Cardiff to Aberystwyth

Is it just me, or does everyone make sure they don't have money sitting round in their bank accounts? A friend here says it's a Catholic trait - a bit of work, then some treats and rewards.  Having just done a full month's work,  I was feeling rather rich and have blown everything not owed to the tax man on a new bicycle... The Earl.

It's a cyclocross bike (I didn't know what that meant either) made by American company Surly.  The model is 'Cross-check' but its name, the Earl, was given to it by a friend of mine in honour of the bike's American origin and 1950's, diner-blue colour, and it seems to have stuck.

There is so much choice of bikes out there I was feeling a bit overwhelmed, but the woman in our local bike shop said she was thinking of getting a Surly tourer, and so I started looking at them and that's where I ended up.  The tourers are designed for heavily loaded touring with front and back panniers.  The cross-check cyclocross is a bit of a compromise - it has a higher front bracket than the tourers so is better for off road, is a bit lighter, so better for commuting / day rides, but can also take fat tyres, mud guards and a front and back rack. 

I bought it in Bath last Tuesday, and then went back for it on Thursday when they had made the required adjustments, including fitting a third chain ring (so I can have more, lower gears) mudguards and rack.  I bought it there because there are only a limited number of dealers in the UK, and they are all equally inconvenient to get to from Machynlleth.  I then took it on the train to Cardiff where I stayed with a friend before setting off on my first bike trip on it - cycling home.

My route was partly dictated by availability of hostels, and because I wanted to cover places I hadn't been to before.  The first day I went up the 'Taff Trail' from Cardiff to Brecon - 55 miles mostly car-free, mostly surfaced though a bit on tracks too.  As Friday was a bank holiday, the bit out of Cardiff wasn't too busy (I imagine on a work day it is pretty packed) though there were a fair few dog walkers etc.  It was a slow 25 mile up-hill grind all the way to Merthyr Tydfil, though very pretty  up through the valleys, and then a steep climb up to the top and Talybont Reservoir (440m) where there was still a bit of snow about, then downhill all the way into Brecon and the YHA there.  Very exhausted, with sore arse and knees after 8+ hours in the saddle, but generally ok.  And it didn't rain all day!

I was rather nervous about my route on the second day, as I wasn't really sure how far it was, or how much uphill there would be (I had maps with me, but hadn't studied them in case it made me more afraid).  I left early and took the A40 from Brecon to Llandovery, thinking that I would try and get some distance covered on easy roads before my uphill climb, rather than looking for quieter back roads. As it was Easter Saturday there wasn't too much traffic and there was a lovely long downhill stretch for several miles into Llandovery.  Elevenses there, and then the start of the uphill climb north to Llyn Brianne.  It only really got steep towards the end, and was much easier than I thought it would be... but cycling round the lake to the bridleway that led over the hill to the youth hostel took AGES and by then it had started raining - quite hard at times, but with dry spells in between.  I was feeling pretty fed up by the time I got to the bridleway, and had to push my bike up a steep stoney track for a mile or so, but luckily I co-incided with some mountain bikers who were also walking the uphill bit and the company lifted my spirits.  They left me at the top (440m above sea level), and I pushed and rode the remaining mile or so to the youth hostel on my own - I think it was probably around 40 or 45 miles from Brecon.

The hostel - Ty'n'y'Cornel - is in the middle of nowhere and is run by a volunteer warden, who had her mother, daughter, husband, two friends and their child staying over Easter.  Not much room left for the guests!  There were two other families staying as well as a couple, two men  and me (all there for the walking) and there was a warden's twin room plus two dorms, male and female, each with 8 bunk beds.  The couple slept in a shed, and some people slept in a tent. No heating except the fire downstairs, but there was electricity, a kitchen etc and it was a lovely friendly place to stay.  After cycling alone all day hostels are great for easy company.

Up early again on Sunday and off into the drizzle, mostly downhill down narrow roads and valleys to the nearest village, Llandewi Brefi, and then on to Tregaron where the hotel was open and serving much needed coffee. Then on to Aberystwyth, mostly along a cycle path on the old route of the Aberystwyth - Carmarthen train line (another casualty of bloody Beeching), arriving in time to take the 1.30pm train home.  It had more-or-less stopped raining by then, but I had pretty cold feet and hands. 

I think I did about 30 miles on the last day, so around 120 in total.  Very happy with the bike - no problems at all, though a few little adjustments needed.

Looking forward to the next trip - probably with camping gear so the route and daily mileage is less dependent on availability of accommodation.  I'd like to do a bit more exploring of mid / South Wales (I don't know the bit around Llandovery at all) and also perhaps Ireland.  I have a couple of friends who want to do some cycling holidays (one of whom I've been on a couple of cycling holidays with before) but if any family (including the Brasilians) would like to join me on a trip let me know!