“When I start a new project, I know I have many many chances not to finish, but that’s not a failure, that’s an opportunity to try it again” Kilian Jornet
2 day self-supported gravel bikepacking ride from North to South Wales. The route cuts a line through Snowdonia, down the remote gravel tracks of mid-Wales, and through the Brecon Beacons. 5 timed segments each day.
​
#WalesDURO23 runs on the first full weekend in July​​:​
  • Start: Sat 1 July 2023 from road below Menai Bridge, Bangor [we'd advise starting at 8am at the latest as Day 1 is a biggie] 
  • We have a limit on the number of riders we host at Daf's farm for food/camping
  • End: ~9pm Sun 2 July 2023 ​in Cardiff​

Overview

  • The route is just over 300km long with 6,500m of ascent and lots of off-road (~30% of the distance, >50% of the time), to be ridden in two days
  • You will most likely ride some of this route in the dark so front and rear lights are obligatory
  • This route is MADE for gravel/adventure bikes.  You'll need to get your head down on the road to get the miles in and the route regularly jumps off-road so >30mm tyres are recommended
  • There are 5 timed segments each day designed to test riders' strength, bike handling, and determination on a variety of surfaces over mixed terrain

Logistics

Fri night
  • ​Bivvy somewhere near Bangor on Friday night (drop by The Liverpool Arms for some dinner beforehand)

Sat night
  • On Saturday night we will bivvy at Tymawr Farm in the hamlet of Ysbyty Cynfyn just south of Ponterwyd [hint: stop at Ponterwyd petrol station for some snacks for Sunday morning as there will be no shops for the first (hard!) 60km] 
  • The camping field is basic and located near the entrance to the farm; it is served by composting toilets and hot showers but don't expect phone reception (except with EE network), wifi, or the ability to charge electrical items; oh and bring a head-torch
  • Tickets for camping & dinner & breakfast will need to be booked via Eventbrite - note numbers are limited and will go on a first-come-first-served basis. We will post on Strava when sales go live. Sales will close at 7pm on 24 June 2023 (i.e.  1 week before the dinner)
  • ​In the past we have charged cash in hand to Daf which worked well but coronavirus has increased some costs on Daf's side; when including a small contribution to cover website costs and Eventbrite fees the total ticket price is £38.32 and it is not possible to pay just for camping without food
  • For those with tickets, food will be served from 7-9pm on Sat night, and from 7am on Sunday; if you run late on Sat night Daf will hopefully leave some food out for you but we'd encourage you to get started as early as possible (i.e. before 8am) from Bangor to avoid this scenario
  • Bottled beer (or hot drinks for those not drinking) will also be available to buy
​
Sun
  • Breakfast will be available from 7am Sunday morning, with the aim of being on the road at 8am
  • The first shop is at Beulah after 60km going over rough terrain
  • There is a tough hike-a-bike section climbing out of Claerwen Valley (Segment XDW-8 at the 195 to 200km mark) which is required to avoid the A470; there is a tricky stream crossing on the descent so take your time/get help from other riders if required.  If you don't feel comfortable retrace your steps and loop round via the A470.
  • ​For those that make it, we will be celebrating at the Brewhouse and Kitchen, Cardiff on Sunday evening

Route

Segments
​Day 1:
XDW-1 - gravel descent & Llanberis Pass climb
XDW-2 - hike-a-bike, gravel, A-road climb just before Antur Stiniog
XDW-3 - Coed-y-Brenin gravel & flowy climb on lane through trees
XDW-4 - short power climb after crossing A-road
XDW-5 - lane climb into switchback gravel climb

Day 2:
XDW-6 - gravel climb for breakfast
XDW-7 - undulating climb approaching Claerwen reservoir
XDW-8 - hike-a-bike escape from Claerwen reservoir
XDW-9 - TT into Brecon
XDW-10 - the Gap
​
​Download to your GPS device
Navigate to this page on your mobile, then download KMZ file and open in Maps.me app to use as backup navigation

Entry

  1. Fill in the Trials Contact Form - link available on the Trials page (same form for all standard TRC trials; no signup, no results)
  2. Join our club on Strava if not already a member and click “I’m in” on the ​Strava Event - ​​here
  3. ​Star each segment so they appear in Strava
  4. Download version v100 of the GPX track to your GPS; download the KMZ file to your mobile for use with the Maps.me app (offline mapping)
  5. Book your train (including bike reservation)
  6. Optional: book accommodation in Cardiff on Sunday night so you don't have to rush back
  7. Invite your mates and share on social media using #walesDURO23

Results

Rider XDW-1 XDW-2 XDW-3 XDW-4 XDW-5 XDW-6 XDW-7 XDW-8 XDW-9 XDW-10 Total
"Emerging from the top of the forest the track undulates across high moorland to an isolated reservoir before dropping down to Daf’s farm where we’re bivvying tonight. He's a great host providing a hot shower, good food, a bottle of beer and a bonfire. The next morning he puts on an impressive breakfast spread of porridge, sausages and eggs. Just what we need to fuel another 8000 feet of climbing, much of it off-road. I notice more wildlife today, a young fox plays with its shadow ahead of us on a gravel climb whilst further on a red kite picks through a sheep carcass in a quarry for its breakfast. Two 4x4s are parked up miles from a road on a beach beside the Claerwen reservoir high in the Elan valley whilst their drivers fish in the deep blue water."  Ed Wolstenholme, July 2018 (who used #XDUROWales18 as his final prep before a top 20 finish at #TCRNo6)

"#XDUROWales18 was my first bikepacking experience. I grew up on a mountain bike and have raced xc marathons, cyclo cross and toured around Europe by bike. This event blew my mind; the scenery, the camaraderie and the terrain were all epic in equal measures.  The route was meticulously planned to take in the very best of Wales with long stretches of gravel road, stunning mountain vistas, lakes and reservoirs. The weather was hot and the terrain challenging, this really is the ultimate test of bike and rider. I can not recommend the event enough and I will certainly be back for more next year (with a spare tyre or 2)." Ben Nolan, July 2018
​
"This was the first time in any event that I genuinely thought that there was no way I would be able finish."  Greg Hilson, July 2018 (who used #XDUROWales18 as his final prep before boshing #TCRNo6)
​
Being a bike packing and ‘gravel’ novice, I had no idea what to expect when I turned up early Saturday morning at Bangor.  What followed was 2 epic days riding and the longest and hardest days I’ve ever spend in a saddle.  But what a ride! From the single track, gravel double track and road time trials, peppered with plenty of hike a bike (and that interminable grassy bit lost somewhere in mid-Wales) the route really did sample everything Wales has to offer.  By the time I rolled into Cardiff on Sunday evening I knew I wanted to turn up on the start line of a future event. Only next time I’ll take a lighter bike and some chammy cream!  James Hadley, July 2018
​
Riders met physical, emotional, and mechanical battles along the way - the tyre slashing slates, temperatures close to 40c and the brutal hike-a-bike at the start of day 2 with the equally brutal swarms of horse flies stood out for me. Every time I met a fellow rider they were happy to share a moment before continuing with their personal journey.  ​No number of superlatives could explain the joy I experienced as part of Xduro Wales. The route, fellow riders, organisation, the bivvying, people met on route – all these factors added to the experience but the thing that made it for me was the vibe, the ethos, the way it all came together to use a cliché a certain je ne sais quoi.  Derek Queenan, July 2018

A brief history Walesduro

Looking back, this was the beginning of The Racing Collective journey. It started in 2016 when the Welsh Tourist Board asked one of the team to come up with a ride as part of The Great Weekend of Adventure.

On 2-3 April 2016 a group of four mates rode the trails at Antur Stiniog trial centre in Snowdonia on the Saturday, semi-reluctantly boshed it 250km across Wales, in time for a quick ceremonial run down a trail at Bike Park Wales in Brecon Beacons late Sunday afternoon.

Was it a good idea to grind out a 250km ride on full suspension bikes on A-roads?  No. 
Was it the start of something beautiful? Yes.
 
After months of recces the WalesDURO route was borne.  The XDURO format strikes the perfect balance between sociable riding and 'ripping your legs off' riding.  The stories told over the campfire on the Saturday night add to the camaraderie that this ride creates.

​This route will always have a special place in our hearts, hope you enjoy it as much as we do.