A Club affiliated to Cycling UK covering Cardiff & South Wales
Spokes Cycle Touring Club
Spokes 2012 Events
Spokes 2011 events...Spokes 2010 events...
Shobdon, Herefordshire
June 1st - 3rd (Leader - Mike Hutchinson)
Contact: Glen dermody
Accomodation : Self booking
The legendary big man glides us on his birthday bash around his home byways.
The Club’s weekender in Shobdon will be celebrating legendary big Mike's birthday!
We will be gliding along the bucollic lanes of cider country.
There is accommodation available at The Bateman Arms, where we will eat in the evening. There is also The Beeches Camp Site just outside the village.
Wiltshire Cycleway
Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th March (Leader - Dave Miles)
The 2012 season kicks off with this new event in the Wiltshire countryside using the local cycleways.
2 day rides starting from a B&B in Chippenham.
Saturday ride, 45- 50miles, circular route, Chippenham – Malborough – Salisbury – Wincanton, Mere, Frome – Chippenham.
Sunday ride, 25 mile circular route North of Chippenham.
Proposed accommodation - Aparthotel Flora which is 200m from beach and is in centre of Porta Pollensa. Martin has managed to negotiate direct with the hotel, a rate of 245 Euros per apartment for the week. Each apartment comprises one bedroom which has two single beds and then there are two sofa beds in the kitchen/living area, so they will take 4 people which would result in a very cheap option. Most last year had apartment between 2 or 3. Breakfast is not included but can be added when at the hotel for 7 euros.
Flight - Easyjet from Bristol to Palma Majorca on Wednesday 18 April 2012 leaving at 6.00am and returning on Wednesday 25th April at 10.00am see www.easyjet.com
Bike hire - http://www.velosportmallorca.com/Kontakt/Rental_Bikes/rental_bikes.html choose between type C or type F. Please forward Martin details of size of bike required, type of pedals (or take your own), whether you want a ladies saddle or not. It is strongly recommended that you do not choose a Type A bike as they have proved to be less than suitable for the longer rides that we tend to do. They are heavy and have large section tyres. Having said that if you only intend doing shorter local rides then these will be suitable for you.
Airport transfers - once I know the numbers going from Bristol Martin will arrange the transfers. If you are using a different airport to fly from at a different time then you will need to arrange transfers yourself.
IMPORTANT
If you'd like to come along go to the easyjet web site and book your flight NOW as the sooner you do it the cheaper it is. Once you have booked your flight contact Martin confirming you have done so and (you will be expected to stump up £50.00 made out to Spokes CTC and sent to Martin as a non-returnable deposit). Martin would preferably like to have your confirmations by end of October so that he can secure the accommodation before all the rooms are taken by others. Don't forget it is a very popular area with cyclists at the time of year we are going
Welsh Coast Tour, St David's, Pembrokeshire
Friday 25 – Sun 27 May (Leader – Ivor Rodway)
Saintly Ivor leads us on a pilgrimage around the byways of West Wales -This weekender will be based around Newport (nr. St. Davids) - 2 circular rides from Porthgain, including a ride over the Preseli hills.
There will be two rides of approx. 50 miles, one roaming around the
Preselli hills, a stunningly beautiful area to explore.
Some recommended accomodation are:
- The Golden Lion & The salutation - Bed & Breakfast
- Llwyngwair Manor Holiday Park - Bed & Breakfast, Self Catering
& Camping Fully Licensed
- Morawelon Camping & Caravanning - Camping - waterfront café
· cafe bar and restaurant
Gloucester
Saturday 23rd - 24th June - Leader - Glen Dermody
A summer trip to the old Roman town?
Cardiff – Chepstow – Gloucester
The intention is to leave the centre of Cardiff on Saturday morning. Accomodation: Holiday Inn Express in Gloucester.
This hotel is on the outskirts of Gloucester in Waterwells Business Park, Quedgeley, near junction 12 of the M5. It is easily accessed by bike and on a nice route through the West Country. It has a pub/restaurant on site which serves several real ales and decent food. The rooms are currently £51 each and include a complimentary breakfast. Not sure how long this rate will remain available but I believe you will need to book at least 21 days in advance. Can you let Glen know when you have booked. If you are looking to share then contact Glen at g.dermody@ntlworld.com and he will try and find you a partner. We will travel via Newport and Chepstow and cross the channel using the old Severn Bridge. Glen will try and vary the route back although options here may be limited. There will be no support vehicle so people will be expected to carry their own luggage.
As this will only be a change of clothes for the night and cycle gear for the following day, this should not be too much trouble. Although a fair portion of the trip will be on cycle routes, these are well maintained, so a road or touring bike is preferable.The finish on Sunday will be late afternoon. If people want to finish early, then it may be possible to travel to Chepstow by car or train and join/leave the trip there.
Venture Ride - French Alps
Sun 26 August – Mon 10 Sept
Leader – Martin Pingle
The big mountain challenge returns....will you be there?
Cardiff - Alps - Cardiff -26 August - 10th September 2012 - Fully subscribed!
Team Leader - Martin Pingle
Support Driver - Roger Hall
This 2 week long venture ride will be one of the biggest challenges for our riders! The current planning has reached the stage where no more entries are accepted although a reserve list will be maintained should any current riders have to drop out. The route will take in some of the most famous Cols from the Tour de France but still allow time off should riders opt out from a cycling ride. However the expectation is for riders to cycle most of the route. Baggage will be handled by the well known support driver Roger Hall who will provide his usual high standard to cyclist needs. The accumulative height gain of all the major climbs is about 55,500ft - only twice the height of Everest! Accumulative distance for whole ride is approx. 516 miles.
Transport will be by hired minibus and start from and return to Cardiff.
Cardiff to Talgarth, S.Wales
Sat 15th - Sun 16th Sept (Leader – Ray Robins)
Cardiff – Chepstow – Abergavenny – Cardiff.
Staying in Talgarth. 110 miles in total.
This is kite country so why not fly around with us?
Saturday 15th - Sunday 16th September
Chepstow – Abergavenny - Talgarth – Cardiff.
Event Leader: Ray Robins
A beautiful part of the country with plenty of quiet country roads to enjoy. Distances: 110 miles over 2 days
A weekender, unsupported ride, 110 miles in distance, taking in Chepstow- Usk – Abergavenny -Talgarth ( NCR 42)- Talybont - Merthyr – Pontypridd - Cardiff ( NCR 8).
Cycling will be on a mix of lanes and cycle trails. Route will undulating with steep climbs on the way to Talgarth and from Talybont. Any bike. But, cyclists are advised to ensure that they have suitable tyres on their bikes for the stretches on trails.
Start time and place. Saturday 10.30 hrs Chepstow train station
Cycling days :
Saturday-Chepstow to Talgarth ( 55 miles)
Sunday -Talgarth to Cardiff (55 miles) . Route details on Lon Las Cymru-South map
Accommodation: One night's B and B in Talgarth. Approx £35
Costs: Band B and cost of car or train to Chepstow
If you want more information before you commit yourself to this trip please get in touch with Ray.
Forest of Dean, Glocs.
Sat 13 – Sun 14 October (Leader – Glen Dermody)
An on/off-road event.. depending on numbers
Why not say goodbye to the summer with our last ride of the year!
The club's last weekender of the year will be led as an on/off road (depending on numbers and preference) event in the beautiful Forest of Dean.
Accomodation recomendation is The Fountain , this pub offers B&B as well as bunkhouse type accomodation.
Majorca
Wednesday 18 – Wednesday 25 April (Leader – Martin Pingel)
Now in its 6th successful year! Muchas Gracias!
You know you'll love it!
Destination - Porta Pollensa, Majorca
