. One of these days, I'm jumpin' on the 'blade and doin my own 'Round Wales in a Day' 500 mile trip just to see if I can, in my twilight years, still 'hack it'. Would like to do this overnite on the shortest day of the year. However, re-fueling could be a problem. Bike range is only about 150mpg. Does anyone know of 24hr petrol stations in darkest West Wales? Weather permitting, I envisage kicking off about 21.00hrs, (before the setting sun gets too low) and maybe nipping over to Malvern for breakfast with one of my kids b4 heading back to my start point at Kington.
I think Tesco Cardigan, u can pay at pump 24hrs, also garage down Goodwick, Fishguard used to be open all night for the ferry traffic. I'll try and find out for deffo tho.
I'm in Haverfordwest and yes I think Tesco would be a good bet in Carmarthen and Haverfordwest, will try and find out about the HW for you
uh??? do i see motorways on that route???? try taking the a483 all the way down then come back up the coast, thats nice. the route from ellesmere to minsterley, montgomery, craven arms, crossgates, llandridnod wells, builth wells etc. some absolutely stonkin twists and turns. so good that tbh you'll want to come back the same way! i do that run quite a bit. maybe on the way back, at bala, as you pass the monument in the town, take the next right - b3194 i think it is - its an amazing road right through the valleys, as good as any road ive been on in germany, gorgeous scenery too - it'll bring you out back in ellesmere. might go down there this weekend if anyone fancies it..... heading out from sandiway on the a49 around 11am
I recon if I can fuel up in North Wales (Caernarfon area?) after 145 miles (12 midnight?) then again after 135 (3.00 am ish) miles in the Fishguard/Haverfordwest area I can then make the (expensive but 24 hour) Motorway Services. I'll be a little fatigued by then but it will be breaking dawn so all I'll have to do to achieve my 500 mile target will be sit on the M/way (M4/M5) to Worcester without falling asleep. Once there I'll head for my kidz place in Malvern for breakfast then home to bed. I'm actually on the brink of seriously committing to this project. I've only had my 'blade a few months but I've been pleasantly surprised just how comfortable it is, even for someone like me who's 'getting-on' a bit. The weekend before last I did 250 miles and experienced only a slight stiffness across my shoulders even after 6 hours+ in the saddle and, I suspect, even that had more to do with the heavy rucksack I was wearing.
Yes mate you do see M/ways. The point of the exercise is to see if I, a 70+ year-old bloke can do a 500 mile non-stop jaunt on a 'not really built for touring' Fireblade. I'm familiar with all those roads but I'll be doing some of it in the dark so the last thing I need is 'naggery bits', thank you very much.
Sounds a good trip, I think if I was doing it I would consider changing clip on bars for something not as low a bit more comfort. I know you want to do it in one go, but I would overnight it half way so I was doing two daytime runs. The coast road can be stunning and as said the 483 is worth doing. Good luck what ever you decide.
This sounds like a daft idea, but a bloody great one at the same time. It's the sort of thing that could become an annual event, sort of like the Dunwich Dynamo in the cycling world. One of those "Why? Because I can" type things that leave some people in admiration and the rest shaking their heads. Reckon you should be able to get one of the mags to publish the write-up if you do it. Go for it
Just been passed Tesco HW and it says 24hr Petrol, so you should be OK but may have to pay at pump with card etc. There is a Tesco at Carmarthen too. There may also be a 24 HR on the A40 between HW and Carmarthen but although I have been passed it zillions of times I can't really say. Bon voyage....
Sunsets at 21.22 and rises 04.43 can you get round Wales in that time? Pics! Our very own Jeremy jizz face Clarkson!
