Welsh Ride Thing…..

I'm starting to think it might be a good idea if I've 'left town' by the time everyone returns on the Monday … there's an awful lot of trees here you could throw a rope over 😆

Stuart

Oh the joys of being an organiser! I ran Trailquests all over this area from Machynlleth to South of Devils Bridge for 7 years without a single complaint from either riders or landowners until the last one where a rider moaned about there being too many gates!
I don't think anyone will have the strength to do a lynching by the time we get back. I do think you have made a tremendous effort to guide riders to some of the best riding in the area without it turning into a procession, if people chose to make life difficult for themselves then what can you do?

So, appart from the Doethie Valley 'must do', anyone want to share some hints as to other really good bits?

Loads of 'must do' bits Nick, ie you 'must do' them to get round and make it back 😉

Some of the views/locations alone are worth a push, carry, swearing session but I have to admit, it ain't no trail centre.

Ok 🙂

Glansevern Arms at Pant Mawr , is it still there, does it sell food and beer?

It was there last night. The Dyffryn Castell just down the road towards Ponterwyd is covered in scaffold though, don't know whether it's open atm. This route has the makings of an epic pub crawl, my route passes the Star, Hafod Arms, Miners Arms Tafarn Teifi, Red Lion, Black Lion, Dyfryn Castell, Blue Bell, hic

It was the Anglers Retreat, think I went near Teifi ponds on another adventure.

Frame bag is not one of Eric's, having one made locally.

nostoc – Member
I'd consider it if going downhill (anticlockwise) but not up.

Going down it is our Plan A.

If it doesn't rain between now and then it may stay in our plans.

What do the locals say?

Have a Plan B, and play it by ear

The bridleway from Teifi pools to strata florida is good, as is the descent off the north end of monks trod. I don't think most of the bridleways from Claewen to Teifi valley are very good. There's a bit of a line over Drygarn Fawr, but that's a bit too far east.

Going down it is our Plan A.

If it doesn't rain between now and then it may stay in our plans.

The wetness of the trail isn't the problem, the problem is that it isn't there or at least isn't visible from the forest exit. I rode across Esgair Garthen a few years ago and there seemed to be a fairly good sheep path leading across to the forest at Crug Yr Wyn, you could try exiting the forest there riding east along the edge of the forest to the corner and taking a NE bearing to pick up the bridleway at the highest point. Could be a bit dodgy in poor visibility and it is a long way out of your way if it goes pear shaped. Wouldn't be my choice. Definitely avoid the west side of Esgair Garthen SQ 80 &81 it will drive you mad.

so if coming from claerwen dam, could take the track up esgair garthen and then bear off on to sheep track in to forest at Crug Yr Wyn instead of the Afon Arban bridleway?

In theory but if the cloud or mist obscures your veiw of the thin line of trees you will only have GPS to go off. Also the Esgair Garthen track isn't exactly a motorway. Why are you at that end of Claerwen anyway, all the checkpoints are at the other end?

Down that end to make my route into a circuit and save doubling back, I hate riding the same route in both directions!

Moel Prysgau is the furthest south I go. Any further and I think the chances of me attending the wedding on monday is slim and I would be in much trouble….

Here's a thought then. From Monks Trod, Claerddu down the Llyn Eignant- Tynycwm track 😀 (bridleway is diverted to right just before Tynycwm) to Strata Florida, all the way to Moel Prysgau on the forest road then back to Strata Florida on the drovers road following the river bed and then parallel to the forest road down the hill which is a nice flowy double track. This means you only cross your route rather than ride along it in both directions. 100% ridable and wet feet guaranteed.

Oh yeah, the drovers road, another one burned into my memory, riding/wading it in the dark in driving rain on the way to Dolgoch YH…..

hmmm.

Moorland push is starting to sound more tempting!

I always take a pair of flipflops for such situations 😀

Bought a pair of neoprene shoes with grippy soles from cheap charlies in Aber on Saturday £5 bargain, now where did I put those water wings 😉

Got to work on the wife's sewing machine last night and made some dry-bag retention straps, tested on way to work this morning and my stitching held. Not bad at all:

excuse the misty camera phone pics.

Yep that should float, about the right height as well 😀

Very nice too … for anyone who can't be arsed making straps I've noticed that Gelert do some. They're a few quid a pair and come in different lengths … sort of rainbow coloured.

You could just do what I saw a group do whilst on a DoE cycle expedition … every morning they gaffa taped all their kit to their bikes 😯 worryingly, the school they attended means some of them may one day be running the country.

super sessions for some reason can't help but think that looks like you are about to deploy a life raft!!

thomthumb – you don't realise just how close to the truth that may be.

Once I've got the one on the back I'll be all set for amphibious river crossings!

You could just do what I saw a group do whilst on a DoE cycle expedition … every morning they gaffa taped all their kit to their bikes worryingly, the school they attended means some of them may one day be running the country.

Gaffa tape is like the force – it has a light side, a dark side and holds the universe together. 😉

supersessions earlier

Ok complete route replan done as was planninng on going NE along the Afon Arban

Got 11 checkpoints so am all oficial and everything got fed up of clikclikclikclikclikclikclikclik so no idea of the distance but will be just over 100 miles I am guessing

Now to work out how to pack the bike

Oh and one rider has dropped out

Sort of looking forward to it again

Proper looking forward to this Hope the weather stays good!

Looks good supersessions, pretty much exactly how I've done mine, think there will be quite a few Alpkit dry bags about!

I've spent so long looking at the maps (highly recommend Mapyx Quo 2) that I can see them in my sleep….

My weapon of choice

Yep I know I'm colour blind.

The new mats are in at Alpkit. Do I go for an Airo 120 or 180? Decisions, decisions.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25655510@N02/4615651177/
Here's mine but the red bag will have to come off.

Anyone know what their kit weighs? I'm told if it's sub 10lb excluding food then you can consider yourself "ultralight" and (god knows how) but if it's under 5lb then you'll enter the kingdom of heaven and people will fall at your feet for you will be "superultralight" 😉

Just over 11 lbs when I weighed the two bags the other day, that did include about a lb of food.

Nick taking into account your food it looks like you're heading for the dizzy heights of "ultralight" … I'm awaiting input from flatfish who may be into minus figures.

i'm fully expecting shaggy to step up to the plate for the title of superultralight, however looking at the forecast for next weekend my kit will be around another 400g lighter if the met office are to be believed.
i reckon i can sneak below the ultralight limit though.

Morning, didn't think it'd take you long to arrive 😉

I take it good weather is on the cards then? … I should know this already as Iori at the next farm down predicted it in Jan/Feb.

I reckon what's in my pockets would take me over the superultralight limit.

Still contemplating options for carrying stuff. I am look to carry stuff on the front.

Alpkit have sold out of 13l and 20l dry dry bags. Does anyone know of any other dry bag that has holes for webbing straps so that it fits securely on the bars?

I like the idea of the POD Airstream though concerned that webbing straps may come off.

Ive used an exped bag before, it had softish stuff inside and the straps compressed the bag pretty well and it never looked like the bag would slip and come lose. Bungees would work well too.

Nick taking into account your food it looks like you're heading for the dizzy heights of "ultralight" … I'm awaiting input from flatfish who may be into minus figures.

Yeah I was quite suprised as it looks quite bulky, it's also got my synthetic bag in there at the moment, which is almost a lb heavier than my Alpkit Pipedream 400, if the forecast is dry I'll be taking the PD.

I reckon what's in my pockets would take me over the superultralight limit.

so it was you that won £84 million quid at the weekend?