names next to what you want.
with 2 of my riding buddies so far I've asked for
4 x Lasagne with salad and garlic bread
3 x Saus n mash
1 x (Large) jacket potato topped with tuna and ham
All this food talk is making me hungry.....
Packed everything up last night. Including food (but not water) I'm at 13lb. Not too bad, think there's one or two things I could lose to make it lighter.
we *may* make it for 12 but chances are slim.
we gotta get from southampton (leaving @ 6)
if anyone would like to PM me with a mobile number - we may give you a call on sat am.
Thom
JC can you put me down for Sausage & Mash if you haven't already, ta.
I have stop trying to confuse me
now i'm down to the 12lb mark but this could become a tad lighter if the weather plays ball.
oooooo the excitement!
😀
light weight water proof?
Still strugling with amount of kit
What does any one think about doing without a sleeping mat? its not that cold anymore and I could find some long grass or bracken
Anyone going with the idea of a cotton liner in a bivi bag? I'm sure it was mentioned earlier in the thread
OAKAF