Sunday 12th April: Llangorse - Hay on Wye - Llangorse

Start/Distance: Llangorse Lake Car Park 9:30am, 50miles, 7hrs approx.

Route: Llangorse - Bwlch - Llangynidr - Crickhowell - Cwmyoy - Llanthony (coffee) - Hay via Gospel Pass (lunch) - Talgarth - Llangorse

Terrain/Ride Category: All road Strenuous

Ride Leader/Contact: Graham Davies

Feedback: Thanks for a great ride today Grae!  It was tough but the scenery made it well worth the effort. Rosemary

 

April 16th - 23rd, Week long trip to Mallorca...

Deadline 31st October 2014, after that date you'll need to make your own arrangements.

Useful links for flights, bikes and accomodation:

https://www.easyjet.com/en/

http://www.velosportmallorca.com/Kontakt/Rental_Bikes/rental_bikes.html

http://www.flora-pollensa.com/?i=ing

 

 

Sunday 26th April: 4 Castles ride

Start/Distance: Abergavenny Train Station @ 10.00am, 35miles.(Train from Cardiff arrives at 09.20am - return train to Cardiff at 3.19pm & 4.19pm)

Route:  Click to view GPX download

Terrain/Ride Category: Some hills, Suitable for all bikes Moderate

Ride Leader/Contact: Dave Miles

 

 

Sunday 10th May: Cardiff - Caerleon - Return

Start/Distance: Car Park outside Penylan Library and Community Centre (at bottom of Penylan Hill), Cardiff 9.15 am for 9.30 am departure, 40 Miles, 5-6hrs

Route: Click to view GPX download

Terrain/Ride Category: Trail & Road - Suitable for all bikes, Easy

Ride Leader/Contact: Mel Prunchie

Feedback: Thanks Mel - lovely ride today, great turnout and what a good café find.  Graham.

- Thanks Mel. An interesting and well organised ride. Ray.

 

 

 

Sunday 17th May: Bwlch round trip

Start/Distance: St. Fagans Crossroads, 09.00 Start, 108km/68miles.

Route: St Fagans heading for City - Pencoed - Coity - Bryncethin - Llangeinor - Maesteg - Bwlch - Blackmill - Llanharan - Llanharri - Castell Mynach - home.

Stops at Coity/Blackmill. Option to do a 55km/35mile loop Coity - Bwlch - Coity loop. If you are happy to start from Coity - Please contact John if you are starting from Coity!

Terrain/Ride Category: Suitable for road bikes, keeping to small roads and bike trails where possible - all tarmacked. Strenuous

Ride Leader/Contact: John Griffith

Feedback: Thanks John for a fab ride out today. Really enjoyed it - as did everyone I think! Please thank your sister and her family for their hospitality. Shirley.

 

 

 

May 22nd - 25th, Headcorn, Kent... 

 Bank holiday weekend in Headcorn in the Weald of Kent.

Ride Leader/Contact: Juls Sims & John Hufton

 

Both the Saturday and Sunday rides (55-60 miles) will start/end/intersect at Headcorn. When I looked for accommodation in Headcorn it was a bit expensive and sparse. So I changed tack after chatting to John and looked for a nearby village. Which I found in Hawkenbury, it has a cracking CAMRA pub (Hawkenbury Inn - food/beer highly rated) which is also a B&B, and a lovely little B&B nearby which, between them, will hopefully accommodate the number of people who said they would be interested in coming for the weekend.

 

Just in case people didn't want to stay in Hawkenbury the options I could find in Headcorn are below. Hoping everyone who does want to come will stay in Hawkenbury.

 

The two Hawkenbury options are:

Hawkenbury Inn   - 1 twin, 2 doubles     accommodation in a stable block away from the pub so quiet      - £65 per room inc. breakfast (Martin & Judith are here)

Four Oaks               - 1 twin & 2 doubles    has a very good reputation, the 2 doubles share a bathroom      - doubles £60 inc. breakfast (John and I are here)

 

Headcorn options:

Wilderness B&B                  http://www.wildernessbandb.co.uk/        - £84 per night (over a mile from central Headcorn)

Weald of Kent Hotel             http://www.weald-of-kent.co.uk/ - £60 per night - room only breakfast £8 per person (over a mile from central Headcorn)

Self catering                   http://www.curtis-farm-kent.co.uk/index.html     - £50 per night min 3 nights (over 2 miles from Headcorn)

 

Airbnb - central Headcorn        https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/1096797    - £55 breakfast £4 extra

 

 

Sunday 31st May: Cardiff - Ewenny - Return

Start/Distance: Pedal Power - Pontcanna Fields, Cardiff, 09.30 Start

Ride Leader/Contact: Glen Dermody

 

 

Sunday 7th June: Cardiff - Bridgend - Return

Start/Distance: Llandaff Bridge(Hayley park) @ 09.30am, approx. 45 Miles

Route: Click to view GPX download

Terrain/Ride Category: A&B-roads plus lanes, Suitable for all bikes. Hopefully lunch in Coity, but bring food just in case. Moderate

Ride Leader/Contact: Dave Miles

Feedback: Fabulous scenery - only slightly marred by distant cyclists! Thanks again Dave. Graham 

 

 

Sunday 14th June: Monmouth - Wye Valley Ride

Start/Distance: Monmouth Riverside car park NP25 3EG @ 9.30am.(1 hour from Cardiff and Talgarth, turn left after tunnel going north ,right over bridge and left) , 55 miles, 6 hours.

Route: Monmouth, Symonds Yat, Ross-on-Wye, How Capel, Fawley, Fownhope (limited tea stop) , Hoarwithey, Llangarron, Goodrich Castle (2nd cafe stop), Monmouth. New return route!.

Terrain/Ride Category: Flat sections with occasional short hills, generally undulating, no big hills. Generally follows Wye river valley. Suitable for all bikes, Moderate

Ride Leader/Contact: Chris Metcalfe

 

 

Sunday 21st June: Garwnant - Rhigos

Start/Distance: The Albion Café, Cilfynydd @ 10am, 48 Miles.

Route: Click to view GPX download

Terrain/Ride Category: 3500 ft ascent, Strenuous

Ride Leader/Contact: Dave Jenkins

Feedback: Thanks Dave for a fabulous ride today - enjoyed every minute of it. Thank you all for your company. Shirley.

- Thanks for leading the ride today Dave. I enjoyed the day and got back safely. David Miller

- Nice ride today, thanks to everyone who turned up and I hope everyone got home safely.

 

 

 

Sunday 28st June: Usk - Symonds Yat - Usk

Start/Distance: Maryport Car park, Usk @ 9.30am. 54miles, 6hrs approx.

Route: Usk - Maryport - Usk. Coffee/lunch stop at either PedalAway in the Forest of Dean or at Symonds Yat Rock.

Terrain/Ride Category: 3500ft ascent, Strenuous

Ride Leader/Contact: Adrian Orringe

 

 

30th June - 6th July, Coast to Coast - 5 Day UK trip...

The aim of this tour is to make a coast to coast crossing of northern England and return on a less

conventional and shorter route than normal. This trip will start and finish on the west coast of England

justnorth of the Lake District. During the five days cycling we will cross the Pennines from west to east 

descending the Wear valley to stay in Durham for 2 nights. After reaching the east coast north of Hartlepool

we will then re-cross the Pennines via the Tees valley.

The route will be on tarmac roads and cycle ways and should be suitable for all bikes. The total mileage is

250 miles and will involve some sustained climbs to 2000feet over the Pennines. The ride will be supported

for the transport of luggage.

 

We will be staying for 6 nights in B&B and Youth Hostel accommodation.

Costs will be £220 to include 6 nights accommodation and breakfasts and support costs.

Because of the very limited availability of accommodation at many of our stops and the popularity of

student accommodation in Durham.

 

 

Sunday 12th July: Cardiff - Merthyr Tydfil - Return

Start/Distance: Muddy Bums, Rhiwbina, 09,30am, 52 miles, 5-6hrs approx.

Route: Cardiff - Ystrad Mynach - Merthyr Tydfil(cafe stop) - Abercynon - Home

Terrain/Ride Category: Undulating route going out, return route completely flat. Route going out is quite exposed in places, so an alternative route has been prepared in case of high winds.(alternative route has 1/4mile gravel section) Suitable for all bikes Moderate

Ride Leader/Contact: Claus Sogaard

Feedback: Another cracker of a sunday ride from Claus. Fantastic to find new trails and roads (for me anyway) UP undulating to Rhymney. A mere mortal like me would say the ride out was moderate-LY HARD. Thanks Claus. Chris M.

 

 

Sunday 19th July: Cardiff Loops

Start/Distance: National Museum, Cardiff. 09.30am, 48miles

Route: National Museum - Wentloog Flats - Rudry - Caerphilly - Pontypridd - Llantrisant - Pentyrch - Tongwynlais - Home. Option of Easy 25mile loop also starting from the museum @ 09.30am.

Terrain/Ride Category: Suitable for all bikes Easy, Strenuous

Ride Leader/Contact: Shon Williams

Feedback: Very enjoyable ride this morning with some really nice people. Thanks to Shon for leading and perhaps next time I can go for the full version! Cheers, Dean.

- Just to echo Dean's comments. After the initial rainy start the weather was brilliant. A good route with some great scenery and nearly 4000 feet of climb. Dave M

- Thanks Shon for a great ride today, lovely scenery, lots of climbing and fab company. The weather was perfect too! Rosemary

 

July 24th - 26th, Porlock Barbecue/Cycle Weekend...

A social weekend on the lines of the event held in Porlock last year. The main activity being the BBQ at Roger Hall’s place. The itinerary for the weekend includes a cycle ride on the Saturday, followed by a BBQ at Roger and Di’s in the evening. Sunday, there will be a walk led by Roger.

 

 

Sunday 2nd August: Brecon Beacons Round trip

Start/Distance: Brecons Beacons Visitor Centre, near Libanus, in good time to depart at 9.30am promptly; distance 35 miles approximately,

Route: quiet scenic roads, possibly some canal tow-path, hilly terrain

Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate

Ride Leader/Contact: Tony Ritson

Feedback: Thanks Tony for a great ride yesterday, lovely scenery and good company. Rosemary 

 

 

Sunday 9th August: Caerleon - Usk - Return

Start/Distance: Caerleon Ampitheatre car park.(free parking) 09.30am, 48miles approx/6hrs

Route: Caerleon - Usk - Return

Terrain/Ride Category: Suitable for all bikes, Moderate

Ride Leader/Contact: Gareth O Thomas

 

 

 

August 14th - 16th, Oxford...

Intention is to stay in campus accommodation at either Magdalen or Keble College. This will need to be booked fairly quickly after the AGM, if agreed. These places tend to fill up very quickly. Cost for a single room in Magdalen without breakfast is £45 a night. Keble currently has singles for £60(£70 quad facing) and doubles and twins for £75(£100 for quad facing). This includes breakfast. People can also make their own B&B or campsite bookings if they so wish.

Ride Leader/Contact: Glen Dermody

Feedback: A great trip, many thanks Glen. Carl.

 

Sunday 6th September: Cowbridge - Margam round trip

Start/Distance: Brookfield Park Road, Cowbridge, CF71 7HJ at 9.30am, 45miles approx, 6hrs

Route: Cowbridge to Porthcawl, onto Margam café and back via Cefn Cribbwr

Terrain/Ride Category: Very few hills, Moderate

Ride Leader/Contact: Roger Bradshaw

Feedback: The weather could not have been better, a very interesting route. Thanks Roger

 

 

Sunday 13th September: Cardiff - Llanwonno - Home

Start/Distance: Lewis Arms, Tongwynlais @ 10am, 33miles

Route: Tea stop at Tonypandy. Lunch at pub in Llanwonno

Terrain/Ride Category: Steep Climbs, Any Bike Moderate

Ride Leader/Contact: Ray Robins

 

 

Sunday 20th September: Abergavenny - Crickhowell - Return

Start/Distance: Abergavenny Railway Station car park.(£3 per day) 9:30am, 34miles, approx/5-6hrs

Route: Abergavenny – Blaenavon – Brynmawr – Crickhowell - Stanton - Return

Terrain/Ride Category: Short but Strenuous, suitable for all bikes

Ride Leader/Contact: Rachel Jones

 

 

Sunday 27th September: Vale of Glamorgan - Cowbridge

Start/Distance: Lewis Arms, Tongwynlais @ 09.30, 35miles, 5hrs approx.

Route: Fairwater - Ely - Vale of Glamorgan - Cowbridge - Cardiff

Terrain/Ride Category: Suitable for all bikes Moderate

Ride Leader/Contact: Mike Cranwell

Feedback: Incorporating a walk to Beaupre Castle, and thanks to Chris M for watching the bikes.

- Well done Mike. Nice bit of culture for a change. Pretty clever to get Lloyd Williams to meet us at the cafe too!

 

 

Tuesday 29th September, Spokes at the Newport Velodrome...

The session is booked for 20.30 till 22.00. Anyone wanting to participate should email Claus with their

intentions. Numbers are limited to 16 riders, but you are also welcome to come along for the

introduction(free) and cheer on those who have the courage to try a few laps "on the boards"

Cost for the session is fixed and shared equally between the participants. £10 pp If we get 16 riders on the night

You will also need to hire a track bike(£10 pp) for the evening.

The session briefly consists of:

- An introduction to track cycling - bikes/track rules/do's and dont's/questions etc.

- On-track cycling session supervised by an appointed coach.

Contact: Claus Sogaard

Feedback: Thanks to Claus for organising the Velodrome event, great night ,really enjoyed it. Dave

- Ditto what Dave said! What a fabulous night out! Shirley.

 

 

Sunday 4th October: 3 Mountain Challenge

Start/Distance: The Albion Cafe, Cilfynedd @ 09.30, 61 miles, 6 hrs approx.

Route: Cilfynedd - Llantrisant - Ogmore Vale - Penderyn - Merthyr Tydfil - Home

Terrain/Ride Category: 4800 ft of climbing, Strenuous

Ride Leader/Contact: Dave Jenkins

Feedback: A rare outing for me with Spokes this year and well worth it, varied terrain & good circular route exploring the valleys & mtns. Ade.

- Mission accomplished, thanks to everyone who turned up today. Dave

 

 

10th - 11th October 2015, Hay-on-Wye...

Juls and Johns weekend takes in the beautiful landscape around Hay-on-Wye.

Saturday: Round trip Hay to Hereford and back, Suitable for all bikes, but road best. 

Start: 9:15am in Hay main car park, approx. 58 miles, Moderate to Strenuous

Sunday: Round trip Hay to Libanus mountain centre and back. Suitable for all bikes, but road best.

Start: 9:15am in Hay main car park, approx. 45 miles, Moderate

 

Plenty of accommodation available in and around Hay. Juls would very much like to hear

from anyone wanting to join her and John on the weekend. 

Contact: Julie Sims

Feedback: Thanks to John & Juls for organising, and great routes. Dave M.

 

 

 

Sunday 18th October: Cardiff - Pontsticill - Return

Start/Distance: The Lewis Arms, Tongwynlais. @10am, 49miles, 5hrs approx. 

Route: On and off the Taff Trail towards Pontsticill, food options may be limited at the Red Cow - so bring a sandwich if you don't want to be disappointed. If there's consensus a few miles up the road there will be plenty of coffee stop options at Talybont-on-usk.

Terrain/Ride Category: Flat roads and the Taff trail, Suitable for all bikes, Easy

Ride Leader/Contact: Claus Sogaard

Feedback: 'Easy Claus ride! You can't be serious!' Well it was no surprise that it wasn't! But no one warned our lovely young Swiss student. Great ride, great company, great pub stop (amazing tea pot!), but with all the talk of insurance cover definitely another dodgy ride description. Chris M.

- Thanks for leading the ride Claus. Had a great time with fab company. Some of those gradients burned off lots of calories! Btw our Swiss friend arrived safely in Grangetown. Hope she slept as well as I did...Shirley.

 

 

Sunday 25th October: Redwick round trip

Start/Distance: Caerleon Ampitheatre car park.(free parking), @10am, 38miles

Route: Click GPX download to view the route

Terrain/Ride Category: Suitable for all bikes, Moderate

Ride Leader/Contact: Jackie Price

Feedback: Great ride today, really enjoyed it..Dave J.

 

 

Spokes has no official ride activities from 1st November  till the end of March 2016. However, members usually meet on Sundays @ 10am by the Lewis Arms in Tongwynlais for an informal ride to be determind by the participants.

 

 

Saturday 5th December, Spokes Christmas Party...

By popular demand we are arranging another skittles night at the Halfway Hotel in Llandaff. The event will be subsidised by the club. The cost will be £5 per person and will include a buffet and prizes.