Finding LFGSS

Bothys! Never knew such an arrangement exists!

Or head to Nant Rhys - https://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/bothies/wales/nant-rhys/

Which by all accounts is pretty good and doesn't look to far off your planned route.

Bothies! That's genious. I think the first one you posted is perfect for the second night. Thanks!

It's a pretty good one for a first bothy experience! Plenty of room and a fire. Not too far from Dolgellau to get supplies and cycle back.

Two suggestions:

1) if you don’t do the wye valley suggestion before chepstow, change your route into chepstow slightly. Your route comes up a longer main drag of a hill, the purple I’ve added is a much smaller road through a hidden little farming valley that is lovely.

2) you’re skirting the bottom edge of the Cotswolds and sticking near the m4 motorway - it’s great countryside but a little further north (Sherston/Tetbury/Malmesbury) is more cotswoldy and prettier. If you want to stick with your current route (which will be awesome) add a tiny detour (it will add a small down and back up) into Castle Combe which is a beautiful little Cotswold village very near your route.

3) if you find yourself needing somewhere to stay near Wootton Bassett send me a pm!

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Got in the valley from @owl and keeping the Usk route as a spare in case we want the fastest route. Then we've changed to further north away from the M4 according to @t.o. :)

https://www.strava.com/routes/3071381481736825630

Now I just need to pack.

Castle Combe is a good shout, it is a bit of a landmark. The couple of pubs there are bike friendly and serve coffees.
Sherston is also nice riding, the Angel cafe is good but I would turn right at sherston and go through Foxly to malmesbury, it is a much quieter lane.

Okay guys, please agree on up north or Castle Combe :)

I think I would do castle Combe using the route above. You would drop down into the village and ride out the other side. It is a picture postcard village and worth stopping for a few photos.

Our flight just got cancelled. We were supposed to fly out 8 AM tomorrow.

No fucking way

That totally sucks

So they spread us out over three days, but we manage to change the last one. So now HP and Rune are flying out and will arrive in Manchester tonight. I'll be there tomorrow before lunch and Sveinung a couple of hours later.

If everything goes well now we've lost one full day, which I guess is better than losing out on the whole trip. Three of four now have transfer flights, so hopefully the bikes will make it.

Looking into the route now. Either we stick to the plan and do harder days or we try to cut the distance a bit.

If we do the Usk version (https://www.strava.com/routes/3110114989377265304) without mods, the days should be something like this:

Monday 75 (75km 400m)
Tuesday 182 (107km 1950m)
Wednesday 277 (95km 1760m)
Thursday 400 (123km 1360m)
Friday 520 (120km 1190m)
Saturday 636 (116km 460m)

Then we need to get going quite early the final day so we'll make it to Paradise in time.

Let’s go!

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Then we need to get going quite early the final day so we'll make it to Paradise in time

We (forum) might be able to grab the boxes for you so you don't have to worry about making shop hours?

I might need a hand to wrangle 3 bike boxes but could take them to a nearby park (there are a few super close to the shop) and have a little forum welcome :)

Oh damn just saw this could have offered a spare bed in Manchester.

Safe ride all!

Yesss!

First day done after a late start. Wow, you guys really dig hedges!

Some really nice sections, good food and found a site to pitch our tents and take a shower.

Queen stage tomorrow.

https://strava.app.link/9dFsUz8S8Ab

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Appreciate it! I think we’ll be fine, but should have a beer anyway :)

dialled setup.
if you need a place to stay in London, or any logistical help, holler

Pardon the lack of updates. Really enjoying Wales. Long days but we’re a bit ahead of plan. Will finish Wales tomorrow and spend the final two days to reach London.

Our Airbnb in London got cancelled on us a couple of days ago, but @platypus is hooking us up 🙏

Day 2: https://strava.app.link/uASetJkfcBb
Day 3: https://strava.app.link/i94MIBmfcBb

Here’s a few snaps. I’ll do a more detailed log with pictures when we’re back.

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Great pics, was hoping to join you around pucklechurch but will probably be at work. Enjoy the rest of the ride.

Day 4: https://strava.app.link/ujUc6OQUdBb

Really enjoyed passing over Black Mountain.

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