JohnClimber – Member

11 to 11.30 at Llanidloes it is then.

Anyone else?

Hi John,
I'd be up for lunch as I'm coming across from Barnsley, being awkward though, my route is via Caersws so I'd vote for the Aleppo Merchant in Carno, if you google it it says they are open for lunch from 12-2 and the menu looks ok as well. This is quite close to the start.
Also, if any one wants a lift, they're welcome, got room for another 3 bikes and bodies. Bet my home location has surprised a few.

No, I was looking for a circular route linking Nant Y Moch, Eisteddfa Gurig and Tarenig without the tarmac, it did go eventually but not without a long push. There appears to be a landrover track to the top of Plynlimon, or at least half way up but as it's a footpath I wouldn't know.

Never ridden it but looks better on Google Earth, the only indistinct bit seems to be where the track splits to the forest where there is a footbridge and decent looking track to the forest road.Distance of about a mile. Bear in mind that the Google photos were taken 4 years ago. I spent a frustrating hour looking for a track NE of Ponterwyd the other weekend which looked very distict on GE,a plantation had all but obliterated it.

This is a confusing area which is only able to be clarified by the definitive maps which you will normally find in the highways department in your local council offices. I don't think there is anywhere on the net which publishes these, sorry.

Don't know about the bike but the map board cum floatation device will come in handyfor the Welsh Ride Thing :P

My weapon of choice

Yep I know I'm colour blind.

supersessions earlier

Yep that should float, about the right height as well :D

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 :wink:

Here's a thought then. From Monks Trod, Claerddu down the Llyn Eignant- Tynycwm track :D (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.

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?

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.

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

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?

I see it now, I went looking for it a couple of years ago, the start from the forest road is visible but quickly turns very boggy, then when you leave the forest it disappears all together. Not recommended.

Where?

Happiness is a clean helmet.

Natures takeaway

Re drinkable water, the Elan Valley Reservoirs are the water supply for Birmingham, I'm taking water purification tablets as I don't want to start talking in a Birmingham accent like most of the local residents :?

If the one you are unable to see a trail to is the one near the Teifi pools, it is approached from the due South off the tarmac road, a track is visible from the road. Lovely location :-)

If anyone is interested, some options for gathering provisions en route are. Devils Bridge, campsite shop at Woodlands which is 300m from the bridge on the Ponterwyd road, they do take away fish n chips on a Saturday as well. Also small general store just up the road from the station heading towards Aberystwyth. Ponterwyd, small general store with erratic opening hours, better bet is BP petrol station on the main road heading towards Aberystwyth. Pont Rhyd Y Groes, store on the Llanafan road, go up the hill past the Miners Arms and fork right and its 100m. Pontrhydfendigaid,small general shop opposite road to Strata Florida not sure of opening times. This is not a definitive list but ones I know about which shouldn't involve too much deviation from our routes.

Please note if anyone is planning to do a bit of recceing this weekend, the Plains Car Rally is on in Hafren on Saturday so be careful. They are also using Dyfi but that's not relevant to the WRT.

Good work IanB, when I posted a pic of essential equipment, I fogot all about water wings. :D I've got a 13l Alpikit drybag on my bars with just a sleeping bag and it seems fine, rest of the kit is dotted about in the frame, on a rack and on me.

Oh and nearly forgot The Star Inn in Dylife, favourite haunt of Terry Jones off of Monty Python who lives(d) just down the road.

Me, Hafod Arms in Devils Bridge and the Teifi Inn in Ffair Rhos. I'm not daft.Might even stop off for one in the Blue Bell :wink:

Virtually all the good trails used on the Dyfi Enduro in the early days were created for the motorbike enduro, I think they have created a few new trails recently but certainly the open hillside where the cutoff used to be was the enduro special test. Same is true of the forests around Rhayader and Builth Wells used in Merida events.

Essential equipment.

Last time I rode down there I ended up to my waist in a bog, similar consequences if you don't know the line across Monks Trod.

"bridleway that goes through checkpoint 12"

You take the low road, I'll take the high road and I'll be at the bridge afore ye. Again another track which isn't on the 1:50,000 but is on the 1:25,000 will be your friend.

You'll have to be more specific, there's loads of inbreds in Holmfirth, I think its something in the water. I live in Penistone so know a thing or 2 about inbreds.

1)Road? Are we allowed to use the road?
2)Does pushing count as singlespeed?
Sensible answer 1)About 30% 2)Not me, I've ridden with people on singlespeeds in this area and its not pretty.

As Nick said earlier, it would be boring if we all went the same way. I've just had another look at the Google Map satellite veiw and it isn't on my version still. Just to be clear it runs from just east of a run down farmhouse contouring up Draws Drum and across Banc Dolwen, leaving the forest at 803791 and across to the turbine road, it is definitely the most direct and least climby route between the 2 bothies. But what do I know, I've only been riding in these hills for 30 years.I remember when it was all fields. I'll shut up now.

Do you work for the Forestry then or have you got the original plans for the wind farm?

Its on geograph titled

New Track at Cefn Croes Wind Farm

There I've said it.

In meters please and show your workings.

I didn't say it wasn't visible from space, the latest Google Earth photo is 3 years old and it has been built since then. OK flatfish what are the heights of the start and finish of the track running west to east?

Just checked on get a map and no it isn't. I'll give you a clue, it was used on the Wales Rally GB last year.

Track isn't shown on any version of MMap,Geograph or Google Earth but I have found a photo of it… Keep guessing, now I'm torn whether to disclose it, my initial thought was yes as after all it's not a race. Stuart is pretty warm but he should be after all :wink:

Quite possibly but there are a lot of windmills around this area. Re weight, a chap needs a few home comforts :?

For the ferry try Norfolk Line, if you have a month or 2's notice it is very cheap, I booked 2 of us plus a VW T4 camper return in July for £29, food on the boat is not bad either.