brecon beast

rhyko7

http://www.breconbeast.flinthosts.co.uk/index.html

is anyone doing this?
ive always wanted to check brecon out for riding and this seems like a good way to do it
what kind of surfaces are at Brecon and are there any good downhill sections?wandering how i would set my bike up, whether its worth clipping in and putting faster tyres on.

im tempted between this and the ruthin race

jackfeeder

There's quite a bit of tarmac at the beginning and end. I did the short (71k) route last year. I use flats but I'm not that good technically. There are a couple of tricky bits but if yr used to clipless/technical riding you should be fine. I think the longer route has a longish rocky descent but the shorter route there's only one steep gully which is unrideable to get out really.
Not sure about your tyre choice, I use 2.1/2.2's and they seem ideal.
If you go here http://www.mtb-wales.com/modules.php?op ... &tid=23029 someone with more experience than me will help you.

Looking forward to it now, not as fit as I should be mind but that's most people isn't it!

rhyko7

link was quite helpful but no-one seems to know the correct shorter distance lol, some info says 60 km and others says 70 km
only 2 other questions remain:
can i ride that far?-thats for me to find out
shall i used spd's or flats? prob spd's cos distance will be a struggle, so never mind decsending to the limit

gaz047

alright rhyko, i did the long course last year and loved it, id done lots of tabbing from my army days round brecon but never had the chance to ride round there....you won't be disappointed. big climbs, big descents = big .

can you ride that far? as long as you pace yourself and keep fuelling and drinking you will be fine, although it may be useful to ride this distance before just as a confidence booster. don't be tempted to cane it off at the start or you may well blow up. take it easy and enjoy the trails/views (their amazing on a clear day).

should you clip in ? i would definatly recommend clipping in, last year the whole trail was rideable, and that extra pedalling efficiency will be a godsend, especially towards the end.

last year i used continental speedkings and had no issues with them, although if you run the pressures too soft they will pinch flat for fun (ran mine with tubes, with about 40psi rear and about 36psi front, rider weight approx 12stone)

hope that helps mate, im not doing it this year but hopefully doing the ruthin marathon if my necks better.
enjoy