Quick Wales trip
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2023 7:53 pm
Just had a quick trip round Wales last week due to it being great weather, 26/30 degrees all week, too hot in actual fact, but can't really knock it for September, it was warmer than the trip I done to southern Spain last year at the same time of year 
6 Days from Wigan where I live:
Day 1 - Hereford via mid Wales rather than just sitting on a motorway. Busy first half, lovely second half as I got into Wales properly.
Day 2 - Cardiff via Brecon, again, just adding more pleasant miles rather than going direct, it is a bike trip after all.
Day 3 - Cardiff to Swasey - hit the roadworks from hell where they closed some major roads and had massive detours
I should have just gone direct on this one, but it looked better on the map.
Day 4 - Swansea to Aberystwyth, some very nice roads, Drove out of Swansea via "The Mumbles", it was a nice enough area, but is a bit over hyped in my view.
Day 5 - Aberystwyth to Holyhead - sun still shining and just a few drops of rain on some bits in the valleys, didn't come to anything, but covered the bike it that mud crap from the Sahara
Day 6 - Back to Wigan via Ruthin, there are some really good roads along that stretch, and had to stop at Spoons for lunch - lovely
Bike stuff - Done just over 750 miles and averaged around 58mpg, the bike ran perfectly, but as it's pretty new to me it takes some time to remember it is a bit gutless at the very bottom revs, so you have to be in first gear on slow roundabout, whereas my last bike, which was a K1600, could take them in 2nd or even 3rd without a twitch - stalled it twice trying to take off in 2nd from around 10mph entering roundabouts Being two up with luggage probably didn't help, but other than needing to rev it more than I was used to it handles great, and was a pleasure to ride. The standard seat are not great, and I tried a Wunderlich one for this journey, but it's trying to get a seat that suits your butt, so I will probably still look for another, it's trial and error with seat for me. The power bronze touring screen I fitted was very good, but I may drill a few holes in it to try and balance a bit of the suction effect you get with the screen up full and pushing on a bit. I still think the sat nav disconnecting every time you stop the engine is a PITB, and I don't see why it has such a small screen for it when the TFT is so large, the nav bit just has big borders round it - why??
Highlights - First time in Cardiff was a pleasant experience, it's quite cosmopolitan, had loads of places to eat and drink, and felt like a good place to visit. The stretch of road between Caernarfon and Ruthin is excellent, just chilled, scenic, and not too busy, brilliant for bikes. The weather - I could not have really asked for a better time, being retired means I can pick and choose when to go to suit, and this was perfect.
Lows - The Start and end 30 miles is always a pain as I have to deal with the carpark known as the M6 around Warrington way. There were also some ridiculously large roadworks where they were putting in a whole new road section down by Swansea, but the sighs and diversions were total crap.
James
6 Days from Wigan where I live:
Day 1 - Hereford via mid Wales rather than just sitting on a motorway. Busy first half, lovely second half as I got into Wales properly.
Day 2 - Cardiff via Brecon, again, just adding more pleasant miles rather than going direct, it is a bike trip after all.
Day 3 - Cardiff to Swasey - hit the roadworks from hell where they closed some major roads and had massive detours
I should have just gone direct on this one, but it looked better on the map.Day 4 - Swansea to Aberystwyth, some very nice roads, Drove out of Swansea via "The Mumbles", it was a nice enough area, but is a bit over hyped in my view.
Day 5 - Aberystwyth to Holyhead - sun still shining and just a few drops of rain on some bits in the valleys, didn't come to anything, but covered the bike it that mud crap from the Sahara
Day 6 - Back to Wigan via Ruthin, there are some really good roads along that stretch, and had to stop at Spoons for lunch - lovely
Bike stuff - Done just over 750 miles and averaged around 58mpg, the bike ran perfectly, but as it's pretty new to me it takes some time to remember it is a bit gutless at the very bottom revs, so you have to be in first gear on slow roundabout, whereas my last bike, which was a K1600, could take them in 2nd or even 3rd without a twitch - stalled it twice trying to take off in 2nd from around 10mph entering roundabouts
Being two up with luggage probably didn't help, but other than needing to rev it more than I was used to it handles great, and was a pleasure to ride. The standard seat are not great, and I tried a Wunderlich one for this journey, but it's trying to get a seat that suits your butt, so I will probably still look for another, it's trial and error with seat for me. The power bronze touring screen I fitted was very good, but I may drill a few holes in it to try and balance a bit of the suction effect you get with the screen up full and pushing on a bit. I still think the sat nav disconnecting every time you stop the engine is a PITB, and I don't see why it has such a small screen for it when the TFT is so large, the nav bit just has big borders round it - why??Highlights - First time in Cardiff was a pleasant experience, it's quite cosmopolitan, had loads of places to eat and drink, and felt like a good place to visit. The stretch of road between Caernarfon and Ruthin is excellent, just chilled, scenic, and not too busy, brilliant for bikes. The weather - I could not have really asked for a better time, being retired means I can pick and choose when to go to suit, and this was perfect.
Lows - The Start and end 30 miles is always a pain as I have to deal with the carpark known as the M6 around Warrington way. There were also some ridiculously large roadworks where they were putting in a whole new road section down by Swansea, but the sighs and diversions were total crap.
James
