Distance:40km
Climb:1200m
Grade: BlackTime:4-6hours
Rating: 5/5
The ride is accompanied by expansive views, curtesy of some serious climbs and some hooliganously (not a word) fast descents.
The ride is also rich in singletrack and characterised, generally as exposed and grassy. There is very little cover about; certainly no trees and even waist high shrubs are few and far between.
This exposed topography leads to some pretty severe, active scree slopes on the weather beaten sides of the ‘mountains’ and with lots of water sloshing about, some very rocky and exposed trails too. At the top the ground is semi-peaty and will grab a wheel at a moment, if you’re not careful.
We started in Llanbedr and, heading due north, ventured deep in to the nearest valley, following the Grywnne Fechan brook/stream. For a solid hour, we dragged, winched and pushed our way forwards, climbing 364m in elevation over 6km (just under 5%).
The ride is accompanied by expansive views, curtesy of some serious climbs and some hooliganously (not a word) fast descents.
The ride is also rich in singletrack and characterised, generally as exposed and grassy. There is very little cover about; certainly no trees and even waist high shrubs are few and far between.
This exposed topography leads to some pretty severe, active scree slopes on the weather beaten sides of the ‘mountains’ and with lots of water sloshing about, some very rocky and exposed trails too. At the top the ground is semi-peaty and will grab a wheel at a moment, if you’re not careful.
We started in Llanbedr and, heading due north, ventured deep in to the nearest valley, following the Grywnne Fechan brook/stream. For a solid hour, we dragged, winched and pushed our way forwards, climbing 364m in elevation over 6km (just under 5%).
Now, as I write that down, it doesn’t really sound much. I do that, and some, on a typical ride over my local hill (not all in one go, mind). Nevertheless, it felt hard at the time. The grassy topography adding resistance to our forward motion and making for slow progress.
The route is singletrack for the most part (the grass clearing away to
leave soft earth) but widens out towards the summit in to a grassy
causeway. This made tandem riding possible and chatter practicable (who
am I kidding). The climb, as long and drawn out as it was, finishes
with a sting in the tail; a final switch back before the last 100m or
so. This is the steepest part of the whole climb and foiled 4 of the 5
of us (I thank you).
Feeling a little slow, I had lagged behind my comrades for just over an
hour as I sought to pace myself and spread out what little fitness I had
(riding time had diminished somewhat over the preceding weeks but I’ve
since found out it was partly my brakes were dragging - fucking shitty
SRAM pistons); watching them all disappear in to the distance and then
fail, one by one, to tackle the switch back gave me time to consider
line choice and tactics.
You can see the ridge from some 20mins out and it is a torturous progression along the causeway with it seeming to simultaneously edge closer whilst remaining persistently distant. Anyway, having arrived at the top of the pass (still some 100m or so shy of the summit) we were rewarded by one hella good view. I’d taken my time up the climb and reaching the pass was blessed relief. Time for a snack and to soak up the panorama.
Having gawked and gassed for a short while, we assessed our onward journey - allowing sufficient time for that sense of impending passing-out to subside - before we hit the descent. We point all point and make vague grunts of agreement at the direction the route takes next. There are no sign posts, just an excessive number of worn-in ribbons of singletrack, heading in myriad directions. We take a punt and head off on one ribbon that looks the most defined, and is heading in the right direction - roughly east. Weaving across the open grassy plains, we (I) take it easy at first (not wanting to look too ‘Enduro’) but it didn’t last long.
What starts off fairly smooth and flowing, gradually got steeper and ‘a tad rowdy’; almost out of nowhere, it just becomes a sea of boulders. With the addition of large dose of gravity, however, it was less a case of trying to maintain momentum (by picking the right line), over these hefty lumps of mineral, and more a case of just surfing the wave of rocks as you and them cascade down the hill.
Having accurately navigated our way down from the exposed, grassy terrain higher up and safely over the rim dinger that was half way down, the trail changed again. After a brief pause two thirds down for a gate, the trail becomes a high-sided chute; flanked on both sides by low hanging, scrubby trees and riddled with roots.
The descent brought smiles to all 5 of us. It was worth the climb (The only downside being the shut gate 3/4 of the way down). After a quick regroup, we made our way around the foothills to the north at a more leisurely and social pace; mixing a bit of road, a bit of off-road, a short climb and some swooping singletrack before arriving at what we thought was our next ascent.
We stopped to grab lunch before committing to the next climb, which turned out to be the wrong one (if trying to complete the classic). This route was, in reality a ‘footpath’ (again, no or few sign posts) covering some 320m over 2.5km or less. It gets very steep and leaves no choice but to get off and hike it up. We should have ticked off another few kilometers cycling around the northern foothills before turning to head up using the bridleway but, alas, it wasn’t until we were actually topping out that we realised the error of our ways.
So, as it was, we were left to work our way across the plateau to the top of the next valley. We got a little lost; and stuck a couple of times - the boggy ground happily consuming our front wheels when we weren’t paying attention. We consulted the map a few times but eventually worked it out and found Grwyne Fawr.
What starts off fairly smooth and flowing, gradually got steeper and ‘a tad rowdy’; almost out of nowhere, it just becomes a sea of boulders. With the addition of large dose of gravity, however, it was less a case of trying to maintain momentum (by picking the right line), over these hefty lumps of mineral, and more a case of just surfing the wave of rocks as you and them cascade down the hill.
Having accurately navigated our way down from the exposed, grassy terrain higher up and safely over the rim dinger that was half way down, the trail changed again. After a brief pause two thirds down for a gate, the trail becomes a high-sided chute; flanked on both sides by low hanging, scrubby trees and riddled with roots.
The descent brought smiles to all 5 of us. It was worth the climb (The only downside being the shut gate 3/4 of the way down). After a quick regroup, we made our way around the foothills to the north at a more leisurely and social pace; mixing a bit of road, a bit of off-road, a short climb and some swooping singletrack before arriving at what we thought was our next ascent.
We stopped to grab lunch before committing to the next climb, which turned out to be the wrong one (if trying to complete the classic). This route was, in reality a ‘footpath’ (again, no or few sign posts) covering some 320m over 2.5km or less. It gets very steep and leaves no choice but to get off and hike it up. We should have ticked off another few kilometers cycling around the northern foothills before turning to head up using the bridleway but, alas, it wasn’t until we were actually topping out that we realised the error of our ways.
The subsequent descent follows the eastern riverbank of the namesake brook/stream feeding Grwyne Fawr reservoir, itself a pseudonym for the loop we were tackling. The ‘Grwyne Fawr’ descent covers some 6.5km and loses about 280m in elevation. It never really gets steep or overly technical but still managed to claim one victim in an over the bars episode good enough for you’ve been framed.
The top is singletrack, intermittently gravelly and rocky and a bit sandy. Near to the reservoir it changes to a wide, grassy/gravelly causeway before later becoming what I can only describe as a street of pitched cobbles. We stopped to check out the dam, which is definitely worth doing if you’ve not been before; we all imagined ourselves as James Bond jumping off the edge to escape the villain. Sadly we all had bikes to carry with us, which would have been an inconvenience, so we stuck with the trail instead.
The top is singletrack, intermittently gravelly and rocky and a bit sandy. Near to the reservoir it changes to a wide, grassy/gravelly causeway before later becoming what I can only describe as a street of pitched cobbles. We stopped to check out the dam, which is definitely worth doing if you’ve not been before; we all imagined ourselves as James Bond jumping off the edge to escape the villain. Sadly we all had bikes to carry with us, which would have been an inconvenience, so we stuck with the trail instead.
A bit of road follows, before you hook right in to the trees of Mynydd Du forest. It sounds like a set out of lord of the rings but, trust me, it’s no ancient woodland and there are no Ents to contend with. Just another slog up the various gravel fire roads through thick pine plantations before we emerge out of the tree line no less than a few feet from the ridge line immediately preceding our final descent to Llanbedr.
Like all good trails (classic or trail centre), there is a descent to finish on. It symbolises the finish line. A reward for all the effort paid. The Talgarth black duly provides with a 3.5km finale following a lovely ribbon of singletrack from the point we emerged from the wooded hillside. Following the ridgeline, initially, with Sugar Loaf in the distance, we track to the right of the summit before us heading around its northern side to follow the contours as they traverse on a southwesterly direction.
The trail has a very consistent gradient; always assisted by gravity but not so steep so as to be over too soon. The Upper 2.5km is just nice to ride. Not technical, not uphill just pure singletrack pointing slightly downhill, allowing an average speed of c.30km/hr.
The direction of the contours and trail diverge and the last 1km steepens. Staying in the open to start with, the defined single track becomes a choice of lines as all before, and, us fight to balance speed with an off camber, curving trail. on a we all arrive at a gate preceding the final 0.3km at a hell of a click. Having regrouped we pass through and make our way down the last third of a kilometer through the trees. A short drop to, and climb out of, the stream running behind Llanbedr finishes the ride.
