Rhayader Hilly Time Trials
Rhayader Hillies
Courses
Records
The Rhayader Hillies are a true test of bike riding ability; climbing, descending, cornering and riding on the flat. The courses are all hilly, and most are in the scenic Elan Valley area. Distances range from 3 and a half miles for the Hill Climb to 20 miles for the least hilly course. Anyone of 12 yrs or more can take part, and you can use any type of bike as long as it has braking on both wheels and is in safe working order.
​
2023 Dates
April 6. Claerwen
April 20 Penygarreg
May 4 Craig Goch
May 18 Claerwen
June 1 Penygarreg
June 15 Craig Goch
June 29 Claerwen
July 13 Penygarreg
July 27 Craig Goch
Aug 10 Claerwen
Aug 24 Penygarreg
Sept 7 Hill Climb
​
The series result is calculated from the rider's 2 best finishes on each course, plus the Hill Climb.
A shield is awarded to the most successful rider on a road bike (not TT bike). To be eligible for this award no aero bars or helmets are allowed. No other prizes are given. Instead a donation will be given to a cycling related cause. In 2022 £252 was given to Rhayader Pump Track for grass maintenance, and £252 to the Welsh Off Road Academy to support young riders racing cyclocross in Belgium over the Christmas period.
7 mile course
Starting at the turning to the Elan Valley Visitor Centre, this course goes up and down (but mostly up!) through the Elan Valley, and finishes about half a mile after Craig Goch dam.
​
9 mile course
This course starts just outside Rhayader and makes its way up the Elan and Claerwen Valleys, finishing at the base of Claerwen Dam.
​
15 mile course
Not the longest of the courses, but probably the hardest, winding its way through the Elan Valley and finishing at the summit of Penrhiwen after an arduous mile and a half climb from Pontarelan.
​
20 mile course
Mostly flat, there are still some demanding climbs. The course heads south from Rhayader on the A470, turning left for Llandrindod Wells at Doldowlod, on to Crossgates and back to Rhayader on the A44.
​
17 mile course
This is the well known "Around the Dams" course, starting with a 3 and a half mile climb up the mountain road, and then descending through the Elan Valley taking in 11 technical corners, and finishing just before town.
​
Hill Climb
3 and a half miles of pain starting just outside town and going up the mountain road to the summit of Penrhiwen.
​
9.5 mile course
Series of flats and short climbs, even some downhills. It starts in Cwmdauddwr and finishes about half a mile past Craig Goch Dam.
​
Penygarreg course
Starts in Cwmdauddwr and finishes overlooking Penygarreg reservoir. It is a punchy courses with short climbs and descents.
​
Craig Goch via Penrhiwen
A shortened version of the Around The Dams course, it is a real mountain course with a huge climb and a fast, technical descent. It starts at the 30mph signs on the Aberystwyth Mountain Road and finishes just before Craig Goch Dam
​
Craig Goch 7 mile course
Course record 17min49s TylerBrennan 12/4/18
Women 22min 16sec Joanna Roberts 15/4/10
Men 50+ 20min 43sec Mike Pfeiffer 25/8/16
Men 60+ 21min 34sec Andy Firman 12/4/18
Men 70+ 27m 29s Mike Smith 31/8/17
Women 60+ 28min 20sec Liz Slater 3/4/14
Jun. Men 18min 13s Spencer Davies 26/8/21
Jun Wmn 24min 22s Katie Hesden 12/4/18
​
Claerwen 9 mile course
CourseRecord(TTbike) 20min23sWill Truelove22/4/21
Course Record(road bike)Spencer Davies 21min06s 21/4/22
Women 26min 4sec Joanna Roberts 27/4/11
Men 50+ 23min 22sec Mike Pfeiffer 21/4/16
Men 60+ 26min36sMatt Scrase22/4/21
Men 70+ 33min51s Mike Smith 18/4/19
Women 60+ 33min 20sec Liz Slater 24/7/14
Jun Men 21min33sFred Meredith22/4/21
Jun Wmn 29min29sSofia Brandon22/4/21
​
Dams Clockwise 15 mile course
Course Record 37min 30s Will Truelove 8/8/19
Women 45min 12sec Ruth Bradbrook 5/7/12
Men 50+ 43min 5sec Mike Pfeiffer 30/6/16
Men 50+ (TTbike) 41min 3s Danny Thorogood 11/5/17
Men 60+ 46min 4sec Andy Firman 2/7/15
Men 70+ 58min 47s John Hall 30/7/20
Wmn 60+ 1.00.06 Liz Slater 1/5/14
Jun Men 37min 30s Will Truelove 8/8/19
Jun Wmn 48min19s Freya Evans 5/5/22
​
Around the Dams 17 mile course
CourseRecord 42min18s Josh Sandman2/8/18
Women 55min 30sec Heather Evans 6/6/13
Men 50+ 48min 35sec Clive Powell 25/5/06
Men 50+(TTbike) 46.27 D. Thorogood 25/5/17
Men 60+ 51min 14sec Andy Firman 4/6/15
Men 70+ 64min 22s Mike Smith 25/5/17
Women 50+ 57min 7sec Liz Slater 24/5/07
Women 60+ 1.01.34 Liz Slater 6/6/13
Jun Men 42min18s Josh Sandman 2/8/18
Jun Men (TT bike) 44.23 B. Oliver-Lewis 21/6/18
Jun Wmn 53min49s Freya Evans 19/5/22
Llandod Crossgates 20 miles
CourseRecordTT45min49sTylerBrennan5/7/18 Road bike 46min56s Phil Morris 15/5/14
Women 53min 4sec Ruth Bradbrook 21/6/12
Men 50+ 52min 11sec Clive Powell 6/7/06
Men 50+ (TTbike) 47min 00s Danny Thorogood 8/6/17
Men 60+ 53min 31sec Andy Firman 15/5/14
Jun Men 48min 40s Ben Oliver-Lewis 7/6/18
Jun Men (TT bike) 47min28sBenOliverLewis5/7/18
Jun Wmn 1.04.56 Charlotte Nixon 15/5/14
Hill Climb 3.5 mile course
Course Record 12min 23s Spencer Davies 8/9/22
Women 18min 14sec Joanna Roberts 16/9/10
Men 50+ 14min 36sec Mike Pfeiffer 8/9/16
Men 60+ 15min 55sec Andy Firman 10/9/15
Jun Men 13min01sec Spencer Davies 9/9/21
Jun Women 19min28s Sofia Brandon-Higgs 8/9/22
Elan Valley 9.5 mile course
Course Record 25min53s Fred Meredith 13/12/20
Jun Men 25min53s Fred Meredith R 13/12/20
Men 50+ 34min01s Kevin Dunster X 18/10/20
Men 60+ 31min44s Matt Scrase X 13/12/20
Men 70+ 39min33s Mike Smith X 18/10/20
Women Sen 38min22s Jenny Phillips R 18/10/20
Women Jun 33min28s Sofia Brandon R 18/10/20
​
Penygarreg 8.5 mile course
Course record 23min03s Steven Prince 20/4/23
Seniors 23min03s Steven Prince 20/4/23
Junior Men 23min07s Oscar Davies 13/7/23
Men50+ 24min18s Justin Belcher 13/7/23
Men 60+ 29min10s Clive Powell 1/6/23
Men 70+ 35min04s Mike Smith 1/6/23
Junior Women 25min54s Freya Evans 1/6/23
​
Craig Goch Course
Course record 22min19s Oscar Davies 4/5/23
Seniors 23min20s Sam Holwill 15/6/23
Junior Men 22min19s Oscar Davies 4/5/23
Men 50+ 25min36s Justin Belcher 15/6/23
Men60+ 31min41s Kevin Dunster 4/5/23
Men 70+ 39min30s Mike Smith 4/5/23
Junior Women 27min50s Freya Evans 4/5/23
​
​
​