Devon TRF Group Forum

TTR · Powermonger!!

S Wales - October 2002

ttrtim · Clubman B

2nd from the left is the chap out of CHiPs isn't it Brian? biggrin biggrin biggrin

Tribey · Expert

ttrtim wrote:
2nd from the left is the chap out of CHiPs isn't it Brian?

Is he eating a pasty? looks like he might be!

TTR · Powermonger!!

Tribey wrote:
ttrtim wrote:
2nd from the left is the chap out of CHiPs isn't it Brian?
Is he eating a pasty? looks like he might be!

I wish biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin Sadly Wales hadn't discovered pasties back then

I get the CHiPS reference - very good Tim smile

Pete · Expert

I may be able to go one better

Left to right

A youthful Matt Ward

Brian Sussex wishing the smart phone had been invented so he could take a selfie

Adrian 'biker' Harris

I can't remember this chap's name but I don't remember my own some days

'You ain't seen me' Noel Squibb holding his own

Cameraman Dave Muller

Here is the nameless one flying his CRM further on down the valley, at a point just above Brian's head on the hillside in the other pic

Wales gap road 2002.jpg

What can I say, I was bored and the track reasonably smooth so I stood up to fully enjoy the view and steered the CRM with my feet, wasn't expecting anyone to have the camera out at a gate but couldn't resist doing the tight-roper arms out thing. I don't know who dropped out causing Dave to call me the day before to offer the now spare place but I enjoyed the only time I have ever ridden in Wales. Fond memories or Brian getting the TTR airborne. Thrills on brown trouser mountain at the sharp turn on the cliff edge next to the memorial cross for a fellow member who expired doing what he loved. The park ranger who was reassured that we actually knew where we were going. The mountain bikers we met at the bottom of the seasonally TRO'd gap road who Dave warned about the rocky nature of the following lane. Picking magic mushrooms at our lunch stop. Fun times.

TTR · Powermonger!!

Dave in the photo this time!

Airborne TTR!

Where did the road go.jpg

potus · Clubman A

Nice one Brian, great pics.

wackyracer · Powermonger!!

Great photos gents

Brian still eating, Magic Muller still has the same jacket and Squibby looking very smart back in the day(almost didn't recognise him ;)

great memories for all concerned, thanks for sharing smile

youaintseenme · Clubman B

Hey great memories Brian!
I think this trip my klx250 kicked back and split the right side crank case.
I could not use first gear as the cogs would push apart but 2nd and up was functional.
somehow I got that Bike up the steep side of gwynnevar or Brown trousers in pasty language.
the few times I have ridden gwynnevar since, it has been a challenge in first gear on better bikes.
And I still have that sinisalo jacket!. -
?'

-- Edited by youaintseenme on Saturday 8th of September 2018 06:15:44 PM

TTR · Powermonger!!

Baulked by Matt eh?

I'd forgotten about your gearbox problems. You did well to get up there wink

ttr steve · Devon's Best

Has this lane now been shut?

youaintseenme · Clubman B

I believe its dubious at best Steve. The signage was confusing when I last rode it with TRO from the difficult end and seasonal TRO from the easier end.

Brians picture of me stopped behind Matt suggests an innocuous little turn but this corner is in fact the crux of going up the steep side.

The only way to ride this section is a fast-ish approach ( difficult as its a very steep rocky approach ) and to rail it around the turn with your wheels above that square rock behind Matt.

Too slow and you drop a long way down onto rocks on your right, with no rideable exit even if you remain upright. ( done this and busted levers )

So a fast confident approach plus a bit of luck, or a 3 person lift up the rock step on the right ?
And can you be confident that the line is still viable ? If you stop to check, you are unlikely to get enough speed to ride it.

On one occasion I managed to get onto the trail ahead of the rest of our group and actually rode this bit, then had to walk back down and help lift the sensible rest of the group, which was probably more knackering than the sensible option (-:

And the effort of getting up to and through this section has you sweating .......... then its a really difficult 1/2 mile steep climb to the top over big loose rocks and you know if you stop you will struggle to get going.

Oh yeah and dont look to the left, as all that stops you falling hundreds of feet is a now quite rusty barbed wire fence (-:

You got any pictures of half naked riders at the top Brian ?

Gawd I really miss some of those places we used to ride )-:

TTR · Powermonger!!

youaintseenme wrote:
You got any pictures of half naked riders at the top Brian ?

Gawd I really miss some of those places we used to ride )-:

Sorry Noel - most of the photos are of the carnage on that corner!

Just for fun I tried mapping all the famous Welsh lanes I could think of (had a bit of outside help from Brownie and others wink ) and this is what I came up with.

I am pretty sure that I have ridden most (probably in your company!) except 5, 6, 11 and 12.

I did the Powys Enduro a couple of times and they used to send us down the Old Cemmaes Road (bit like an extended version of Washabrook) but I can't recall where exactly it is. It may be at SH 83350 02891 but if anyone knows for sure please let me know.

Have you ridden them all Noel?

Brian

1. The Devils Staircase only attempt downhill! (GR SO 52690 06832) Drops down the hillside in a series of near vertical switchbacks in a gully strewn with rocks and logs. Used in past years on the Wyegate Trial. See https://www.facebook.com/motoward/videos/732445333472258/

2. Llywel Hill the Old Motel Road (GR SN 87020 29500)

3. Brown Trousers or Grwyne Fawr (GR SO 19874 33135 is the challenging corner)

4. Gap Road seasonal access - the summit is at GR SO 03168 20526

5. Water Breaks Its Neck byway near the famous waterfall (GR SO 17429 60896) is still Legal and parts of it have recently been improved apparently.

6. Monks Trod west of Rhayader - (GR SN 86377 70295) is closed to all traffic, at least from the North East end.

7. Moelfre Hill (GR SO 12161 76031) is legal but is blocked for a short length at the southern end where it passes through a farmyard, the farmer thinks it is private.

8. Pant Glas (GR SO 47415 04165) section on the Wyegate Trial

9. Limekiln (GR ST 52875 00302) nasty slate section

10. The Old Cemmaes Road, Powys possibly SH 83350 02891

11. Horseshoe Lane aka Bastard Lane nr Machynlleth (GR SH 72790 03762). Much loved by 4x4 brigade some very tricky sections!

12. The Motorway - north of Dolgellau, Wales (GR SH 67975 23210) Incredibly difficult boggy sections. NOT for the inexperienced. A good test of man and machine but it isnt really trail riding.

Mr gone · Novice

So...... The Devils staircase......only attempt down!! I agree cos going up was a swine, me ttrtim ttrsteve and jay were all quite puffed out by the time we got to the top. Cracking lane!

TTR · Powermonger!!

Respect to Mr Gone and team!!

Video evidence of Staircase ascension here:

youaintseenme · Clubman B

Done them all except 10-11 and 12.

Hoping to chek out 10 and 11 in the near future and probably pass on no 12, 'The Motorway' as its an energy sapping couple of hours if all goes well, which would not make a good day out for me.

A couple of others -

Bwylch y Groes ( SH 751 515 ) from east to west - adverse camber climb with tree growth pushing you into the hard to ride lower rut / ditch then a mile of bog !

A climb near Llangollen ( think its SJ 212 408) It had an informal 'down only' agreement with local TRF when I last rode it.

One evil rut thats named after a rider who had a heart attack and died, somewhere in the forest to the east of Lake Vyrnwy ............... Its had me tearing clothes off in an attempt to regulate temperature and that was riding down it )-:

And Fair play for getrting up Devils Staircase.