MYNYDD LLANGORSE
Wales – land of sheep, rain and rugby – is also home to some spectacular scenery and stunning singletrack. We lose ourselves ( iguratively speaking) in the beautiful Brecon Beacons
Talybont-on-Usk is well known to mountain bikers, largely because it’s ideally located for tackling the classic ‘Gap’ route – or our ‘New Gap’ alternative, which we devised earlier in the year (MBUK 361) to celebrate the opening of the new Village Bike Hub, with its bike wash, toilets, showers and parking. This morning, we’re ensconced in the Talybont Stores cafe (just one of the many other cyclist-friendly local amenities), discussing a different route with bike shop owner Keith Lee.
Keith isn’t able to join us on today’s ride around Mynydd Langorse because he’s got a real job, but he’s enlisted local riders Steve Haslam, Nick Griffiths and Phil Jenkins to provide the banter on our epic. After demolishing our breakfasts, with hopefully enough calories to power us up and down the many hills we’ve been highlighting on my map, we wave goodbye to Keith as we wend our merry way away.
Ripped riders
Our chosen route takes in a wide variety of terrain, not-unsubstantial hills and a pretty reasonable distance, so I’m glad to be aboard my Whyte S-150. OK, maybe I’m a tad over-biked for the canal towpath at the start, but the spin gets our legs warmed up and some early miles under our belts. It also gives us a chance to get acquainted
THE TERRAIN CHOPS AND CHANGES, FROM GRASS AND DIRT SINGLE TRACK TO WIDE, ROCKY DOUBLE TRACK IT’S A LONG AND EXHILARATING BLAST