Routes Database

@andyp - next few weeks apparently. Don't quite understand the plan but I guess I don't have to. Having had a look at the route though, I quite fancy it myself now.

Would still nail your average speed down on your way to an airport for a flight!

Yep. Not for me. I'm looking at it and thinking lunch in a nice pub not smashing it to make check-in

It’s great, really quiet roads, great countryside and you’re on a path that has been used for hundreds and hundreds of years.

The Dirty Habit at the foot of Hollingbourne Hill is the one for that.
Just don't have 2 pints of IPA and then do the climb like I did last time

Recommendations for rides in Wales? Last minute trip planning, two options being considered:

a) 3-day tour, starting and finishing in same place, ~100ish km per day
b) Find a nice spot and do day rides out from there

I've done next to no riding in Wales other than an audax in the south, would like to explore more. Hills are good.

Snowdonia and its surrounding areas look amazing. I was there with a car and no bike in the heat wave last year and was kicking myself everyday

Start in Bangor and go through Snowdonia (I opt for the Ogwen valley).
Climb from Lake Bala and then descend to Lake Vyrnwy (all options good!).
Ride through the whole of the Elan Valley.
Take the road from Tregaron and follow it to and around Llyn Brianne - Closet thing to a cycling theme park you'll find in this country. Timber growing area and very very little car traffic.
Brecon and the Gospel Pass.

Excellent stuff, thanks!

Can second all jakeybaps' recommendations.

Tbh, once you're out of any urban area it's hard to go wrong, unless you happen to underestimate how hilly it is.

Made a mistake... I know the road to Llyn Brianne from Beulah taking in the Abergwesyn Pass not from Tregaron. Just. Amazing. It's hard to fit into a short trip but was the absolute standout highlight of my Wales trip a couple of years ago. Please do it.

Not my pics, google search results...

It would appear that the short answer is we’ll need more than 3 days to get the best of Wales... I’m storing these suggestions away for a longer tour in the future, that road looks spectacular. We’re probably going to go with a static base in Snowdonia and do longer (lighter) days from there, or maybe bivvy somewhere Saturday night if the weather looks good. Lakes Bala and Vyrnwy should make for a good medium day, maybe a bigger excursion down south if bivvying looks good.

Niiiice. If you’re just sticking to Snowdonia, look up the Ffestiniog power station road. It’s closed to traffic and quite special. You’re gonna have a good time!

Is that the one up to the dam? Apparently it’s been resurfaced recently too. Bring your best legs.

Oooh! Yep, that's the one. Excellent intel - I'm taking some pals to ride it early August.

It's a doozy!

https://www.strava.com/segments/1398283?filter=overall

This is all boding well for a trip there in August! Staying near Babel so all of this is striking distance

Signed up to do the Sea Shore 200 audax next weekend and thinking of riding to the start. Anyone know a good route from London to Cranleigh(or any tips for making one)?

Which part of London are you travelling from? Looks like you have to go over at least one Surrey hill to get there unless you make a big diversion.

Ah yeah I figured. Guess it will be a nice warm up....? Cycling from North London

Not sure the easiest way to get down from where you are but from Leatherhead, ride to Dorking and take the main road west out of town, turn south at Abinger Hammer and go through Peaslake and Ewhurst then to Cranleigh there's minimal climbing over the surrey hills. Depending how close to the start of the Audax you're starting I think Peaslake village stores open at 8 on a saturday if you need to get food/drink.

Can confirm the road has been resurfaced, excellent little climb - thanks for the Rev @jaeyukdapbap. We had glorious weather for the first day going around Snowdon (roads a bit busy though), then lots of moody clouds and occasional rain for the dam day. Can also highly recommend the road from Trawsfynydd to Llanuwchllyn, part of NCR 45. Singletrack road for miles, only saw one car the whole way.

Here are some moody photos from the dam:

2 Attachments

Excellent, Wales is supposed to look like that.

Thank you!

Trawsfynydd to Llanuwchllyn

This is now fed into the route for me, Oli and some others' August jaunt around north Wales. Looks incredible!

Pics are ace. Thanks for sharing!