Welsh TET Day 4 (Tetty TET)

Riding in remote locations you often imagine how you would tackle breakdown events, and now, with the smell of burnt clutch in the air, stuck on a rocky pass, things just got real. 

After our overnight stay in the dump / town of Lempeter we decided to try a new section of the TET called the 'Tetty', it's the figure of 8 in the lower south west of Wales.  (Shown below)

The blue dot was our start, and the red, our impromptu emergency mechanics challenge.

It's a cracking edition to the Welsh TET with a superb variety of landscapes and challenges. Lanes that traverse hills and valleys...

Wide sweeping forest trails..

Puddles that will suprise a rider and could drown a bike...

Rocky inclines with just enough challenge to keep you engaged.  

After a morning of riding the two hobbits needed second brunch.  Luckily, at the point the two TET loops meet is the small village of Brechfa that has a single pub called the Forest Arms. Its brilliant, if youre in the area - go for lunch.  Support a fantastic local business. 

After a hearty meal and napping like two hyaenas digesting the prey, we thought we'd better be off. 

It's wasn't long before we descended into a ravine , passed over a crystal clear water crossing, complete with small waterfall, and began a hellishly rocky and steep incline. 

It was here, half way up 'boulder' hill, i found myself scouring the bushes looking for wire or string wondering if we'd be able fashion a rope, Ray Mears style, for towing a clutchless bike up the incline. 

We free wheeled the bike with the broken clutch to the river and let it cool, Jason got to work making any adjustments possible. 

Some thirty or so minutes later with the bike moving slowly, both of us of panting like Olympic sprinters, we shoved it up the hill to the road.  

A testament to my companions newly honed mechanical prowess, we reached our final destination of Llandovery. 

If youre staying in Llandovery with motorbikes, The Drovers B&B, offers biker friendly accommodation with walled and gated safe bike parking. The building is impressive, the bedrooms plush and the hosts are really charming. 

The following morning Jason and I set off together keeping an eye on the broken bike. Jason nursed it back to the van before we went out separate ways in Shropshire.  We'll be back to Wales as there's unfinished business with the 'Tetty'.

Awesome trip.