Jul-Aug 2019 Rides
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:
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:
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:
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,
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:
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:
Ride Leader: Martin Watson
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:
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:
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:
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.
