19th August 2012

Brecon to Cardiff

Weather: Rain at first, sunny afterwards

Distance: 55 miles

Climbs: Talybont reservoir, Taf Fechan forest, to Pontsticill, Pontypridd

Terrain: tarmac, mud and gravel tracks

At last, the day arrived. Twenty four riders were bussed from Caldicot with full support team following a bacon barbeque at the Choir Hall. On arrival in Brecon, it was photos and checking over the equipment before the journey commenced. The first stop was at the summit of the climb out of Taf Fechan forest were fruit and water was available and encouragement from the support team. From there, a rapid downhill with Nick Powell clocking 39 mph, before two nasty climbs before descending into Pontstcilill village.

A rapid puncture repair was made to Karl Gregory’s bike, before setting off for Merthyr Tydvil and picking-up the Taff river which we would follow for the rest of the ride. There was a tricky climb at Troedyrhiw, through a glass laden tunnel which resulted in punctures for Steve Gribble and Leon Jones, and then crossing the river via some downhill steps and then up the other side where a near broken chain slowed down the progress of Michael Griffiths.

Lunch was had outside the pub at Quakers Yard, were mechanical repairs were made and food and drink was taken on-board, before the ride into Pontypridd and then Nantgarw where the fourth puncture of the day happened to Andy Williams, and six riders got lost.

When everybody has re-assembled, it was a fast descent through Taffs Wells and the outskirts of Cardiff before following the river through Coopers Field and Sophia Gardens. At this point, there was a nasty incident where Grahame Morton had a head-on clash with another cyclist, which saw a smashed watch, cut knee and bruised ribs for Grahame, before the group finally arrived in Millenium Square, tired but elated.

12th August 2012

Weather: Fine

Distance: 29 miles

Climbs: Leechpool, Llanvair church

Terrain: tarmac, stony for a mile at Undy

Riders: Tony Griffiths, Nick Powell, Anthony Howells, Karl Gregory

In order to keep the mileage up, the relatively short trip to Redwick was undertaken by going in the opposite direction through Portskewett, Sudbrook, Black Rock, Leechpool, Hayes Gate before heading westward towards Newport. The westward bound trip included going through Crick and Caerwent village before crossing the A48 to Llanvair and the dreaded church climb. At the top, it was a left turning down to Llanvaches before again crossing the A48 to Magor via St. Brides. From Magor it was back on flatlands to stop at the Rose Inn at Redwick for a pint of Strongbow, before completing the ride back to Caldicot.

22nd July 2012

Weather: Sunny

Distance: 27 miles

Climbs: Underwood, Llanmartin

Terrain: tarmac, stony for a mile at Undy

Riders: Leon Jones, Graham ‘Spike’ Hughes, Grahame Morton, Nick Powell, Tony Griffiths

The longest of the pre Taff Trail runs of 27 miles along the flat roads to Newport and back, including the short climb from Bishton to Underwood then Llanmartin, then up to the A48 at Langstone, through the Coldra roundabout, past Ringland and eventually through Whitson. It was decided that we should stop at a watering hole on these rides, so it was the Rose Inn and Redwick for a coffee before completing the ride back through the lanes to Caldicot.

15th July 2012

Weather: Fine

Distance: 28 miles

Climbs: Talybont reservoir, Taf Fechan forest.

Terrain: tarmac until the forest

Riders: Leon Jones, Graham ‘Spike’ Hughes, Grahame Morton, Tony Griffiths, Michael Griffiths

As a reconnaissance ride to check out the supposedly hard part of the Taff Trail, the 14 miles out from the Brecon start to Talybont Reservoir and up through the forest to the summit of the climb. The cycle started badly for Grahame Morton, who on inspecting his bike in the car park in Brecon noticed a tear in the sidewall of his tyre, which luckily, Leon was able to repair with some glue. The first part along the canal bank was easy going despite the puddles from the previous days rain, before starting the climb up to the reservoir at Talybont. After crossing the reservoir via the dam, the forest track starts and it is a constant four mile uphill, although not steep, peddle on a stoney track before the nasty climb of some 200 yards to the summit. Following a stop for food and drink it was downhill all the way back to Brecon.

8th July 2012

Weather: Sunny

Distance: 32 miles

Climbs: Leechpool, Mounton, St. Pierre

Terrain: tarmac

Riders: Leon Jones, Graham ‘Spike’ Hughes, Grahame Morton, Tony Griffiths, Karl Gregory, Ron Griffiths

With the forthcoming Taff Trail challenge approaching, the cycle club again decided to up the practice run mileage with a trip across the Old Severn Bridge to the New Passage which lies at the foot of the New Severn Bridge. Six club members set-off from the Choir Hall to travel via Sudbrook and Black Rock then via the long climb up through Leechpool before reaching Parkwall. It was down the St. Pierre hill and turning off opposite the New Inn towards Mounton on the Shirenewton road. There are two nasty climbs coming out of Mounton to the main road near Chepstow hospital, from there it was downhill all the way across the bridge and back towards Caldicot with just the hill at St. Pierre to Parkwall to negotiate.

24th June 2012

Weather: Sunny spells

Distance: 25 miles

Climbs: Bishton, Llanwern, Llandevaud, A48 hill to the Groes Wen, Butcher’s Lane.

Terrain: tarmac, stony for a mile at Undy

Riders: Leon Jones, Graham ‘Spike’ Hughes, Grahame Morton, Nick Powell, Tony Griffiths, Michael Griffiths, Josh Birch

The longest ride so far undertaken by the group, some 25 miles from the Choir Hall, through the flat straight roads of the Caldicot levels to the village of Llanwern. From there it was back to the A48 through Langstone, back to the Caldicot road to Llanmartin, through the lanes to Llandevaud and the A48, up the hill at the Foresters Oaks to the Groes Wen. The lane at the side of the pub, Butcher’s Lane I believe, was torturous, and the descent to the Magor road was something else in the rainy conditions, with waves of water running down the hill on the rough track, which resulted in Nick showing his skills by staying on the bike despite riding half way up the wall of the lane.  The ride was completed along the main road from Magor to Caldicot.

17th June 2012

Weather: Rain

Distance: 18 miles

Climbs: Llanvair Discoed church, long ascent to the reservoir.

Terrain: tarmac but wet slippery lanes to Llanvaches

Riders: Leon Jones, Graham ‘Spike’ Hughes, Tony Griffiths, Michael Griffiths

Probably the hardest ride to date, from the choir hall, through Caerwent and up through Llanvair Discoed to the reservoir at Wentwood. This involved some very steep climbs at Llanvair Church, and three others prior to the reservoir. From there it was a downhill run on the slippery back lanes to Llanvaches before crossing the A48 at the Rock and Fountain before returning to Caldicot via St. Brides and Magor.

10th June 2012

Weather: Cloudy

Distance: 15 miles

Climbs: Bottom road St. Pierre hill, ascent to Shirenewton, Tredegar Arms slope.

Terrain: tarmac all the way

Riders: Leon Jones, Graham ‘Spike’ Hughes, Tony Griffiths, Nick Powell, Michael Griffiths, Josh Birch

On a route suggested by Grahame Morton, the intrepid cycle club made their way from the Choir Hall, through Portskewett, Subrook to Black Rock, back to the main road with the first major challenge, the hill at St. Pierre to Parkwall. Eventually all the members assembled at Parkwall with tired legs, and it was downhill on the A48 past St. Pierre Golf Course to the left turning for Shirenewton opposite the New Inn. From here there is the 2 mile ascent to the Tan House and the very sharp, steep climb at the Tredegar Arms to contend with before the long, very fast descent to Crick, on which, Spike was clocked at 38 mph.

3rd June 2012

Weather: Rain

Distance: 20 miles

Terrain: no hills, tarmac most of the way except for about 1 mile on the grass and mud of the sea wall.

Riders: Leon Jones, Graham ‘Spike’ Hughes, Grahame Morton, Nick Powell and Tony Griffiths.

The first cycle ride of the Caldicot Male Voice Choir Cycle Club, was a 20 mile ride from the Choir Hall through Caerwent and Llanvair Discoed, crossing the A48 through Magor and down to the sea-wall. It was a bit hit and miss as we got lost down on the moor, but eventually found our way back to Undy and back on the main road to the Choir Hall. Despite consistent rain, everybody enjoyed the ride with only minor mishaps when Leon and Tony took a nosedive into the mud, trying to take-on a drainage ditch on the sea wall.