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Past Ride

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Sun May 31st 2015

Brecon Beacons	3*

Leader: John Talbot	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: Brecon
Description: Exploring the Brecon Beacons starting in the small town of Brecon. The ride will seek out river valleys, lakes and mountain passes. This is a 100km ride with substantial climbing involved!! All CTC Wantage riders are welcome to join us for the day. Please let me know if you are intending on doing this so I know who to expect. The start will be from the car park in Kensington (£2.50 all day pay and display). We will head out of town via NCN8 alongside the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal (tarmac surface). We will pass the reservoirs at Talybont to the outskirts of Merthyr Tydfil. There are several cafés enroute so we might stop to have a quick elevenses. Crossing the southern edge of the Beacons we will pick up the Tawe Valley where we will have lunch at the riverside Changing Seasons restaurant. After lunch we will climb away through the Black Mountains before dropping back towards Brecon where we can enjoy an afternoon tea/coffee if we can find somewhere open! NOTE :- I have a shorter wet weather alternative starting from Talybont. We can start later if the weather in the morning is poor http://ridewithgps.com/routes/8096120
Riders: David Bridge David Smith John Talbot Ron Cutler Ursula Hallam Riders = 5 Weather: Report: With heavy overnight rain we went for the shorter ride option from Talybont. The skies were overcast with a few spots of rain in the air as we set off after another cup of tea for David B in the café. The ride up to and alongside the Talybont Reservoir was very pleasant but came with a nasty shock as a 20% ascent up the head of the valley followed! That was tough after a hard day's riding the day before. We re-grouped at the top and enjoyed the descent down towards Merthyr alongside another reservoir and over the dam at the end. We passed the Brecon Mountain Railway with an engine in steam and entered the outskirts of Merthyr. A very undulating and unpleasantly busy section through Merthyr, Tredegar and Beaufort ensued. This route ran parallel to the Heads of the Valleys dual carriageway which seemed far less busy. Long ascents through housing estates with lots of impatient motorists. Not recommended cycling country. Eventually we turned 'inland' back into the countryside and very exposed and bleak moorland. Four of decided to extend the ride down the awesome descent to Llangattock and a well deserved late lunch at the Courtroom Café in Crickhowell. A very pleasant roll back into Talybont alongside the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal in the sunshine completed a tough but rewarding day's riding.
Distance: 62.50 km (38.84 mi)	Ride Details: https://www.strava.com/activities/315677640
David S at the top of the climb Ursula makes it to the top Ron emerges from the gloom The Sun shines on David B at the top Brecon Mountain Railway Bleak Brecon Beacons
Proposed Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7307970"
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Start Locations: WMP
Wantage Market Place; OMH
Old Mill Hall, Grove

Categories: 1* - Suitable for irregular, social, beginner or family riders, pace will match the slower riders. Not hilly or long. Expect rides up to 3 hours. Gentle exercise.; 2* - Suitable for regular riders who prefer to cover some distance but at a more relaxed pace. Likely to be half-day rides. Solid exercise.; 3* - Suitable for experienced riders, may be hilly, long, quick, or any combination! Likely to be half or full-day rides. Challenging exercise.; 4* - Suitable for athletic riders who can ride safely above the 3* standard. Quick rides for the fit.; More Information