Epic Sarn Helen ride incoming, Any advice appreciated.

[paul.williams_1981@yahoo.]

So my missus has convinced me to do the Sarn Helen route at the end June, Initially on the analogue enduros . You used the art of negotiation and convinced her to take the ebikes (cube 177).

We are aiming to do this in four days. We are ordering a 2 spare batteries(600WH) and planning a cafe stop halfway through the day to get some rest and charge.

I am after any advice if you have done this trip or similar, plus thoughts on the best settings to maximise battery. A good tow rope in case of motor faliure, best places to stop along the way for food and charge.

 

[VWsurfbum]

Sounds nuts, I like it. https://www.roughrideguide.co.uk/route-details/282
I have done a few coast-to-coasts. never on an eeb. All I would suggest really is lots of saddle time in preperation. Good padded shorts (even double-paired towards the end)
Pack light, pack decent snacks, lots of fluids and a decent sense of humour.

 

[paul.williams_1981@yahoo.]

Sounds nuts, I like it. https://www.roughrideguide.co.uk/route-details/282
I have done a few coast-to-coasts. never on an eeb. All I would suggest really is lots of saddle time in preperation. Good padded shorts (even double-paired towards the end)
Pack light, pack decent snacks, lots of fluids and a decent sense of humour.

Sounds nuts, I like it. https://www.roughrideguide.co.uk/route-details/282
I have done a few coast-to-coasts. never on an eeb. All I would suggest really is lots of saddle time in preperation. Good padded shorts (even double-paired towards the end)
Pack light, pack decent snacks, lots of fluids and a decent sense of humour.

Good point with the shorts, I dont on a pair. I will definitely be investing in them. I will take a hydration pack and a bottle and top up midway through the day. If I do 30-40 miles on the analogue I go through alot of water and maybe a bottle on the ebike.

 

[johnnystorm]

Sounds like a great adventure!

I swear by Rapha Brevet shorts. Not cheap but I wore them for the Tour Divide and averaged a century 24 days in a row...

I've got one of the £10 tow ropes from amazon. No issues towing either my daughter or missus in Wales when I'm on the Levo and they're on normal bikes.

It might be worth planning some stops and ringing ahead to check it's OK to charge at a particular Cafe and have a cheap double socket extender handy...

Make sure you give us a write up with some pics when you're done!

 

[paul.williams_1981@yahoo.]

Sounds like a great adventure!

I swear by Rapha Brevet shorts. Not cheap but I wore them for the Tour Divide and averaged a century 24 days in a row...

I've got one of the £10 tow ropes from amazon. No issues towing either my daughter or missus in Wales when I'm on the Levo and they're on normal bikes.

It might be worth planning some stops and ringing ahead to check it's OK to charge at a particular Cafe and have a cheap double socket extender handy...

Make sure you give us a write up with some pics when you're done!

Good idea with the extension lead. I will try my best to get a few pictures.

 

[VWsurfbum]

Definitely plan your stops ahead. Some places dont allow bikes!

 

[chalky74]

I did the Sarn Helen on a Fairlight Holt with two small panniers and frame bags last summer (28kg total). There's hike-a-bike on multiple small sections of this route, mostly in the north and middle. On one occasion, I was following the line on my GPS, as the trail had disappeared underfoot, and expect a bit of clambering over fallen trees due to plantation felling. It's a wild route and was very satisfying to finish. Definitely type 2 fun in places, but a top adventure. I did Conwy to Swansea in 5 days. Days 1 to 3 I camped. Day 4 I stayed at the YHA in Brecon. And on day 5, at the finish, I stayed at the Premier Inn in Sawnsea, as Premier Inn has a policy that allows cycle tourists to keep their bikes in the hotel room, which is cool!

 

[paul.williams_1981@yahoo.]

I did the Sarn Helen on a Fairlight Holt with two small panniers and frame bags last summer (28kg total). There's hike-a-bike on multiple small sections of this route, mostly in the north and middle. On one occasion, I was following the line on my GPS, as the trail had disappeared underfoot, and expect a bit of clambering over fallen trees due to plantation felling. It's a wild route and was very satisfying to finish. Definitely type 2 fun in places, but a top adventure. I did Conwy to Swansea in 5 days. Days 1 to 3 I camped. Day 4 I stayed at the YHA in Brecon. And on day 5, at the finish, I stayed at the Premier Inn in Sawnsea, as Premier Inn has a policy that allows cycle tourists to keep their bikes in the hotel room, which is cool!

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Sounds epic, We are packing light and getting Airbnb along the way. We are planning a deviation on the route so we end up in Merthyr for the final section. Same distance, saves getting back after. The only part im not looking forward to are the road sections as I genuinely don't like riding on them.