March-Jun 2019 Rides
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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
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:
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: , 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:
