Green lanes round Pontypridd

[Cone]

There only short, but I want to go and try them out. I'm sure that people on here know them, is there anything i should watch out for, the map typically shows them verring off the track - which is strange but i guess its just OS error.

Google earth seems to show it fairly big bike friendly but I can see lots of tracks so it must be well used.

[herman]

It wont be an os error the bye way will run where it is shown. Ground conditions may well be different mind. Check the local row map.

[HAMMERHEAD]

Check with JASEXT off here and GARYBOY. Also SKENEY off swtrf. They'll give you some good advice on it.. (thumbs)

[HAMMERHEAD]

CONE... U from that area then? There are a very few legal lanes around ponty :whistle: so best to ask the above mentioned. (thumbs)

[Cone]

Kinda off, lived there for a while now in Cardiff.

I seemed to have wrongly assumed that a green cross was a byway :dry:

[HAMMERHEAD]

No your right there! But Garyboy ( from ponty himself) and Jase, and Skeney, may give you better advice on to how thelanes are etc. Just like HERMAN said. Was just trying to point you in right direction for advice around that area. (thumbs)

[garyboy]

yes .. they are where the os map shows, as stated,
and yes .. they are well used ..

by illegal bike riders (no number plates etc),
by police in small white vans looking for them,
by these vans blocking the routes to deter illegal riders,
by police patrol cars parked where you would not believe they could go,

by constant fly tippers,
by mounds and long strings of debris they leave behind,

by mountain cyclists,
walkers, runners, joggers,

by convoys of 4x4s, and whacky races type squadrons (really),
by quads, farmers, farmers on quads with sheep in trailers with flat tyres (really),
by jeeps and by ordinary cars, with families aboard,

... but, understandably, not by many legal trail bike users (ha ha),
the trails are mostly graded now except where they are really muddy
ie.. where it is needed, or where there are deep ruts.
so . are not very challenging on the type-two fill, or are simply very mucky or rutted.

o .. I forgot to mention the deep ditch traps that some farmers dig across the trails, or the piles of earth they put at the gate entrances sometimes.


... but yes .. they are legal and better than nothing.

[HAMMERHEAD]

Gary, ur a star mate, (thumbs) . I knew you would be the right chappie to ask.

[Cone]

yes .. they are where the os map shows, as stated,
and yes .. they are well used ..

by illegal bike riders (no number plates etc),
by police in small white vans looking for them,
by these vans blocking the routes to deter illegal riders,
by police patrol cars parked where you would not believe they could go,

by constant fly tippers,
by mounds and long strings of debris they leave behind,

by mountain cyclists,
walkers, runners, joggers,

by convoys of 4x4s, and whacky races type squadrons (really),
by quads, farmers, farmers on quads with sheep in trailers with flat tyres (really),
by jeeps and by ordinary cars, with families aboard,

... but, understandably, not by many legal trail bike users (ha ha),
the trails are mostly graded now except where they are really muddy
ie.. where it is needed, or where there are deep ruts.
so . are not very challenging on the type-two fill, or are simply very mucky or rutted.

o .. I forgot to mention the deep ditch traps that some farmers dig across the trails, or the piles of earth they put at the gate entrances sometimes.


... but yes .. they are legal and better than nothing.

Blimey you make it sound Awesome, but the bottom line is I should watch out for sneaky farmers trying to ruin your day and avoid the puddles.

Is this not one to do on your own? If not any one fancy coming along with a novice?

[Richard Simpson]

There are some nice lanes just north of Bridgend...you can see them on the OS maps. It's where the windmills are. Lovely views.

I made a navigational error the first time I was up there, and followed a track past where it be became the private access to a farmyard.

When I saw the farmyard, I turned around ...but too late, the farm dogs had heard me and sounded off.

I realised the farmer was after me on a quad, and stopped and took my helmet off.

Guess what... he was very friendly, after I'd apologised for disturbing him. He said he had no problem with trailriders at all, but he was concerned about G...sy kids on stolen bikes staking out places for theft etc.

"I knew you were tidy as soon as I saw you stop and take your helmet off," he said.