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A nice descent brought us to the
junction by Llechrydau farm and
the last climb. Near the top I
stopped to take some photos and
was told Nick had broken his
chain. I dropped back to see how
he was and, halfway down, saw
him coming. As I rode back to the
main group Sally, his other half,
was walking towards me so I
shouted that he was ok. Although
junction by Llechrydau farm and
the last climb. Near the top I
stopped to take some photos and
was told Nick had broken his
chain. I dropped back to see how
he was and, halfway down, saw
him coming. As I rode back to the
main group Sally, his other half,
was walking towards me so I
shouted that he was ok. Although
I had to answer a couple of emails asking whether the Shop Ride was still on. The gales in the week
leading up to the ride had blown a lot of trees down and there were concerns the trails would be blocked.
As the weather for Sunday was looking ok I had no plans to cancel. I did take precautions though, and
revised the route, making it a bit shorter and using trails with the least amount of trees. On Sunday the
main lay-by in Glyn Ceiriog was so full I couldn’t park in my usual spot and by the time everyone had arrived
there were 19 of us. It seemed there were plenty of people prepared to brave the odd fallen tree.
leading up to the ride had blown a lot of trees down and there were concerns the trails would be blocked.
As the weather for Sunday was looking ok I had no plans to cancel. I did take precautions though, and
revised the route, making it a bit shorter and using trails with the least amount of trees. On Sunday the
main lay-by in Glyn Ceiriog was so full I couldn’t park in my usual spot and by the time everyone had arrived
there were 19 of us. It seemed there were plenty of people prepared to brave the odd fallen tree.
Unlike usual I didn’t inflict a long climb on
everyone right at the start, there were a
couple of miles on the road before that.
We enjoyed the warm up and rode through
the valley in golden sunlight and under
blue skies. It was such a great day we
didn’t mind stopping in Tregeiriog for
Vasco to fix his puncture. This may have
been the first of the day but as we would
come to realise, definitely not the last.
| A full car park in Glyn Ceiriog |
| Vasco with the first puncture |
Just outside Tregeiriog the off-road started as we climbed out of the valley.
The trail was long and steep with the first section being the hardest. It had
some people questioning my parentage, but it eased off in the middle. We came
to the first fallen tree, at the beginning the final steep section, but found we
didn’t have to climb over as there was room to go around.
| Stewart (left) and Nick, Ken and Ian (above) on the hard part of the climb out of Treigeiriog |
At the top we had to contend with the deep
muddy ruts that led to the first descent.
muddy ruts that led to the first descent.
There were three more fallen trees here, and they did need climbing
over. They weren’t huge trees but they were hawthorns. It wasn’t a
surprise that the second puncture happened here. It was worth the
effort though as the rocky descent down the flanks of Hen Craig was
fantastic. It was quite difficult at times and being blinded by the sun
reflecting off the water running down the trail didn’t make it any easier.
over. They weren’t huge trees but they were hawthorns. It wasn’t a
surprise that the second puncture happened here. It was worth the
effort though as the rocky descent down the flanks of Hen Craig was
fantastic. It was quite difficult at times and being blinded by the sun
reflecting off the water running down the trail didn’t make it any easier.
| Gwyneth on the easier middle section |
| The first fallen tree |
| A few more fallen trees |
| (left to right) Shaun, Jim, Ken, Nic and Sally on the Hen Craig descent |
The weather changed, and we rode up the flanks of Gryn Moelfre being chased by steely grey snow
clouds. Halfway up, waiting for another puncture, we were glad to see the clouds part and the next valley
over disappear under the snow shower. It was cold and windy and we could do without sleety snow.
Thankfully it wasn’t snowing at the top either. The puncture had to be fixed again as there had been more
than one thorn in the tyre.
clouds. Halfway up, waiting for another puncture, we were glad to see the clouds part and the next valley
over disappear under the snow shower. It was cold and windy and we could do without sleety snow.
Thankfully it wasn’t snowing at the top either. The puncture had to be fixed again as there had been more
than one thorn in the tyre.
| Paul, Simon, Vasco and Ian leading the climb up Gyrn Meolfre |
| Being chased by the weather |
| Nic and Sally (above) and Rob (below) descending off Gyrn Moelfre |
At last we were flying down the grassy descent and heading back into the sun.
It turned into rocky double track lower down and the higher speeds almost
claimed a few victims. I signalled for the sharp corner at the bottom, some
braked hard and others overshot. No one actually collided but there were a
few nervous laughs.
We climbed out of the valley on a hedge-lined lane covered in wind blown
branches. Now used to the way things were going we stood around at the top
and had a good chat while the last of the group caught up after fixing puncture
No5. Me and Rob were having such a good chat we didn’t even notice
everyone had caught up until I heard “Are we riding our what??”.
The next section was off-road and uphill. The steep start to the climb was
covered in loose rocks and had a few people walking. Even when things
levelled off a bit it was hard to keep going. Riding muddy ruts in a gusty side
It turned into rocky double track lower down and the higher speeds almost
claimed a few victims. I signalled for the sharp corner at the bottom, some
braked hard and others overshot. No one actually collided but there were a
few nervous laughs.
We climbed out of the valley on a hedge-lined lane covered in wind blown
branches. Now used to the way things were going we stood around at the top
and had a good chat while the last of the group caught up after fixing puncture
No5. Me and Rob were having such a good chat we didn’t even notice
everyone had caught up until I heard “Are we riding our what??”.
The next section was off-road and uphill. The steep start to the climb was
covered in loose rocks and had a few people walking. Even when things
levelled off a bit it was hard to keep going. Riding muddy ruts in a gusty side
wind was proving difficult and there were a lot of
dabs.
dabs.
| PaulB and Nick on the Bwlchydonge climb |
| Sally and Mark having fun ride the ruts in a strong cross wind |
| Ian, water splash near Llechrydau Farm |
| Ian, PaulB & Rob near the Old Hanger |
| Wendy & Paul on the Spring Hill Wood descent, the last of the day |
| Riding through the fields across Pen y Gwely |
she was glad to hear it she was more interested in getting the tube out
of his pack to fix her puncture.
We only had a little way to ride, through a couple of fields and along
some muddy but rideable ruts, to the final descent. The loose rocky
descent was fast and fun, a great end to the ride, although we did
have to wait at the bottom for Stewart to fix his pinch flat.
We got back to the cars at 2.30pm and taken about 4½ hrs to ride 17.5
miles. The 7 punctures and 1 broken chain had slowed us down a bit.
That really didn’t seem to have mattered as everyone had enjoyed the
ride, which is what it’s all about.
I'd just like to thank to everyone who turned up and express my
sympathy to Higgs who didn't make it because his car wouldn't start.
of his pack to fix her puncture.
We only had a little way to ride, through a couple of fields and along
some muddy but rideable ruts, to the final descent. The loose rocky
descent was fast and fun, a great end to the ride, although we did
have to wait at the bottom for Stewart to fix his pinch flat.
We got back to the cars at 2.30pm and taken about 4½ hrs to ride 17.5
miles. The 7 punctures and 1 broken chain had slowed us down a bit.
That really didn’t seem to have mattered as everyone had enjoyed the
ride, which is what it’s all about.
I'd just like to thank to everyone who turned up and express my
sympathy to Higgs who didn't make it because his car wouldn't start.
This route is a slight variation to the ride described in my route guides. |