'The British' Permanent Ride

Start at Tongwynlais, from the Quality Friendly Hotel, easily accessible from the M4 or A470. Breakfast is served from 7.00am. It is recommended that you start at 7.30, definitely by 8.00am.

First, a good steady climb through the woods past Castell Coch, onto Caerphilly Mountain, down a narrow lane (to be treated with some caution - although of course you should take due care throughout the ride) then on to Rudry Common, a glimpse of Caerphillly Castle to the left (second largest in Europe after Windsor), to the Maen Llwyd pub (reputed haunt of smugglers) for a view of the Bristol Channel to the right. Down to Machen and up over Ochrwyth, another tricky descent, then through Risca and Cwmcarn Village to start the climb to the first control at Llanfach Post Office.

Continuing the climb, it becomes much steeper leaving the village, then winds around the quarrry and over Mynydd Maen Common and down to Hafodyrynys. Another steep climb to the information control at Cefn-crib, then it's a sharp left up onto Mynydd Llanhilleth, from where you get your first glimpse of Pen y Fan, the highest peak in South Wales, as well as views of the Bristol Channel, the Forest of Dean and up the Marches to Clee Hill above Ludlow some 60 miles away. Now its down 'the British', a 1:5 descent, and up to the head of Cwm Afon (literally River Valley) past the old ironworks to the second control at Blaenavon. You have now completed the hardest sections of the ride.

To your left now is 'Big Pit', the deep mine museum, and you may see Thomas the Tank Engine chugging along his half mile of preserved line. Through Brynmawr and Beaufort and over Llangynidr Mountain to leave the Valleys of South Wales behind and enter the Brecon Beacons National Park. Now follow the River Usk and Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal to the third control at the Canal Centre at Llanfrynach.

Lanes south of Brecon skirt around Pen y Fan, then cross the A470 along an 'A-road lane' over to Heol Senni. Turn left up the valley and over the Devil's Elbow, probably the most spectacular climb of the ride, and down past the standing stone to the fourth control at the New Inn at Ystradfellte, where bar snacks are available until 3.30pm on a Saturday or Sunday.

The fifth stage features two big long steady climbs. Turning the first hairpin on the Rhigos, you are treated to superb views over the Brecon Beacons, the Black Mountain to the left and Pen y Fan and the distinctive twin peaks of Pen y Fan to the right. Pause at the top for an ice cream from 'Mr Whip' and on the left on the descent note the wire and metal sculpture park 'by George'. Into Cwm Rhondda, through the old mining towns of Treherbert and Treorci, and up 'the Bwlch'. Another chance of an ice cream, from 'Mr Whipsy', then on to the highest part of the route. On the ridge the last views of the Brecon Beacons to the right; to the left the Bristol Channel, scanning from Weston-super-Mare and Steep Holm, to the Mendips, the Quantocks, Exmoor, Ilfracombe, Swansea and the Gower Peninsula. Down into the Afan Valley and at Cymer engage granny gear for a sudden, sharp and steep left over to Maesteg, then up to the fifth control at the Corner House Inn, Llangynwyd.

The last stage takes you over a few more lumps to Blackmill, Tonyrefail and Llantrisant, home to a folk festival and birthplace of William Price (self-styled druid and 18C proponent of cremation). Only a few more miles now along lanes and up the final climb to Pentyrch, then a long descent to the Taff Vale and back through Tongwynlais to the finish at the Quality Friendly Hotel.

David Lewis