Wales Coast to Coast – advice

been pooring over maps of Wales with a view to do the mtb coast to coast, pretty much have day 1 sorted, and bits and bobs along the route, but some big gaps in my knowledge (ok – some very big gaps!)

any route pointers / ideas / experience would be very much appreciated (GPX file would be ace!)

Cheers

when you doing it?

http://www.davebuchanan.co.uk/ 😉

Cheers LoCo – spot on 😀

Clink – as soon as i get some free time (probably once daughter is back at school), why – fancy joining?

although – looking at Dave Buchanan’s route, it missed some nice riding between the north coast and mach,

rode around Capel Curig (Llyn Cowlyd to the Marin Trail and over to Penmachno) couple of days ago, and have ridden the stretch past penmachno over towards Bala before, enjoyed it all, so would like to include in my route

Just did Dave’s route non-stop and supported last weekend. Weather was a bit poop and I was out there for 36 hours. Ask away 🙂

Oh it was for charity too 😀 http://justgiving.com/garyrideswc2c

36 hours, good effort!

how did you find the route finding, and any bits to watch out for?

cheers

Clink – as soon as i get some free time (probably once daughter is back at school), why – fancy joining?

Yep but school hols only for me

how did you find the route finding, and any bits to watch out for?

I struggled mainly with the bit coming into Brecon. Lots of farm land, and either bridleways with no visible trail on the ground or massively overgrown. I was bloody tired by that point. Most of my navigation probs were probably wilderness riding inexperience and tiredness tbh.

I never actually got lost, whenever I had issues it was mostly pushing across a field or bog trying to find the exit on the otherside. In the grand scheme of things it was a tiny percentage of the route. But by god can you lose a lot of time on those bits!

Strata Florida to Llanwyrtd Wells was pretty fast going and very easy to navigate but it’s a lot of forest road and climbing, that felt long and was grateful for company as it was night.

Best segment is Machynlleth to Nanty, has the worst climb but feels the most wild.

Easiest segment ignoring the start and end ones which are cycle paths, was Brecon to Merthyr Tydfil. Easy to navigate, reasonable climbs, pretty straight forward.

The DB route is good if you want to get across the country quickly and this route is great if you want more challenging trails http://www.roughrideguide.co.uk/mtbike/2012/06/new-welsh-coast-to-coast/

There was a feature in mbuk about 2-3 months ago. Do u want me to dig it out ?

Drop me a line at gb81@live.co.uk if u do

May be able to post u the issue.

There was a feature in STW also, but for a different Welsh coast to coast. So far we have not heard of anyone mad enough to repeat it yet >>

http://www.abigrideforlittlelives.co.uk/

http://www.theedgecycleworks.com/mtbroutes/north-wales-coast-2-coast-day-1

Hi All – scoped out bits and bobs of the DB route (and I now have a gpx of the whole route), probably get round to having a crack soonish (waiting on an Indian Summer!)

I’ve seen the alternative in mbuk, it does look a lot better – think that one can wait until Spring tho…

I’ll post back when i’ve done the DB one

Cheers

The DaveB route was designed as a 24hour stylee solo route, where none existed before, and it was thought it would take 30hrs plus to complete at that time.

It’s a difficult nav exercise, especially just North of Brecon (plus wet summer overgrowth) and also in the bogs of Ffair Rhos.

There is a decent description of it on http://www.davebuchanan.co.uk/projects so you can decide if it’s for you.

I road this a few weeks back, from Great Orme to the Gower

http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=1144