Caldicot Choir Social Cycling

Tuesday, 19th June 2018

Distance: 15 miles – Difficulty: 3/5 – Weather: Cloudy but fine

Five riders made the start for the ride to the Boat Inn alongside the River Wye in Chepstow. The route saw us leave the Choir Hall, past the David Broome Event Centre to Crick, and onwards through the backlanes to Mounton and the challenging climb to the hospital at Chepstow. Crossing the road and going down through the town and the Castle Dell, before arriving at the Boat. Maybe because the weather was not the best tonight, cloudy but still warm, the pub was surprisingly quiet compared to other visits. Anyway, pints of cider and beer to wash down the chips, fish, burgers etc., before mounting-up and making our way home. No visit to the bottom of Chepstow on a bike is complete without taking on the School Hill climb, short but sharp, before cycling through Garden City and the woods to Bulwark. Descending down Dark Hill into Mathern before returning to Caldicot.

Riders:

1. Tony Griffiths
2. Sue Earnshaw
3. Tracey Eastabrook
4. Lesley Russell
5. Ian Russell

Sunday, 17th June 2018

Distance: 18 miles – Weather: Cloudy but fine

Today’s ride saw us leave the Choir Hall and head for ‘The Cwm’, stopping for pictures at this beautiful tree-lined valley. Onwards to Magor via Llanvair Discoed and Five Lanes to stop for refreshments (cider and coffee) at the Golden Lion before heading for home. Four riders made the start, although it seems that we narrowly missed Maurice Penny by a couple of minutes which was a shame.

Riders:

1. Tony Griffiths
2. Chris Orum
3. Sue Earnshaw
4. Tracey Eastabrook
5. Maurice Penny

Sunday, 3rd June 2018

Distance: 35 miles – Difficulty: 2/5 – Weather: Warm

Lovely leisurely ride in the hot sun down to the Seawall Tearooms today. Seven riders made the start at the Choir Hall, picking two more up in Magor but losing Stefan Edwards with a split tyre. Great day for cycling on the flatlands, boosted by coffee, teacakes etc at the tearooms before the journey back to Caldicot, with a total of about 35 miles.

Riders:

1. Tony Griffiths
2. Carolyn Griffiths
3. Lesley Russell
4. Sharon Ward
5. Tracey Eastabrook
6. Jan Orum
7. Chris Orum
8. Stefan Edwards
9. Brian Stephens

Wednesday, 16th May 2018

Distance: 22 miles – Difficulty: 3/5 – Weather: Fine evening

Four riders made the start at the Choir Hall, for the ride to the Ferry Inn at Beachley. Apart from a regular Pub Ride, the purpose of the trip was to meet the rest of the Choir who were meeting up with members of Whitland MVC who are riding to London, for the joint 800 Welsh Voices in a concert next Saturday at the Albert Hall.
The route saw us take the steep climb from Mounton to the hospital at Chepstow, down through the town and the Castle Dell, before going international and crossing the border into England via Castleford Hill. Continuing down the Beachley peninsular to the very end and the Ferry Inn, nestling beneath the Old Severn Bridge.
An hour or so there, belting out a few numbers with the rest of the choir, fed and watered before the return journey in the fading light back through Chepstow via the punishing School Hill, Bulwark and Mathern back to Caldicot.

Riders:

1. Tony Griffiths
2. Sue Earnshaw
3. Robert Stallard
4. Mark Antell

Sunday, 13th May 2018

Well done to everyone who either cycled, marshaled or supported the 2018 Redwick Challenge raising over £450 for the Choir. Fifteen choristers dusted down their bikes, and with fourteen other family and friends completed 581 laps of the 2 mile circuit, 1133 miles. These events would not take place without a great support team of Grahame Morton, Chris and Kirstie Nolan, Dave Kirton, Dave Currie, Dave Hennesey and Colleen and Lyn Gauntlett on the camera. Many others also came and gave their morale support.

The overall winner was Sam Stephens who completed 47 laps (92 miles) and the best female was Lesley Russell with 40 laps (78 miles). Each was presented with a trophy for their contributions, whilst the competition for the ‘Theo Roberts Memorial Trophy’ was again won by the Baritone section.

Riders:

1. Tony Griffiths
2. Carolyn Griffiths
3. Tracey Eastabrook
4. Sue Earnshaw
5. Leon Jones
6. Russ Woodward
7. Alyn Dawe
8. Liam Evans
9. David Gould
10. Paul Carlson
11. Lesley Russell
12. Brian Stephens
13. Garry Keeble
14. Sue Murphy
15. Jayne Stallard
16. Robert Stallard
17. Delyth Gregory
18. Peter Hanks
19. Mike Malolepszy
20. Linda Malolepszy
21. Karl Gregory
22. Stephen Davies
23. Peter Williams
24. Peter Fagan
25. David Kirkby
26. Sam Stephens
27. Greg Tinker
28. Chris Orum
29. Jan Orum

Tuesday, 1st May 2018

Distance: 15 miles – Difficulty: 3/5 – Weather: Windy and cold

Three riders turned-up on a very windy, cold, threatening rain evening for the long climb up to Shirenewton via the lanes from Pwllmeyric. Glad to see the top of the hill out of the wind, before consuming sausages, scampi, mash and chips at the Tredegar Arms before the fast downhill descent via the drag, and back to Caldicot.

Riders:

1. Tony Griffiths
2. Sue Earnshaw
3. Tracey Eastabrook

Sunday, 21st April 2018

Distance: 14 miles – Difficulty: 1/5 – Weather: Fine

The latest easy Starter ride saw 10 riders leave the Choir Hall. Unfortunately, no new people this week but it was nice to see Janet Vale, David Gould, Chris Orum and Charlie Wade out with us for the first time this year. Photo stops were made at Black Rock and Mathern Church before calling into the Millers Arms in Mathern for some refreshments.

Riders:

1. Tony Griffiths
2. Carolyn Griffiths
3. Chris Orum
4. Yvette Guerrier
5. David Gould
6. Grahame Morton
7. Leon Jones
8. Charlie Wade
9. Janet Vale
10. Tony Ward

Wednesday, 11th April 2018

Distance: 15 miles – Difficulty: 1/5 – Weather: Fine

Four riders made the start at the Choir Hall for the first Pub Ride of the year, same as the Night Rides but now mostly in the light. A trip down the rocky Moors road to Undy and to Redwick and the Rose Inn for food and refreshments, before returning to Caldicot via the same route. We were joined at the Rose by Sue Earnshaw who had decided to take a night off the bike.

Riders:

1. Sue Earnshaw (in the car)
2. Carolyn Griffiths
3. Tony Griffiths
4. Tracey Estabrook
5. Grahame Morton

Sunday, 1st April 2018

Distance: 54 miles – Difficulty: 3/5 – Weather: Fine but cold

Longest ride of the year so far, 54 miles from Caldicot to Purton and back to see the Ship Graveyard, protecting the banks of the River Severn from erosion and so damaging the Gloucester Ship Canal. Four riders made the trip, on a pleasant but cold day, over the Severn Bridge and along the undulating coast road to Berkeley and beyond. Refreshments of cake and sandwiches, washed down with copious amounts of tea and coffee at the Berkeley Tearooms, before returning along the marked cycle way to the Severn Bridge and home.

Riders:

1. Tony Griffiths
2. Tracey Eastabrook
3. Sue Earnshaw
4. Nick Powell

Sunday, 25th March 2018

Distance: 11 miles – Difficulty: 1/5 – Weather: Cool but sunny

On a beautiful early Spring day, five riders met at the Choir and embarked on what turned out to be a tour of the many historical sights of Portskewett and Sudbrook. From the derelict Holy Trinity Church standing ominously on the cliff edge, to the Celtic Iron Age Hillfort with hits ramparts looking out of the Severn Estuary, to the little museum that portrays the village history, then the old shipyard and dock with its waterfall to Black Rock, site of the ferry passage from South West England into Wales.

The ride was concluded with a visit to the David Broome Event Centre, marveling at the skills of the riders and horses in a Dressage event, feasting on beefburgers and coffee.

Riders:

1. Tony Griffiths
2. Sharon Ward
3. Yvette Guerrier
4. Nick Powell
5. Grahame Morton