The Route
The 2012 routes have not been finalised yet, but we are in the process of finding the little gems and getting permission to ride them – we have lots of great trails in mind. In the next couple of months we will be out on the trails planning 3 days of excellent riding, so please keep your eye on this page for the details.
This is what the route looked like in 2011:
Bearded Man has put together 3 days of very challenging riding, linking together some of the best trails this region has to offer to ensure that every rider comes away happy. Keep your eye on the Bearded Man Blog for updates and more information about the route. (Due to some of the trails requiring permission for use in this event we reserve the right upon request of land owners to modify the route to preserve our good working relationships in this area).
If the weather is kind to riders and the rain stays away then expect some great hard pack riding on a mixture of terrain from singletrack, jeep track, farm roads and forest roads. Riders will traverse moorland, forests, valleys, hilltops and scale steep cliffs both ways! There will be some ‘hike a bike’ sections – the fitter the rider is the less of this there will be…. If the weather isn’t kind to us then the riding will be more challenging still.
It must be made very clear – this is a cross country endurance event – so please read the route details carefully to understand what is in store for each day’s riding. Don’t expect to spend all day on well-manicured single track, because you will be disappointed – there is a mix of singletrack, fire roads, forest roads, bridleway trails and a small bit of tar. Without further ado, here is what you can expect if you decide to take this challenge on.
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Day 1 – riders in the night
Distance – approx 13km (1 lap)
We kick the weekend off in style with an evening time trial around the Glanusk Estate. The course will test your singletrack skills and fitness alike, with steep climbs and twisty singletrack winding through the woodland. The main purpose of this is to limit the amount of time riders need to take off work on the Friday. Riding will start at 5pm and the last rider will leave by no later than 8pm. This will start the event off and will allow Bearded Man to seed riders for the following two days enduro.
The estate has hosted numerous endurance events in the past but of the petrol-powered kind – whilst we’ll have to work that little bit harder being fully pedal-propelled, they’ve left us some fabulous trails to work with and we’ve woven as many as we can into our opening loop to get you in the mood for fun. Once you’ve laid down your time you’ll be able to relax with your fellow riders and get ready for the challenges to come.
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Day 2 – Traversing the Black Mountains
Distance – 70km / Elevation – approx 2300m
Saturday’s riding starts close to Mynydd Forest. We’ve taken the current forestry work into account and picked a route which includes some very fast descending and challenging ascending. There’ll be a few surprises in store as you traverse the valley walls and once you reach thet north west corner of Mynydd, you’ll leave the forest for more natural trails.
Undulating terrain will keep you busy as you meander down towards Llanbedr (as per this video). Multiple line choice, hidden ruts and some really quick sections will test your bravery. The final kilometre is a steep descent through woodland to a small farm road which will lead you to the day’s feed station. Top up your tummies and Camlebaks with energy goodies from sponsorrs Torq, healthy fruit and snacks.
Next up is the Grwyne Fawr black route towards Mynydd Llysiau – it’s a tough bit of riding with lots of climbing but you’ll need to keep some energy in reserve as once you’ve summitted, you face the descent towards Pengenfford. Steep, rocky and technical to begin with, you’ll then find yourself traversing the hillside on vague sheep track before crossing the road at Pengenfford to head for Mynydd Llangorse.
Another fast descent will test your handling skills before the final challenge of the day is presented: the ascent of Mynydd Llangorse is a major climb that will see everyone off and shouldering their bikes as you make your way towards the stunning views up top. Take some time to soak up the scenery and your accomplishment before rolling into the fast and fun descent that drops you gradually to the mountain’s boundary. Keep a wary eye out for the wild horses that like to lurk around the trails in these parts! Finally, sit back and enjoy the final few kilometres spinning on easy trails to Gilestone Farm in Talybont-on-Usk.
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Day 3 – A less than gentle finish!
Distance 68km / Elevation – 1800m
The last day of the Black Mountains 3 Day is by no means the easiest. Although the distance is slightly shorter than day 2, we expect the pace to be quicker due to the hard pack terrain. A classic route is thrown in today’s mix of riding too – this route is the one and only Gap Route.
The morning starts off with a quick ride through the beautiful Talybont-on-Usk and onto the Taff trail (the disused tram section). We have put together a smorgasbord of challenges that includes very fast forest riding, a technical rocky ascent and descent and a couple of gate lifts that either provide some respite or add additional stress on tired limbs. After this really fun section riders start making their way towards the amazing Gap.
There will be a couple of little challenges along the trail as riders forge their way between the Gap and then are faced with 3.5km with almost 300m vertical descent on rocky, bumpy and sometimes unforgiving sections – we expect to see a couple of over the bar mishaps on this bit of riding. Once at the bottom riders will either be smiling or still feeling the after affects of handlebar vibration!
The next 6km involves some farm back road riding as riders head back towards the Gilestone Farm in Talybont and the finish of this adventure.
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