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get up there, when are you going, this week?
I did it in the evening mid week 2 years ago. It was the perfect time as everyone was coming down as I was going up (slowly) so a few chats with folks and they mostly politely moved aside as I crawled past. The first bit of tarmac isn't subject to the ban so you can set off earlier.
When I got to the top I got a clear view and I had the entire summit to myself, it was like a dream. I can't believe it when I see the pics of folks queuing.
You can do it weeksy, just set off a bit earlier and take it easy.
After recent rides, I’m honestly thinking I can’t make this. Sections of todays ride were 14-17% and I simply can’t see any way I can do that for 2 hours. Apparently it’s 14.1% average.
So I think I’m gonna bail on it
Just pretend there's a bike shop at the top with a huge selection of shocks to fondle..... 🙂
@Weeksy- we've ridden together in Les Get uphill enough for me to be able to tell you that if i can haul my soor self up that hill then for you it will be a breeze. Get it on, there is a beautifully cold drink waiting at the bottom for you.
Went up it on our Welsh Coast to Coast(North to South). Well worth it, but you're not supposed to be on it, from 10am to 4pm.
Stop fannying about and get up there.
Took Mrsstu up there 20 odd years ago when bikes were crap and she'd only been riding for a few months.
If a noob on a shit bike can manage it...
, I’m honestly thinking I can’t make this
Don't be daft, it's a steady push-ride-push-ride that will take you no more than 2 hours if you're really faffing about. Grannies walk up it, you'll be fine.
Did it around 3 years ago, Rangers from the top to just after the switch backs is great. After that it becomes a bit of a let down imo.
Getting up was tough, we went the weekend just before the curfew came into place. The weather was awful the day before, it had snowed quite heavily and had snow above the push up from Clogwyn. But it didn't stop the ant trail of people going up.
I was running 32-42 chainset, others had 32-52, we all pushed up the same sections to some degree.
I'll add my two penn'orth. I've done it three times, in varying degrees of fitness.
Basically it's a very steep initial bit of tarmac up to the gate onto the trail. But it's short and sharp. For ages after that it's basically a fairly gentle gradient, with a couple of very short steep bits.
Eminently rideable. Gone up far, far worse.
Then the steps. That's a push/carry up a "staircase" of rocks. It's steep for sure and I'd rather get a normal bike up that than a heavy e-bike. Again you're looking at maybe 5 minutes to get up this section. It's not that bad.
At the top of that you go under the railway line and then up a short/sharp/steep loose climb. And then it's relatively gentle gradient to the top.
I guarantee you will have ridden up way worse than this. Apart from the initial bit of tarmac and the loose bit above the railway it's sat there, spinning away (other than the staircase of course).
The only difficult thing overall as a climb is that it is long. But if you just plod along you'll be reet.
First time I did it, was Sunday morning and we'd spent the Saturday afternoon doing the full lap of Penmachno (probably harder on the legs overall) and then managed to get to the pub after 9pm and miss out on dinner (other than crisps, chocolate and pepperami). So knackered and starving and it was still okay.
After all, legions of overweight geezers from Walsall dressed as Scooby doo go up the same trail everyday as part of staaaag celebrations..
Tbh I still think the Cafell climb at Cwmcarn from bottom to top is worse than Snowdon felt for me.
I did it on my Aeris 145LT with a 30/42 ratio I think it was. Not wildly fit just average at the time I’d guess - prob around 13 stone at 5’9 tall. On day 3 of a trip where I’d absolutely battered myself at CYB doing 2x black circuits day 1 / uplift at Antur day 2.
I’m pretty sure I pushed a little bit of the steep tarmac ramp, the steps in the middle and the sharp loose incline after you go under the railway. The rest was just a spin and not that steep. I reckon that average incline is skewed by the several steep sections as it did not feel that bad.
I reckon as you ride fairly regularly you’d be alright - just there are some sections to push rather than ride. The e-bike contingent would probably have to push the same spots.
Just if it’s hot like this take waaaaaay more water than you think you might need.
thanks fellas, you've somewhat removed my worries...
Now though i am sitting thinking "can i be arsed driving 5 hours each way to do it "
lol
Not sure it’s worth 10 hours of driving mind.....
If you’re South Wales way you’re probably driving past better riding to get there.....
As an addition - has anyone ridden up or down Rhyd Ddu? I walked up and down it last week and can’t help thinking it would be a bit disappointing either way. Downhill it’s either extremely sketchy and unridable without Danny Mac skills or quite boring wide tracks or stone slabs. Some small sections seem fun but it doesn’t seem to be a route worth trying.
As an aside to the can he/can't he do it thing; you can do it, no doubt, but I don't know why you'd want to.
Theres miles better rides to be had in the surrounding area, that are infinitely more enjoyable than pushing your bike up a massive hill at some ungodly hour in the morning accompanied by 3,000 walkers, just to tick some arbitrary box.
I did it years ago and wouldn't bother with it again
I definitely wouldn't even entertain the idea of driving 10 hours to do it
If you're going to North Wales, go and ride Drum Mountain instead. Its ace! 🙂
Driving five hours each way for a three-to-four hour ride/push/carry?
Nope.
“can i be arsed driving 5 hours each way to do it ”
it's only worth doing as part of a longer trip TBH. I wouldn't go there especially
It's all been said above.
I concur that its not worth a special trip. Only worth it if you're there already.
Rangers IS fun for its sustained nature, and the rocks of Mordor towards the bottom do invite a bit of sessioning with chums if you're inclined, but bang for buck there are better rides for half a day.
I'd say it depends why you want to do it as to whether it's worth the drive. If you want to do a different challenge of some sort, and a great view from the top (which I've never seen as it's either been horizontal rain or at least cloudy when I've been up there....) then it's worth it. If you want to get rAd then probably not!
I've been up Cadair Idris too and as a 'normal' mountain bike ride it sucked, and my car wouldn't start when I got back to the bottom.... But it was still fun in a way, great views, and the fact that I remember more of that ride than many 'better' rides suggests that it was worth doing.