possible biking day out in wales on a 125

[Hannahguy01]

I am going to north wales for a muddy good day out mountain biking with a few mates. My journey will take me from Birmingham to Llangella.
The question is should i go by car or on my beloved 125?

My mates can take all my gear for the mountain biking with them.

i am just worried about the riding when tierd (way back ) and the distance on the little 125. But on the other hand i would love to take the bike around wales as the roads should be good fun.

Any advice from you more expirenced riders on if this is a good idea or not?

[wr6133]

Go for it. I rode my 125's all over the country. Plan in fuel and rest stops, take a camera and have a good memorable ride

[Nexus Icon]

Wales, you say?

Pack waterproofs.
____________________
Greetings from Shitsville!

[MC]

Just my opinion, A roads are stressful on a 125, I didn't like not having the power to get away from cars I didn't like

Also not trying to scare you or anything, although the roads in North Wales are good fun, they are quite bad for accidents. Saying that as your not a middle aged man on a blade you'll probably be fine
____________________
Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[Barnoe]

Go for it

Just give yourself plenty of time and take in plenty of breaks

The only time i find riding on "A" roads on a 125 less fun, is when your with people on big bikes.
You cant keep up, you feel like your spoiling their fun as they keep pulling in while you catch up lol

If your with another 125 rider, its a blast

[Dave70]

[rideslikean00...]

Having done a few 100+ mile jaunts on my 125 I'd say you want to be taking breaks every 30-50 miles. Bigger bikes with bigger comfier seats which want to eat the road (i.e. go fast with authority) it's more like 70-100 miles between stops assuming low traffic and good tank range, I've done a few biggish trips on my Divvy already and it's much easier for distances even with a pillion.

Either way you do it, make sure you're having fun. The minute it feels like hard work is the minute you need to find somewhere to pull up safely and rest, compose yourself and focus. The longer the ride the more your concentration and sense of risk can diminish, and you really need them to be the best they can to keep you safe.
____________________
.
Previous/Current Bikes
2013 Yamaha YBR-125ED -> 1997 Yamaha YZF-1000R Thunderace -> 2009 Yamaha XJ-6 Diversion -> 2007 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer S2

[Teflon-Mike]

Llangalla?
Where's that? Google maps keeps suggesting Llangolen.
Anyway, thing about Wales is the roads.
If you want t get from say, Corwen to Welshpool, a distance, as the crow flies of about 15 miles..... you have to either drive back to England, turn south, then head back in, just shy of 40miles... or... head for the coast, have a picnic at Barmouth, the work your way inland again...around 60 miles, OR.... you have to go over the mountain, snaking your way up and down the side of each cliff, through hair-pi bends on unmade goat tracks, and STILL cover around 25 miles, twice as many as the crow!
This CAN be what makes them 'fun' and interesting.... BUT also make journeys long, and tiring.
I took my daughter to Llandudno to visit the ancient copper mines, week before last; in a straight line from here, its about, 110 miles. But, most 'direct' route is A5 to Betws-y-Coed, then A470 'up' to the coast; about 130miles. If was doig the run on a tiddler, TBH that's the way I would go; it's L-Plate freindly, provided you avoid the M54 round Telford, and an awful lot of it is 50mph restricted, and you can make reasonable progress; but, there's a lot of boring bits till you hit Shrewsbury, and it is a slow slog, once you are 'in' Wales. 120miles coming back from Llandudno took us just over 4hrs with a couple of comfort stops. Used to do the 80 to Corwen just inside Wales in around 2hrs n my old SIII deseasil Land-Rover with a top Speed of 55mph. Progress REALLY starts to drop when you ht the pretty bits. Journey planner suggested the 'fastest' route, we took to get there, was up the M6, then M56, and follow the coast along the A55... adds almost 30 miles... and saved maybe twenty minutes!
As a rough reckoner... double the time you expect to take to cover Welsh-miles compared to English ones!

So, to answer Q, would I go by car or by 125..... CAR.

Especially as the object of the trip is to ride a push-bike up hill and down dale. You gonna be KNACKERED, and you dont want to be getting of a push-bike all hot sewaty and fatigued, trying to clamber into leathers, and looking forwards to at least a two hour slog home, on a bike, probably in the dark, and depending how far into Wales you are, possibly on not very nice roads that demand a lot of concentration and equal amounts of respect, when the sun ent shining.

If you want to explore Wales on a motorbike.... go for it; when the sun shines those roads are a real good-time girl, curvy, attractive and a LOT of fun.... till the sun sets, the they can be cruel. So do it a different day, as your main activity, and personally, I'd make a week-end of it; slog there and back, is half a days boring riding, so pack a tent, or B&B to over-night and maximise the number of interesting bits you can do in day-light.
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

Another vote for car.
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Rogerborg]

Tef's got his meds right for once.

Smiler came to BCF BBQ 2014 on a slow 125.

Choose one from:

☐ I am as boss as Smiler.

☐ I am as daft as Smiler.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Nobby the Bastard]

[wildchild1974]

If Hannah is going mountain biking it could be poss llandeglla which is just north -west of chester I think which I would go via wolves and up the a41 which wouldn't be too bad on 125 but that's just me
Gaz

[TheSmiler]

[Nobby the Bastard]

[Dave70]

[Hannahguy01]

[wildchild1974]

[blackbosh]

I rode from Leeds to somewhere near nefyn on my 125 and back again a few days later, my dad went in the car with all my gear it took me 2 hours longer and I couldn't have cared less. I must have had the best weather wales had seen for a long time. Though cloud was pretty low at the top of the hills avoid the big dual carriageways as they will be rammed with tourists and enjoy your 2 wheeled freedom

[stevo as b4]

Car it there IMO. You then have something to rest in, eat in and chill out on the way back whenever you feel tired or just need to do an emergency stop to take pics of a particulary spectacular bit of scenery on the way back. You can pop the seat back in the car and have a snooze on top of a mountain, and eat and drink all the way home to get your energy back.

One problem I have with long journeys by bike is that I can't keep stuffing wine gums into my face every 20min, which sucks!

I've always had a blast going for rides to and around wales on my bike's even a 125 and 200cc. In fact I did 140miles one evening on a 200cc trailie, but had a sore arse from hell after and needed a day off from riding lol!

When I go proper non local mountain biking (not enough this year) I like to go by train or go with 1-2other's and share car costs there. No way would I want to ride an MTB on serious terrain and enjoy myself getting all dirty and muddy, if I had to change into bike gear and ride over 100miles home, when tired and filthy.

[sidewinder]

If your travelling from brum you'll be coming in following the Ruthin side.there are usually idiots in fast cars driving it.just be wary of them

[Hannahguy01]

Thanks guys! I will car it - and wildchild is correct I do mean the One Planet Adventure site near Wrexham.

Plan to bike round Wales though in the next few weeks before weather turns nasty.

On a side note - aren’t most biker really lovely? i had a disastrous ride out the other day and lots of bikers asked if i was okay (i ran out of fuel due YBR's dodgy fuel gauge). Plus i got a few thumbs up, leg wiggles and nods too

[Teflon-Mike]

[blackbosh]

You're not my dad are you?

[Teflon-Mike]