AWAY DAY – Rhayader / Elan Valley – Dark Blue ** CHANGED TO FOD **NOW CANCELLED
| 4 March, 2012 | ||
| 10:00 am | to | 2:00 pm |
** ride cancelled due to weather **
** UPDATE **
Hi all, due to the poor weather Rhayder is off and Afan and Cwmcarn given the pasty conditions when wet doesn’t suit me, so I am going to be riding Forest of Dean for a good 3 plus hours – Blue – starting 10am Pedalabikeaway.
Click link for start point http://binged.it/zHa7oV
If others fancy Cwmcarn/Afan please post below and arrange it
**
Ok then we will aim to meet here in Rhayder http://binged.it/yos9UQ for say 09:30 to 09:45 so we can start riding for 10. This ride will be weather dependant i.e. not raining and n0t mega windy as it is an exposed area….and this is a hard ride nearer 4 hours with lots of climbing…
Summary (thanks Mike)
Rhayader 42km route
Total DTM Distance 42.8 km
Min. Altitude 181.7 m
Max. Altitude 491.4 m
Total Ascent 1,330.5 m
Total Descent -1,304.1 m
Would like to, let’s see what happens.
Yes would like to as well.
yes from me at the moment
Yep
Yes if weather OK. I have Janet/Ian’s route plugged into the GPS, but need to agree precise parking/start point.
Jason: as discussed, would appreciate a lift if there’s one going
Thanks.
Hope so
Yes I think so
Hi Ed,if you are thinking of going, would it be possible to use your van to put a couple of bikes in? There are a few (Mike P, Tim K and Matt R, any others shout BTW) I can see keen and a bit of vehicle consolidation would certainly help..obviously can use my car for the people due to free fuel…If that does fit the bill, Rhyader is 80miles so about 1hour 50 from my house so we could meet at mine for say 07:30
I am sure Tim will be keen to re-kindle some bro-love in the van with you….
Anyway thoughts appreciated?
Jason
Yes confirmed for this now Jason. No problem, I was kinda hoping for some van bro love, I’ll dust off the sunnies ready!
Looks a very impressive area Jason, whats the general synopsis for this day?
Hi Ed,
Possible route details here http://www.bigfootmbc.co.uk/2012/02/possible-rhayader-route-for-4-march-2012/
Not sure we’ll be doing exactly this route, but it’ll probably be something quite like it.
You guyz maybe interested in this event in Rayader on Sunday but a 9.00am start might be a bit rich for a Sunday morning!
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/76769/Elan-Valley-Challenge-Ride
For me its a toss up between joining you guyz on the Sunday or the roadie on Saturday, pobably unable to do both!!!
er.. thank Paul, they could possibly be using the same trails as us…it could be deemed to be a bit rich us riding a similar course and not taking part… so what is peoples thought’s on this from an etiquette point of view, should we leave it for a few weeks, still go or ride elsewhere for this week??
Mmm bummer,would an hr’s head start not put the other lot far enough in front? or would the problem be not knowing where they are starting and in which direction they may be heading?? I for one would be up for any other destinations suggested if Elan is a problem,but a longer ride if poss,predicted good weather and Goshawk leg training taken into account! As always i would sugest Afan,similar travel distance and about equal ride ascent descent levels on either W2 or the fab and gruelling Skyline.
how about this…option could be to ride one lap of the cwm carn track followed by a route behind the centre : take the fireroad up to the top and do the old Abercarn track on the other side, climb back up and then take the original cwm carn dh track back down which ends on the road behind the centre.
Spot on Jas,seen a few going off trail here and always wondered what was on offer.
I’ve also seen a few riders brake off at the top of the twrch trail to go off piste,might be worth a sniff
Oh dear, that’s a shame.
+1 vote from me for Afan W2 or Skyline.
I think all bets may be off,the decent predicted sunday weather now looks more like a monsoon! great!
looks like wet weather south of Manchester, east of Gower and west of Norwich so anywhere mentioned you’re gonna get the wet cold stuff, however the rain’s not really a bother for me. Easy where ever although afan and cwmcarn are getting a bit too usual now, but found an off piste route for cwmcarn on GPSies.
Shame about that event. Thanks for info Pauln! Will tinker with bike and ride locally. Have a good weekend.
Count me in for this one. Happy with any destination, just wanna ride my mountain bike for a change!
Is there a set plan yet?
I think the rain will become an issue after 4 hrs in the saddle Ed if not for the body then certainly for the bike.
Ok team,
The gods are conspiring against us, but I am still keen to ride but to be honest if it’s wet I am not driving along way, so I am going to suggest the Forest..why cause there is still loads of great riding, it is not too far away and there will be some dry bits. I am going to be ready to ride from the cycle centre for 10 if anyone wants to join me.
Afan and Cwmcarn would be good but after a lot of rain it’s like paste and grit and I have just had my wheels services so mud ok but not gravel that’s going to completely trash the bearings…. but feel free to have a splinter ride that way kids
Im with you on the bearings,just done both wheels and headset,unless it’s peeing down I’ll see you there.
FOD – yes from me if not raining too much
Alas, my newest niece is getting Christened so it’s no MTBing for me on Sunday
Have fun all 
Gonna say now that im out as weather is looking dreadful,had 3 days in the FOD this week already and its been like summer,bone dry trails and warm sun, think tomorrow is gonna be the opposite unfortunately,good luck chaps!
Will make a posting at 8:30 to say yes or no…I am 50/50.. I missed out today stupidly so need my fix so may have to brave the wet tomorrow…and do a bit of exploring as well.
Any other fools keen?
Jason: will take a look at how rainy it’s looking in the morning and let you know. Got a couple hours on Leckhampton today, may do same tomorrow late on if morning is a wash out.
I’ll keep my eye on the post tomorrow morning then, just got back from Swinley forest where it was lovely T-shirt weather despite forecast rain. Looks like we may just miss it at the FOD if we are lucky.
Hi all,
Word of warning if anyone is heading over towards Joys Green {FOD} tomorrow. A friend and myself this morning tackled a trail which i know Bigfooters use. Rocks and branchs were strategically placed to cause major distruption and injury to cyclists,including a spiked fir tree unavoidaby laid across the drop off the fire trail.{BAR STEWARDS}
See you at Wentwood
ok all, for ease for ride off….leave it for another time.
And thanks dean for that nugget of useful info