A lesson for us all here - it's so important to be able to turn back especially when you're on your own. I've had to do the same walking and biking when conditions turned for the worst or I didn't feel strong enough to continue. Thanks for sharing this important experience - sure you'll want to get back to this challenge when the conditions are right.
It's a demanding route to bikepack. We pre booked b and b's and dropped off overnight bags while driving to the start, when we did it, we picked them up on the return car journey.
Hey great video! Thank you for watching the video I put out but I somewhat feel guilty for not sharing more of my experience. I think the start of our route was identical but similarly to you, I wasn’t enjoying the path (it was very slow going) so I made my own route using roads and that just made it so much better. It was a great learning experience for me. I’m glad you still got something out of your trip and look forward to seeing more of your adventures. 😁
Hi, appreciate the comment and definitely no need to feel guilty :) Enjoyed your video and not surprised you flexed the route a little. I think if I attempt this one again I'll probably plan the route a bit more carefully and factor in conditions 'under foot' (wheel!). It was an option to do this on the day and continue but as I just wasn't feeling it the plan changed to a bail. Still no regrets on that one and it was the right call on the day for me. Happy cycling!
Sometimes we're physically under-the-weather, sometimes it's hard to flick a switch and move mentally from 'real world concerns' into an escapist 'bikeland', and at other times it's even more mysterious and we're simply just not 'on'. I haven't done any bikepacking but I've had climbing days when I should have cruised HVS leads but I couldn't get the mindset - go back a few days later and normal service is resumed. I'm sure everyone has cut a ride short or changed plans, but it's only a 'fail' when the route is predefined. As you said towards the end - it was a good training ride, you learned something in terms of parking and logistics, the views were beautiful, and the Cambrian countryside will wait for you
Definitely had those days climbing when it's more of a head game. I started climbing outdoors with a mate at the Wilton quarries - a very long time ago now - and there was this slightly awkward and mildly overhanging climb called Crooked Crack (if I remember right, VS 4C) that had us beginners psyched out for ages, until I led it one evening and then immediately thought, what was all the fuss about! This was a strange one as on paper it had all the ingredients of a ride I would have really liked (and persevered through any sections of the route that were tough), but just wasn't feeling it on the day. Like you say just didn't find the on switch for some reason. Always good to get a few miles in round those parts though and I have a feeling I might be back there at some point! Hope you've managed a few rides recently in between the downpours?!
That's very true. I think as I'm getting older I'm getting better at paying attention to these things and not just suffering arbitrarily. Thanks for the comment and happy cycling!
It's a difficult one to call, yes. Just wasn't feeling this one, almost from the start and I had nothing riding on finishing it other than to enjoy the route (which I wasn't etc.). Thanks for the comment, much appreciated!
Still a good video and it looks like a beautiful place. But I agree with your assessment - as I've gotten older I too have found that I no longer want to spend time doing something just because I started it. Same as you, I did that a lot when I was younger. But perhaps we're gaining a bit of wisdom as we age? Cheers, Derek in Ottawa.
My younger self would have definitely poo-pooed the decision to bail but I think you're right, a bit older and wiser perhaps. Thanks for the comment and great to have you following along from Ottawa, Derek!
We are a party of four experienced, fit cyclists. We came, saw, bailed. Beautiful scenery. But for a normal rider, bloody impossible. Even if you were to finish it. You'd be hard put to say you actually enjoyed it!
Sorry to hear you bailed (like me, you might not be regretting it though!), especially as a lot of prep goes into getting a group sorted for these trips! It'll make the next (successful) ride all the more enjoyable though! 🙂
A RIGHT DECISION...... Wow! My experience: I had been looking forward for quite a while to to TCW. I completed it 2 weeks ago (01/10/23) and I have to say ..... I didn't really enjoy it. I have done lots and lots of similar riding and I know people say this route is good / great - but for me - it just wasn't. I do think, time of year is probably pretty important - but also, when you asked, at 15 miles 'does it get any better? - no, if anything worse, or about the same. It does actually change considerably - but it is just a slog / plod, in my mind. The ride up to Claerwen Dam can be a bit of a highlight and perhaps Haflen Forrest and the loose decent on day 3 - but really it is not worth the effort. It is a long, boring slog for very limited reward. And to add - as I was approaching Dovey Junction - the last train of the day (Sunday afternoon) was cancelled, so had to stay over in Machynclyth. That didn't bother me too much - it was more the feeling of just relentless grind, grind, grind. I even had the luxury of (pre-booked) staying in Rhayader and Llangurig on successive nights, but the forecast changed just before I arrived in Knighton and I spent end of day 2 and first half of day 3 in cold, wet, grey drizzle. It is barren, soulless and boring. It was so interesting watching you deliberate at 15 miles in - and I certainly felt for you (having been there before). I would say that if you got home, warm, dry and rested.... you definitely did the right thing. You didn't miss much. For me.... back to South Coast across to Bristol Channel rides - much more fun, variety, interest, stopping places, other people, the odd countryside pub, big vistas etc. I think you could have easily binned your footage and pretended it had never happened. I certainly appreciated your honesty and thoughts / reflections ...... and hence - your 800th subscriber. There is better riding out there..... 🙂
Thanks for the comment and following along on the channel too, it's much appreciated. Kudos on completing your TCW ride. Really interesting to get your take on the rest of the ride. Giving it the full benefit of the doubt maybe it's just one of those rides that needs dry ground and really good weather. Definitely agree there's better riding out there. I had half a mind to give it another go if a good weather window opened but reading your comment I don't think it will be a priority at all now. Happy cycling!
@@onemorecyclist I think you are absolutely right. Having watched a few more videos since and seeing people do it on dry / sunny days - I think good weather would make a noticeable difference.
I’m currently in a heated ‘discussion’ with Matt Page on his TH-cam channel regarding this route. He’s absolutely adamant that the TCW is not a technical bike route, nor is it something that can’t be completed by anyone with average fitness levels. I beg to differ. It’s hard, gruelling, and relentless for 90% of the time. I honestly struggle to think of sections I actually enjoyed, it’s that bad. Don’t believe any of these guides that show happy, smiley, untouched by mud or sheep shit individuals. It’s the stuff of nightmares if you time it wrong or get bad weather. The best thing to do and also what we did is to have backup routes planned to get to the same destination. Routes that follow nice quiet back roads instead of through muddy fields or gorse bushes etc.
Appreciate the comment GK and whilst my younger self might have tut-tutted a little at bailing, it was the right choice for me on that ride (I still think). I completely agree with your note to have back up route ideas if you're determined to get to a destination but the going seems unreasonably tough or severely lacking in enjoyment (or just has too much sheep shit for one person to cope with, I seem to remember :))! I've done a few rides over the years of routes I watched on TH-cam beforehand and they never quite show the reality of what you'll experience - some are reasonably close, some are way off! Happy cycling!🙂
A lesson for us all here - it's so important to be able to turn back especially when you're on your own. I've had to do the same walking and biking when conditions turned for the worst or I didn't feel strong enough to continue. Thanks for sharing this important experience - sure you'll want to get back to this challenge when the conditions are right.
Thanks, appreciate the comment. And yes, I'll be back in Wales at some point for sure! Happy cycling!
Failure for me is to not even try.
You still learned stuff on this ride.
Keep up with the good stuff. ;3 👍
Appreciate that comment, thanks!
It's a demanding route to bikepack. We pre booked b and b's and dropped off overnight bags while driving to the start, when we did it, we picked them up on the return car journey.
Cheers mate good honest video allways the right decision to bail if your not enjoying it. Will catch you on your next one 👍
Thanks and happy cycling!
Hey great video! Thank you for watching the video I put out but I somewhat feel guilty for not sharing more of my experience. I think the start of our route was identical but similarly to you, I wasn’t enjoying the path (it was very slow going) so I made my own route using roads and that just made it so much better. It was a great learning experience for me. I’m glad you still got something out of your trip and look forward to seeing more of your adventures. 😁
Hi, appreciate the comment and definitely no need to feel guilty :) Enjoyed your video and not surprised you flexed the route a little. I think if I attempt this one again I'll probably plan the route a bit more carefully and factor in conditions 'under foot' (wheel!). It was an option to do this on the day and continue but as I just wasn't feeling it the plan changed to a bail. Still no regrets on that one and it was the right call on the day for me. Happy cycling!
I bailed TCW a couple of years back and I know exactly what you mean about the first few very unenjoyable miles.
Just found channel. Enjoying it snd subscribed! Know what you mean re in past just got on with it. Done thst and hated rides. Did the right thing
Thanks, Mark. Still no regrets bailing on that one. Appreciate you following along. 👍
Discretion is the better part of valour. You made the right call fella 👍🏼
Yep, no regrets on this one. Thanks and happy cycling!
Sometimes we're physically under-the-weather, sometimes it's hard to flick a switch and move mentally from 'real world concerns' into an escapist 'bikeland', and at other times it's even more mysterious and we're simply just not 'on'. I haven't done any bikepacking but I've had climbing days when I should have cruised HVS leads but I couldn't get the mindset - go back a few days later and normal service is resumed.
I'm sure everyone has cut a ride short or changed plans, but it's only a 'fail' when the route is predefined.
As you said towards the end - it was a good training ride, you learned something in terms of parking and logistics, the views were beautiful, and the Cambrian countryside will wait for you
Definitely had those days climbing when it's more of a head game. I started climbing outdoors with a mate at the Wilton quarries - a very long time ago now - and there was this slightly awkward and mildly overhanging climb called Crooked Crack (if I remember right, VS 4C) that had us beginners psyched out for ages, until I led it one evening and then immediately thought, what was all the fuss about! This was a strange one as on paper it had all the ingredients of a ride I would have really liked (and persevered through any sections of the route that were tough), but just wasn't feeling it on the day. Like you say just didn't find the on switch for some reason. Always good to get a few miles in round those parts though and I have a feeling I might be back there at some point! Hope you've managed a few rides recently in between the downpours?!
Real life cycling, sometimes its great sometimes its not, listen to your mind and body, they are not often wrong, thank for sharing 👍
That's very true. I think as I'm getting older I'm getting better at paying attention to these things and not just suffering arbitrarily. Thanks for the comment and happy cycling!
it's so hard to know when to turn around and not keep grueling on. and it's totally okay to do it! you tried and that's all that matters.
It's a difficult one to call, yes. Just wasn't feeling this one, almost from the start and I had nothing riding on finishing it other than to enjoy the route (which I wasn't etc.). Thanks for the comment, much appreciated!
Mate we’re a long time dead no reason to carry on if you’re not feeling it. Regroup and choose another ride which you’ll enjoy more. Atb Coops 👍🏻🚴
Still a good video and it looks like a beautiful place. But I agree with your assessment - as I've gotten older I too have found that I no longer want to spend time doing something just because I started it. Same as you, I did that a lot when I was younger. But perhaps we're gaining a bit of wisdom as we age?
Cheers, Derek in Ottawa.
My younger self would have definitely poo-pooed the decision to bail but I think you're right, a bit older and wiser perhaps. Thanks for the comment and great to have you following along from Ottawa, Derek!
We are a party of four experienced, fit cyclists. We came, saw, bailed. Beautiful scenery. But for a normal rider, bloody impossible. Even if you were to finish it. You'd be hard put to say you actually enjoyed it!
Sorry to hear you bailed (like me, you might not be regretting it though!), especially as a lot of prep goes into getting a group sorted for these trips! It'll make the next (successful) ride all the more enjoyable though! 🙂
A RIGHT DECISION...... Wow! My experience: I had been looking forward for quite a while to to TCW. I completed it 2 weeks ago (01/10/23) and I have to say ..... I didn't really enjoy it. I have done lots and lots of similar riding and I know people say this route is good / great - but for me - it just wasn't. I do think, time of year is probably pretty important - but also, when you asked, at 15 miles 'does it get any better? - no, if anything worse, or about the same. It does actually change considerably - but it is just a slog / plod, in my mind. The ride up to Claerwen Dam can be a bit of a highlight and perhaps Haflen Forrest and the loose decent on day 3 - but really it is not worth the effort. It is a long, boring slog for very limited reward. And to add - as I was approaching Dovey Junction - the last train of the day (Sunday afternoon) was cancelled, so had to stay over in Machynclyth. That didn't bother me too much - it was more the feeling of just relentless grind, grind, grind. I even had the luxury of (pre-booked) staying in Rhayader and Llangurig on successive nights, but the forecast changed just before I arrived in Knighton and I spent end of day 2 and first half of day 3 in cold, wet, grey drizzle. It is barren, soulless and boring. It was so interesting watching you deliberate at 15 miles in - and I certainly felt for you (having been there before). I would say that if you got home, warm, dry and rested.... you definitely did the right thing. You didn't miss much. For me.... back to South Coast across to Bristol Channel rides - much more fun, variety, interest, stopping places, other people, the odd countryside pub, big vistas etc. I think you could have easily binned your footage and pretended it had never happened. I certainly appreciated your honesty and thoughts / reflections ...... and hence - your 800th subscriber. There is better riding out there..... 🙂
Thanks for the comment and following along on the channel too, it's much appreciated. Kudos on completing your TCW ride. Really interesting to get your take on the rest of the ride. Giving it the full benefit of the doubt maybe it's just one of those rides that needs dry ground and really good weather. Definitely agree there's better riding out there. I had half a mind to give it another go if a good weather window opened but reading your comment I don't think it will be a priority at all now. Happy cycling!
@@onemorecyclist I think you are absolutely right. Having watched a few more videos since and seeing people do it on dry / sunny days - I think good weather would make a noticeable difference.
It wasnt low blood sugar. Your years if experience were kicking in, and telling you, ahead lies doom 😢
I’m currently in a heated ‘discussion’ with Matt Page on his TH-cam channel regarding this route. He’s absolutely adamant that the TCW is not a technical bike route, nor is it something that can’t be completed by anyone with average fitness levels.
I beg to differ.
It’s hard, gruelling, and relentless for 90% of the time. I honestly struggle to think of sections I actually enjoyed, it’s that bad.
Don’t believe any of these guides that show happy, smiley, untouched by mud or sheep shit individuals.
It’s the stuff of nightmares if you time it wrong or get bad weather.
The best thing to do and also what we did is to have backup routes planned to get to the same destination. Routes that follow nice quiet back roads instead of through muddy fields or gorse bushes etc.
Appreciate the comment GK and whilst my younger self might have tut-tutted a little at bailing, it was the right choice for me on that ride (I still think). I completely agree with your note to have back up route ideas if you're determined to get to a destination but the going seems unreasonably tough or severely lacking in enjoyment (or just has too much sheep shit for one person to cope with, I seem to remember :))! I've done a few rides over the years of routes I watched on TH-cam beforehand and they never quite show the reality of what you'll experience - some are reasonably close, some are way off! Happy cycling!🙂
Not trying to be a fuss pot .But please wear a Helmet .