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!

 

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.