Made the most of a wet Monday during my time off work by getting out in the elements. A few months ago this would not have happened due to my mojo lost somewhere, however it was great to be out.
I parked up at the Llyn Crafnant car park (free) and headed along the fire road on the northern edge of the lake. Then it was the steep 500ft HAB ascent to the start of the 'new' bridleway that was stoned over last year with great controversy. It was a great technical track back in the day but in the name of access for all, they stoned it up. Tbh it was really nice and flowy I then checked out what I thought was an old ruined farmhouse but in fact is a climbers cottage, unfortunately a quick Google search told me it was for members only
Then fire roads through Gwydyr forest and back to the car park where the toilets were open for a comfortable change of clothes. A good few hours despite the rain.

Llyn Crafnant


Newly stoned bridleway with Siabod in the cloud


Waenhir climbers cottage


Llyn Bychan

I’ve only done that BW the once and it was pretty technical from memory. I suppose with it being so close to Capel it was a prime candidate for making accessible and unlike those steep BWs like Jenkins Crag and Garburn Pass in the Lakes that get washed out really quickly it’s likely to get bedded in and last so won’t be a waste of money.

Just so long as the Cowlwyd track is left alone

whitestone wrote: ↑Tue Aug 01, 2023 9:11 am I’ve only done that BW the once and it was pretty technical from memory. I suppose with it being so close to Capel it was a prime candidate for making accessible and unlike those steep BWs like Jenkins Crag and Garburn Pass in the Lakes that get washed out really quickly it’s likely to get bedded in and last so won’t be a waste of money.

Just so long as the Cowlwyd track is left alone

Yeah I think it should last but it is close to one of the wettest parts of Wales!

The Cowlyd track is very stop start now, great in places but no flow to it whatsoever. Personally I'd like to see it stoned up, it'll make some of my routes easier

Me again sorry!

The wife had to go to Llangefni yesterday so why not put the bike in the car and cycle the 30 miles home. Very scenic but I much prefer the mountains...

Soz, me again.....
I took the bike out for a good walk today! One of them proper hike a bikes when you walk more than ride (big style), however the views more than made up for it. I ticked off the summit of Moel Penamnen (614m) which is 3km NNE of Blaenau Ffestiniog.



That's Snowdon over there

A bit of road and gravel interspersed with watching a bunch of roadies scream past, followed by a load of mad car and motorbike drivers (and polis). No photos as my camera was on the blink but nothing much to photo really..... A good vibe with the people of Torryburn and Newmills quite enthusiastic to see it all go through, helicopters and all. I then got roundly cheered as I pedaled along the route heading for Carron Valley. "You can still catch them!" shouted one person. I didn't think for a minute that I actually would! I also came across a crashed marshal bike - he'd lost it on a damp right hander but fortunately just scraped along a muddy bank so he was fine. Lots of smoke coming out of the bike though (Beemer flat twin)

Anyway they all decided to have a rest by the Carron valley res so I caught up and then nearly got past them on the forest track that goes the other side of the res (gravel-tastic!). Protesters duly pealed off the road and the race was back on. Lots of folk and bikes about and cars giving you plenty of room. More gravel up to Aberfoyle then back home. Several large rain showers skirted but missed

Lovely pics as always Jeff. Phil, was the the TdF that screamed past you? I always thought they own the road and everyone else becomes a 'can you get off the f'in road pls mate' by the (won't use foul language) authorities!

Jeff... Is that a HeyDay you have there

redefined_cycles wrote: ↑Sun Aug 06, 2023 7:44 pm Lovely pics as always Jeff. Phil, was the the TdF that screamed past you? I always thought they own the road and everyone else becomes a 'can you get off the f'in road pls mate' by the (won't use foul language) authorities!

World championships - all sorts of stuff going on up here just now.

Aha. Thanks Phil. So they'd most likely still be barring you lot frok the road for the tdf (like they do us down here in England. Nice write up on the Moors ride btw Phil (thanks).

Not today but earlier in the week.... Rode from barnsley to crowden for an overnighter..

First bikepacking experience...

(Tried uploading a couple of pics but files are too large :( )

howsey16 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 06, 2023 10:44 pm (Tried uploading a couple of pics but files are too large :( )

Have you tried Flickr along with Flickr2BBCodeLITE, to link rather than upload. Lot of other similar options....

Aren't I a lucky boy. Managed to get out for another 2 nights at the cottage!
Some pics (again!)....







Plenty of bits of plane up here. This piece was approx 4 foot long


Soaking up the rays on another piece of plane!


Also spent an hour at my winter bivvy spot where I built up the sleeping platform/seating


Was good to watch the chinnock do its thing for a few hours up and down the valley!

The lizard looks huge - excellent pic!

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Thu Aug 10, 2023 9:54 pm The lizard looks huge - excellent pic!

Doesn't it just! I love lizards.

Verena wrote: ↑Thu Aug 10, 2023 10:22 pm

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Thu Aug 10, 2023 9:54 pm The lizard looks huge - excellent pic!

Doesn't it just! I love lizards.

It was tiny tbh but managed to get really close.
Here it is on the piece of plane wreckage when I first saw it...

A grand day out for me today. I'd hoped to get up the GB Duro route yesterday to see a few folk past but a shocker of a forecast saw me drinking beer on Friday and having a lazy morning, only for the weather to stay dry all day... Anyway, undeterred, and knowing that they would be all past Killin before lunch, I headed out west, picking up the route near Stirling.

Lo and behold on the wee road to Doune I encountered Mike Sheldrake who I'd first met on HT'21 and also bumped into a few times this year as he was wandering around the lower loop taking photos of people. He'd had a rough time on the GBD wrecking a tyre on the gap and losing loads of time sorting a replacement, putting him out of the time cut. His view of the route was that it's a cracker but a bit steep (£300) for what you get, compared to audax rates in any case. I have to say that whilst I do fancy the route, the stupid rules and the cut-offs is putting me off the group start. Mike didn't seem that far off the pace, despite all his problems, so it seems rough to DQ someone just 'cos they aren't quite fast enough; excluding them from the last two check points and finishers party, having coughed up for it. It then transpired that Kirsty Gunstone has also bailed due to missing time cuts and not having enough time to charge devices. I prefer Alan Goldsmiths approach...

Anyway, up to Killin on the cycleway and then along by Loch Tay before the climb over into Glen Almond...



Gravel-tastic into Glen Almond. (Let's face it you are all bored with Jeffs fab wales photos...OK mebbes not.... )

Home at half 8 via various wee roads. Twas quite breezy but the vagaries of the lochs and glens (no blue rinses though) meant I didn't have too many head wind issues.

116 miles in 9 and a bit hours so enjoying a recovery Beveridge and lots of food.

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Sun Aug 20, 2023 10:11 pm I have to say that whilst I do fancy the route, the stupid rules and the cut-offs is putting me off the group start.

Maybe we should do our own group start...

Verena wrote: ↑Thu Aug 10, 2023 10:22 pm

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Thu Aug 10, 2023 9:54 pm The lizard looks huge - excellent pic!

Doesn't it just! I love lizards.

Here's a perfect specimen for you V

Lizards have a spine and a heart

Last day of my summer break yesterday so headed up to my usual place.


'fitted' a couple of shelves


ate mussels on the mountain

RIP wrote: ↑Mon Aug 21, 2023 9:31 am

Verena wrote: ↑Thu Aug 10, 2023 10:22 pm

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Thu Aug 10, 2023 9:54 pm The lizard looks huge - excellent pic!

Doesn't it just! I love lizards.

Here's a perfect specimen for you V

Eurgh, not THAT kind!!

Mussels!!!!

That is taking the competitive gourmet bikepacking cuisine to next level Jeff!!

summittoppler wrote: ↑Mon Aug 21, 2023 11:07 am Last day of my summer break yesterday so headed up to my usual place.........
'fitted' a couple of shelves

Dunno why you don't just move in and have done with it Jeffer

Verena wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 7:53 pm Mussels!!!!

That is taking the competitive gourmet bikepacking cuisine to next level Jeff!!

Nom, nom, nom

RIP wrote: ↑Wed Aug 23, 2023 10:17 am Dunno why you don't just move in and have done with it Jeffer

My happy place, everyone needs one right?