


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

March-Jun 2022 Rides
Sunday 27th March: Aberdare
Start/Distance: approx. 50 miles.10.00 am Taffs Well train station
Route/GPX download: Merthyr (on road) Hirwaun (Some trail) , Aberdare, Coffee stop. Trail to Abercynon, home on road.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate
Route Co-ordinator/Contact: Calum
Ride Leader:
March/April: 30th – 6th: Majorca
Organiser: Richard Cook
Sunday 3rd April: 14 Locks Circular
Start/Distance: Meet 9.30 Tongwynlais , Lewis Arms, 35-40 miles
Route/GPX download: Caerphilly, Bedwas, Machen, Draethen, Bassleg and Rogerstone, 14 locks cafe for lunch. Return via Pye corner, Tredegar House and coast road back to Cardiff.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate ride suitable for all riders and bikes early season
Route Co-ordinator/Contact: Dave Griffith, email: sad.griffs@yahoo.co.uk
Ride Leader:
Sunday 10th April: Llantwit Major
Start/Distance: Llandaff bridge North, about 38miles, 10am start
Route/GPX download: Llantwit Major beach cafe via Welsh St Donats, St Hilary, St Mary returning via Llanmaes, Llantrithyd and Warren Mill farm.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate
Route Co-ordinator/Contact: Lawrence Conway, email: lawrencepconway@googlemail.com
Ride Leader: Richard Cook
Sunday 17th April: Bwlch and Rhigos
Start/Distance: Taffs Well train station 10am, 60 miles.
Route/GPX download: Taffs Well, Gwaelod-y-Garth, Treforest, Ponypridd, Tonyrefail, Blackmill, Ogmore Vale, Bwlch, Treorchy, Rhigos, Aberdare, Abercwmboi, Abercynon & Taffs Well.
Terrain/Ride Category: Strenuous 5152 feet of ascent in total.
Route Co-ordinator/Contact: Phill Thomas
Ride Leader: Dave Jenkins
Sunday 24th April: Sirhowy Valley
Start/Distance: 10.00 am Taffs Well train station Approx. 40 miles.
Route/GPX download: Caerphilly, Pandy Lane, Maesycwmmer, Sirhowy Valley, Coffee stop, Bassaleg, Draethen, Rudry, Caerphilly and back to Taffs Well
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate
Route Co-ordinator/Contact: Mel Pruchnie, email: mel.pruchnie@gmail.com
Ride Leader: Rachel
Sunday 1st May: Lost lanes of the lower Wye valley
Start/Distance: Route starts adjacent to southbound layby on A466, 200 yards from M48 junction 2 ( Chepstow turn off) at 10.00h. 30 miles, 900 metres of ascent. Park in layby.
Route/GPX download: St Arvans, Tintern, Trelleck, Devauden, Shirenewton. Roads and lanes.
Terrain/Ride Category: Strenuous suitable for all bike. Some steep climbs.
Route Co-ordinator/Contact: Richard Cook, email: richard.cook5@ntlworld.com
Ride Leader: Martin Watson/Lawrence Conway
Sunday 8th May: The Vale
Start/Distance: Llandaff North bridge, 10am departure, 60km
Route/GPX download: Route is out to Cowbridge and back via St Marys Church, cafe stop in Cowbridge which is next to a communal garden so place for a picnic if folks prefer to BYO refreshments/sandwich
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate 1000ft elevation, Mostly road/cycle track and a few snickets
Route Co-ordinator/Contact: Diane Crone, email: dianecrone37@gmail.com
Ride Leader: Rachel Jones
Sunday 15th May: Cwm Cadlan
Start/Distance: Albion Cafe, 10.00am, 42 miles
Route/GPX download: Head out to Nelson, then past Llancaiach Fawr, across Gelligaer common, drop down into Merthyr for Cafe stop.Go past llwyn-one reservoir, across Cwm Cadlan and then down Cynon Valley back to Cilfynydd
Terrain/Ride Category: Strenuous 3000ft of climbing
Route Co-ordinator/Contact: Dave Jenkins, email: Jenkins_s5@sky.com
Ride Leader:
Sunday 22nd May: Cowbridge
Start/Distance: Llandaff bridge 10.00am, 44.5 miles
Route/GPX download: GPX link Heading out to Cowbridge, with a stop at Greggs,then onto Llanharry Pontyclun, Ton-Teg, Nantgarw and Tongwynlais.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate
Route Co-ordinator/Contact: Dean Roberts, email: Deancroberts1@gmail.com
Ride Leader: Martin Watson
May 27-29th: Herefordshire, Mike Hutchinson Memorial ride/Knighton Weekender
Start/Distance: Bowling Green Car Park in Knighton at 10am. 42 miles.
Route: The route will head through Presteigne and Titley before a lunch stop at Shobdon Airfield. Route will return through Shobdon, Lentwardine(afternoon stop) and Buckley to Knighton.
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate 42 miles on B roads and quiet country lanes with 2440ft of climbing.
Route Co-ordinator/Contact: Glen Dermody. email g.dermody@ntlworld.com
We have a table booked at the Horse and Jockey at 7:30 on Saturday night. There is an option for a 30 mile ride on Sunday if anyone is interested. Knighton has its' own railway station or it is about a 2 hour drive from Cardiff. There are various lodging options in the town. Airbnb, B&Bs, pubs with accommodation and a campsite at Panpwnton Farm. For more information contact Glen at g.dermody@ntlworld.com.
Sunday 29th May: Cheddar ride Ride Cancelled
Start/Distance: Shallows car park in Saltford, SE of Keynsham on the A4. OS landranger sheet 172 grid ref ST687673. It is a small free car park adjacent to the Bristol Bath cycleway and could get busy on a sunday so I plan a start time of 09.30. 58 miles.
Route/GPX download: GPX file The route is SW from the start, past Chew valley lake and down the Cheddar gorge before heading towards Wells then Radstock. Returning to Bath through the lit railway tunnels and up the Bristol cycleway to Saltford. Plenty of refreshment opportunities in Cheddar (no Greggs though)
Terrain/Ride Category: Strenuous 58miles 950m climbing, on mainly small roads, all on tarmac.
Route Co-ordinator/Contact: Martin Watson, email: mdwcycle@gmail.com
Ride Leader:
Sunday 5th June: Vale of Glamorgan
Start/Distance: Cardiff Millennium Centre, 10am, 34miles
Route/GPX download: GPX LINK Cardiff Bay, Over the Barrage, Penarth, Sully, Barry Island for ice creams, Porthkerry Park, Llancarfan, Duffryn Gardens, Wenvoe, Dinas Powys, Sports Village, Back to the Bay.
Terrain/Ride Category: Easy, 590m elevation, Mostly road
Route Co-ordinator/Contact: Gwyn Tudor, email: gwyntudor@me.com
Ride Leader:
Sunday 12th June: Llantwit Major loop
Start/Distance: Llandaff North Bridge 10.00 am, 43.5 miles, approx. 5 hours
Route/GPX download: Clawdd-coch – Llantrithyd – St Hilary – St Mary Church – Llamaes – Llantwit Major beach [BEACH CAFÉ – CASH ONLY] Cross Inn – Penmark – Porthkerry Park [Optional coffee/ice-cream stop] Bonvilston – Peterston-super-Ely
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate
Route Co-ordinator/Contact: Stephen Kite, email: KiteS@cardiff.ac.uk
Ride Leader: Roger Bradshaw
Sunday 19th June: Lost lanes of the lower Wye valley
Start/Distance: Route starts adjacent to southbound layby on A466, 200 yards from M48 junction 2 ( Chepstow turn off) at 10.00h. 30 miles, 900 metres of ascent. Park in layby.
Route/GPX download: St Arvans, Tintern, Trelleck, Devauden, Shirenewton. Roads and lanes.
Terrain/Ride Category: Strenuous suitable for all bike. Some steep climbs.
Route Co-ordinator/Contact: Richard Cook, email: richard.cook5@ntlworld.com
Ride Leader: Martin Watson/Lawrence Conway
Sunday 26th June: Slimbridge
Start/Distance: Ride starts adjacent to southbound layby on A466, 200 yards from M48 junction 2 (Chepstow first turn off). 9:15am for 9:30am start. Distance 54 miles (approx 6 to 7 hours). Two tea stops(Slimbridge and Thornbury) but best to bring some food.
Route/GPX download: GPX File Chepstow to Slimbridge via Sharpness across the first Severn Bridge. Return via Thornbury
Terrain/Ride Category: Moderate Generally gentle undulations with three significant climbs, Short section on canal towpath. 2573 ft of climbing
Route Co-ordinator/Contact: Chris Metcalfe, tel: 07568490547, email: cmetcalfe3@gmail.com
Ride Leader: