You leave the main road at Beulah, go to Abergwesyn, then you have 3 beautiful miles up the Irfon Valley to the Devils Staircase. There always used to be a control there which was a bit of a mixed blessing. The Staircase is the hardest climb on the ride because it is relentlessly steep, and quite long given the steepness. It's obviously do-able, but walking it is almost as fast and probably more efficient. After that you have 3 or 4 short stabby climbs, the last one being just after the phone box, then a long descent to Tregaron. After Tregaron you've no real climbing until Pontryhydigroes, where there is about 500m long climb up to the Hafod turn, where you have a short 1 in 5. There is another short one after Cwmystwyth and then it is more benign although there is a long one past the Élan Valley turn before the descent to Rhayader.
