Great weekend spent with Stu, Alex, Kevin, Matt and Sally on the Radnor Ring. Weather was varied mix of sunny intervals, rain of varying intensities and increasingly blustery wind, but being of a generally hardened nature we pressed on in the most determined fashion to seek out the best bits of the Radnor area. 114km ridden, two punctures repaired, one tyre replaced and many metres climbed (but haven't worked that bit out yet).

A handful of shrapnel is essential to any bikepacking trip:

Sorry, we're out of fivers... by ianbarrington, on Flickr

Gratuitous picture of my bike:

Set up for the trip by ianbarrington, on Flickr

When the sun shone it was really very nice:

Matt by ianbarrington, on Flickr

Long shadows from the evening sun:

Long Shadows by ianbarrington, on Flickr

New tarp:

Zpacks Hexamid by ianbarrington, on Flickr

Radnor Forest:

Radnor Forest climb by ianbarrington, on Flickr

Kevin on Glyndwr's Way:

Kevin on Glyndwr's Way by ianbarrington, on Flickr

Full set here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15512491@N ... 137675012/

Good weekend, thanks to everyone for their company, thanks to Ian for navigation as I couldn't be arsed and thanks to kevin for showing us all up, by choosing to spend a second night out and ride home from Rhayader (he'd also ridden there too)

Here's a picture of Ian entertaining the troops with his shadow puppetry skills ... I think it's a budgie coming out of a box but I could be wrong :D

Great ride guys.

Not been out a lot this year, so good to get some miles in before the BB200. Also learnt a lot more about kit, so some purchases on the cards soon

The push up that last hill just about did me in, so thanks for waiting and getting me back. I had to have a cheeky cat nap in a layby on the way back.

I'll post some pictures later, just need to clean the bike first....

Glad you made it home safely :)

Little picture of Saturdays bivvy spot taken on Sunday morning as everyone was packing away ... shame you can't see wind in pictures

I'm surprised the photo of my tent pegs hasn't made an appearance yet...

Come on we want pegs photos who's got them?

Thanks to all who attended - a weekend of excellent riding in good company.
Sadly must report that the snug and upstairs of Nant Rhys have been boarded up until further notice following the "bunny party". The main room is still useable though and the tables are big enough to sleep on.
Cefn Groes is a very good site for a wind farm.

Ian wrote:I'm surprised the photo of my tent pegs hasn't made an appearance yet...

Now, I like to consider myself as fairly tidy when it comes to packing my gear. Everything has a place and I can usually find stuff when I need it. I know there's people who are far more 'precise' with their packing than I am ... but these tarp pegs are a whole new level

Ian's got an OCD???????

In an OCD kinda a way I love that approach to detail I do

This came about as I nearly forgot to take them entirely
They were too long to go into my tarp stuff sack, and I briefly considered putting them in their own little bag so they didn't do damage to anything else. I then saw I could tuck them under the elastic around my sleeping mat, ensuring they were safe, rattle free and saving the weight of a small peg bag 8-)

Make that 3 punctures, found a hugh thorn last night

Lights Out

253-365 by matthew.cockerham, on Flickr

Riding Out avoiding the showers


254-365 by matthew.cockerham, on Flickr

Would like to know where you got your colapsable tarp pole from Kev?

Roll on the

Would like to know where you got your colapsable tarp pole from Kev?

I think I heard Kev say that he was using a couple of old tent poles ... might be wrong though.

Sally had one of these - http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/ ... _pole.html

I was trying one of these out - http://www.highlander-outdoor.com/partn ... nid=301709
which are heavier but way cheaper at under £6.

Not old ones, borrowed ones from my TN tent.

Anybody got this route as a gpx track or general outline?

I have seen a Radnor Ring road route but not aware of this - often meant to make one up myself as I have enjoyed riding in that area a few times.

Kev, as it turned out this route was pretty much made up. Ians memory came into play and various bits were linked together on the fly. It did however make a very good route, Ian had a gps and spot in tracker mode, so he may be able to help you out with the route.

The intention of doing the full Sustrans route went out of the window about 40 minutes after leaving Rhayader

Haven't downloaded my gps data yet, but when I have I'll post it up here.

Thanks both, would be interested for next spring.

Looks like you had a great trip guys, thanks for sharing the photos. I'm out in the peak district again on Thursday and Friday so I'll post a report too. My phone is finally back from being repaired so hopefully I'll get plenty of photos.

Ian, is that edging tape I spy covering up the internal seams on your new Wildcat bag? Very nice attention to detail, is that standard or a treat for someone special :D I like the new badges too.

Ian, is that edging tape I spy covering up the internal seams on your new Wildcat bag? Very nice attention to detail, is that standard or a treat for someone special I like the new badges too.

Yes, that's grosgrain tape edging all the internal seams. It's not special for me - every single bag we've ever made is finished like that on the inside. Glad you like the new badge too :)

Ian wrote:Haven't downloaded my gps data yet, but when I have I'll post it up here.

Have you still got the track for the Radnor Ring Ian? Fancy having a go at it next weekend and would like to see where you guys went instead of the Sustrans route.

Here we go Chris: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30554497/RadnorRing.gpx

According to Tracklogs, its 118km and 3200m of ascent, surprisingly. There's ample scope to add in more bits of off road if you want, though the bits we did were all very enjoyable. The bivvy spot was at SO 182623.

Looks good, thanks. Was thinking of following the Trans Cambrian Way from Rhayader to Knighton, down to Kington to ride Hergest Ridge before heading west to Llandrindod via Llandegley Rocks and back to Rhayader.

That'd be a good route. I haven't checked the GPX file, but we rode the route anticlockwise. (Tracklogs has reversed the direction of GPX files for me before :? ). Anyway, some of the trails around Radnor Forest lend themselves to being ridden anticlockwise, but Hergest Ridge is definitely better East to West.

Yep, I'll be going anticlockwise too - probably over two nights. Leave Rhayader Friday afternoon and stop somewhere E of Llanbadarn for the night. I've worked out how to get from Knighton (breakfast) to Kington (lunch) via Monaughty, Radnor Forest and New Radnor so I can then go up Hergest Ridge from the east. Then Gladestry and across the A44, up to Water-break-it's-neck, second bivi somewhere in Radnor Forest, Llandegly rocks, Howey, Newbridge, Llanwrthwl and back to Rhayader.