The Elan Valley Today

[biking photographer]

Well they forecast wintry showers, sleet and snow and I wondered if I was doing the right thing this morning when I hopped on my GS, but what a great day it turned out to be. The weather was pretty good, blue skies in places although rather cold, but with enough layers and heated grips it did not become an issue. I think this time of year provides some of the best biking opportunities for a GSer- few other vehicles, great light for photography, and a real sense of achievement at the end of the day. Does anybody else enjoy biking at this time of year, or am I just weird?

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, the Elan valley, a beautiful biking road.
I was there in September and it was just as awe inspiring then.

I enjoy biking at every time of year, so no, it's not just you

 

[bustupbiker]

Love it around that place but. i like it much better when coffee and cake are available from the caf....

 

[silvermog]

Well they forecast wintry showers, sleet and snow and I wondered if I was doing the right thing this morning when I hopped on my GS, but what a great day it turned out to be. The weather was pretty good, blue skies in places although rather cold, but with enough layers and heated grips it did not become an issue. I think this time of year provides some of the best biking opportunities for a GSer- few other vehicles, great light for photography, and a real sense of achievement at the end of the day. Does anybody else enjoy biking at this time of year, or am I just weird?

Was beautiful up there today, especially with the dams in full flood ... its a great sight ... pity that I didn't take a few more minutes to detour up to Claerwen, but I needed lunch by then ;-)

 

[EVO]

Also out and about on Saturday, bumped into a few GSers in Aber having had a few hours out and about, but by 3.30 head home. Got there just before the rain started .

It is a great time of year to get out as there are very few Power Rangers and Mr PC plod is therefore in a much better frame of mind with bikers. They are actually human this time of year Had a nice chat with one after stopping me , why, wanted to know how I found the GS, did it have ABS and heated grips. Would not have minded but took me a few mins to get the helmet off whilst wondering WHY they had stopped me.

See you on the road.

 

[bustupbiker]

Also out and about on Saturday, bumped into a few GSers in Aber having had a few hours out and about, but by 3.30 head home. Got there just before the rain started .

It is a great time of year to get out as there are very few Power Rangers and Mr PC plod is therefore in a much better frame of mind with bikers. They are actually human this time of year Had a nice chat with one after stopping me , why, wanted to know how I found the GS, did it have ABS and heated grips. Would not have minded but took me a few mins to get the helmet off whilst wondering WHY they had stopped me.

See you on the road.

The same thing happened to me twice in Mid-Wales, nice bike Sir what do think about it in the real world had a cup of coffee outa my flask too.
I tend to ride more down your end of Gods own country cos up here we have
That Man.... Bunstrop the great he who is after a knighthood.....

 

[Allan Davies]

Does anybody else enjoy biking at this time of year, or am I just weird?

Me, I love biking anytime of year Tis nice at this time,crisp dry days and low sun, just great. Oh and yes you are weird

 

[bladerunner]

O.K. just rub it in boys!!!

The GS let me down for the first time - alternator belt broke and I lost all power. It's a bit scary as you lose brakes as well, and I couldn't tell which gear I was on so couldn't find neutral.

Hey ho - the AA were prompt and very friendly. First guy had seen us pass whilst he was at a burger van and commented to the van owner "them's is advanced riders, I can tell" - so a free compliment to us all!.

Bike survived a night in Fairwater outside Mike's Motorad and he should get it fixed by tomorrow.

Can't feel too bad, bike has been a good'un and she could have chosen Mid Sweden or Marocco to misbehave.

p.s. yes the belt was changed at the 24k service, the bike has done 44k now, so would be due for a new one.

pps yes I do carry a spare one, but couldn't face taking the engine cover off by Pen-y-fan with snow by the side of the road.

ppps did some good, AA & I pissed off the speedcamera van as he couldn't park in his usual spot!!

 

[biking photographer]

Hi Allan, thanks for that! So are you!!
Hi Simon, I was'nt rubbing it in- never mentioned it.I saw Mike today, and he told me how to replace the belt in an emergency. It is quite simple and only needed removing the three allen bolts which hold the black plastic cover over the belt, despite what Will said. Try to make the next ride out in February. Andy Smiths' ride outs are always excellent, and his blogs are very entertaining. Click on this*
http://www.1stclassrider.blogspot.com

 

[big albig]

Looks like a nice day Johnathan, wish I could have gone with you, but work came first,
I quite like going out in the winter months on a nice crisp morning. Nice photos by the way. would'nt mind going up to the Elan Valley if I could find it.

 

[Allan Davies]

O.K. just rub it in boys!!!

The GS let me down for the first time - alternator belt broke and I lost all power. It's a bit scary as you lose brakes as well, and I couldn't tell which gear I was on so couldn't find neutral.

Hey ho - the AA were prompt and very friendly. First guy had seen us pass whilst he was at a burger van and commented to the van owner "them's is advanced riders, I can tell" - so a free compliment to us all!.

Bike survived a night in Fairwater outside Mike's Motorad and he should get it fixed by tomorrow.

Can't feel too bad, bike has been a good'un and she could have chosen Mid Sweden or Marocco to misbehave.

p.s. yes the belt was changed at the 24k service, the bike has done 44k now, so would be due for a new one.

pps yes I do carry a spare one, but couldn't face taking the engine cover off by Pen-y-fan with snow by the side of the road.

ppps did some good, AA & I pissed off the speedcamera van as he couldn't park in his usual spot!!

Simon, sorry to here about the bike, did you buy an icecream of the man in the laybye, or was it too cold. As you said could of been worse, it could of gone on the way up to Bala in March But then you would of had your tent wouldn'y you

 

[silvermog]

O.K. just rub it in boys!!!

The GS let me down for the first time - alternator belt broke and I lost all power. It's a bit scary as you lose brakes as well, and I couldn't tell which gear I was on so couldn't find neutral.

Hey ho - the AA were prompt and very friendly. First guy had seen us pass whilst he was at a burger van and commented to the van owner "them's is advanced riders, I can tell" - so a free compliment to us all!.

Bike survived a night in Fairwater outside Mike's Motorad and he should get it fixed by tomorrow.

Can't feel too bad, bike has been a good'un and she could have chosen Mid Sweden or Marocco to misbehave.

p.s. yes the belt was changed at the 24k service, the bike has done 44k now, so would be due for a new one.

pps yes I do carry a spare one, but couldn't face taking the engine cover off by Pen-y-fan with snow by the side of the road.

ppps did some good, AA & I pissed off the speedcamera van as he couldn't park in his usual spot!!

Wasn't meant to rub it in ... glad you got sorted quickly ... it was a bit bloody chilly up at Storey Arms, even with the spares don't blame you for not doing it yourself in the conditions.

Then again, I thought that was the point of a pillion ... isn't that a back seat mechanic ;-)

Hopefully see you back out and about next month ... maybe Andy can sniff out an open coffee stop then ... 2 out of 4 closed is as bad as I've ever known him, he did recover some dignity with the lunch at the Triangle Inn though ...

 

[BlueBird]

Well they forecast wintry showers, sleet and snow and I wondered if I was doing the right thing this morning when I hopped on my GS, but what a great day it turned out to be. The weather was pretty good, blue skies in places although rather cold, but with enough layers and heated grips it did not become an issue. I think this time of year provides some of the best biking opportunities for a GSer- few other vehicles, great light for photography, and a real sense of achievement at the end of the day. Does anybody else enjoy biking at this time of year, or am I just weird?

not quite as far west as Elan Valley.these wre taken 2weeks ago on the a40 to Llandovery,






and these on the a470 between Merthyer and Brecon

AT the west end cafe Llandovery

I loves it I do

 

[Racoon]

gosh bluebird,in your piccys you captured my shop(trecastle antique centre) and my house in llandovery!!!!

 

[BlueBird]

gosh bluebird,in your piccys you captured my shop(trecastle antique centre) and my house in llandovery!!!!

do I get a free cup of coffee for the free advert then!!

 

[Racoon]

do I get a free cup of coffee for the free advert then!!

absolutley one sugar or two?

 

[Wookie]

Anyone able to send us in the direction of a cafe in that area? Never been to the Elan Valley but were hoping to head that way for some exploring this weekend and a nice cuppa stop would be great

Steve

 

[bladerunner]

The visitor centre off the B4518 West of Rhyader - N52 16.269 W3 33.930

Great view of dam, start of a lovely ride across the highroad to Aberystwyth


Good Bacon butties, easy parking, not too sniffy about wet bikers, clean loos - what more could you want?

 

[bladerunner]

There's lovely!

 

[EVO]

N52 22.528 W3 51.395 Devels Bridge.