Photos from my recent ride across Wales
10-31-14, 01:22 PM
#1
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Photos from my recent ride across Wales
In September, 2014, I rode the Lon Las Cymru (The Welsh Way) from Holyhead in north Wales to Chepstow in the south, across the Severn north of Bristol on my way to Beaconsfield via Oxford.
I have culled through my photos and chosen 30 of my best images. Here's a sample:
It was a great 8 day ride! Detailed journal will follow eventually.
I have culled through my photos and chosen 30 of my best images. Here's a sample:
It was a great 8 day ride! Detailed journal will follow eventually.
Last edited by raybo; 10-31-14 at 01:29 PM.
10-31-14, 01:30 PM
#2
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Beautiful! Makes me think a trip to Britain for a long ride might be a great idea.
10-31-14, 02:20 PM
#3
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Great photos, Wales is beautiful and still quiet.
10-31-14, 02:42 PM
#4
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Beautiful photos, thanks for sharing.
10-31-14, 10:11 PM
#6
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will be fun to read your trip journal at some point. Looking at the photos always makes me think that if I were to bike over there to visit family, and have a full load (ie camping stuff etc) I'd want a mtn bike crank on the bike....
come to think of it, even if I just went with two rear panniers and no camping stuff, I'd still want some serious low gearing. Where my sister lives in Wales there are a number of 1 in 5, ie 20% hills right in town. With those sort of grades, even with 20 or 25lbs on the bike, I think I'd be keen on getting the low to well under 20 g.i , got a dodgy knee this fall and figure it will just get worse throughout this fifth decade and beyond.
fun looking at the photos, makes me think about my idea of one day biking there.
cheers
come to think of it, even if I just went with two rear panniers and no camping stuff, I'd still want some serious low gearing. Where my sister lives in Wales there are a number of 1 in 5, ie 20% hills right in town. With those sort of grades, even with 20 or 25lbs on the bike, I think I'd be keen on getting the low to well under 20 g.i , got a dodgy knee this fall and figure it will just get worse throughout this fifth decade and beyond.
fun looking at the photos, makes me think about my idea of one day biking there.
cheers
11-01-14, 08:58 AM
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Wonderful photos. I'm thinking I'd be doing quite a bit of walking my bike on those "steep, merciless Welsh hills."
11-01-14, 10:29 AM
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11-01-14, 11:54 AM
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Is that picture of a road or a bike path?
11-01-14, 12:24 PM
#10
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In the UK, there are Motorways, A and B roads, and then country "lanes" for cars, and, occasionally, car-free bike paths. Motorways are car only. A roads are usually pretty nasty. B roads are less direct, often have a line down the middle, and usually carry less traffic. Lanes are wiggly bits of tarmac, often no more than a bike path in width.
The road in the photo is a "B" road, B4520 between Builth Wells and Brecon in South Wales. It is not part of the Sustrans (UK version of the ACA) route, which doesn't go directly to Brecon but instead heads east first. There was very little traffic on it, but the hills (there were a couple 16% grades, as well) were serious.
When I create my own routes, I try to stay off both A and B roads. Typically, I meander on lanes, often going far out of my way to do so. Sustrans, which is the UK cycling organization, creates routes that are, as much as possible, car free or on very lightly driven roads. There is no consideration for grade or services on their routes, as far as I can tell. While I often followed the Sustran Lon Las Cymru maps, I didn't hesitate to pick a more direct route when I felt like it.
In the 10 years I've been touring in the UK, the number of cars on the roads has steadily increased, both in number and speed. While the Brits are very courteous people in person, they aren't very nice when they drive. They don't honk or yell much, but they go too fast, tailgate one another, and often pass way to close to bike riders. Also, many lanes have blind curves and with the lack of usual traffic, drivers go way to fast on them.
One disturbing thing I heard about the UK is that the number of fatal bike accidents has risen in the past few years, when the appropriate miles driven and ridden are taken into account. I'm not surprised.
Incidentally, very few people ride with mirrors in the UK and all of them are mounted on the handlebars. Wearing a mirror on one's helmet is unheard of and will lead to many odd looks and questions.
The road in the photo is a "B" road, B4520 between Builth Wells and Brecon in South Wales. It is not part of the Sustrans (UK version of the ACA) route, which doesn't go directly to Brecon but instead heads east first. There was very little traffic on it, but the hills (there were a couple 16% grades, as well) were serious.
When I create my own routes, I try to stay off both A and B roads. Typically, I meander on lanes, often going far out of my way to do so. Sustrans, which is the UK cycling organization, creates routes that are, as much as possible, car free or on very lightly driven roads. There is no consideration for grade or services on their routes, as far as I can tell. While I often followed the Sustran Lon Las Cymru maps, I didn't hesitate to pick a more direct route when I felt like it.
In the 10 years I've been touring in the UK, the number of cars on the roads has steadily increased, both in number and speed. While the Brits are very courteous people in person, they aren't very nice when they drive. They don't honk or yell much, but they go too fast, tailgate one another, and often pass way to close to bike riders. Also, many lanes have blind curves and with the lack of usual traffic, drivers go way to fast on them.
One disturbing thing I heard about the UK is that the number of fatal bike accidents has risen in the past few years, when the appropriate miles driven and ridden are taken into account. I'm not surprised.
Incidentally, very few people ride with mirrors in the UK and all of them are mounted on the handlebars. Wearing a mirror on one's helmet is unheard of and will lead to many odd looks and questions.
11-01-14, 12:58 PM
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Did my first short cycle tour in Wales at beginning of October which is surprising as it's only 2 hours away by ferry and considering how long I've been touring.
Very good cycling apart from those 20%+ climbs on some Sustrans routes. Will certainly be going back soon.
Very good cycling apart from those 20%+ climbs on some Sustrans routes. Will certainly be going back soon.
11-01-14, 01:27 PM
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Thanks for your informative and thoughtful reply, raybo!
11-03-14, 09:01 PM
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Great pictures and comments, thanks for sharing!
11-03-14, 10:54 PM
#16
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Re your "1 in 4 %" photo, not sure if it was that steep near the sign, but no matter--despite years working in commercial photography, I'm still surprised how steep hills usually don't look steep in photos.
Interesting comments about the increase of automobiles on the road, this and I he narrowness of roads is one of my main concerns with the UK, and could see following sustrans routes, despite the shortcomings, just to be away from bad car areas (and I commute all the time in a city)
Interesting comments about the increase of automobiles on the road, this and I he narrowness of roads is one of my main concerns with the UK, and could see following sustrans routes, despite the shortcomings, just to be away from bad car areas (and I commute all the time in a city)
