Taff trail , Brecon to Cardiff, advice
Discussion
Hi, we have little trip planned shortly to Brecon, and I am thinking about riding the Taff trail from Brecon to Cardiff, lunch and the back. It's around 48m each way, which is fine.....but.
My question is, is the surface good enough for road bikes? Or is it really a mb trail or hybrid.
There are a few of us going, and some have mb and some roadies, so will the roadies be puncturing all the time or un clipping to deal with curbs or muddy unmade sections?
Thanks
My question is, is the surface good enough for road bikes? Or is it really a mb trail or hybrid.
There are a few of us going, and some have mb and some roadies, so will the roadies be puncturing all the time or un clipping to deal with curbs or muddy unmade sections?
Thanks
Did this last year, defo not road bike suitable as really bad surface on a lot of parts and one part takes you through a forest near Merthyr, but can be avoided by sticking to the road.
Most annoying bit would be unclipping for the A pillar gates and similar every few miles which you can't always squeeze through first time.
Most annoying bit would be unclipping for the A pillar gates and similar every few miles which you can't always squeeze through first time.
I've done it a few times for charity and will be doing so again in June.
You need a good hardtail MTB that's not too racy in the cockpit. It's a long old way on an MTB! (it's 52m from memory to Cardiff Bay)
I'm not a great crosscountry mile muncher but we did it the first time in about 5 hours in good weather, but 7 in bad because the ground was so sucky at the top and the wind can be biblical at the top! That's on a well organised charity ride, all gates open and feed stations so you don't have to carry too much.
There's more climbing on the way back.
I'd start in Cardiff, take the train to Brecon and ride back, finish with a well earned beer down the bay.
You need a good hardtail MTB that's not too racy in the cockpit. It's a long old way on an MTB! (it's 52m from memory to Cardiff Bay)
I'm not a great crosscountry mile muncher but we did it the first time in about 5 hours in good weather, but 7 in bad because the ground was so sucky at the top and the wind can be biblical at the top! That's on a well organised charity ride, all gates open and feed stations so you don't have to carry too much.
There's more climbing on the way back.
I'd start in Cardiff, take the train to Brecon and ride back, finish with a well earned beer down the bay.
There's so much great riding up there, frankly more interesting than the Taff Trail. Have a look at www.mbwales.co.uk and play around with the trail finder. The Gap Road is really good. I was at Cwm Rhaeadr today, that's just down the road, short but hell of a ride!
P-jay, I don't think there is a train to Brecon, the line was pulled up many years ago but I believe that some buses/coaches will carry bikes.
Personally speaking if I was going to do a long distance trail in that part of the world it would be Sarn Helen, starting at the Brecon Mountain Centre and finishing north of Neath. Much more out in the wilds than the Taff Trail.
As for Cwm Rhayder (sp), my favourite bit of downhill singletrack, shortish but repeatable, and there's a decent pub in the village.......
Personally speaking if I was going to do a long distance trail in that part of the world it would be Sarn Helen, starting at the Brecon Mountain Centre and finishing north of Neath. Much more out in the wilds than the Taff Trail.
As for Cwm Rhayder (sp), my favourite bit of downhill singletrack, shortish but repeatable, and there's a decent pub in the village.......
timbo48 said:
P-jay, I don't think there is a train to Brecon, the line was pulled up many years ago but I believe that some buses/coaches will carry bikes.
Personally speaking if I was going to do a long distance trail in that part of the world it would be Sarn Helen, starting at the Brecon Mountain Centre and finishing north of Neath. Much more out in the wilds than the Taff Trail.
As for Cwm Rhayder (sp), my favourite bit of downhill singletrack, shortish but repeatable, and there's a decent pub in the village.......
You're probably right on the train front, I remembered some people I used to work with doing a Taff trail challenge and taking a train to the start, but now I think of it they did the 'half Taff' from Merthyr. Personally speaking if I was going to do a long distance trail in that part of the world it would be Sarn Helen, starting at the Brecon Mountain Centre and finishing north of Neath. Much more out in the wilds than the Taff Trail.
As for Cwm Rhayder (sp), my favourite bit of downhill singletrack, shortish but repeatable, and there's a decent pub in the village.......
How difficult is the ride if I do Brecon down to Cardiff (e.g. the full trail but get the bus up to Brecon)? Have done Mertyr to Cardiff and back plenty of times as a youngster but never tried the full trail. I presume most of it would be downhill but wonder what level of fitness you need?
Pretty easy to Talybont on Usk, then a 4 mile gradual climb.
After that, you are at the highest point but its far from downhill all the way. In fact there are lots of up and downhill bits all the way along.
It's not a super hard trail, but if you attempted it thinking its an easy downhill all the way, you might be surprised.
After that, you are at the highest point but its far from downhill all the way. In fact there are lots of up and downhill bits all the way along.
It's not a super hard trail, but if you attempted it thinking its an easy downhill all the way, you might be surprised.
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