DyerStraits,
at the risk of boring the rabble, I'll try to highlight. took a self guided tour with a company that set up the B&Bs, shuttled luggage. got maps from the Ordnance survey. noticed a lot of Double hashes(>>) indicating grades over 20%. As you know, on a bike, that can feel like riding up the side of a building. so, my bike got a lot of rest at times, while I "merrily" pushed it along on more than one occasion(used a lot of words that rhymed with duck that first day). The wife and are fit and avid cyclists, but, Wow, Wales was a butt kicker. Rode from Abergavenny to Brecon(over the Black mountains). Then big loop around Brecon Beacons, on to Rhayader. Killer route to Hay on Wye. From Hay, an ascent above the mist through one hellacious and hellaciously scenic pass. Gorgeous trip. Met lots of future kilt material growers-sheep sheep sheep. Would do it again in a heartbeat. Tough tough cycling but great scenery and every greater people.