Un-official South Wales climb thread
chriswcp
Posts: 1,365
These are the un-official Chrisw start and end points for the Rhigos and Bwlch climbs in South Wales. If you don't like them, bug of and start your own thread[:X]
<b> 1) Rhigos, Hirwaun side</b>
Start: As you cross the white give way lines as you come off the roundabout.
End: White line Saying KOM. As this is getting a little faint, furthest end of lay-bye with ice cream van.
<b> (2) Rhigos, Treherebet side.</b>Start: At the end of the garrage.
End: Same as Hirwaun side.
<b>(3) Bwlch: Rhondda side.</b>
Start: Well Acme whellers use the first entrance to forestry for our hill climb event, so lets use that rather than the turn onto the hill.
End: Ice cream van.
I haven't done the Bwlch from the other sides for a long time so suggest your own start and end points. The ice cream van is the most distinctive point to use though.
<b> 1) Rhigos, Hirwaun side</b>
Start: As you cross the white give way lines as you come off the roundabout.
End: White line Saying KOM. As this is getting a little faint, furthest end of lay-bye with ice cream van.
<b> (2) Rhigos, Treherebet side.</b>Start: At the end of the garrage.
End: Same as Hirwaun side.
<b>(3) Bwlch: Rhondda side.</b>
Start: Well Acme whellers use the first entrance to forestry for our hill climb event, so lets use that rather than the turn onto the hill.
End: Ice cream van.
I haven't done the Bwlch from the other sides for a long time so suggest your own start and end points. The ice cream van is the most distinctive point to use though.
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Comments
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Done on 23/3/2007
1) 19:06. GPS reads 3.3 miles
2)25:01. Distance 4.10 miles
3) I'll post the time my friend did for one of our hill climb events last year.0 -
18th Feb
(1) 27 mins
(3) 22.5 mins
Both estimated from the elevation and HR graphs.
01/4/07
(3) 22 mins - the distance from the junction to the forestry entrance.
(2) 25 mins.
Chris, as a check, my speed up both was averaging around 8.5-9 up the Bwlch, and slightly lower up the Rhigos. Its more consistent up the bwlch since its gradient is more so. The Rhigos from Treherbert has false flats all over it.
<font size="1">Hell is a big ring</font id="size1">0 -
What about the stretch from bottom of Rhigos to Brecon (part of Dragon route)? [:)]
I went over Rhigos on Sat and although windy had no probs. Stopped for a burger and chat then went down hill, hanging on to bike due to the wind.
I then went over the new part of the dragon route toward Brecon.
This was absolutely dreadful. A constant headwind of about 20mph with gusts much higher.
My speed varied from 6 to 10mph and with some gusts I was almost blown to a standstill.
I printed stats when I got home and was surprised to see it climbs to 1470 feet, over about 8 miles. The pain is not so much the slope, but it is relentless in the wind and every time you think you reached last little incline, there is another a mile away.
If the wind is like this in June I will make sure I am in a big bunch after descending the Rhigos, just before this 8 miles bit [:D]
If you want the stats I can mail them with the elevation. I will not put speed on as it was so bad [:D] But then again, going towards merthyr I was doing 37mph for a couple of miles with a huge tail wind [:D]0 -
Times! David, post your times! But in order to keep it manageable just keep it to the rhigos and bwlch climbs since everyone knows them.
<font size="1">Hell is a big ring</font id="size1">0 -
Can someone help me out please? My cycle team and I are staying in Risca and I am planning a ride over Caerphilly Mountain, then to Brecon Mountain Centre via Rhigos. Can we do this by avoiding traffic and dual carriageways whilst on decent road bikes? And roughly how long would it be? If this isn't doable I think we will drive some of the way. Thanks in advance.0
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You cant avoid the traffic, but its Certainly do-able. If you start in caerphilly town centre, climb up torwads Cardiff - Thornhill (A469 I think). At the top you should see a cafe / snack shop at the T junction. Turn right down the west side towards nantgarw/Pontypridd. This is then the only duallie but its 40 mph restricted and downhill so you can draft the buses. The you need to pick up the A4054 north towards Tonyrefail and then to Pontypridd. Go through pontypridd town centre following signs for the rhondda, towards Port, Treorchy (or treorci) and Treherbert. Treherbert is at the top of the Rhondda and you will by then see the mountains ahead, just keep riding through Treherbert until the road goes up at the northern most end. Once up over the rhigos, follow signs for Hirwaun/Brecon. I've not ridden North from here so over to someone else.......email me if you've got any questions. [:)]
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5th April 2007:
1) 20'30.85" 9.0 mph, 483m, 3.106 miles, 82%HR. (all off GPS)
I started the lap timer at the entrance to the works on the left so add 30 secs / 50 yards.
Bit of a headwind on the lower section which mentally added 2 hours to my ride, and made the decision to skip the bwclch so easy. I'm still surprised how few bikies I see up there, I had a cuppa at the burger van at the top of the rhigos for about 10 mins, and no sign of anyone on two wheels, nor on the descent into 'herbert. I expected loads out today in pink T Mobile tops and full carbon down to the skewers...[:)] or even...full CSC team replica kit!![:0][:0][;)]
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<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by HuwD</i>
Can someone help me out please? My cycle team and I are staying in Risca and I am planning a ride over Caerphilly Mountain, then to Brecon Mountain Centre via Rhigos. Can we do this by avoiding traffic and dual carriageways whilst on decent road bikes? And roughly how long would it be? If this isn't doable I think we will drive some of the way. Thanks in advance.
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You haven't said if your staying at Storeys arms or returning to Risca? [:D]
It is approx 45 miles Risca to brecon centre (Storeys arms)
You could leave Risca and do a nice little warm up climb over to Lower Machen, then across to Draethan through the lanes then climb east of Caerphilly mountain (all nice views and through woodland)then straight down west side towards Nantgarw (45mph descent).
Then head to Rhyd y felyn, Potnypridd, Porth Treherbert (climb Rhigos 1650') then across to Penderyn towards Brecon (climb 1450')
If you return to Risca theres many ways back from there.
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Does anyone know a way of pasting ride profiles in here or is only way via web links?
Huwd, last weekend i actually rode from cardiff past Machen and the route described above. If you mail me I can send you profiles, if anyone has garmin I could export route and send to you.
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Can someone in the know post grid references for the 3 climbs I'm in S. Wales alot but I'm not familiar with this area. Thanks in advance.0
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<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by guv001</i>
Can someone in the know post grid references for the 3 climbs I'm in S. Wales alot but I'm not familiar with this area. Thanks in advance.
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Not sure if you refer to previous post about caerphilly but here goes.
Here are co ordinates from auto route which can be used for gps also:
Caerphilly mountain form east side:
51.57013 N 3.19913 W
Bwlch from Ogmore Vale side:
51.61973 N 3.53645 W
Bwlch from Treorchy side:
51.65426 N 3.5087W
Rhigos from Treherbet side:
51.67824 N 3.53953 W
Rhigos from Hirwaun side:
51.74189 N 3.53619 W
Hirwaun to Brecon :
51.76424 N 3.52160
There co ordinates are roughly at the point you would start to ascend, not always a road junction.
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Thanks for that.0
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Steve R, as soon as the saddle sore clears up I'll be right on it!
Probs Thursday I'll tackle that climb, got a big ride (120miles +) on Tuesday so will need a days recovery b4 tackling a climb like that!
Pride speaks, but Elephants listen..."I hold it true, what'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost;
Than never to have loved at all."
Alfred Tennyson0 -
(2)
23:05 good but I got dropped like a stone by the tri boys who I ride with, they probably came in around 1 min quicker!
I go out with the tri boys on my recovery days and let them win on the hills.[;)]
Couldn't get a good start point for the Bwlch from Cymmer, the road just goes up and up and up from Neath. Someone said the cattle grid but you have to do a fair bit of climbing just to get to that. A good end place is the RCT sign though.0 -
Thanks for the feedback boys. My cycle club from Southampton is going to attack Rhigos Saturday and Ochrwyth and Caerphilly Mnt on Sunday. Anyone looking to join in is welcome to tag along.I dunno if you know it Ochrwyth is a nice little climb between Risca and Lower Machen. I can do it on a 39*23 but only at about 10mph be a good one to test yourself on.0
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Im doing 1 and 3 tomorrow morning after a weekend away with no riding just drinking and eating pasties for 4 days...!
<font size="1">Hell is a big ring</font id="size1">0 -
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by HuwD</i>
Thanks for the feedback boys. My cycle club from Southampton is going to attack Rhigos Saturday and Ochrwyth and Caerphilly Mnt on Sunday. Anyone looking to join in is welcome to tag along.I dunno if you know it Ochrwyth is a nice little climb between Risca and Lower Machen. I can do it on a 39*23 but only at about 10mph be a good one to test yourself on.
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I sent you profiles in Mail.
I used to do that climb to Lower Machen.
You should go from there via Draethan then up East side of Caerphilly using reference I gave you, little traffic and very scenic route.
I will be surprised if you get up that at 10mph!!
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East side - is that past the golf club starting at the rail station?
I know there is lane off Van Rd aswell.0 -
No its the lane from van Road which you get to via the lanes from Lower Machen and Rudry so you miss all the traffic.
I sent you a mail with auto route with this info and a nice little 32 mile route from Risca and return which will tear your legs off [:D]
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10th April.
(1) 20'17.1" 9.6mph 488m 3.256 miles 144 BPM
(3) 16'46.23" 8.9 mph 425m 2.504 miles 144 BPM
Started the lap on (3) at the entrance to the first car park, not the forestry commission track (which is on the slight false flat).
Weather was 15-16 degC, no wind on (1), part head part tail wind at 3-4 mph on (3).
Mozwyn, what happened to your post with times? It's disappeared (unless i'm imagining things or its in another thread..?)
<font size="1">Hell is a big ring</font id="size1">0 -
Out of Interest what times do people have for the climb at the end of Talybont reservoir (approaching Merthyr), you know the one, the real B@stard which is 20% for just about it's entire length.
I got 9 minutes ish yesterday including the 1 stop for a breather!
Pride speaks, but Elephants listen..."I hold it true, what'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost;
Than never to have loved at all."
Alfred Tennyson0 -
It was on another topic Steve. Anyway been back up there today, no wind to speak of , fairly mild.
1. 19.17 mins
3. 16 mins
Was planning on doing a recce of the black mountain ride but decided to stick with what I know. will do it before the Fred whitton in 4 weeks tho.
Sometimes you have to lose yourself
before you can find anything.Sometimes you have to lose yourself
before you can find anything.0 -
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by nolf</i>
Out of Interest what times do people have for the climb at the end of Talybont reservoir (approaching Merthyr), you know the one, the real B@stard which is 20% for just about it's entire length.
I got 9 minutes ish yesterday including the 1 stop for a breather!
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I've done it in around 7 minutes when fit, but I have spent over 14 minutes before. Our club run went over that climb from the Ponsticill side a few weeks back and were joined part way up by a bloke on an old tourer wearing trainers who was going up in the big ring [:0] We dropped him, just, but he kept attacking us on the run down to Talybont. We stopped in Talybont to have a chat, but he just shot past without saying a word.
http://www.abertillery-wheelers.com0 -
how do these climbs compare with the Tumble, did that one last year.0
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<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by valleyboy74</i>
how do these climbs compare with the Tumble, did that one last year.
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walk in the park.
I did the tumble yesterday, and whilst not feeling great after getting over a cold, I grovelled all the way up the tumble, more a case of just getting up rather than giving a t*ss how quickly[xx(]
<font size="1">What was real yesterday is not so today</font id="size1">0 -
do you mean that the tumble is harder?
been up it a few times and it's getting slightly easier, but not enough!0 -
For me its much harder, its steeper for the lower 2/3 and almost as long as rhigos. I think its about 1 in 8 or even 1 in 7, the rhigos and bwlch are not as steep.
<font size="1">What was real yesterday is not so today</font id="size1">0 -
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by MartinL</i>
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by nolf</i>
Out of Interest what times do people have for the climb at the end of Talybont reservoir (approaching Merthyr), you know the one, the real B@stard which is 20% for just about it's entire length.
I got 9 minutes ish yesterday including the 1 stop for a breather!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
I've done it in around 7 minutes when fit, but I have spent over 14 minutes before. Our club run went over that climb from the Ponsticill side a few weeks back and were joined part way up by a bloke on an old tourer wearing trainers who was going up in the big ring [:0] We dropped him, just, but he kept attacking us on the run down to Talybont. We stopped in Talybont to have a chat, but he just shot past without saying a word.
http://www.abertillery-wheelers.com
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Mine was after about 100 Miles and a couple of big hills inc. gospel pass, so I was feeling a little faded. Got a nice ice cream and a chat from a nice Ice cream van lady a couple of miles later tho which helped.
Pride speaks, but Elephants listen..."I hold it true, what'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost;
Than never to have loved at all."
Alfred Tennyson0 -
I took my race team to Cwmcarn last weekend - did a loop round the Beacons including the Devil's Elbow climb and Caerphilly Mnt ( will do Rhigos and Bwlch next time). But they said the hardest was Ochrwyth between Risca and Lower Machen - if anyone wants to have a go time from yellow gritter box at the bottom to the one at the top.0
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I guess you did not get to do the 25% climb from Glyntaff to Eglwysilan? Thats much harder than the climb over Risca [:D]
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