The 2011 Welsh Ride Thing is GO!

I’m probably taking a small £15 200 lumen led torch attatched to the handlebars as well as a head torch, (probably an Alpkit one as it has a red rear light in the battery back).

Regarding my route planning, I’m recovering from an achilles tendonitis injury so am a little out of shape and will be taking it easy. Therefore, I’m going to plan the route as I go along and enjoy the ride rather than set myself an ambitious and strict order of checkpoints which I push myself to do and end up feeling like a failure and not enjoying myself. Im hoping my map reading is up to scratch ‘cos I’ve just been tapping my friend from Machynlleth for local info and I realize that I’ll never be able to get the place name pronounciation right. I’d rather die than humiliate myself by asking any locals for directions. I now know a few good cafes in the area though 🙂

sounds like a good plan Slugwash I think there maybe a few others following your game plan 😀

Is it too early to start looking at/ worrying about the weather?

http://www.yr.no/place/United_Kingdom/Wales/Machynlleth~2643251/long.html

If they forecast rain on Sunday too, I’m taking my tent…

Atleast it’s warm 😉

any suggestions for places to stay (campsite) and things to do (on the bike) for a few days after WRT. as i will have just spent the previous three days lost in the trees are the local trail centres worth a visit.

Nant is good but of the trail centres probably the most like the riding you’ll have just done. So based on that I’d be tempted to head up to Coed-y-Brenin for brainless waymarked (good) trail centre riding

weather doesn’t look too bad Ian – lets be positive now

I haven’t got a lightweight tent so will have to invest in a BOB trailer to pull our family tent 😯

Pete – I’ve got a decent tent – could be a bit cosy for us two though !

Has it got an annexe for you Steve? 😉

It does but it’s pete’s turn to use it!

lets be positive now

Yes, to be fair, it’s better than it was earlier today where they’d got 6mm of rain forecast for Saturday.

ok Steve if it comes to that we’ll split it between us and I am sure we can fashion a comfy abode whatever the weather 😀

Bit of a PSA here. With all this talk of rain and tents someone might find this useful.

http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/Clearance/Laser_Photon_Elite_Green_End_of_Line.html?utm_source=tn-factorysale&utm_medium=email&utm_term=&utm_content=&utm_campaign=facotrysale

Terra Nova Laser Photon Elite down from £330 to £200 for this weekend only.

Stuart the footpath / track to the west of your gaff is that well used on the bikes and okay 🙂

You’ll struggle to find the paths (obviously green on the map) but stick to the fire roads and you’ll have no trouble.

I thought the hardened tarpists wouldn’t be wanting tents? 😉

I’ll be doing a bit of “tentage” next weekend. 😯

Change the route so night one will involve beer at Aberganolwyn 🙂

Don’t worry DNF, if I were doing it I’d sleep out in a carrier bag and a knotted hanky … tents for girls 😉

Surely Bivi bags are waterproof?

Just put your jacket over your head if it rains?

carrier bag, what brand, have you got a weight on that? I’m sat here doing a ‘skin out’ gear weighing session, and modelling the best packing strategy with Excel. 😯 The super lightweight approach is being revised, spare cleats weigh 44g!

Rummaging through gear boxes has me wondering, what brake pads for WRT?

Spare Cleats???????
Bloody hell man, sort your self out.

The moment i picked them up and thought yes or no, I realised I had just condemned the cleats on my shoes to break next week 😕

Ride flats and save yourself 44g!

It will have to be a Morrisons carrier bag as that’s the only supplier of said items for at least a million miles 😀

Steve & Pete’s tent

I’ve only got Waitrose carrier bags

Are they the bags for life?

I’ve only got Waitrose carrier bags

Your the sort that goes glamping, aren’t you.

yeah I bought a Cool Camping book too 😆

For those who use Waitrose carriers!

http://theglamcampingcompany.co.uk

Glamping or Tarp, hell I’ll hire some sherpas to pedal me around the checkpoints, establish camps and cater.

Any other good pub recommendations in the area of the approx. route / check points other than Aberganolwyn.

Any one got any feedback / local knowledge for the pubs at Gwernan Lake, Dinas Mawddyy, Malwydd, Cemmaes?

What will they be like if we turn up a bit muddy and soggy (and stinky by Sunday)?

Early birthday present of a Laser Elite Tent winging it’s way down here 🙂

Red Lion (Llew Coch) at Dinas is alright for a bite to eat … don’t they’ll mind you a bit grubby.

I’m liking my tent I hope it is air cooled 😀

That Laser elite is very tempting but I’ve invested heavily in my kit so far so it’ll have to do!!

what’s a bit of rain going to mattter, I’ve reproofed my waterproof so bring it on 😯

That’s the spirit Pete … it’s surprising how much natural shelter there is out there once you start looking. Found myself a rather nice cave last week, it’s got a large rock overhang too which makes a splendid porch for cooking duties!

MTB cave dwelling now there’s idea!!

or not I’d be scared of waking up next to a grizzly bear 😯

I suppose on the Winter bivvy ride we should have made an igloo

I bet it would have been a 4 berth one if you had!

welsh ride thing

careful the mods may shut this down!

I bet it would have been a 4 berth one if you had!

ROFL, there’ll always be room under the tarp for you Steve from now on 😳

kimbers – Member
welsh ride thing

careful the mods may shut this down

the mods are involved 😯