The Gap, Strata Florida, Basic Off Roading Skill etc....

[jed the spread]

Ok I have known about The Gap Road & Strata Florida now for a few years, even before I had Syncros I used to watch stuff on You Tube and still havnt done them. I really want to now (though I realize that The Gap Road Is only open now and again if my memory serves me right) and have just seen this video clip that has Al in it,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXRirZo7 ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I realize this bit of byway is really steep and the camera as always doesnt do it justice but there are a couple of things that have me thinking about this video...
1 As always Al has done us proud and cut the mustard, but the landrovers didnt do as well, is this due to them having no diff locks or just a bad approach? I am guessing Al had them both on.
2 The failed assent, the very basics of this didnt seem to happen with the other keen 4x4 drivers, this is one skill I didnt mind practicing at my first SP event (thanks again Clive & Pete for taking time out back then to show me something I have used many times since) and can only encourage any beginners to get involved with at the next SP meet if Clive & Co would be kind enough to run through with you. It might save your van....

As far as Strata Florida goes, is it really that wet? I like to have ago and realize this must be at high water levels but bloody hell it looks deep http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THR18Ixb ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Can you bypass without going off the byway the deep bits if it looks abit, errrr well.... deep? I have done the Cowan Carwash but the water wasnt that high to be fair but SF looks to be the doggs do dar's. I would love to hear from any actual experiences or if anyone has done the whole lane in a syncro.

Since I started with the Syncros I realize I am not the most awesome or extreme off road driver but to be fair I have done loads of the Welsh lanes loads of times, (some of them bloody hard) luckily with people who are very good and that have showed me loads of good and bad habits and this has built self confidence along with the ability to keep up with them. Do I want to do The Gap & Strater Florida now or have I just been lead to believe its allot worse than it looks?

jed

[Aidan]

Florida will be fine, we did it a couple of years ago without much problem at all, it's wet but wbx fine, this year it will be dry; haven't done the gap myself not sure I'd want to take the damage, depends on the group I guess, I couldn't make the mad midnight run thing that MG arranged.
There's plenty left of Wales to keep us happy thankfully long may it continue and the tro's seem to be well thought out not blanket like the others have done.

[JennyTyger]

Syncronauts Laning October 2008

Like Aidan says Strata Florida not a problem when dry. However a few weeks before we did it, a passenger in a Landrover drowned (they did drive it after some torrential downpours).

[jed the spread]

I must have missed that page, though I recognize some of the terrain featured.



jed

[ELVIS]

Used to live ( ok , technically still do until i sell the house) minutes from Sarn Helen (Banwen/Onllyn) and not too far from Strata Florida and The Gap.
Have driven all of em so many times im sure i could do it with me eyes shut

After change in law- NERC/CROW /right to roam etc etc I sold up. I am not sure what has TROs on anymore, I used to know all the RoW Officers but guess they have moved on now.

The Gap isnt that technical. The easiest route is S to N. The initial approach from the foresty is compacted earth with shale covering and offers little ,if any, traction in the wet. Descending is easy-the other way is bit of a 'mare without lockers. Also the steps are obviously easier to decend. (although i have pics somewhere where we started at 00:01 after the TRO was lifted and it was a foot deep in snow and the steps were solid ice- i went down then with my auto box locked in reverse so i didnt go off the end!)
everything else is fairly straight forward.

Strata Florida dosnt really matter what way you tackle it from. Make sure you check the weather though. Same as The Gap- although not overly technical it does offer quite a few river crossings. In heavy rain ive had 3 tons of G Wagon start to go sideways. I would say it is a 'summer' trip for a Syncro unless you dont value your van much and it is well prepped. The crossing just south of the bomb hole is full of holes in the bed and if you pick the wrong line it can get interesting (whilst hooning around i got a 110 on a 4" lift and 38" fedimas up to the tops of the doors and that was 1ft to the right of the 'right' path and that was in the summer).

IF The Gap isnt TRO'd along with others my choice/suggestion would be

Start North of Merthyr
East to West thr Pontsticll Holes/Tal y bont ( starting going thr woods along a river bed then along moor)
The Gap S to N - Starting at forestry few miles from end of Pontsticll
Church Steps - mile long lane that includes a really good river crossing
(cant remember name?) Just south of church/petrol station in Brecon - is near the bridge that crosses the dual carriageway.

If you still have time/energy/anoth day?

Head west to Trecastle - Hotel Hill , VERY GOOD lane south of trescastle that is a few miles long - old drovers tracks/river crossings then across top of reservoit to Halfway.

Gimme a shout if you want owt.