Lon Las Cymru

[captain offensive]

Cheers H. Thanks for the tips about the reservoir. Was looking at that as a possibility anyway so handy to know. Also noted your comments in the blog about the shortcut to Gospel Pass. Although I'm coming the Cardiff way I am keeping open the outside possibility of adding a diversion up there and had considered doing that climb as part of a loop. But maybe not!

[honesty]

Yep, the guy who told me was on a European type tourer with pretty wide tyres as well, so I'll take his word for it!

I'd loop up Gospel path if I were you, it's amazing. Just go up the marked path from Hay!

[phil parker]

Thanks for the Blog - I will give it a thorough read this weekend. I had to cancel my LLC last September and I don't have enough free time to go to Holyhead and back from Hampshire, but catching the train to Holyhead or back from Holyhead is a good option for me this September.

[honesty]

In my view Anglesey is the weakest part of the whole route. I'd skip it if it were me and I was short on time and start in Bangor.

[phil parker]

In my view Anglesey is the weakest part of the whole route. I'd skip it if it were me and I was short on time and start in Bangor.

That could be a good idea - I've cycled in Anglesey previously on a couple of occasions including Holyhead to Llanfair....

[captain offensive]

Hi all, a bit late but I finally got around to writing up about my trip along LLC last summer. If anyone cares to you can read about it in five action packed(!) instalments...

https://r1chmay.wordpress.com/2017/02/26/llc-1/
https://r1chmay.wordpress.com/2017/03/05/llc-2/
https://r1chmay.wordpress.com/2017/03/07/llc-3/
https://r1chmay.wordpress.com/2017/03/08/llc-4/
https://r1chmay.wordpress.com/2017/03/08/llc-5/

Cheers
Rich (Captain O)

[pwa]

Hi all, a bit late but I finally got around to writing up about my trip along LLC last summer. If anyone cares to you can read about it in five action packed(!) instalments...

https://r1chmay.wordpress.com/2017/02/26/llc-1/
https://r1chmay.wordpress.com/2017/03/05/llc-2/
https://r1chmay.wordpress.com/2017/03/07/llc-3/
https://r1chmay.wordpress.com/2017/03/08/llc-4/
https://r1chmay.wordpress.com/2017/03/08/llc-5/

Cheers
Rich (Captain O)

That's a lovely record. And I think we all know what overly damp cycle shoes can smell like. Sort of blue cheese.

[honesty]

Great. Want to cycle it again now. Yes the steep road up to gospel pass is a killer. I couldn't turn round like you and had to push the bike up it. My legs almost gave up!

[whoof]

Hi all, a bit late but I finally got around to writing up about my trip along LLC last summer. If anyone cares to you can read about it in five action packed(!) instalments...

https://r1chmay.wordpress.com/2017/02/26/llc-1/
https://r1chmay.wordpress.com/2017/03/05/llc-2/
https://r1chmay.wordpress.com/2017/03/07/llc-3/
https://r1chmay.wordpress.com/2017/03/08/llc-4/
https://r1chmay.wordpress.com/2017/03/08/llc-5/

Cheers
Rich (Captain O)

Thanks for posting this. It's a great write-up and some lovely pictures. Myself and Mrs Whoof rode it Bristol (Chepstow) to Holyhead a couple of years ago. We are considering what to do for our week long UK tour this year, perhaps the other way around?

We rode the Gospel Pass and found the gradient to be OK the only problem was the wind. Although it was August the tail end of a Hurricane was blowing. It had rained so hard in the night that the roof in our B&B in Abergavenny leaked and we waited until mid-day for hoping that the wind would die down. When we came out into the open section nearing the top of the Gospel Pass it was a straight head wind and every time it gusted Mrs Whoof was forced to a halt. We still enjoyed it and it made the tea and cake in Hay-on-Wye taste even better.

[pwa]

I know the Gospel Pass very well, and I know the Taff Valley. If someone asked me which to choose to start that epic trip I would find it hard to answer. The Taff Valley is an untidy, scruffy former industrial place with lots of people just about getting by. But it is worth getting to know. There is nowhere like it outside Wales. The people are almost all friendly and willing to chat. But the Gospel Pass is my favourite hill anywhere. Try not to do it in the afternoon because it can get a bit too busy with tourist cars. Before 10am is best. The two sides of it are totally different.

[TrevA]

Hi all, a bit late but I finally got around to writing up about my trip along LLC last summer. If anyone cares to you can read about it in five action packed(!) instalments...

https://r1chmay.wordpress.com/2017/02/26/llc-1/
https://r1chmay.wordpress.com/2017/03/05/llc-2/
https://r1chmay.wordpress.com/2017/03/07/llc-3/
https://r1chmay.wordpress.com/2017/03/08/llc-4/
https://r1chmay.wordpress.com/2017/03/08/llc-5/

Cheers
Rich (Captain O)

Thanks Richard. I read both your LLC blog and your London to Paris one. Both entertaining and informative.

Both now on my list of rides to do!

[Cyril Haearn]

In my view Anglesey is the weakest part of the whole route. I'd skip it if it were me and I was short on time and start in Bangor.

That could be a good idea - I've cycled in Anglesey previously on a couple of occasions including Holyhead to Llanfair....

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychychyweryndrobwyllllantisiliogogogoch?

[meic]

Your spelling (or memory) is failing you!
It should be a bit more fierce than that.

[captain offensive]

Thanks for the kind words all

[Cyril Haearn]

I know the Gospel Pass very well, and I know the Taff Valley. If someone asked me which to choose to start that epic trip I would find it hard to answer. The Taff Valley is an untidy, scruffy former industrial place with lots of people just about getting by. But it is worth getting to know. There is nowhere like it outside Wales. The people are almost all friendly and willing to chat. But the Gospel Pass is my favourite hill anywhere. Try not to do it in the afternoon because it can get a bit too busy with tourist cars. Before 10am is best. The two sides of it are totally different.

The Hirnant Pass (Bala - Vrynwy) is v.g. on the north side there are three quite different sections: low woods, high woods, mountain. Not too steep either. The circuit of Lake Vyrnwy is gr8 too, a good place to do 200 miles in a day?