Sunday, 30th December 2012

http://www.facebook.com/events/178433225630005/

Shall we, or shall we not? – that was the question on yet another rainy day. Fortunately, the shall we’s won and four members braved the puddles and head-wind along the Undy flats and made-it to the Rose Inn, Redwick.

A nice warming cup of coffee and a good chat to the landlord (Gary), may well lead to sponsorship for the Chernobyl charity and may also lead to a concert in Redwick Hall in the future.

The return journey was much easier with a tail-wind and made it home just in time before the next rainstorm.

Riders:

1. Leon Jones
2. Tony Griffiths
3. Carolyn Griffiths
4. Grahame Morton
5. Nick Powell (missed the time but did 26 miles to Thornbury instead, falling off his new bike in the process)

Sunday, 16th December 2012

http://www.facebook.com/events/373063636117919/

Event cancelled due to inclement weather.

The Verderers Trail – brilliant fun!

Interested so far:

1. Leon Jones
2. Tony Griffiths
3. Nick Powell?
4. Spike Hughes?
5. Mike Griffiths
6. Rhys Jones?
7. Josh Birch?
8. Grahame Morton?

We are delighted that John Griffiths AM as Patron of our our Cycle Club, has opened his Winter road safety campaign with a mention of our Choir Cycle Club (Côr Meibion Caldicot Cycle Club) and has given us an opportunity to quote in the following Press Release

 

John Griffiths AM Assembly Member for Newport East

 

Aelod y Cynulliad dros Dwyrain Casnewydd For immediate release Friday 22nd  November 2012

 

ASSEMBLY MEMBER ISSUES CYCLING SAFETY PLEA

As the weather gets worse and days get shorter, Newport East AM John Griffiths has issued a plea for all motorists and cyclists to be aware of cyclists and their safety to prevent accidents this winter.

 

Three high profile cycling accidents in the past couple of weeks have highlighted the issue. Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins was knocked off his bike, fellow Olympic cyclist Mark Cavendish collided with a van whilst training in Italy, and the Head Coach of British Cycling was injured in a serious accident.

 

John Griffiths, who is patron of the Côr Meibion Caldicot Cycle Club, run by members of Caldicot Male Voice Choir, wants all road users to be take care to increase cyclists safety. He said:

 

“I’m both a cyclist and a driver, and know that we all need to think about how to share our roads safety. Cyclists should check their bike is in good shape, like making sure their brakes are working, and use lights and clothes that make them visible on the road. But drivers need to think about cyclists on the road, particularly at junctions and when changing lanes, and make sure they drive safely.”

 

Lyn Gauntlett PRO. of CALDICOT MALE VOICE CHOIR is quoted as saying:

 

 

Cor Meibion Caldicot Cycle Club is happy to support any initiative which promotes a safer environment for all road users. We are all too aware of the terrible consequences brought about by a moment’s lapse in concentration, an increase in speed or even selfish behaviour on the part of some road users, cyclists included. Our newly formed club aims to promote a healthy, social atmosphere for all through organised cycling and would fully support John Griffiths’ plea for increased awareness of the needs of cyclists on our ever increasingly busy roads.

 

John Griffiths added:

 

“In the longer term we can plan roads and junctions that take into account safety for all road users, but if we all think about safe cycle use, and drivers keep a look out for cyclists, we can hopefully prevent some terrible accidents. We have had tragic deaths on the roads here in Newport, and we need to do what we can to make us all safer.”

Sunday, 2nd December 2012

http://www.facebook.com/events/457601587608734/

Distance – 32 miles
Riders: Leon Jones and Tony Griffiths

Great ride, although very muddy especially on the Sea Wall.

Found a nice little cafe / tea room by the Sea Wall in Whitson – proprietor very friendly and will give discount to CMCCC members. We really needed that toasted sausage sandwich after riding the slippery, muddy Sea Wall.

Once clearing Whitson, it was through Goldcliffe before taking the cycle path around the Wetlands Centre – this is a nice track but a bit muddy at the moment.

The return journey through Nash, Goldcliffe and Redwick before taking the Moors lanes to Caldicot.

Sunday, 18th November 2012

http://www.facebook.com/events/301957129913140/

Slade Woods near Caldicot in South Wales has a series of trails for mountain bikers to explore and plot their way around. This will involve some steep climbs but rewarded with some fast downhill sections.

The trails consist of rock, roots and lots of mostly avoidable muddy sections. Towards the bottom of the woods the trails come out into disused quarry for a more intense experience.

Due to injuries and a very late night at the concert in Bishop’s Cleeve, only two made this ride through the woods – it was very muddy but it’s been recommended that we try it again sometime.

Attendees:

1. Leon Jones
2. Rhys Jones

Sunday, 11th November 2012

Distance: 20 miles

What a beautiful day for a bike ride – the sun shone on the six riders who made this trip, starting from the Choir Hall before heading up Sandy Lane and onwards to Caerwent.

With great timing, the cyclists arrived just in time for the two minute silence at the Cenotaph, and then it was along the A48 to Crick. Following the back lanes towards Hayes Gate before reaching the pretty hamlet of Mounton. The first of the days climbs started with the steep climb out of Mounton which was closely followed by the even steeper climb up from Bayfield, before reaching the main road at Chepstow.

The descent through the Danes and then Welsh Street before reaching the castle via the Dell. With the thought of coffee, it was along the riverbank by the Back and up the second climb, School Hill which saw a broken spoke for Grahame, and some heavy breathing at the top. On through Garden City to enter the woods at Wye Crescent climbing up to Bulwark before the long descent to Mathern.

Coffee and crisps was the order of the day sat in the pub garden in the sunshine, before meandering through Mathern and back on the A48 to climb up to Parkwall. The last leg of the journey was via Leechpool and Black Rock before going through Sudbrook and back home.

Riders:

1. Leon Jones
2. Carolyn Griffiths
3. Tony Griffiths
4. Grahame Morton
5. Karl Gregory
6. Nick Powell

http://www.facebook.com/events/552217811472058/

 

28th October 2012

Coleford

http://www.facebook.com/events/436664353048306/

Our first taste of off-road mountain biking at the Pedalabikeaway, Coleford. Nick, Leon and Tony took on the Verderer’s Trail, 7 mile long uphill and down-dale through the forest, with steep climbs and dangerous slippy downhill sections, interspersed with camel humps and tricky sweeping turns.

The bravado comment of, ‘it’s only 7 miles, perhaps we’ll go around it twice’, was soon forgotten after about 2 miles, as the trail tested the stamina of these 50+ year old nutcases.

Glad to survive the experience, it was straight to the cafe for a bacon and egg sandwich and a cup of coffee.

We’ll be back!

Sunday, October 21st 2012

On the day when the motor equivalents were ‘Hoggin’ the Bridge’, we decided to peddle our way in the opposite direction towards Redwick and the Rose Inn.

Eleven riders met at the Choir Hall for the latest Club Ride, including two new members to our ranks, Teresa Howells and Carolyn Griffiths.

The first port of call was Black Rock, where we were met by our intrepid photographer, ‘Lyn the Lens’, pointing his Lumix at us.

Next task was to scale the 10% climb at St. Pierre, which despite some very red faces (white in some cases), and heavy breathing, the party cleared the summit and rolled on to the A48. At this point, Leon, Spike and Nick took the long drag up to Shirenewton, whilst the others continued along the flatter lands to Five Lanes.

After cruising through the lanes we eventually came to Magor only to be confronted with a stream of Harley Davidson’s and Suzuki’s speeding past us with no let-up to be able to cross the road. Alyn had a brilliant idea and pressed the pedestian crossing button which brought the cavalcade to a halt, and a jubilant cry from the cyclists after reaching the other side of; ‘We stopped the Hoggin‘!

A detour was made to Undy Church to see if there were any others who wanted to join the ride for the last couple of miles, then it was onwards to the Rose, where cider and coffee was consumed.

Riders: Sue Murphy, Debbie Swain, Carolyn Griffiths, Teresa Howells, Nick Powell, Spike Hughes, Keith Swain, Alyn Dawe, Leon Jones, Anthony Howells, Tony Griffiths.

Photos by Lyn ‘The Lens’ Gauntlett and Tony Griffiths.

Sunday, September 23rd 2012 – Day-out at the Pedalabikeaway Cycle Centre in Coleford

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER

Please let me know if you are interested as we will need to ensure we have enough transport to get the riders and bikes there.

There are trails for every skill level – see below for more details.

Here is their website:

http://www.pedalabikeaway.co.uk/advancedriding.html

Trail maps:

http://cdn-18.create.net/sitefiles/18/8/8/188870/Forestofdeantrailmap.pdf

Interested in attending so far:

1. Tony Griffiths
2. Leon Jones
3. Nick Powell

2nd September 2012

Weather: Cloudy with sunny intervals

Distance: 37 miles

Climbs: Llanwern

Terrain: tarmac, stoney track at Undy

Riders: Leon Jones, Sue Murphy, Deborah Swain, Alyn Dawe, Tony Griffiths – Grahame Morton started earlier and probably did not get lost

What started out as a gentle 20 mile ride to Whitson, turned into a 37 mile marathon getting lost between Nash and Goldcliff. Those lanes all look the same. Never mind, it was more miles in the saddle and it will help Alyn and the girls prepare to take on the Taff Trail for the second time later this month.

Here is the route and data from the ride. You can even see were we got lost!