Suggest-a-route

[gairym]

Due to the recent scuppering of the dates of our upcoming trip to the Uk I find myself in a strangely liberating position.....

I was planning on riding the TCW to or from the Dyfi Enduro but seeing as I'm now going to miss it I'm free to plan another bikepacking adventure.

So.....if you had the following criteria what would your ideal destination/route be???

I'd like the trip to be:

- 3-4 days long

- either a loop or with easy public (bike-friendly) transport back to the car

- +/-50 (off-road) miles per day

- as wild and remote as possible.

- as much technical single-track and all-round great riding as possible.

- anywhere in the (mainland) Uk (although I'd prefer not to drive WAAAY up into Scotland unless it's for something very special).

I've ridden loads of trails all over the Uk but have never done any real long-distance multi-day bikepacking routes and so what would you say is the 'best' that's out there?

Pennine Way? West Highland Way? TCW (both ways)? Something I've not considered?

What do you think....?

Also, if anyone's planning a trip for sometime between the 15th and 30th of April then let me know (presuming you're interested in having someone else tag along) and maybe I could join you.

Gairy.

[didnothingfatal]

I'm a man of leisure, need to head to the hills to test some new gear, if you want some company.Have to back in Hertfordshire for the weekend of the 20th as in a Offroad enduro and road sportive on the Saturday Sunday.

[gairym]

cool.

that might be doable (will be maybe another 24-48 hours until the new dates for our trip are finalised/confirmed)!

where were you thinking (i'm happy to drive)?

[didnothingfatal]

Scotland is long way, so I reckon Wales! Routes we can figure out I have the whole of the country on Memory Map, so should be ok to come up with something.

[Blackhound]

I could be free for something mid week. Decided not to do LEJOG next week so looking for a tour. Also a man of leisure and midweek suits me better than weekends. May go to Scotland late April either Tour of the Cairngorms or Outer Hebrides but can fit round.

I am a bit slow though....

[Bearbonesnorm]

A tentative, I might come along too if that's alright

[gairym]

blackhound/stuart,

brilliant - this could work out well for a whacky idea i've just had!

all,

if we were to ride the double on the TCW we would (as there are no other times for group/double trips yet) be the official world record holders (even if we did it over 3 or 4 days).

sure, the record will only last until someone makes a genuine and serious attempt to ride in sub 24hrs but there's still some small amount of pseudo-glory to be had - no?

are Ian and Mark doing the double on the 21st or just the single? if it's the double then our record would only stand for a couple of days - but still.....

so.....something like the monday the 16th to thursday the 19th might work (for my travel plans and with didnothingfatal's date restrictions)???

what do we think?

dumb or genius?

[gairym]

I am a bit slow though....

worry not - i am the king of slow!

i can usually keep going all day long but i mosey.

[didnothingfatal]

Haha my legs are already thinking, let's get this right, 3 days Bikepacking, two long rides on the weekend

I'm easy, on routes! If Stuart is tagging along he knows Wales best so I'll just say, let him decide.

[gairym]

If Stuart is tagging along he knows Wales best so I'll just say, let him decide.

sound like a good idea.

[gairym]

so stuart.....where we going???

huh? huh?

(i realise that this could be considered a little presumptuous seeing as you mentioned a tentative 'maybe' and now all of a sudden you're the fella in charge)

but.....assuming the best.....

it's looking like i'll be available any day/time monday (15th) to friday (19th) to do any route we decide (in Wales or elsewhere) for 2, 3 or 4 days (depending on everyone else).

what about everyone else....?

[Bearbonesnorm]

I too can do anything that week now I've knocked the dentist on the head

What does anyone fancy?

I'll have no transport other than my bike so Wales is best for me. There's the option of the TCW or there's the 'lets go explore / get lost, with a vague idea where we're going' option

[gairym]

ok, we're booked!

that whole week is open for me.

as for the 'what' and 'where' i'm easy.

i'd prefer something that meets the criteria i first mentioned but i'm aware that (now it's looking likely that there'll be more than just me doing this) there are other people/factors to take into consideration.

[gairym]

Wales Tour: Great Orme to Worm's Head

huh....?

[Ian]

It's a good route that, but I'm biased

Might need a few tweaks, especially to avoid a certain bridge on a live section of railway track...
The beach stuff at Tywyn is optional too - quicker to go from Dolgellau down through Corris to Mach.

Or, if you do the full thing, 42 hours 53 minutes is the time to beat

[gairym]

thinking about it (after re-reading Ian's trip report) the C2C might be a bit more of a 'challenge' than makes sense for this trip (especially if didnothingfatal has got two events straight afterwards and mentioned only doing a 3 day trip).

(note: in no way is this backing down because those distances frighten the pants off me at my current fitness level)

What does anyone fancy?

didnothingfatal/Blackhound - what are you saying?

[didnothingfatal]

I have a feeling just getting lost in the hills for a few days would be fun!

[gairym]

that actually sounds perfect.

all of my riding (circa 1995) used to be just that - heading out, exploring and simply seeing what i found.

these days (due to everyday time constraints etc...) i seem to always have a goal or route or plan in mind before i leave the house.

maybe we just decide when and where to meet, let stuart give advice on route/direction options and then just see where the mood, weather, our legs and fate leads us???

[Blackhound]

I should be OK still. What I have planned for 16th I can put off until following week. Fairly easy on route really, record attempt on TCW (I was once part of a team to take the Cleveland Way record so I have form in this area), Ian's end to end or The Carnarvon to Swansea area route. Or just one big circle.

I can arrive by train or I need somewhere to leave a car for a few days.

[gairym]

ok, to summarise where we're at so far.....

what: 4 blokes, 4 bikes (and an unreasonable amount of nerdy kit) riding around some hills.

where: wales somewhere (we need to fix a meeting/starting location).

when: everyone seems happy with starting on the 16th (pipe up if you've got other preferences).

how long: 3 days and 2 nights or 4 days and 3 nights (you lot decide as i'm up for either option).

format: yet to be decided. options include: C2C, TCW, other long-distance route or just winging-it and heading out and seeing what we find.

transport; i'll most likely be driving from leicester the day before and back to london (via south wales to pick my new 29er) afterwards - am happy to assist anyone with lifts if possible.

so.....we need to decide the undecided aspects of the above.

am really looking forward to it (especially after having my previous plans ruined) - should be a good laugh.

i've even stepped up my riding (a tiny bit) to see if i can't squeeze out a little more by way of pace before this trip!

cheers, gairy.

[Blackhound]

Lots of options then. See what others say and make a decision. All ok for me.

I am in Derby if sharing journey +costs is possible. Can get train home

[gairym]

Ok, in the absence of any definitive choices being reached by consensus I'll jump in and outline a plan and then if anyone's not happy with it just say so and we'll change it accordingly.

- Starting on Monday the 16th of April.

- 3 days and 2 nights out in the hills (as didnothingfatal mentioned doing 3 days somewhere).

- A circuit (beginning/ending at the cars) of un-pre-determined length or direction - we wing it with Stuart as 'bloke who knows most' offering tips on possible route options (although he shouldn't feel that all the trip responsibility is on him).

Stuart, where abouts are you? Is yours a good start/finish point? If not I could pick you up and we head somewhere suitable. Are you happy with this plan (as it'll be reliant on your local knowledge for routes etc...)? Say if not and we can do an established marked route easily enough.

didnothingfatal, are you ok to get to Wales under your own steam (as now I'll be coming from the midlands or the north)?

Blackhound, I'll be passing Derby(ish) way on either Sunday afternoon/evening or early Monday morning and am happy to pick you up enroute (will let you know as soon as I know which it'll be).

Anything else we need to sort out....?

[Bearbonesnorm]

That sounds like a splendid plan Gairy.

Here makes a pretty good start/finish as there's more than ample safe parking (unless the llamas steal your keys), also well placed for last minute faffige

ETA makes no difference to me ... I'll get the kettle on. 3 days/2 nights works for me, I've a few ideas in mind but I'll have a bit more of a think.

[Blackhound]

Sounds good to me. I know where Stuart lives so can direct us if we sort out the travelling together thing. (I could get a train somewhere if easier). Maybe check out a bit of WRT route?

Note I may be online infrequently until next Monday.

[gairym]

dear mr route-master,

i've got a request.....

it's not a deal-breaker or anything but.....if, at some point, we were to stumble upon the sea on our little adventure then i'd be immensely happy.

i used to make a point of heading to the coast at least once a month but since being in france i've only seen the sea twice in four years!

so.....if it happens to be possible then it'd make for one happy gairy.

i thank you.

gairy.