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So day two started with lots of talk of the previous night antics and much fettling of bikes. Tyron immaculately prepped KTM450 stood proudly with it’s bald back tyre glistening in the early morning light! A victim of Race Spec’s fantastic customer service. Tyres, battery, engine cases and a whole host of other items ordered weeks ago failed to turn up.

After teasing Rhomech about the day ahead (never ridden in mountains before) and making it sound terrible we fuelled up in Brecon and headed off in the direction of the first days ride. After a short detour (oops my fault) we came up to the start of the Sarn Helen.

..........................KTM service dept is open! ...................the day did not look promising: heavy mist and cloud

Now being worried about the old routes in Wales being closed post NERC our guru of all things 'rights of way' (Andy T) spent a month on the phone with faxes and emails researching this problem. There are conflicting reports but the Highway dept and several other dept still regard them as being open and the local police stated they have been given no mandate to enforce the issue. On the ground the signs are physically still in place allowing access, we decided to cary on as normal and enjoy ourselves, with respect for other users and the environment of course.

The start to the day did not look good at first, the mist was so thick that we had to creep along at a very slow pace to stop running off the track.

You can see how thick the mist was, even though it's clearing here

We stopped briefly at the bottom of the first major clime to clean goggles and re-group. I told Rhomech to take it easy but keep your momentum up to clear the rocks and try to keep going until the gate at the top. I think we all cleared it but I'm not too sure now as it's been a while. Anyone care to own up if they had a woopsie? After another quick breather we pressed on, due to the thick mist there were no photos taken I'm afraid.

Once at the top of the mountain the mist cleared and the sun came out, it was so bright and warm it was as if we had been transported to another world!

Pressing on we did a quick left/right on the tarmac section before heading up and then down to the river crossing. A few made a bit of a hash of it, one being Pistolpete but for once Twowheelsdad cleared the other side!

First sight of the sun!..............Other side of river 'wish we could go that way'.......where we'd come from

TWD on the left and Rhomech taking a breather in the sun.

Pressing on the going was still fairly open dirt tracks and we blasted along while Tyron and Pete were doing their best to soak one another in the puddles! It wasn't long before we reached the short tarmac section leading to Banwen and the fantastic 'play' area that is used by the BMW off road school quite often. Before that through there was a bit of a commotion with Rhomech. Once on the tar he obviously thought he was safe again. He came blasting past Andy T (who had his helmet cam running) and for some reason only known to him, went flying up to the next corner. Which just so happens to be a 90 deg bend on a road only about seven foot wide. Cue a huge skid and he flew off into the bushes on his side as the back end overtook the front. Absolutely hilarious on tape and thankfully no harm was done.

The first big climb after the 'town' of Banwen looks mighty impressive to the first timers but we showed the way and flew up to the top with Rhomech following second from last. There were several drastic changes of dirrection right near the top but he made it in one and thats what counts. Moving on to the next slope we stopped in a clearing and attacked the two main routes. Although this one was a lot shorter if anything it was even steeper, and had the added bounus of having a deep ditch in front of it.

TWD must have got stuck about four times, his little crf250 not having enough poke in second to managed the assent and it just spun up in first gear. That didn't stop him trying though and after about four attempts the rucksack came off and things got serious! He did make it in the end.

TWD and his CRF250X stuck...........................& ......................Pete also stuck....................RBJ showing how its done(twd stuck again)

Nice sequence of shots: RBJ showing TWD how it should be done!

All this time Rhomech and Andy T had been sitting at the bottom watching all the antics of the others. It took a lot of persuading but Rhomech went for it in the end and made it to the top and he was very pleased to make it.

Rhomech("hello love, you wont believe what they just made me ride up")....TWD -made it!......Pete:looking wobbely but made it

Pete & Tyron have a little fun............................................. while Andy T has a little rest!

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