North Wales climbs

dai_t75

Afternoon all.

After a successful and very enjoyable LEJOG last summer myself and the other half were thinking of doing another smaller tour this summer. So we thought about maybe doing a loop through Wales. So thinking roughly; start in Bridgend and head West, up along the coast then through Snowdonia (not sure how far North we will be heading yet) then back down through mid-Wales and through the Beacons home.

Just wondering what the 'must do' climbs are when we are up there? Would they be do-able with panniers? I will try and travel as light as possible and consider myself to be a decent climber when fit. The only time I had to get off on LEJOG was attempting the Struggle in the lakes... made it up the first part but just died on the last section up to the pub, but the total extra weight of the panniers then was 12 kilos so hopefully will be able to cut that down this time.

Cheers!

markhewitt1978

This one http://goo.gl/maps/JjAjB

outcastjack

The climb from Tan-Y-Grisiau to Stwlan is stunningly beautiful, it is where they filmed the last scene of the Italian Job, and because it was built for lorries building the dam it isn't too steep at any point.



Strava Segment: http://www.strava.com/segments/1398283

pdstsp

markhewitt1978 wrote:

This one http://goo.gl/maps/JjAjB

Aah the Bwlch y Groes with panniers!! Lovely

ednino

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qHkPj6w3ao

You have to ride the old Mountain road and round the dams. Also HorseShoe pass up North

ednino

Also check out the Aberystwyth Sportive in May that takes in some brilliant climbs

Pross

The Bwlch y Groes is probably the toughest climb in Wales. Whether it's doable with panniers I guess will depend on your gearing. It might also not fit easily into a clockwise loop although I suppose it would be possible. Llanberis Pass is probably worth doing, it's not very steep but fantastic scenery in the shadow of Snowdon.

sub55

LIanwrtyd Wells - Abergwesyn - Tregaron
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Dolecoed+Rd&daddr=Unknown+road+to:52.219965,-3.934492&geocode=FYQYGwMdkHrI_w%3BFWzqGwMd0-nH_w%3B&sll=52.212498,-3.929586&sspn=0.032449,0.090895&hl=en

sub55

there is a 800k permanent Audax. It is a figure of 8 based in Llanidloes. Possible just what your looking for
http://www.aukweb.net/perms/detail/CB33/

dilatory

Maybe up the Llanberis Pass? Nothing exceptional, but the closest you'll get to Snowdon itself on a road bike!

Also, end of August we have the Tour de Mon here on Anglesey. 106 miles around our wonderful isle. You could time it beautifully.

ednino

dilatory wrote:

Also, end of August we have the Tour de Mon here on Anglesey. 106 miles around our beautiful isle. You could time it beautifully.

That sounds good. Always wanted to ride around the Island

dilatory

http://tourdemon.co.uk/content/route-info

Will be there myself for the first time!

sbbefc

Bwlch y groes has 3 routes up, so if youre doing it with panniers the road from vyrnwy is probably the easiest but its still a bit of a slog 6km at 4% but its not well graded. Hirnant pass is also in the area. If youre touring id probably avoid the 10%+ climbs. The passes around snowdon are spectacular but not difficult, llaneris pass and Rhud ddu are easy. In the north east cerig milltir and the horseshoe pass are nice well graded 6km climbs.

Moonbiker

This strava segment is a decent climb: 1,693ft

http://www.strava.com/segments/6483454?filter=overall


Found this pic of the view from the top:

dai_t75

Thanks for all the suggestions gents. I will go away and try to put some routes together - will post them back on here to see what you think. Thanks again.

sbbefc

Does that climb go onto private land and is it asphalt all the way to the top? Ive yet to do that one, looks good.

dilatory

https://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=53.146436 ... 8,,0,24.76

This is the street view of the entrance to the road up to that reservoir, it's a footpath route so probably all legit.

Moonbiker

Dunno if its private etc but that gate shown in in google street view is locked so I lift my bike over it which is good as means zero cars. Tarmac is in perfect condition all the way to top but there are a few cattle grids.

Its nearly twice the altitude of Pen y Pass @ the top so can be abit cold & windy sometimes up there.

There is another strava segmented route up from from the other side I haven't done yet but looks good.

http://www.strava.com/segments/4151349?filter=overall

Graham K

May not be in the top 10 of climbs but have a ride through Llansannan, Granted theres not much there but whichever way round youve got a climb on your hands.

ben16v

all up north but here are my suggestions (some covered above)
llanberis pass, gwynant, marchllyn. drws y coed, stwlan dam, cwm penmachno, Migneint, crimea pass,

sbbefc

Loads of routes up from the vale of clwyd to the denbigh moores/llyn brennig too.

http://www.strava.com/segments/1194056

http://www.strava.com/segments/5701746

http://www.strava.com/segments/1037927

sbbefc

The climb up to Stwlan, is the road private?

Moonbiker

Dunno theres is a strava seg on it. Will have to cycle over to have a look sometime as haven't done it yet.

Anyway if private just trepass worse at could happen is some farmer shouting at you

Figaro

The road up to Stwlan Dam is featured in issue 20 of Cyclist. It says the start of the climb is marked by an industrial gate as the road is intended for maintenance workers. However the writer of the article and his fellow riders did climb to the top.

sbbefc

I was going to cycle it today since I was the west this weekend, however my bike got knackered on the Elidir Fawr climb yesterday. Made it to surge pool, would have been a great climb without the mechanical problems!

Schleck's Chain

Just returned from some cycling in Snowdonia. Fantastic routes and some great climbs. Some thoughts on them below in case it helps:

Stwlan Dam (2.4km @ 9.8%: http://veloviewer.com/segments/4542995): Referenced above and notable for it's multiple switchbacks near the top. Hop over the gate and head up the (pretty decent road). It climbs up the hill and over the shoulder of one side before hitting a false flat. The road then kicks up again as you hit the hairpins. They come quickly one after the other as you wind up the hill; a fantastic view across the other side of the valley. Nearing the top there is one last dig (which felt like the steepest section) before you've reached the dam and the end of the climb. Worth doing; the hairpins give it some novelty but it was over too quickly to feel truly epic.

Llan Ffestinog - Migneint (9.5km @ 4.8%: http://veloviewer.com/segments/1388543): Magnificent climb leading to fantastic views. It starts from the valley floor. The initial section is the steepest as you grind up through woodland. Reaching the town of Llan Ffestinog gives you some respite. From now on it's a succession of ramps and gentler sections with the odd false flat. You start to reach moorland-like surroundings and the views across Snowdonia are spectacular. I did it on a Sunday morning so there was little traffic; not sure what it would be like usually. The descent was stunning.

Marchlyn Mawr (7.8km @ 6.9%: http://veloviewer.com/segments/4151349): This is essentially two climbs split by a false flat. It begins by Penllyn station. It grinds up the hillside through the village of Fechwen with little respite; save something in reserve for a ramp that registered 20% on my Garmin just before the junction into Dinorwic. An added challenge during this section was the terrible road condition; no big potholes but a very bumpy surface. Through Dinorwic to the crossroads is a false flat to recover on. At the crossroads, you start back on 10% up to the gate and then over into the bowl of the mountain (the road surface has now improved). It's a consistent 10% from here on. Ignore the road to the right and head straight on past a small reservoir. Eventually the hairpins begin indicating you are nearly there. At this point, the views are stunning and the switchbacks give it a truly epic feel. Kick on off if you can and after a left you've reached the reservoir and a gated tunnel into the mountain signals the end of the road.

Pen y Pass from Llyn Gwnant (6.2km @ 4.8%: http://veloviewer.com/segments/841455): This is a climb all about tempo. It begins with a stretch of 7-8% before settling into the 5-6% which continues all the way to the top. The views are incredible; the Snowdon horseshoe soon comes into view on your left. Further over on the other side of the valley, you can see the road winding round the hillside with the cars glinting at the summit. You turn left onto the Llanberis road and climb along with a stone wall on your left and your starting point - Llyn Gwnant - below you now in the valley. Two right-handers and you can see the summit ahead. Not a difficult climb but a beautiful one.

Llanberis Pass (3.9km @ 6%: http://veloviewer.com/segments/5120968): I underestimated this climb thinking it would be a similar consistency to its opposite side. It started gently enough but I was riding into a headwind. Unlike the ascent from Llyn Gwnant, on this side you wind up through a sharp sided valley. You cross a picturesque stone bridge and then things begin to ramp up. My GPS was indicating that it was 10% or so from this point on. The summit comes into view but is still deceptively far away; don't sprint too early. A final grind up and you're at the top for another beautiful descent.

As mentioned above, Stwlan Dam and part of Marchlyn Mawr are not on public roads. In both cases, I think they are owned by the power/water company and are crossed by footpaths/bridleways. There are no forbidding signs warning you to stay off the road. These appear at both summits for the tunnels and bridges across the reservoirs. I'm sure, as long as you respect these areas, they aren't too worried about cyclists using the access roads. I did not see a soul on either.