


A Club affiliated to Cycling UK covering Cardiff & South Wales
Spokes Cycle Touring Club

2017 Activity Summary
Sunday 2nd April: Cardiff - Caerleon return
Start/Distance: National Museum, Cardiff at 09.30 am, 35 miles
Route/GPX download: Tea stop in The Green Caerleon
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate Some hills, 1500 ft. of climbing, a mixture of roads and trails, suitable for all bikes.
Ride Leaders/Contact: Dave Miles
Sunday 9th April: Bedwas/Caerphilly Ride
Start/Distance: Tongwynlais, Lewis Arms at 10.00 am
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
Sunday 16th April: There are no official Spokes day rides on Bank Holiday weekends, but keep an eye on the Noticeboard as some members may go out for a ride.
Sunday 23rd April: Gower Ride
Start/Distance: 10.00 at the junction of A4067 (Mumbles Road) and B4436 (The Mayals). Recommended free parking on residential road, Clyne Drive (SA2 5BU),which is 1st right turn off the Mayals (B4436). Alternatively, you can pay for car parking at Black Pill car park. Approximately 40 miles.
Route/GPX download: Black Pill – Mumbles – Caswell Bay – Bishopston – Kittle – Pennard – Southgate (stop at café) – Parkmill – Llethrid – up over Cefn Bryn – Reynolston – Oldwalls - Llanrihidian and Dolphin Pub – Llanridian Marsh – Crofty – Pencladwdd - Gowerton – cycle path back to Black Pill.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate ride. Road surface mixed (forestry track, cycle track and road). Recommend touring bike, but not road bike with skinny tyres. There are 3 big hills, the rest of the ride is undulating. 2 tea stops.
Ride Leaders/Contact: Rachel Jones/Graham Davies
26th April - 3th May Majorca
Book your own flights; available from Bristol (Easyjet) or Cardiff (Vueling)
Staying at the Aparthotel Flora apartments in Puerto de Pollenca
organiser Graham Davies
Photo link from Chris M. Here
Photo link from Sa Calobra Here
Photo link from Linda E. Here
Photo link from Bob L. Here
Photo link from Nick D. Here
Sunday 30th April: There are no official Spokes day rides on Bank Holiday weekends, but keep an eye on the Noticeboard as some members may go out for a ride.
Sunday 7th May: Vale Ramble
Start/Distance: Pedal Power @ 10.00 am, 50 miles approx
Route/GPX download:
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate to Strenuous. 980 metres of climbing, some short sharp hills. 2 x 0.7mile stretches of farm track.
Ride Leaders/Contact: Richard Cook
- Fabulous tour of the Vale in the sunshine. Thanks Richard
- Thanks for a superb day in the saddle. Great route! Clare
Wednesday May 10th Spokes at the Newport Velodrome...
The session is booked for 8-10pm. 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" Anyone wanting to participate should email Claus with their intentions. Cost for the session is fixed and shared equally between the participants. Prices start at approx £24pp(includes bike hire) increasing if there is less than 16 riders.
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.
organiser: Claus Sogaard
Sunday 14th May: Thornbury / Chipping Sodbury Ride
Start/Distance: Rock Street car park, Thornbury BS35 2FH at 9.30 a.m., about 1 hour from Cardiff via M48 Severn Crossing(£6.70 on return journey) ride of about 58 miles, 6-6.5 hours depending on stops.
Route/GPX download: Thornbury - Tetbury for lunch (mainly lanes, with short strectches of more major road )- Chipping Sodbury via Badminton for tea (mainly lanes, with short strectches of more major road )
- Thornbury ( lanes, with one short stretch of cycle path) www.strava.com/routes/7483574
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate, 3200 ft of climbing, one significant,butnot too challenging climb and
several short sharp climbs.Suitable for road bikes/hybrids/tourers
Ride Leaders/Contact: Pete Jackson
Sunday 21st May: Tongwynlais - Nelson - Caerphilly
Start/Distance: Tongwynlais, Lewis Arms @ 10.00 am. approx 30 miles.
Route/GPX download: Taff trail to Quakers Yard, lanes & trails to Nelson - coffee stop - then up over Nelson Common- Caerphilly - trails from Caerphilly to Tongwynlais. Click Here for GPX link
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate approx 2,300 feet of climbing
Ride Leaders/Contact: Mel Pruchnie
Sunday 28th May Newport - Usk - Magor - Shirenewton circular
Start/Distance: Waitrose car park Pontprennau, About 60 miles, 9.30am start
Route/GPX download: Newport, Usk, Shirenewton, Magor, Home. Coffee stops: Usk and Magor
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate to Strenuous Suitable for all bikes
Ride Leaders/Contact: Glen Dermody
Sunday 4th June: Four Castles Ride
Start/Distance: Abergavenny train station at 10 am, 38 - 40 miles
Route/GPX download: Café stop around Grosmont. Click Here for GPX link
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate to Strenuous 1200m of climbing.
Ride Leaders/Contact: Dave Miles
Sunday 11th June: Four Hills Rhondda Ride
Start/Distance: Lewis Arms, Tongwynlais @ 10.00, 35 miles
Route/GPX download: Tongwynlais - Gwlaeodygarth - lane to near 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
June 14th - 23rd: Bulgaria
Event already fully booked
A return visit for the club
organiser Glen Dermody
Youtube link from this years trip
June 16th - 19th Two Castles(long weekender)
4 day supported event starting from Conwy Castle & finishing at Cardiff Castle
Overnight stops and evening meals at Dolgellau, Rhayader and Llandovery en route. Book your own accomodation.
Start on the Friday from Conwy Castle heading south towards Betws-y-coed and Festiniog ending in Dolgellau with an evening meal organised for all. Saturday we will be revisiting a section of the infamous Trans-cambrian route heading for Machynlleth, Nant-y-Moch reservoir and devil’s bridge falls before heading for Rhayader again with an evening meal arranged for everyone. Sunday we’ll be take on the Devils Staircase and the Llyn Brianne reservoir on route to Llandovery arriving early with plenty time to sample the local cuisine. Monday we head for Cardiff Castle via a route yet to be determined but the cycling shouldn’t be too hard considering we’ll all be heading for home. organiser: Claus Sogaard
Photo link from Richard C.
- Thanks Claus for the very challenging but spectacular route through the principality. I thought I knew North and Mid wales pretty well ,but there were lots of new corners to see in brilliant weather. Thanks as ever also to Roger who was always on hand with the fig rolls and water and an encouraging word! Dave G
- Second comments from Dave G. Thanks to Claus and Roger for a great trip, weather, organisation, company and scenery all superb. Richard
Sunday 25th June: Pen Y Fan pond & 6 Bells
Start/Distance: Albion Café in Cilfynydd@ 10.00am, approx 37 miles with 3000 ft of climbing
Route/GPX download: Head out to Oakdale, stop at Pen y Fan pond for café stop, the on to 6 Bells for Coffee stop and view the Guardian Statue ( miners memorial ). Return via cycle paths and roads to Ystrad Mynach, Nelson, Treharris and back to Cilfynydd. Some climbing but nothing steep or to challenging.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate, suitable for all bikes.
Ride Leaders/Contact: Dave Jenkins
- Thanks Dave - great ride and we all enjoyed being on new turf. Grae
- Thanks for having me on Sunday, I'll be back for sure! Holly
Sunday 2nd July: Wye Valley ride & Peregrine Trail
Start/Distance: Monmouth Riverside car park, NP25 3EG @ 9.30am, 1 hour from Cardiff & Talgarth, turn left after tunnel going north over bridge & left, Now only 50 miles, 6 hours. Best bring some food. Again Bob and Alicae have coffee/tea and cake for us at the extraordinary Shipley Gardens. Optional second stop at Goodrich Castle cafe.
Route/GPX download: Link to GPX download/view
Terrain/Ride Category: Generally Moderate with some harder bits, flat sections with occasional hills
generally undulating with no big hills. Glorious countryside. Generally follows Wye river valley. Suitable for all bikes.
Ride Leaders/Contact: Chris Metcalfe
- Thanks again to Chris - fantastic scenery and lovely café stops.
Sunday 9th July: Cardiff - Ewenny - Return
Start/Distance: 10am at Llandaff North Bridge, Approx 45 miles.
Route/GPX download: Llandaff - City - Ystradowen - Treoes - Waterton - Ewenny. Return via Cowbridge
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate, suitable for all bikes
Ride Leaders/Contact: Ivor Rodway
- Many thanks to Ivor for the ride today, everyone enjoyed it and a good route in great weather.
Sunday 16th July: Llantrisant loop
Start/Distance: Pedal power, Pontcanna. @10am, 35 miles, 1050mtrs climbing
Route/GPX download: Cardiff - Gwaelod y garth - Tonteg - Pontypridd - Llantrisant - home
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate, Some short steep climbs, suitable for all bikes
Ride Leaders/Contact: Richard Cook
Sunday 23rd July: Avon Cycleway Century Ride
Start/Distance: 8am, Chepstow Castle car park, 100 miles with over 4,300 feet of climbing
Route/GPX download: Over Severn Bridge, clockwise circuit of the Avon Cycleway with return over bridge to start point. Coffee stops: Thornbury, Pensford and Clapton in Gordano
Terrain/Ride Category: Strenuous Suitable for all bikes.
Important Note – The nature of the ride involves an early start and no doubt a late finish. Shorter options are not available. Anyone attending will be expected to be fit enough to complete the whole route. Only real options for cutting ride short are to cycle into the centre of Bristol and get the train back.
Ride Leaders/Contact: Glen Dermody
- Thanks Glen for leading the ride. Four hardy souls braved torrential rain showers, the sun did come out for this coffee stop! Richard
- Respect to the four guys who survived some very rough weather to complete their ride.
Tom
July 28th - 30th Archery and Cycling based in Abergavenny
Archery: One or Two days on a 3D archery course. No previous experience required as full induction and equipment provided. Cost £15. Tea and Coffee provided, but please bring along a packed lunch.
Cycling: One or Two days, routes starting from Abergavenny
organisers Julie and Nigel Williams
- Thanks to Nigel and Julie for a very different weekender!!
- Thanks to everyone who took time out from cycling and walking to come and try some archery on the Abergavenny weekend. It was big fun sharing my other sporting passion with you. Special thanks to Rachel for leaving some of our woodland trees standing. Nigel
- Fantastic weekend! Top cycling and archery! Big thanks to Julie and Nigel for organising it all. Re-introduced me to camping too. Thoroughly enjoyed it all......but those poor trees!
Sunday 6th August: Sirhowey Valley/ Forest Drive
Start/Distance: Lewis Arms, Tongwynlais at 10.00am
Route/GPX download: Nantgarw, Sengennedd, Eglwysilan common, Sirhowey Valley, Forest drive, Ochrwyth, Draethen, Cardiff.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate-Strenuous, quite short/strenuous climbing
Ride Leaders/Contact: Mike Cranwell
August 11th - 13th Cycling from Cardiff to Swansea
With panniers staying in University accommodation
organiser: Glen Dermody
- Spoke cycling weekend at Swansea thanks to Glen for organising a Fab tour including sightseeing from a restaurant at the 28th floor. Tour leader Glen demonstrated a real Live training on one of the steep hills about his super skills of falling off bike , but no panic or shouting. Only kicking off his water bottle to send his follow riders to chase the bottle and to block the oncoming traffic. He fell onto the road and rolled over with his bike wheels above him in the air, another warning to be seen by the incoming traffic. Xiu
Sunday 20th August: Monmouthshire Ride
Start/Distance: Start: Tredegar House car park at 10.00 (free parking in Imperial Business Park opposite) 45 miles about 5 hours
Route/GPX download: Magor - Catsash - Llantrisant in Usk - Usk - Llandegfedd - New Inn - Newport
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate-Strenuous Suitable for all bike types
Ride Leaders/Contact: Jackie Thomas
- Thanks Jackie for a lovely tour. Even organised for the Transporter Bridge to be open!
- A big day for me! Had a huge feast of roasted turkey tonite after All of the sweat! My dream of cycling along the Ask valley and Canal became true today! Xiu
August 25th - September 8th Bavaria
Flying to Munich from Cardiff. Hire bikes and tour Southern Bavaria. No support.
Option to stay for less than two weeks on this 3 centre event.
organiser Gareth Thomas
Sunday 3rd September: Tongwynlais to Barry Sidings via Llanwonno
Start/Distance: Lewis Arms, Tongwynlais at 10am, 50km, 638m climbing
Route/Gpx Download: Taff trail to Pontypridd then on to Ynysybwl using roads and trails - some gravelly sections- steep road climb to Llanwonno. Steep down on way to Pontygraigwen then on to Cafe at Barry Sidings.
Return via Ponty, Treforest Industrial estate and Gwaelod. Click for GPX view/Download
Terrain/Ride Category: Trails and lanes, Moderate - Strenuous
Ride Leaders/Contact: Caroline Dallimore
- The predicted heavy rain held off so we stuck with plan A and puffed our way up and down the hills to be rewarded with excellent coffee and cake at the Barry Sidings Café. Hopefully we havn't put Phil off joining Spokes!
Sunday 10th September: Valleys and mountain tour
Start/Distance: Lewis arms, Tongwynlais 09.30, 55 miles
Route/GPX download: Valley roads to Ton y pandy; tea stop. Ascent of the Bwlch via outskirts of Treorchy.. Descend to Black Mill (lunch) through Ogmore Vale. Return via northern Vale.
Terrain/Ride Category: Strenuous, suitable for all bikes
Ride Leaders/Contact: Dave Griffith
Sunday 17th September: Ogmore / Southerdown
Start/Distance: Llandaf Bridge @ 10.00 am, 48miles
Route/GPX download: Mainly through lanes. Lunch at Ewenny.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate
Ride Leaders/Contact: Ray Robins
Sunday 24th September: Taff trail and the Commons
Start/Distance: Taffs well train station, 10am, 45miles, 3000ft climbing. 5-6hrs.
Route/GPX download: trails and lanes to Ystrad Mynach, onto Markham common towards Bryn Bach Park(cafe stop) Return via Gelligaer Common/Quakers Yard and Taff trail. Route subject to change in case of bad weather.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate to Strenuous No steep hills but fairly long, low gradient, climbs.
Ride Leaders/Contact: Claus Sogaard
- Thanks to Claus, our now country cousin for a cracking scenic valleys loop ride. As to be expected definition of 'steep' depends on your fitness!! Nice to ride on particular roads for first time. Lovely location for tea stop at Tredegar lake with reasonable prices and friendly staff. The commons had the wow factor. Thankfully rain held off. Great day and great company. Chris
- Thanks to Clause for leading and Richard for the back guarding. It was my first attempt to join Claus for his famous color- fitness ride! It was a true Fab scenic ride, totaling over 50miles for me if it includes my ride from/ to home. Xiu
Sunday 1st October: Cowbridge circular
Start/Distance: Cowbridge CF71 7HJ, 10am, 25miles
Route/GPX download: Colwinston to Ewenny, then follow the coast road through Ogmore, Southerndown, St. Donat’s to Llantwit, then Sigingstone, Llandough and Llanblethian. About 25 miles with one avoidable hill up to Norton and about ¾ mile of fairly rough track, also avoidable.
Terrain/Ride Category: Easy
Ride Leaders/Contact: Roger Bradshaw
- Another great cycling through history tour today. Many thanks to Roger for all the research.
October 6th - 8th Cheddar/Glastonbury
Event fully booked
organiser Martin Pingel
- 20+ members enjoyed 3 days of cycling from Glastonbury visiting Burham-on-Sea, Cheddar Gorge, Mendip Hills and Wells. Weather was kind to us, the food and drink good but best of all was the usual relaxed Spokes company
Sunday 15th October: Llangorse Circular
Start/Distance: Llangorse Lake car park 9.30 am, 50 miles, 7 hrs approx
Route/GPX download: Llangorse - Bwlch - Crickhowell - Cwmyoy - Llantony (coffee)Hay via Gospel Pass (lunch)Talgarth - Llangorse
Terrain/Ride Category: Strenuous
Ride Leaders/Contact: Graham Davies
Sunday 22nd October: Through the Vale
Start/Distance: 9.30am at the stone cross, Llandaff Village Green, by the Cathedral. 9.45am at St. Fagans junction(cricket ground) 30 miles.
Route/GPX download: Fairwater - Peterston - Pendoylan - Welsh St Donats - Cowbridge (coffee stop) and back via St Mary Church - Llantrithyd - Peterston - Fairwater - home.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate Suitable for all bikes
Ride leaders: Clare Johnson
Link to previous years activities