Banjos First cycle tour pictures.

[Banjo]

just back from a couple of days touring around South Wales. Its the first overnight trip I have done ,probably a tame effort to most of you but all new and exciting stuff for me


Set out from Barry through the Vale of Glamorgan to Pencoed then up into the hills through nantymoel and onto the Bwlch Mountain.Ridden it before but the camping gear made it more interesting ,stoppped for a few breathers but didnt walk.

looking down off the Bwlch towards Nantymoel.

Downhill whizz into Terorchy then before the Ascent of the Rhigos Mountain. The road isnt terribly steep but its a long winding pull to the top rewarded then with the magnificent view of the Beacons.

looking out over the Beacons from top of Rhigos. Pen Y Fan in top right hand corner (Highest peak in south wales)

Long fast descent then to Hirwaun and onwards downhill to Pont Nedd Fechan. Mile after mile of downhill gets boring after a while well maybe not. Paid for it next with some sharp short climbs up to Ystradfellte.Plan was to buy some food or eat in the pub then camp out on the beacons somewhere quiet ideally next to one of the many waterfalls in the area. Couldnt find a shop and the only pub was being refurbished.The village was deserted so on tired legs I pushed on with part of my route planned for the second day, across to Penderyn where I found a friendly pub then on down to Hirwaun (for second time) to buy some food then push the bike up a muddy field then out onto the mountain for the night.

Camping at the foot of Rhigos (Hirwaun in background)

Cooked tea slept like a log woke up to morning mist.

Took a much less strenuous route home via Merthyr Tydfil then onto the Taff Trail to meander down the Rhonnda Valley to Cardiff then onwards to Barry and home.

Weather was kind to me,no rain but very heavy dew had outside of tent saturated but inside the inner tent bone dry so hopefully alls good.May think about some front panniers next time asI didnt take much but still struggled to squeeze it all in.

Hope to do something a bit more ambitious when work ,family and weather allows it.

After my little tour I have a new respect for people doing Lejogs or similar.

 

[jarushby]

Brilliant views. I know them well.

Love the views between the top of the Bwlch and Treorchy. Reaching the top of the Rhigos pass gives you the sense of being on top of the world.

so, What's next ? , I guess doing that route is good training for next years "Dragon challenge"

 

[Banjo]

Brilliant views. I know them well.

Love the views between the top of the Bwlch and Treorchy. Reaching the top of the Rhigos pass gives you the sense of being on top of the world.

so, What's next ? , I guess doing that route is good training for next years "Dragon challenge"

Have been thinking of doing the Dragon ,probably leave the tent and stuff home for that one.
It definitely is a different game isnt it, I think doing 60 odd miles yesterday tired me out as much as 100 plus on the roadbike with no luggage would have.

One mistake I made was thinking that with the gentler pace and frequent stops I wouldnt need padded shorts.Feels like I have been kicked by a donkey at the moment.

 

[Tail End Charlie]

Nice one Banjo, good to hear you've enjoyed it so much. Not many of us wild camp so good on you for doing it first time round, it's a great feeling. A nice shower is good every so often, but nothing beats going to sleep somewhere remote and waking up early.
Where's next for you ??

 

[jarushby]

Have been thinking of doing the Dragon ,probably leave the tent and stuff home for that one.
It definitely is a different game isnt it, I think doing 60 odd miles yesterday tired me out as much as 100 plus on the roadbike with no luggage would have.

One mistake I made was thinking that with the gentler pace and frequent stops I wouldnt need padded shorts.Feels like I have been kicked by a donkey at the moment.

Yep, I have climbed the Rhigos and Bwlch on my Madone and on my Trek 1200 with loaded panniers (training for JOGLE) . Completely different!!!!!

 

[vernon]

Nice one!

The first cycle tour is always memorable.

You're ready for Lon Las Cymru now.

 

[thistler]

Very cool. Can't wait to do my first one!!!

 

[Banjo]

Thanks for the replies.not sure what will be next.time is allways the biggest factor,hope to fit in another short tour before winter sets in and I know a quiet spot by the dulais river ..,,

 

[videoman]

Great photos and write up and now I've reached fifty its about time I got out and did my first tour or should I continue thinking about it and reading everyone elses trip reports?

Haven't been on the bike for two months and today did 20 miles, not quite sure if it was the seat or just the seatpost I've sitting on!

 

[Crankarm]

Nice report Banjo even though your trip only lasted a couple of nights. Great that you wild camped. Did you not take a stove and some food to be truly wild?

I like Wales.

 

[Banjo]

Nice report Banjo even though your trip only lasted a couple of nights. Great that you wild camped. Did you not take a stove and some food to be truly wild?

I like Wales.

not even that long crankarm, only one night unfortunately. Took a small coleman gas stove and used it to cook food bought in a shop before getting some shut eye. Will take food with me in future to save being reliant on shops being available locally.

Dont know if cooking your own grub counts as "truly wild" camping though. Wouldnt you need to catch it and skin it first to qualify?

 

[willem]

Great, it already makes me feel jealous. You are absolutely right that luggage weight makes a big difference. That is why I am all in favour of going lightweight. I think I have one other suggestion for you, about food. I always try to buy nice fresh food for dinner. It is a great reward for a strenuous day. However, as you discovered, finding a shop is not always easy. So I will never ride without some backup dinner. For that I use pasta (macaroni because it packs more compact than most other pasta) that I carry in any case, and some pesto in a little plastic container, plus some grated cheese. This does not go off, so you can take it for an entire three week tour and not use it. But if you need it, it is there, and you will be properly nourished.
Willem

 

[RedBike]

Nice report. I'm highly jealous!!!
My pannier bags have been sat fully packed in the garage for several months now, waiting.



I have the same tent.

I'm still not sure what to make of it.
Its nice and light weight, costs very little, relatively warm / condensation free and it's green so it doesn't stand out a mile when you're wild camping.
However, I do wish it was just that little bit bigger so that I could sit up in it. It would also be nice if you could pitch it outer first when its raining.


I'm never really sure what to do with the bike while wild camping. I'm always a little bit worried that I will wake to to find it's gone. I always try and pick my spots so that nobody is likely to pass by. However, i'm always a little worried that someone will walk passed, see this bike out in the middle of nowhere, and try to walk off with it.

 

[Banjo]

Nice report. I'm highly jealous!!!
My pannier bags have been sat fully packed in the garage for several months now, waiting.



I have the same tent.

I'm still not sure what to make of it.
Its nice and light weight, costs very little, relatively warm / condensation free and it's green so it doesn't stand out a mile when you're wild camping.
However, I do wish it was just that little bit bigger so that I could sit up in it. It would also be nice if you could pitch it outer first when its raining.


I'm never really sure what to do with the bike while wild camping. I'm always a little bit worried that I will wake to to find it's gone. I always try and pick my spots so that nobody is likely to pass by. However, i'm always a little worried that someone will walk passed, see this bike out in the middle of nowhere, and try to walk off with it.

One dry night isnt much of a test but I was surprised at how little condensation occured inside and the ground was quite wet and no damp seemed to permeate the groundsheet.One thing I intend to do next time is take a piece of thin bungee cord or strong elastic from the polehoops to the peg at both ends hopefully this will tension the inner tent enough to stop it drooping in the middle.

Bike security wasnt really an issue where I was but closer to the road I would have put the cable lock through the bike and around the base of one of the tent poles.The way I sleep the bike and tent could be missing in the morning though Hope you get yourself sorted and away on the bike again soon.