Brecon Beacons

I went to the Brecon Beacons earlier this year. The route we rode was the Black Mountains Killer Loop which is around 40km. However there are many to choose from but i felt the starting point for this loop was ideal. We camped over at The Castle Inn pub which is situated at the start of the Killer Loop. The pub was great and the facilities clean, the camp site backed onto the valley with nice views.

The route itself was very enjoyable. Following the sheep tracks was relaxing and exciting as you go up and down through splashes and jumps. Further on after pushing the bike up a mountain for a few miles you reach a playground of rocky descents and splashes that stretches out over many miles.

Once we finished that section we then well and truly got lost in the middle of the sticks. Fortunately we found a road and decided we would play it safe and ride the 20 odd miles back on the road.

We went with only the description below but i would recommend getting the map also, it can become very confusing when there is a detailed description of a few hundred meters and then nothing for miles.

http://www.mtb-wales.com/modules.php?op ... &pageid=75

I would highly recommend this route.

Lots to go at ; depends on where you are based (or are you touring?)

Gospel Pass is a `must` but try to avoid at weekends as the Llanthony side in particular is very narrow and gets busy - a good 1000ft climb from either Hay (steeper side) or Llanthony)
Around Brecon you can head north up onto The Eppynt, drop down to Beulah, head out to Abergweswyn / Llyn Brianne area down to Llandovery - masses of climbing on this one - incorporates section of Devil Ride
Out of Brecon itself you can head west towards Libanus and Heol Senni to climb Devils Elbow and then down to waterfall country at Ystradfellte - come back from there via Penderyn Common / A470 or much more strenuously head over to Talybont and back from there
A470 towards Cardiff has a good long climb up to Storey Arms but is a busy major road
Lots of little lanes on the northern side of Brecon Beacons leading towards Talybont and the reservoirs, but need to be good at map reading as virtually NO signs on eth lanes and farm tracks resemble lanes too
Easy riding down Usk valley towards Crickhowell from where you could do big climbs up on The Tumble / Llangwndir mountain roads (1000ft + jobs at 8 to 10% inclines.)

Be aware though that it may be spring in Suffolk (early next year) when you come but winter may still be lingering around Brecon, btw it`s sunny in Wal;es today (but very cold and frosty ) enjoy!

fto-si wrote:

It's a miserable day here in Suffolk and my bikes are staying in the dry whilst my thoughts turn to a week in the Brecon Beacons early next year.
Does anyone have any reccomendations as to routes or particular areas I should ride?
Coming from Suffolk I have never experienced any proper climbs so I am looking for some of those to attempt aswell.

Depends on how early?
There are many routes just get a decent map and go anywhere really but I would not look at doing a week there in the winter as the weather can change there so fast and so dramatically. In the summer it would be fantastic.

Here are a few options that I have planned for a visit in Feb. I don't know the area so they've just been made up from looking at the map. They don't include Gospel Pass because I'm saving that delight for an Audax in April.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/224961

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/209691

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/210077

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/213455

Sorry for a bit of a hijack but....coming home to Swansea for christmas and the bike is coming with me...so posting to see if anyone fancies meeting up for a ride in the beacons/south wales area?

Will

See my and others comments above?? ---there`s plenty of places to mark up mentioned above

Watch out for the ice then!!! there will be plenty of `skittey bits` around on the pass and descent to Llanthony from water runoff from fields,