Distance: 22.5m
Climb: c725m
Grade: Red/Black
Time: 2-3 hours
Grade: Red/Black
Time: 2-3 hours
Rating: 4/5
This trail, as featured in MBUK magazine, has, quite simply, one of the most technically engaging and thrilling descents I have yet had the pleasure of riding.
Following a decent climb from Talybont-on-usk - one that never gets overly steep or technical - albeit a long climb of approximately 350m rounding the Talybont reservoir to the top of the hill. There is, to follow, a section of singletrack across open and exposed hilltop Moreland.
This gradient gradually changes from flat to descent, quickly becoming an extremely fast opening section, and leads to a gateway approximately 1/6 of the way down the hillside.
The top of the hill and opening section of the descent is a slight departure from the general terrain characteristics of The Gap, offering slightly smoother lines from the top of the climb to the gate. From this point, however, the trail gets all kinds of rough.
Rocks the size of TV's litter the trail and, with very little definition of a 'racing line', there's very little option but to adopt a loose riding style and attack the rocks head on. Dropping approximately 200m over 1.5-2km was a real pleasure. With no other gates or styles to cross from the gateway mentioned earlier to the waters edge of the Pentwynn reservoir we were free to attack at full-on flat out pace from top to bottom.
Early sections of the trail - the climb and traverse - offer a hard packed but rocky terrain, although nothing more technical than what one would expect at a red graded trail centre. However both descents offer a significantly higher technical challenge and would definitely rate as a black section.
The rocky nature of the trail, in general, makes it hard going to retain speed and rhythm on the climbs without the assistance of some rear travel. I completed the loop on a 150mm travel bike and was grateful of the absorptive effects considering the nature of the black runs. I guess it would be possible to complete the loop on a handrail, but why would you want to? Give your package a break and take some bounce.
After another long climb up to the natural feature from which this trail earns its name, The Gap, there follows a steep and technical descent, followed by a cheeky low gradient climb before another flat-out blast to the bottom of the mountain. Before embarking on the final descent, however, take a bit of time to absorb the fantastic views to be had from this point of the trail (for they will be gone all too soon).
The Gap is popular as a walkers trail as well as with mountain bikers. On the climbs and less demanding sections this is not such a problem. However, the descents are worth completing on a clear run - the first is not an issue as it's a deviation from The Gap. However, the second has the potential to become busy. As such it is worth tackling The Gap on either a week day or early morning to make the best of the final descent.
Back at the bottom of the mountain a quick blast on the lanes precedes a brief excursion along the tow path of the canal back to Talybont. This offers a pleasant way to cool down the muscles before the drive home.
There are no facilities in the way of trail centre luxuries. Parking is available within the village of Talybont and toilets and food/drink are available at the nearby pubs.
This trail, as featured in MBUK magazine, has, quite simply, one of the most technically engaging and thrilling descents I have yet had the pleasure of riding.Following a decent climb from Talybont-on-usk - one that never gets overly steep or technical - albeit a long climb of approximately 350m rounding the Talybont reservoir to the top of the hill. There is, to follow, a section of singletrack across open and exposed hilltop Moreland.
This gradient gradually changes from flat to descent, quickly becoming an extremely fast opening section, and leads to a gateway approximately 1/6 of the way down the hillside.
The top of the hill and opening section of the descent is a slight departure from the general terrain characteristics of The Gap, offering slightly smoother lines from the top of the climb to the gate. From this point, however, the trail gets all kinds of rough.
Rocks the size of TV's litter the trail and, with very little definition of a 'racing line', there's very little option but to adopt a loose riding style and attack the rocks head on. Dropping approximately 200m over 1.5-2km was a real pleasure. With no other gates or styles to cross from the gateway mentioned earlier to the waters edge of the Pentwynn reservoir we were free to attack at full-on flat out pace from top to bottom.
Early sections of the trail - the climb and traverse - offer a hard packed but rocky terrain, although nothing more technical than what one would expect at a red graded trail centre. However both descents offer a significantly higher technical challenge and would definitely rate as a black section.
The rocky nature of the trail, in general, makes it hard going to retain speed and rhythm on the climbs without the assistance of some rear travel. I completed the loop on a 150mm travel bike and was grateful of the absorptive effects considering the nature of the black runs. I guess it would be possible to complete the loop on a handrail, but why would you want to? Give your package a break and take some bounce.
After another long climb up to the natural feature from which this trail earns its name, The Gap, there follows a steep and technical descent, followed by a cheeky low gradient climb before another flat-out blast to the bottom of the mountain. Before embarking on the final descent, however, take a bit of time to absorb the fantastic views to be had from this point of the trail (for they will be gone all too soon).
The Gap is popular as a walkers trail as well as with mountain bikers. On the climbs and less demanding sections this is not such a problem. However, the descents are worth completing on a clear run - the first is not an issue as it's a deviation from The Gap. However, the second has the potential to become busy. As such it is worth tackling The Gap on either a week day or early morning to make the best of the final descent.Back at the bottom of the mountain a quick blast on the lanes precedes a brief excursion along the tow path of the canal back to Talybont. This offers a pleasant way to cool down the muscles before the drive home.
There are no facilities in the way of trail centre luxuries. Parking is available within the village of Talybont and toilets and food/drink are available at the nearby pubs.
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