Sometimes different is better – though there’s still lots to be said for familiar and popular stuff. So even though this route that hops from Wales to England and back again does use some stretches of classic Welsh biking roads, it also mixes in some stunning side roads that are, perhaps, a bit different.

 

Mind you, when you’re riding around Builth Wells, you are spoilt for choice. There are plenty of brilliant B-roads all around. The challenge is always to combine them in fresh ways that flow harmoniously while delivering an extra surprise or two (I don’t mean sheep jumping out on the roads, though that’s always a possibility).

 

Everyone knows the A483, and it’s a solid way to start this route. But then things branch off, heading south and then east to cross the border, swinging back into Wales to pick up the Upper Chapel/Lower Chapel road from Brecon – linking them with miles of my favourite back roads.

 

If you didn’t get the pun in the route title, there’s a song by Lady Gaga (I know, not very punk of me) called Born This Way – in which she celebrates being a bit different, though in a very familiar chart-friendly way. It just seemed appropriate for this route: a bit different, but also crowd-pleasingly familiar. Why not pop out and try it this weekend?