Big Joe goes to Snowdonia

373 views
Skip to first unread message

Nicholas A

unread,
May 27, 2024, 5:15:44 AM5/27/24
to RBW Owners Bunch
Hey everybody,

I just got back from a weekend cycling around north Wales, it was a truly incredible couple of days of cycling, such a huge variety of terrain (and weather).

I rode over on the ferry with my Appaloosa fully laden with two Fabs Chests, they worked out pretty darn well. Next time I'll try to bring a little bit less I think. IMG_9087.jpg

Our first and biggest day was a bit of an epic, an all day affair through the heart of Snowdonia, here's the Strava file for those that partake - 


When Grant says the Appaloosa is 100% for 90% of the riding you might do, I can confirm that he is 100% correct. The bike ate up roads, gravel, rutted farm tracks and rocky sheep farmers paths with gusto.




Nicholas A

unread,
May 27, 2024, 5:16:34 AM5/27/24
to RBW Owners Bunch
IMG_9911.jpg

Nicholas A

unread,
May 27, 2024, 5:17:03 AM5/27/24
to RBW Owners Bunch
IMG_9115.jpg

Nicholas A

unread,
May 27, 2024, 5:26:26 AM5/27/24
to RBW Owners Bunch
Our next day we decided to search out a route on Strava and found a 35km route that we thought would be just dandy after the long day previous.


We may have bitten off a little more than we had expected to be chewing, it took us about 4 hours to cover those 35kms. Probably should have payed more attention to the elevation.
Seemingly the best way to get over 1000m elevation in the distance is to throw in a few 20%+ climbs, and still the Appaloosa ploughed through with much huffing and puffing from it's rider.

This route brought us through idyllic hillsides, across well worn mountainside tracks, rutted and rocky "I think we are actually mountain biking right now" descents, stream crossings, bog hopping
and heart stopping drops where walking was the only way to go. 

IMG_9189.jpg

On Monday 27 May 2024 at 10:17:03 UTC+1 Nicholas A wrote:
IMG_9115.jpg

Nicholas A

unread,
May 27, 2024, 5:28:08 AM5/27/24
to RBW Owners Bunch
IMG_9184.jpg

Patrick Moore

unread,
May 27, 2024, 10:36:16 AM5/27/24
to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Lovely photos; thanks for sharing them.

John Bokman

unread,
May 27, 2024, 3:06:53 PM5/27/24
to RBW Owners Bunch
Fantastic shots! Thanks so much. Looks like a hoot!


John
On Monday, May 27, 2024 at 2:28:08 AM UTC-7 Nicholas A wrote:
IMG_9184.jpg

RichS

unread,
May 27, 2024, 5:23:26 PM5/27/24
to RBW Owners Bunch
Nicholas, what a magical landscape. Thanks for sharing the photos. Nicely put together Joe Appa too!

Best,
Rich in ATL

Jay

unread,
May 27, 2024, 9:48:51 PM5/27/24
to RBW Owners Bunch
Like, WOW.  Nicolas, you really make me want to go there and explore.  I would rather take 4hrs to cover 'those' 35km than a fast-paced, paved ride anywhere around here.

Glenn Mackin

unread,
May 29, 2024, 7:43:01 PM5/29/24
to RBW Owners Bunch
Back in the summer of 1995, I spent a good several days hiking around North Wales, including Snowdonia. It's such a beautiful part of the world, and exploring it on your Appaloosa must be amazing. Thanks for sharing!

On Monday, May 27, 2024 at 5:23:26 PM UTC-4 RichS wrote:
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages