[Closed] STW Motorbike rideout

Burger - no e-mail in shedbrewed's profile

Shedbrewed - if you want to drop me an e-mail I'm at gileyd <at> hotmail <dot> com

Cheers

Might have been up for this but I'm out of the country. Next time see if I can make it.

bump in search of getting our two intrepid trail blazers working together so we can start getting excited upon our route 😀

Also, do we want to start planning who is coming from where, and meeting on the way?

PeterPoddy and Mrs Poddy and I come from Hampshire, so presumably could meet on the way?

Could try to make the trip over to the west(ish)country less of a square off rear tyre session and more of a fun filled run?

Anyone else from the Saaarth coming?

Guys, it looks like I might be spoken for that weekend. Either way have a look at [url= http://g.co/maps/y3rud ]this route[/url] and see what you think. Some clichéd bits are in there like the A466, but there's ice cream at Tintern abbey...The Rockfield road out of Monmouth to Abergavenny is a nice one, in Aber there's the bus station for tea and wee, out of Aber head through Crickhowell and then take a right on the A479 Talgarth road. A nice set of bends, but watch yourself on some of them. I deposited my Ten into a hedge here. After Talgarth loop back on yourselves towards Llangors lake and down to the A40 at Bwlch where there is a wicked long left as you leave the 30 limit. Don't ramp it up too much though as you will be taking a right, though it appears to be straight on) off one of the bends towards Llangynidr. This road will take you down and across a beautiful narrow bridge and then up and out of Llangynidr where you briefly rejoin the B4558. Keep an eye out for the sign for Beaufort off to your right, and swing up there into possibly my favourite road of the route. As you climb up Mynydd Llangattwg the road opens up and you get great vistas, but watch out as there are sheep, and also delicious well surfaced hairpins. Several places to pull in off the road for admiring the view, or taking a leak. Back on and take the left towards Llangattock. This is a fast piece of road, for those that think they've got balls. Blind rises and bumpy surfaces will have you questioning if you want to wind the throttle all the way back. I'll leave that choice to you...
After coming down into Llangattock and cresting the canal bridge, hang a right by the traffic lights and head to Gilwern on the A4077. Enjoy the gloom under the trees and swear at the nanny state double whites. At the roundabout with the A465, head to Govilon and then once through Govilon take a right towards Blaenavon. The road climbs and the surface is not the best in places, but it rewards commitment. Again once up top there are places to stop and take a breather and drink in the views.
As you come back down into Blaenavon you pass the old Ironworks site with it's forboding furnace buildings, and the restored cottages that were used in the BBC's Coalhouse series. If you like hot chocolate, take a left at the traffic lights and visit Choc's Away on Broad Street for a delicious hot choc and cupcake. Otherwise straight on and towards Varteg. After passing under the restored railway bridge the road swings left, over a cattle grid and then opens up. Like the earlier section to Llangattock, this is a quick bit, but with blind bends. I love charging along here at the ton, fighting the wind as it blows through the valley.
Slowing for the 30 there's a few bends and then a chippy on the right if needed.
This part is probably the slowest and dullest, head down into Abersychan, hang a right to Pontypool, down onto the A472, then a bit of the A4042. Take a left into New Inn, a right up Jerusalem Lane at the yellow old folks home, then at the crest, right to Llandegveth reservoir. A few cheeky bends and then down to the dam. Across the dam and hairpin right takes you back up the hill. Stay straight through Coed y Paen and keep going straight on, including through the strange bend junction, until you come to a Tee Junction. Take a left to Usk. At the bridge by the petrol station take a right. Pass through Usk and then before the A40 take a left to Chepstow. Stay on this road all the way to the Racecourse garage, where a right will take you back out of Chepstow to the M48.
Enjoy.

PeterPoddy and Mrs Poddy and I come from Hampshire, so presumably could meet on the way?

Yes, good idea. You're in Winchester IIRC?

We could come your way, then up toward Salisbury/Bath way I guess, but that is adding a chunk to what is already a 330-360 mile day for us....

any excuse for a track day shot :lol:[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

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Is that a very big man or a very tiny bike?

big bloke on a big bike!!! Buell didn't sell too many of them cos you needed to be over 6ft to get your leg over one!

Shall we have a roll call?

Me + Mrs PP (Ducati ST3s) Farnborough, Hants
Andy RT (Ducati MS) Winchester, Hants
AKAGilo (Touono) Brizzle
MKChris (Transalp) "Far end of M4"
oldGrump08 (bike?) Northants
Superfi (bike?) ???
Dickyboy (bike?) ???
Shedbrewed - Probably not 🙁

Any more?
Copy the list and add yourself to it, then repost 🙂

EDIT
Anyboy got any more than 2 cylinders? 😉

Cheers Peter,I'm a definate.

I may try and check out the route Shedbrewed has given us over the next couple of weekends if the weather is nice...

Chris

Anyboy got any more than 2 cylinders?

Only 1.5 cylinders on the Guzzi Centauro at the moment - still waiting for new head gasket - mind you went from Wycombe to Pembroke & back like that thinking it was the exhaust gasket blowing 😳

PP I was thinking we could meet basingstoke way and head over from there. Agree it would b o just get there and enjoy the tour.

Rather than m4, we could go on the a4, bu it would take longer....

It's a shame shedbrewed can't make it. I'll raise an ice-cream to your absence on the day.

Hope the Guzzi makes it.

Let's hope it's not (too) cold or wet on the day. On Saturday when we went up the Upper Chapel Rd between Brecon and Builth Wells it dropped down to 6degC - my fingers were pretty numb!

If we go up the Talgarth Rd we can stop at the Honey Pot cafe - good food and cracking homemade cake. 🙂

3 cylinders.....
Thinking I will ride over x-country, have a cuppa with you then head back!

aka_Gilo - Member
If we go up the Talgarth Rd we can stop at the Honey Pot cafe - good food and cracking homemade cake.

Agreed, I normally stop there on the way to the Dragon Rally each Feb.
What date is it? 29th/30?

Must check with the boss 1st, but assuming its a yes, then I'll be there. AndyRT, I can meet you in Winch. I'm down the road in Denmead - Morestead rd, my fav and a nice warmup 🙂

Me + Mrs PP (Ducati ST3s) Farnborough, Hants
Andy RT (Ducati MS) Winchester, Hants
AKAGilo (Touono) Brizzle
MKChris (Transalp) "Far end of M4"
oldGrump08 (bike?) Northants
Superfli (GSXR750K8) Waterlooville, Hants
Dickyboy (bike?) ???
Shedbrewed - Probably not

Huh, this is the first time since I parked mine I've wanted to get it back out. Must... resist... expensive...urge...

shedbrewed - Member
What date is it? 29th/30?

I'm working on the 29th (Saturday) - riding in Wales on a Sunday is a pita ime, too many police and too many Sunday drivers.

Erm.... when I say "working on", I mean assuming that's the date we are planning, not that I am in work that day. Perish the thought.....

Me + Mrs PP (Ducati ST3s) Farnborough, Hants
Andy RT (Ducati MS) Winchester, Hants
AKAGilo (Touono) Brizzle
MKChris (Transalp) "Far end of M4"
oldGrump08 (bike?) Northants
Superfi (bike?) ???
Dickyboy (bike?) ???
Shedbrewed - Probably not

Any more?
Copy the list and add yourself to it, then repost

EDIT
Anyboy got any more than 2 cylinders?

I would love to come but dont have the time and would undoubtedly breakdown. I only have one cylinder.

It's all coming together. It's bot cold out there yet. Haven't turned on heated grips yet...

Morestead road is indeed a corked! Beats 272 but shhhhhhhhhh!

Could meet you either at Basingstoke or wherever the Poddys fancy?

...

Slight issue, I can only do 29th Oct. Its Great South Run on 30th, I forgot.

Yes I can meet wherever around that way. We could all meet at Percy Hobbs/Harvester pub if you fancy? On the Roundabout by the tech centre outside Winch. Its on the way down from Farnborough (A31).

You two sort out a meet point then let me know where it is, yeah? 😉

29th works better for me too, as the traffic back east, in the evening/afternoon will be a lot better than Sunday.

I'm not dictating terms though, so is there an issue with the 29th for anyone?

OH, [double post oops 😳 ]

Lets meet at Starbucks at Sainsbury's in Badger Farm winchester. Its a fuel stop too, and comfy seating whilst waiting for you.

Its [url= http://g.co/maps/h5rw5 ]here[/url]

OK, cool. 🙂

Time? 10-ish? Earlier? Later?

29th is best for me too 🙂

10ish is fine by me.

Coffee orders?

That means we'll be getting to Wales at about midday.

Do we have a decision upon meeting location there?

That means we'll be getting to Wales at about midday.

That's what I was thinking 🙂

aka_Gilo, Where is the best place for us to meet?

Oldgrump is joining us for a cuppa on the border, or dipping his toe just over the border...so it would be good to make it a sociable destination, rather than just a ubiquitous motorway service station...

Thoughts?

Suggest Aust Services for meet, followed by cuppa with oldgrup at Aber bus station.

On phone so fuller reply later.

Cheers

29th is fine for me.
I have the least distance to travel so will be bouncing with caffeine when you arrive.
Aust services fine for me too.

Aust services will be OK, I can cope with Costa coffee now and then... 😉

I've never ridden the bike over to Wales before, so imagine my happiness at not having to pay a toll 😀

Hi all, this is my first post on the forum, I confess to being a champion lurker. I fancy an excuse for a last jolly on the bike before winter; I have a BMW R1150RS, I live in Reading so could meet up in Winchester, subject to permission from the wife who is away on holiday at present.

I penned the route linked in my post above from Aust.
Still working on attending. Knobblies have gone on the Ten ready for winter so it'll be the Triumph if I can wangle it.

hope you can SB. See you there...

Badgers farm Sainsbury's is fine by me. See you there - might bring an old biking buddy along (havent been out on m/bike with him for a long time now, so it'd be rude not to ask).

Not seen the route yet, but will look at it later. Not ridden in Wales either, so should be fun new roads.

Heres hoping the weather is ok

aircooled

subject to permission from the wife who is away on holiday at present

The clue is in the text. Precedent is set. I'd say that was an automatic pink ticket! (permission to roam off campus unaccompanied)

Would you wish to meet us in Winch or try and spot us on the way? Or just head straight for Aust?

wales is a bit too far for me, and anyway being minus 1 suspension strut would make it a bit iffy anyway- did someone mention up north for next spring? fort william-mallaig, ferry to skye, bridge back mainland, lochcarron, bealach na ba - applecross, than back via lochcarron and past eilean donan to follow the road back to fort william - google maps for directions fort william - mallaig - applecross - fort william then drop the wee man anywhere on the route.
2 pots - aprilia rst futura

AndyRT

I think it would be simplest to meet you at Winchester rather than introduce more variables, and although it means an earlier start it's better than sitting on the M4 for aaaaages.

I'm re-takeing my test on the 4th November (the Fridays booked off as well for some bike shopping 🙂 ) dam you people!

At 25 am I too young to have a mid life crisis and buy a Harley, my Dad's just bought a 1200cc sportster and it's really anoying how comfortable the position is!

Given that a lot of you guys have a fair distance to travel just to get to Aust services, what sort of time are you going to want to be back there? I'm assuming by 4.30-5.00pm so you can do most of the journey home in daylight?

If we're meeting there at 12.00 then allowing for tea/coffee drinking, cake munching, shooting the breeze time we won't actually have that much riding time. I've looked into shedbrewed's route and it looks excellent, only observation I'd make (based on the bits I know and advice from a mate who lives in Aber on the rest) is that some of it is tight and twisty, 2-3rd gear stuff. Fine with me but maybe less so for PP if he is two-up? Would more open A road stuff be better?

As I mentioned earlier I suggest meet at Aust Services at 12.00, quick introductions then up the sublime Usk Road to Aber bus station to meet up with oldgrump for hot drinks, bacon sarnies for them that wants 'em, and chat. Then we can either do shedbrewed's route, or if preferred head along the A40 and up the Talgarth Rd, at some point stopping at the Honey Pot for cake.

There are so many options to chooses from, all good (it is Wales, God's own two-wheeled playground after all), so we are guaranteed a good day out as long as the weather is kind to us.

10am in Winch is a late start considering we are riding to Wales+back. I'm happy to be in Winch earlier - I was thinking 7am

Happy to meet at Aust services, should be able to make it before 12 if it suits you lot.
Would be good if this weather holds, tested my heated grips and they're draining the battery big time.....

I'm only 20 mins from Aust services so I can make any time after daybreak 🙂

I'm meant to be going out to a party at 7pm ish, so would really like to start early

I'm happy for an earlier start. Up to the others...

Bumped to get all of those thinking this might be fun but are too scared to commit!

Trust me, welsh roads are as smooth and curvy as you'd ever want, and attract us motorbike types just as much as the jcb built mtb trails scattered across them welsh hill sides. 😀

Come join the party......you know you want to.

And to those who've already put their bikes to bed for the winter i say:

Go into your garage/take that cover off your bike when you get home tonight, look your bike straight in the eye and say you don't want to ride twisty grippy roads rubbing out those chicken strips on some wonderful welsh blacktop!

see you out there 😀

Well it looks like we'll have some rare Welsh sunshine this weekend so I'm going to try and recce the route.

Will report back with a sheep count when I'm done and won't spend all the sunshine tokens either.

you better not 😉

Fine with me but maybe less so for PP if he is two-up? Would more open A road stuff be better?

Fine by me. Who said I was the pilot? I'll just go on the back! 🙂

I'm not 100% sure Mrs PP is coming, she knows there's a ride, and I'm expecting her though.

Big Duke will pull 6th everywhere. If I want I can ride it like a scooter.....

Am happy to get to Aust a bit earlier too. It's going to be nearly 2 hrs to get home from there, but I'm ready for a full day out. 😀

MKCHRIS - Member
Well it looks like we'll have some rare Welsh sunshine this weekend so I'm going to try and recce the route.

Will report back with a sheep count when I'm done and won't spend all the sunshine tokens either.

Where are you heading Chris (other than shedbrewed's route)?

Gilo,that's all I had planned really.Don't get to East Wales much.Happy to meet if you're out too...

I'm hoping my ride over via Banbury, Cirencester, etc will be fun so I'm not too teed off at missing the Welsh blacktop.....
I plan to get started fairly early to miss the worst of the Saturday shoppers, so a meet at Aust well before midday wouldn't be a prob for me.

Change of plans for me for tomorrow.
Going to hit Cornwall to see an old mate.

See you on the 29th.

damn I'm in the scottish borders or I might have been in, old skool like...

[IMG] [/IMG]

Nice bike that!

In regards to meeting at Badger Farm Sainsburys:

I will be at the Starbucks (its really obvious once you're there (if you understand what I mean) from 8am.

That way you can get coffee and bike juice. Any earlier and I'm not so sure

What time do you reckon you'll be at Aust services Andy?

Probably about 10:30?

AndyRT - Member
Probably about 10:30?

Sounds good.

Probably about 10:30?

Are you serious? If so, we'll go straight there, not Via Winchester, it's nearly a 2hr ride from our house to Aust......

No worries. I was counting coffee slurping and faff time. It's about an hour and a half on the m4 from Winchester probably.

Me + Mrs PP (Ducati ST3s) Farnborough, Hants
Andy RT (Ducati MS) Winchester, Hants
AKAGilo (Touono) Brizzle
MKChris (Transalp) "Far end of M4"
oldGrump08 (bike?) Northants
Superfi (bike?) ???
Dickyboy (bike?) ???
Shedbrewed - Probably not
Any more?
Copy the list and add yourself to it, then repost

Can everyone coming from over from the east say where they intend to meet up on the way?

I'll be at Sainsburys' at 8am, and after a swift coffee, shall set off for Aust.

If we leave at 9am, we should be fine for time 😉

I'll be at Sainsburys for 8am

superfli - Member
I'll be at Sainsburys for 8am

Excellent

Any others?

Poddys - I understand, it is an added loop pof about 40miles to head south, and it makes no sense. I'll see you there, or on the way, but then you may just be a metallic grey Italian blur

Maybe another old codger....if the bike and rider can fire up. It's an old Guzzi, you'll hear me before you see me. I'm in Wiltshire, the roads you've chosen are great and I'll drive up and meet the you at the services.

I'll already be wearing earplugs 'cause of my termi exhaust.

Welcome, and yet another twin 🙄

Quick query from me about Aust services...does it have a westbound and eastbound side?Or is it a pull right off the motorway job(never been)

I'd hate to be waiting on the wrong side....

MKCHRIS - Member
Quick query from me about Aust services...does it have a westbound and eastbound side?Or is it a pull right off the motorway job(never been)

I'd hate to be waiting on the wrong side....

Nope, no worries there. Just take the last exit (just) before the old Severn bridge, down to the roundabout, third exit and follow the road round into the services carpark.

Been pretty chilly the last few mornings, hope it warms up a tad for next Saturday!

Still waiting for parts from Guzzi suppliers, but garage will refit old parts if new ain't arrived, so providing the weather ain't crap you can count me in.

Me + Mrs PP (Ducati ST3s) Farnborough, Hants
Andy RT (Ducati MS) Winchester, Hants
AKAGilo (Touono) Brizzle
MKChris (Transalp) "Far end of M4"
oldGrump08 (bike?) Northants
Superfi (bike?) ???
Dickyboy (Centauro)
Shedbrewed - Probably not
Any more?
Copy the list and add yourself to it, then repost

Amazing weather this weekend, went down to Longleat with the kids today and it was 18degC - watching the birds of prey show it was so warm I nearly took my jacket off and sat in a T shirt.

Let's hope it lasts until next Saturday. New rear Sportsmart fitted.

so providing the weather ain't crap you can count me in.

Yeah. If it's freezing cold and slashing down with rain, I'm staying home!

Ditto - I've no problem with cycling in the rain and cold, but motorcycling - no thanks. For 9 years a motorbike was my only transport so I've done the year-round thing. These days the Tuono is a toy, for nice(ish) days only...

Effing biblical on the M5 south of Bristol today, glad I was in the car! With any luck it'll all blow through by mid week and brighten up for Saturday 😉

According to my phone, the roads will have been cleaned by the rain and dried on Friday, and all we will have to deal with is fluffy clouds.

Any more takers?

To all the confirmed riders, send me an email, and we can do a phone number swap, so we can be sure who is where and when we'll all be arriving at Aust services.

Also, just in case of somebody goes left instead of right in the middle of deepest Wales...

Andy, YGM

You too

Andy

YGM

YGM Andy.

Lots of Welsh 'liquid' sunshine falling from the sky right now-I'm sure the weekend will be lovely...

Ahh, liquid sunshine...

just so long as it doesn't start arriving in frozen prepacked or freeze dried versions