Etape training in Snowdonia.....

steerpike
steerpike Posts: 424
edited April 2009 in Training, fitness and health
Can anyone tell me of any good routes (80 - 120 miles) in Snowdonia that might be good prep for the Etape? Otherwise, looking for some good mountain routes that will allow some good long steady climbing practice. Thanks

Comments

  • APIII
    APIII Posts: 2,010
    There is an organised Snowdonia ride over the May bank holiday by these guys http://www.etape.org.uk/
    You can just turn up for the ride if you put your name down.
  • T.C.
    T.C. Posts: 495
    i live in the area have a look at a map , work a route out get back to me , as i could give you plenty of routes , where would you be based etc
  • simon_e
    simon_e Posts: 1,706
    A ride that takes in an ascent of Llanberis pass or Beddgelert to Capel Curig would be good. Then go left to climb another 100m along the A5. I wouldn't recommend you do it on a busy weekend, though! I remember a C+ route that used the u/c road along the west side of Nant Ffrancon valley that avoids most of the winding stretch of the A5 between Ogwen and Bethesda.

    Some taxing stuff further south around Blaenau / Traws too. Betws-y-Coed down the A5 to Ysbyty Ifan and over the B road to Llan Ffestiniog looks like a good test of one's mettle. You could return North on the A470 over Blaenau and the Crimea pass or down the Vale to Tan-y-bwlch, up over Rhyd (and Croesor for a true masochist) then on to Beddgelert.

    Not particularly hilly but on the western side the u/c roads that forms the boundary of the National Park look like a good alternative to the main road between Tremadog and Penygroes (some of which is part of NCN route 8), then go east in Penygroes on the B road through Dyffryn Nantlle to Rhyd Ddu.

    You could look at Gran Fondo Cymru's routes and search on mapmyride.com for something to build with.

    There are plenty of hills east of Conwy valley too.
    Aspire not to have more, but to be more.
  • Rob Penn
    Rob Penn Posts: 4
    If you happen to be closer to south Wales, there are plenty of good climbs in the Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains that make for honest Etape preparation - Abergavenny to Blaenavon up Tumble Mountain; Crickhowell to Beaufort over Llangynidr Moor; Merthyr Tydfil to Talybont on Usk, over the Beacons; Abergavenny to Hay on Wye via Gospel Pass; Neath to Treorchy via Bwlch.

    http://www.uketapetraining.co.uk
  • steerpike
    steerpike Posts: 424
    Hi,

    Thanks for the replies / advice, sorry for the delayed reply.

    Robb - Brecon/Black Mountains is indeed easier as I'm in Bristol. Have looked at your site and def interested.

    Planning on a brecons/black mountain recce on Friday - is there a good loop of 70+ that you might recommend? This one seems to have some good long climbs:

    http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Bl ... Loop194429

    It's a little shorter than I was planning but I think might still be quite tough.

    Alternative:

    http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/To ... -Mountains

    Where I would cut the left hand side of the loop short by taking the A470

    Thanks
  • simon_e
    simon_e Posts: 1,706
    Why ask about Snowdonia if you're in Bristol? :?

    Beacons/Black Mountains would surely be better. You could try fitting Vale of Ewyas/Gospel Pass into a long ride and look at the routes used by the Dragon Ride and the Tour of the Black Mountains sportive. If you don't mind the traffic the drag up the A470 to Storey Arms is a long slog from either side. You could probably find some taxing stuff in the Cotswolds. I drove through there last summer and thought it looked like a good area to ride (as long as you liked hills).
    Aspire not to have more, but to be more.

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