Few days in Wales

[Ki3r]

I've got a week off at the end of September, and going to it to spend a few days around Wales. Taking a bit of a gamble with the weather, but at the moment it doesn't look like its raining.

Can anyone recommend any places to head towards? I'm going up on the 27th, not sure what time I'm going to leave, ideally morning. Spend Wednesday riding around and head back Thursday.

Also, places to stay. I'm hoping to do it as cheaply as possible, but don't want to spend nights in dodgy areas!

Thanks .

[RemaL]

Simple Mid wales and around Elan vally. Lovely roads and scenery.

Lots of good roads. lots of fuel stops, lots of places to stay and get food

[CaptainSlow]

some pointers on here...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...


I did go a little further North West than on the map.

[Ki3r]

CaptainSlow said:

some pointers on here...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...


I did go a little further North West than on the map.

Thanks . I remember seeing that at the time and that's what got me thinking about it.

Not sure if my bike will be the best for it, 2003 GSXR 600, hoping I can carry everything I'll need in a rucksack as I don't have anything else ha.

[Ki3r]

B&B booked in Dolgellau (don't ask me how to pronounce it!). Looking forward to it. Leaving mine around 0900/1000, riding up, should take around five hours non stop, but I'll properly get lost a far bit.

Looking forward to it.

[CaptainSlow]

Ki3r said:

don't ask me how to pronounce it!

Add in a bit of phlegm and you should be ok. They don't like the English that far over so take your own food.

Where are you starting from?

[Bikesalot]

Ki3r said:

Thanks . I remember seeing that at the time and that's what got me thinking about it.

Not sure if my bike will be the best for it, 2003 GSXR 600, hoping I can carry everything I'll need in a rucksack as I don't have anything else ha.

I done a couple days in Wales on my K5 750. I only took the bag on the back, friend took the tent though on his GS. If you're staying in a cheap hotel/s then one bag is fine. The weather was a real mixed bag when I went, heavy rain. Sunshine. Repeat etc.

[Ki3r]

CaptainSlow said:

Add in a bit of phlegm and you should be ok. They don't like the English that far over so take your own food.

Where are you starting from?

Ha!

Starting in Poole, Dorset.

[Chipchap]

Wales is great. Good hospitality, great roads with excellent drainage and Shell Grip on corner exits. You will be fine on a 600 with rucksack. We have done 8 days in Pyrenees and 12 days to Portugal using a 30 litre Kriega on extreme bikes. I went on my MV F4 and a mate on a Ducati 1098R and we survived.

We also did 4 days in Wales about 3 years ago on rented Harleys and it was a real hoot. Proving that you can have fun on any bike.

Extreme bikes on tour

HD on cruise control somewhere near Brecon

Just get out there and have fun.

[Ki3r]

Bikesalot said:

I done a couple days in Wales on my K5 750. I only took the bag on the back, friend took the tent though on his GS. If you're staying in a cheap hotel/s then one bag is fine. The weather was a real mixed bag when I went, heavy rain. Sunshine. Repeat etc.

What bag is that? Looks perfect for what I need. Don't fancy having a rucksack on for the trip up there. Guessing it is big enough to fit a pair of shoes, jeans and a couple of tops along with boxers/socks and spare gloves?

[Bikesalot]

Ki3r said:

What bag is that? Looks perfect for what I need. Don't fancy having a rucksack on for the trip up there. Guessing it is big enough to fit a pair of shoes, jeans and a couple of tops along with boxers/socks and spare gloves?

It's a blacks 40L holdall, and very cheap. https://m.blacks.co.uk/product/blacks-transit-40l-... Whilst it doesn't advertise as being waterproof everything I took stayed dry. You'll have loads of spare space, I took a few changes of clothes, sleeping bag, stove, cooking equipment etc. Easy enough to mount on the back too.

[Mothersruin]

Start at Presteigne, go through to Rhayadar (Elan Valley) and then further West to Borth then head north. Stunning roads.

I live a bit further North of Presteign.

[Ki3r]

Bikesalot said:

It's a blacks 40L holdall, and very cheap. https://m.blacks.co.uk/product/blacks-transit-40l-... Whilst it doesn't advertise as being waterproof everything I took stayed dry. You'll have loads of spare space, I took a few changes of clothes, sleeping bag, stove, cooking equipment etc. Easy enough to mount on the back too.

Thanks . Couldn't be any cheaper ha.

[mak]

I gotta get away on an epic bike journey one day, pissing around on the same old runs on the odd weekend afternoon is not exactly living the dream .
Have a good one .

[Ki3r]

mak said:

I gotta get away on an epic bike journey one day, pissing around on the same old runs on the odd weekend afternoon is not exactly living the dream .
Have a good one .

Pretty much why I've done this, same old roads before heading back. Normally with my week off my day job I'll work my second job, I've not had a day off from either for a good year now.

I know it isn't too far away, but what things will I need to take with me?

Going to take a map book and possibly a spare phone just in case, anything for the bike? Bare in mind I'm not any good at fixing things!

[oj113]

Ki3r said:

B&B booked in Dolgellau (don't ask me how to pronounce it!).

Doll-geth-Lie will get you as close as you'll ever need to get

[Yoda400]

Go past Tintern Abbey on the way up or down.
Dolgellau is a good place to stay because you can get to popular biking places from there like Bala lake, Llanberis, Betwy-y-Coed, and there's Portmeirion nearby which is interesting to visit. A good route would be up the A494 to Bala (nice lake), then Corwen and A5 to Llangollen (steam trains). Head up the A542 to the Ponderosa (popular biker cafe) / Horseshoe pass (great views). Watch out for cattle grids and stray sheep. At the roundabout at the top, straight on then left onto the A525 - awesome winding stretch. Get to Ruthin (has a castle) and turn left at the petrol station onto the B5105 all the way down to Cerrigydrudion (great fast twisty). There you do a sharp right hander onto the B4501 - you're now on the evo triangle (past forests and lakes). At the top turn left A543 through bleak moorland, very beautiful, down to Pentrefoelas (chocolate shop). Turn right onto the A5 to Betwys-y-Coed. Great fish and chip shop, sit by the waterfall. From there you could take the A470 back, or head to Capel Curig, A4086 Llanberis, Ceunant, A4085 to Beddgelert and back.
Another great road is also between Blaenau and Bala, the B4391. Reminds me of Cadwell.
Hope the sun shines for you (unlikely, but posible )

[speedofile]

How did the ride go in the end? Might take that idea and make a week of it myself...

[graeme4130]

There's some cracking roads up by Bala Lake
Be careful on the 'EVO triangle' though as the Police know that it gets used for driving and riding fast, so spend a lot of time there parked up just out of sight with a speed camera
There's loads of good roads in the area though, which don't have such a strong police presence as the triangle itself

[speedofile]

I will be down in Wales this weekend at an offload skills school...can't wait