North to South Wales: 4 Days, 240 Miles, and Zero Planning.
We’ve just completed an incredible point-to-point ride across Wales. The whole trip took us four days, not including our initial evening travelling up to North Wales.My partner and I had initially decided to cancel the trip due to an injury. However, we already had the week booked off work, and at the absolute last minute, we decided to just go for it. We had no plan, no accommodation booked, and zero preparation. We hastily assembled our Spider Rack storage systems, packed our clothes, and set off on e-bikes that weighted well over 30kg.Our journey didn't start quite as smoothly as hoped; we were refused entry onto the train at Crewe because we hadn't reserved bike spaces (you learn something new every day!). After sorting an alternative, we finally arrived at our first hotel on the outskirts of Conwy at 12:30 AM after a quick 6-mile night ride.
Day 1: Conwy to Rhyd (Approx. 48 miles, including the midnight ride)I forgot to press record on the Garmin until we were 5 or 6 miles into the day. Part of this section was absolutely awesome. At one point, there were no actual paths, and the route showed as "impassable" on OS maps. We found ourselves up to our knees in bogs, dragging heavy bikes—and I genuinely loved it. The miserable Welsh weather only added to the rugged atmosphere and enjoyment.
Day 2: Rhyd to Machynlleth (Approx. 55 miles)This section was probably our least favourite day, purely due to the logistics. The scenery was awesome and the mountain bike trails were brilliant (very similar to Day 1), but our momentum was constantly broken by over 50 gates that we had to open and close along the way.
Day 3: Machynlleth to Ponterwyd (30 miles)This was our shortest riding day, featuring amazing scenery and brilliant trails—with one major exception. We hit a pathless bog section that took us a grueling 2 to 3 hours to cover just 4 miles. Deep ruts left behind by dirt bikes were hidden under thick vegetation, which successfully ejected me from my bike several times. However, the struggle was worth it: we spotted a sheep stuck up to its head in the bog. It certainly would have met its demise if we had opted for an easier route, so we paused to pull it free and save its life.
Day 4: Ponterwyd to Merthyr Tydfil (107 miles)We had been carrying a spare battery the entire trip without using it yet, and honestly, we couldn't stomach the thought of another night in a hotel. We decided to push all the way through. It was a wonderful, epic section. We stopped in Rhayader first, and then Builth Wells for food, a quick battery charge, and a battery swap. Riding through the mountains towards Talybont-on-Usk and into Merthyr at 3:00 AM was my partner’s absolute favourite part of the entire trip. The sheer amount of wildlife we encountered in the dead of night made the long haul entirely worth it.
The Verdict Overall, it was a lovely experience. The unpredictable weather, challenging trails, and the random, kind people we encountered along the way made every mile worth it. A massive shoutout to every single cafe and restaurant we stopped at for food—they all accommodated our bikes, let us charge our batteries, and stored them safely, as did the hotels.
. You used the art of negotiation and convinced her to take the ebikes 
(cube 177). 
