Riding within Wales isn’t all about the National Parks, with plenty of excellent riding in between, and winter weather can put them out of bounds anyway. Dave Manning finds out…
For this Winter Ride, focussing within Wales, I decided on starting from Oswestry, the town of my birth. Now, while the town isn’t actually in Wales, but a spit over the border into Shropshire, it could be argued that it wasn’t the right place to start for the Welsh Winter Ride. However, when I was born my sisters were both at school in Oswestry, and were both taught Welsh, so that’s close enough for me…
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The plan was to ride across the country, heading west, to end up at the coast for the potential of warming fish and chips. And, with it being in the colder half of the year, and with an awareness of how bleak the conditions can get when riding through Snowdonia or into the Brecon Beacons, the decision was made to stay away from the more remote areas and higher altitudes.
KEY FACTS
Where: Running from the border of Wales and Shropshire, and using a convoluted route west to the coast of Cardigan Bay. There are lots of options to veer off-route and explore, and a lot of industrial and cultural heritage to discover, too.
Description: There are some fairly rapid stretches of road on this ride, particularly the A470 south from Trawsfynydd, but the more remote stretches such as the B4391 and A4212 are narrower, have a higher population of sheep, and are less likely to have been treated with grit when the weather gets really cold. So it’s worth taking your time, and to enjoy the superb views.
Distance: 84 miles.
Time: Two hours if you’re non-stop, but six hours if you explore a little and stop for pictures!
Fuel: We fuelled up while still east of the border, with a petrol station on the A5 near Oswestry, but there’s a fuel station at the T-junction near Trawsfynydd, and in Dolgellau, but be aware that they may not be open on a Sunday.
Cafés: A regular haunt for motorcyclists is the café at the end of Bala Lake, although it was closed when we were there, but there are several in Bala town, and in Dolgellau.
Curiosities: While not actually situated on the route here, it’s only a short diversion to the racetrack at Tonfanau, just north of Tywyn, with regular race meetings throughout the year. Or to the fascinating Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) just outside of Machynlleth.
WINTER KIT HIGHLIGHT
The greatest issue in riding through winter is, with no great surprise, that of combatting the cold, although there is no excuse why you can’t stay warm in the 21st century.
For my trip into Wales, aside from wearing my Keis heated jacket, I also tried out a pair of the Keis G301 ‘Three-finger’ gloves, invariably referred to by all who see them as ‘lobster gloves’. While it appears that they have just two finger ‘pockets’, these are internally divided so each finger is kept snug and toasty, with reduced outer surface to minimise heat loss. The hydrophobic outer shell and waterproof membrane keep your pinkies dry as well as warm, and the design allows you to play out all your Star Trek fantasies – stay warm and prosper!
The G301 gloves are priced at £200, and more information is available from www.keisapparel.com
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