Dragon Training Route

SteveR_100Milers

I did a 55 miler "short" route for general sportive training, shortened so it will fit into an afternoon or a morning for those of us that have limited time.

Route is Quakers Yard - Aberdare - Hirwaun - Rhigos - Bwlch - Ogmore Valley - Gilfach Goch - Trebanog - Ponty and back up to Quakers Yard. I've got it on mapmyride if anyone wants it, just delete the "spur" from and to Ystrad Mynach. First time that I have ridden it and whilst the climbs of the Rhigos and Bwlch are tough, they are known quantities. There are some nasty bits up to Gilfach Goch, (and there are much nicer places to bonk as well...).and the final climb up to Trebanog almost killed me; its like that horrible drag near Maentwrog on the gran fondo cymru, only steeper. Wouldn't much want to ride the other way mind from Porth up to Trebanog, scary enough going down it.

To resurect on old thread of last year: Rhigos climb times: 19:18.6 from the Tower Colliery RAB to the layby. That get's me 3rd place on the King of the Hill times posted in the ice cream van! Now THATS a challenge

tomashford

Correct me if im wrong. There are only 2 times posted on the ice cream van
Next time I do the Rhigos I'll time myself and post it here.

bendertherobot

Avoid Trebanog mun.

Come down from Gilfach but instead of going into Tonyrefail head for the dual carriageway. Then, instead of Porth, go Tonypandy (flat) and back down to Porth.

SteveR_100Milers

tomashford wrote:

Correct me if im wrong. There are only 2 times posted on the ice cream van
Next time I do the Rhigos I'll time myself and post it here.
I also did the Bwlch this morning for the very first time. It was alot easier than what I thought it was going to be from what everyone has said about it :?

There are different times for each direction (and not the same riders). I am positive I saw more than 2 names.

SteveR_100Milers

bendertherobot wrote:

Avoid Trebanog mun.

Come down from Gilfach but instead of going into Tonyrefail head for the dual carriageway. Then, instead of Porth, go Tonypandy (flat) and back down to Porth.

Trouble is that misses the point of the ride: hills.

bendertherobot

SteveR_100Milers wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

Avoid Trebanog mun.

Come down from Gilfach but instead of going into Tonyrefail head for the dual carriageway. Then, instead of Porth, go Tonypandy (flat) and back down to Porth.

Trouble is that misses the point of the ride: hills.

Quit whingeing then

Surely you should be going over Porth, up the Valley and over the Maerdy mountain.

Now THAT's a Dragon Ride.

Mossrider

Try the Graig from Aberdare ("Maerdy Mountain") and drop down the valley, then hang right at the roundabout and climb over to Treorchy( a nasty not so little climb), giving you the choice of Bwlch and / or Rhigos....

I do that when staying with the outlaws in Aberdare and the Graig is a rude wake up call!

deal

does anyone know of a nice route from Swansea to link onto this route ? im based in sketty and would prefer to avoid Fabian Way - last time i ventured that way I almost got killed, and the cycle lane wasnt much safer - covered in glass.

bendertherobot

deal wrote:

does anyone know of a nice route from Swansea to link onto this route ? im based in sketty and would prefer to avoid Fabian Way - last time i ventured that way I almost got killed, and the cycle lane wasnt much safer - covered in glass.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&rlz ... 1&ct=image

Llansamlet, Skewen, Neath, Cimla etc.

Then, go over the Bwlch, down the Ogwr valley.

At the end of the Ogwr go over Llangeinor following the Dragon Route. Go to Sarn. Drop down to Bridgend and get onto the A48? Follow this through Pyle, Margam, Port Talbot and then back on how you started unless you fancy coming back down the Fabian Way.

deal

cheers will give that a shot next weekend

SteveR_100Milers

bendertherobot wrote:

SteveR_100Milers wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

Avoid Trebanog mun.

Come down from Gilfach but instead of going into Tonyrefail head for the dual carriageway. Then, instead of Porth, go Tonypandy (flat) and back down to Porth.

Trouble is that misses the point of the ride: hills.

Quit whingeing then

Surely you should be going over Porth, up the Valley and over the Maerdy mountain.

Now THAT's a Dragon Ride.

Show me the money then fatboy....

DaSy

does anyone know of a nice route from Swansea to link onto this route ? im based in sketty and would prefer to avoid Fabian Way - last time i ventured that way I almost got killed, and the cycle lane wasnt much safer - covered in glass.

Another route I do quite often when down in Skewen is Skewen to Aberdulais, along the old Neath road through Reolven to Glyn Neath, up the Glyn Neath bank to Hirwaun, through to Aberdare, then up Maerdy Mountain and through to Meardy, Ferndale and onto Tylorstown. Climb up to Penryhs, to Ystrad, Pentre and into Treorchy. Then up the Bwlch and right by the ice cream van to Abergwynfi and Cymmer, down toward and right into Pontrhydyfen, up Efail Fach and down the Cimla, then back to Skewen. I like this route alot, although I would like to add in Rhigos but never seem to come up with a route that would make that makes sense without a double back...

oldwelshman

Mossrider wrote:

Try the Graig from Aberdare ("Maerdy Mountain") and drop down the valley, then hang right at the roundabout and climb over to Treorchy( a nasty not so little climb), giving you the choice of Bwlch and / or Rhigos....

I do that when staying with the outlaws in Aberdare and the Graig is a rude wake up call!

The bottom is a bit of the Graig is a shock, but the rest is quite nice, I did this a few weeks ago when visiting parents.
There is a wicked side street after decent into Maerdy before climbing PenRhys but it is one way thank god, down.
I also did Trebanog on same visit and forgot how steep that is !!

Mossrider

All the Graig's a shock if it is the first mile of the day!