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Spokes Cycle Touring Club
Spokes 2019 Activity summary...
Sunday 31st March: Vale Ride
Start/Distance: Cowbridge CF71 7HJ, 10.00am, 25 miles
Route/GPX download: Colwinston to Ewenny then follow the coast road Colwinston to Ewenny then follow the coast road Llandough and Llanblethian about25 miles with one Avoidable hill up to Norton and about 3/4 mile fairly Rough track also avoidable.
Terrain/Ride Category: Easy
Ride Leaders/Contact: Roger Bradshaw, email: 7millbrow@gmail.com
Sunday 7th April: Brecon - Hay on Wye Circular
Start/Distance: The National Park Visitor Centre, Libanus Brecon LD3 8ER. Start 9:30am, please be there at 9:15am. You will need £3 for the car park. 45 miles, approx. Time of ride 4 hours cycling and an hour for lunch, should be back by 3:30pm barring mechanicals.
Route/GPX download: Mostly back lanes with beautiful views of black mountains along the way, quiet and undulating roads. We will only use busy roads to cross to the quieter lanes. Lunch in Hay-on-Wye.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate
Ride Leaders/Contact: Julie Sims email: julie.sims@bt.com
April 10th - 17th: Majorca
Book your own flights; available from Bristol (Easyjet) or Cardiff (Vueling)
Staying at the Aparthotel Flora apartments in Puerto de Pollenca
Organiser: Gareth Thomas
This event is now officially closed.
You may by all means still join us, but you will have to make all your own arrangements. ie book your flight, The Flora hotel, bike hire and arrange your own transfers.
Please do still inform Gareth
Sunday 21st April: Cardiff - Llantrisant - Porth Circular
Start/Distance: Tongwynlais, Lewis Arms at 10.00 am, 35 miles
Route/GPX download: Radyr - Peterston SE - Ystradowen - Llantrisant - Porth - Pontypridd - Home
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate 2400ft Climbing
Ride Leaders/Contact: Claus Sogaard, email: lakesideracer@hotmail.com
Thank you Claus for a great ride on Sunday including some lovely new lanes in the Vale I'd not ridden before. And what luxury to have two coffee stops! Clare
Sunday 28th April: : Bedwas - Caerphilly Ride
Start/Distance: Tongwynlais, Lewis Arms at 10.00 am, 30 miles
Route/GPX download: Taff trail to Quakers Yard, Lanes & trails to Nelson - Maesycymmer - Bedwas - Caerphilly, trails from Caerphilly to Tongwynlais.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate
Ride Leaders/Contact: Ray Robins, email: ray.robins1927@gmail.com
Sunday 5th May: Cardiff - Cowbridge Circular
Start/Distance: Tongwynlais, Lewis Arms at 09.30 am, 40+ miles
Route/GPX download: Pentyrch, Llantrisant, Tonyrefail, Mynydd Y Gaer, Coity, Colwinston, Cowbridge, Welsh St. Donats, Cardiff.
Terrain/Ride Category: Strenuous Some steep hills, 4000ft Climbing
Ride Leaders/Contact: Dave Miles / Mike Cranwell, email: davemiles2@hotmail.com
Sunday 12th May: Cardiff - Newport - Caerleon - return
Start/Distance: Pedal Power @ 10am, Plenty of Car Parking at Pontcanna changing rooms. 57miles - a fair proportion of ride is flat.
Route/GPX download: GPX link: Here Going down the flats to Magor via the Transporter bridge(if its open) where we will have our first cafe stop after 20 odd miles. Then its over to Wentwood on the west side of the reservoir, we then head for Newbridge on usk where we go over the usk and then up towards Tredunnock, turn left towards Ivybridge and then head for Caerleon and another coffee stop. (Magor and back for those not feeling like wentwood) Its then along cycle trails and the canal to basseleg and the route 4 back to Cardiff.
Terrain/Ride Category: Strenuous
Ride Leaders/Contact: Ivor Rodway / Martin Watson, email: malivo@aol.com
Fantastic ride today. Thanks Ivor. Ray
Sunday 19th May: Gospel Pass Circular
Start/Distance: 10.00 am at the Skirrid Inn, Llanvihangel Crucorney, Abergavenny NP7 8DH, 36.6 miles. There is on-road parking near the pub.
Route/GPX download: Cycle to Hay-on-Wye via Llantony on Route 42, Lunch (and recovery) in Hay
0.5 mile on B4348, turn right onto minor road and follow it zig-zag fashion back to Llanvihangel Crucorney via Michaelchurch Escley. Google map LINK
Terrain/Ride Category: Strenuous 4000ft climbing
Ride Leaders/Contact: Dave Glover, email: daveglover@gmail.com
The ride went better than I had feared it might. Thank you all for your company and kind words. And the photos. Dave G
Sunday 26th May: Tongwynlais - Rhymney - Return
Start/Distance: Lewis Arms, Tongwynlais 10am, 43 miles,
Route/GPX download: GPX link Here Caerphilly - Nelson - Pontlottyn - Bargoed - Blackwood - Hengoed - Caerphilly - Home
Terrain/Ride Category: Strenuous, 3,235 feet of ascent
Ride Leaders/Contact: David Miller, email: david.cgmiller@gmail.com
Thank you Dave for an excellent route - a bit of everything. And we never got lost. What never? Well, hardly ever. MC
Saturday 1st June: Herefordshire, Mike Hutchinson 89th Birthday ride
This event will be held on Saturday 1st June. The ride will be no more than 50 miles and will be suitable for any bike. The route will be fairly flat and will take advantage of the quiet local country lanes. The meeting point at the start will be the large car park in front of Shobdon Stores. It is about a quarter of a mile past the Bateman Arms. Anyone arriving by car will be able to leave their vehicle there for the day.
The ride will start at 10am to allow people to travel up on the morning.
For those looking to stay on the Friday/Saturday night there is The Beeches Campsite about half a mile from Shobdon, 01568 708678 or http://www.thebeechescampsite.co.uk/.
NB. I believe The Bateman Arms (B&B) is fully booked for those nights, although worth checking.
If you are planning to attend can you please let me know on 0786 4984385 or g.dermody@ntlworld.com.
Organiser: Glen Dermody
Sunday 2nd June: Margam ride
Start/Distance: Cowbridge CF71 7HJ, 10.00am, 45 miles, 6 hours
Route/GPX download: Cowbridge, Bridgend, Porthcawl, Margam, Pyle Parc Slip nature reserve. Coffee/ice cream at Porthcawl, main stop at Margam Park.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate Very few hills
Ride Leaders/Contact: Roger Bradshaw, email: 7millbrow@gmail.com
Many thanks to Roger Bradshaw for organising and leading this ride. Almost all of the route was new to me, and really well chosen.Thanks again Dave G
Sunday 9th June: Jim’s Chepstow to Slimbridge return ride via Sharpness/Thornbury
Start/Distance: Cycle route adjacent to southbound layby on A466, 200 yards from M48 junction 2 (Chepstow turn off) at 9.30am, approx. 55 miles, approx. 6.5 hours, including stops.
Route/GPX download: GPX LINK Starts and finishes with spectacular views across Severn Bridge. Two tea stops.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate, generally flat & undulating with a few short climbs
Ride Leaders/Contact: Chris Metcalfe, email: cmetcalfe3@gmail.com, Tel: 07568490547
15/16th to 22/23rd June: Co Waterford, South Ireland
The trip will use the Fishguard/Rosslare ferry and will be based around the counties of Wexford, Waterford and Tipperary. The trip will be unsupported so we will need to travel between towns carrying our own luggage. The intentions is to remain in each location for one or more nights, which will allow us to cycle luggage free on non-travelling days. The towns are all just over 30 miles apart, so we would have the option on travelling days of reaching our destination by lunchtime, dropping off the luggage and cycling luggage-free in the afternoon.The first day will involve making your way to Fishguard to catch the 13:10 ferry. Reasonably priced car parking is available on the sea front. We will arrive at 16:25 and stay the first night within a few miles of the port. Our movements after that will depend on what deals are available but it will probably involve visiting Waterford, Dungarvan and Clonmel before returning to Rosslare. There are two options for the return ferry. We can cycle straight to the ferry port and catch the 18:10. This would dock in Fishguard at 21:25 and see us returning to Cardiff just before midnight. The second option would involve a night's stay in Rosslare and an early start the following morning for the 08:00 ferry.
The intention at the moment is to stay in "nice" hotels which tend to offer very good midweek deals. In terms of costs the ferry is currently £86 for a return trip with bike. I am working on a maximum of 50 euros (£45) a night for hotel rooms. Should the pound collapse over Brexit then we would always have the option of down-grading to B&B's to remain within budget. If you want an overall estimate I would suggest between £350-£400.
I need to settle on final numbers before I can get into any detailed planning. Therefore, if you are interested, can you contact me at g.dermody@ntlworld.com or on 0786 4984385.
The closing date is the 31st January.
Organiser Glen Dermody
Sunday 30th June: Monmouthshire mid summer rural ride
Start/Distance: Start from car park by Caerleon amphitheatre at 9.30 am, Approximately 60 miles
Route/GPX download: Going over Catsash via Llanwern and Bishton to Magor to begin ascent to Wentwood from Parc Seymour. Following route 42 to Earlswood before long descent into Usk through Llangwm for lunch After lunch to Raglan via Llandenny ( all lanes) and along Abergavenny Road picking up route 42 again via Bettws Newydd all the way to Llantrisant on the way back to Caerleon. Option for another coffee stop depending on cyclists.
Terrain/Ride Category: Mainly Moderate - strenuous in 3 short stretches through Wentwood. Beautiful scenic views
Ride Leaders/Contact: Jackie Thomas
email: jackiethomas18@icloud.com
Thanks again to Jackie and Karl for organising last Sunday's ride (Caerleon Northwards). And for the building site tour. Good luck with that! Dave Glover
Sunday 7th July: Cardiff - Parc Cwm Darren - Return
Start/Distance: Lewis Arms, Tongwynlais at 09.00, 50 miles, 7 hours
Route/GPX download: GPX LINK Tongwynlais, Taff Trail to Quakers Yard, Nelson, Ystrad Mynach, Fleur de Lys, Bargoed, lunch stop at Parc Cwm Darran, then Fochriw, Pentwyn, Gelligaer Common, Taff Bargoed, Trelewis, Parc Penallta, Maesycwmmer, Pandy lane, Caerphilly, Tongwynlais.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate Mainly on roads, lanes and trails. Big hill up to Pentwyn (followed by nice views on the common). Suitable for all bikes
Ride Leaders/Contact: Mel Pruchnie, email: mel.pruchnie@gmail.com
Sunday 14th July Four hills , Rhondda ride
Start/Distance: Lewis Arms, Tongwynlais @ 10.00, 35 miles
Route/GPX download: Tongwynlais - main road to Pentyrch - Efail Isaf - Beddau - Trebanog - Tonypandy - Penrhys - Blaenllechau - Llanwonno - Pontypridd, Taff Trail to Tongwynlais. Route mainly on lanes. Lunch stop. Key hills at Gwlaeodygarth - Capel(near Trebanog) Penrhys & Blaenllechau
Terrain/Ride Category: Strenuous
Ride Leaders/Contact: Ray Robins email: ray.robins1927@gmail.com
Sunday 21st July: Vale round trip
Start/Distance: 10:00 Meet at Pedal Power, Pontcanna Fields, approximately 35 miles
Route/GPX download: Fairwater - Peterston super Ely - Pendoylan - Hensol - Welsh St Donats - Cowbridge - St Mary Church - Llantrithyd - Peterston - Fairwater - Cardiff
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate
Ride Leaders/Contact: Clare Johnson, email: clarejohnson45@hotmail.co.uk
22nd - 28th July: Journey to the Source of the Thames
This will be a 5 night cycle camping trip leaving and finishing in Cardiff and making a circuit across the northern Cotswolds to the village of Kemble, to seek out the source of the Thames. Campsites along the way would be pre-arranged and distances would be 40/45 miles per day. The route would take in Chepstow, Frocester Bank, Kemble and Tetbury.
The trip will be unsupported. Participants will carry their own camping gear & kit.
Organiser Dave Griffiths, sad.griffs@yahoo.co.uk
Sunday 28th July: Chipping Sodbury
Start/Distance: Meet at big lay-by on the A466, just off the M48. (Southbound lay-by) 10.30 Start, about 40 miles
Route/GPX download: Strava map Link
Refreshment stop will be at about 24 miles in Chipping Sodbury
Terrain/Ride Category: Easy 1800ft of Climbing
Route Coordinator/Contact: Pete Jackson, email: pete4100@virginmedia.com
A pleasant ride on generally quite roads and tracks in fine sunny weather, if a little windy. A team of 9 enjoyed the day.
Sunday 4th August: Welcome to the valleys – a Jack Thurston Lost Lanes ride
Start/Distance: Start from Lewis Arms at 10.00h, 57 miles (round trip back to Lewis Arms) or 50 miles to St Mellons.
Route/GPX download: Caerphilly, Maesycwmmer, Pengam, past cholera cemetery, Tredegar lunch stop, climbing onto Cefn Manmoel ridge, descent to Oakdale, Sirhowy valley, Risca, Rhiwderin, St Mellons.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate 1100 metres (3570 ft) of climbing – two short steep climbs, 2.5 miles of gravel track, but OK for all bikes.
Route Coordinator/Contact: Richard Cook, email: richard.cook5@ntlworld.com
Ride Leader: Martin Watson
Today's ride- excellent. Thanks Richard and Martin. Ray
Sunday 11th August: Nant Y Moel Circular
Start/Distance: St Fagans crossroads by cricket club at 9.30am. 85km-ish. Cars can be left at my house round the corner if required (No 31, CF5 6EF).
Route/GPX download: Ride out via Peterstone, Welsh St Donats, City, Pencoed, Brynmenyn, cycle path to Nantymoel, then Bwlch. Back via Treorchy, Tonypandy, Tonyrefail, Llantrisant, Groesfaen, St Fagans. Pit stop in Blackmill, at about 1100, then gets tricky. Tonypandy cafe stop now shut on Sunday, but there is a burger ‘cafe’ about 2k further on. Best assume there won’t be a second stop unless someone knows of a good one that I didn’t find. There are cafes in Llantrisant, but that’s a bit close to home! Click HERE for Strava link.
Terrain/Ride Category: Strenuous 4000 ft climbing
Ride Leaders/Contact: John Griffiths email: johng@globalnet.co.uk
Thanks to the brave souls who put up with 2 hrs of rain before the weather improved. Rarely have I seen the Rhondda so bathed in sunshine and seldom have I received so many cheery waves from motorists as we rolled along.......
August 14th - 17th: Weston-Super-Mare to Weymouth & circular return
Ride fully booked
Day 1: Weston-Super-Mare train station to Glastonbury. We will start about mid-morning on and will be cycling approximately 30 miles.
Day 2: Glastonbury to Weymouth. Approximately 55 miles
Day 3: Weymouth to Ilminster. Approximately 56 miles.
Day 4: Ilminster to Weston-Super-Mare approximately 37 miles.
Routes will be on or around National Cycle Network Routes 26, 2, 33 and 339.
As a circular trip people may want to find suitable parking in or around Weston.
Others may wish to travel by train. A Saturday return will hopefully avoid any engineering works.
Organiser: Graham Davies, gpdavies1967@gmail.com
Sunday 18th August: Risca
Start/Distance: 10am, Lewis Arms, Tongwynlais. Distance 35 miles. 5 - 6 hours including cafe stop.
Route/GPX download: Taff Trail north to junction with Lady Windsor trail, then cross A470 onto A4054, to Llanfabon Road, Nelson, RCN 47 to Sirhowey Valley, Cafe Stop Risca, then Ocherwyth, Lower Machen, Draethen, Caerphilly, Tongwynlais.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate
Ride Leaders/Contact: Mike Cranwell, email: michael2051@hotmail.co.uk
Sunday 25th August: Bryn Bach park via Talybont
Start/Distance: Albion Cafe @ 9.30 am Cilfynydd 56 miles and 5000 ft of climbing
Route/GPX download: Head out to Merthyr, then on to Talybont ( cafe stop ) Then long climb out of Llangynidr heading to Bryn Bach Park ( another possible cafe stop ) then on to Fochriw, Bedlinog, Treharris and back to Cilfynydd
Terrain/Ride Category: Strenuous
Ride Leaders/Contact: Dave Jenkins, email: Jenkins_s5@sky.com
August 27th- September 10th: La Rochelle to Bordeaux (2 weeks)
Flying with Easyjet, Outbound: Bristol to La Rochelle. Return: Bordeaux to Bristol
Est. cost £980 pp (Inc flights) max 12 cyclists. This trip will be fully supported. Your bikes and luggage will be taken by van to and from France.
Organiser: Tony Ritson, anthonyritson@btinternet.com
This event is also now full, but there will be a waiting list if someone drops out
please contact Tony to be considered.
Sunday 15th September: Aberdare via Maerdy Mountain
Start/Distance: 10am, Lewis Arms, Tongwynlais, 85km/56mls
Route/GPX download: Its mainly trails up to Wattstown,but will include roads from there up as the trail does get pretty rough up to Ferndale. Penycraig as become a desert for cafes, so we will have a stop for coffee at barry sidings and lunch at cwm dare park.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate 900m of climbing with a max gradient of 9%.
Route Coordinator/Contact: Ivor Rodway, email: malivo@aol.com
Ride Leader: Richard Cook
Super sunny scenic ride Richard! Thanks Chris and Phil
SATURDAY 21st September: Merthyr Ride
Start/Distance: 9:30 from Tongwynlais, 53 miles, 5-6 hours including a break.
Route/GPX download: On roads or cycle paths and suitable for any bike although we'll have to lift bikes over a 5 bar gate at one stage so perhaps not really suitable for a very heavy bike. Lunch stop in Union Square, Aberdare.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate about 3,550 ft climbing.
Route Coordinator/Contact: Julie Williams, email: julieontherun@gmail.com
Ride Leader: Mel Pruchnie
SATURDAY 28th September: Caerleon Round Trip
Start/Distance: Caerleon Amphitheatre parking at 10.00, 50 miles, 6 hours
Route/GPX download: Caerleon - up Usk Valley, Raglan and Llantilio, Crossenny return via Bettws Newydd.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate Suitable for touring bikes.
Ride Leaders/Contact: Gareth Thomas, email: bryntyrchgareth@btinternet.com, Tel: 07483 221049
Sunday 6th October: Monmouth
Start/Distance: TBC
Route/GPX download:
Terrain/Ride Category:
Ride Leaders/Contact: Jackie, email: jackiethomas18@icloud.com
Sunday 13th October: Gower Ride
Start/Distance: Car Park adjacent to Blackpill Lido Mumbles Road, Swansea. 45 miles approx, 6 hours. Start 10.00 am
Route/GPX download: Swansea Bay - Mumbles - Bishopstone - Southgate (coffee) Parc Le Breos - Oldwalls - Llangennith (lunch) Rhosilli - Cheriton - Llanrhidian - Crofty - Penclawdd - Gowerton - Black Pill - Swansea Station car park.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate Short section of track but generally suitable for all bikes
Ride Leaders/Contact: Rachel Jones 07932 121221, email: rs29jones@gmail.com
Thanks Grae (and get well soon Rach!) for the Sunday ride round the glorious Gower and the anecdotes! from the select few: Mel, Richard, Peter and Chris(only part of it alas!)
Owing to late arrival of the "Select Few" Janet Smith and I rode a loop then bumped into the bunch on the ride, another lunch then home via North Gower in the afternoon sun. Thanks Graham, with a nod to Rachel.. Calum.
Sunday 20th October: Vale Autumn Ramble
Start/Distance: 10.00h from Pedal Power, 57 miles
Route/GPX download: Through Dyffryn to Llancarfan, then, Llantwit Major for coffee. Wick, Llampha then back through the Vale of Glamorgan.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate, suitable for all bikes, 1086 metres of climbing
Ride Leaders/Contact: Richard Cook, email: richard.cook5@ntlworld.com
