Got a bonus ride today

[Banjo]

Didnt expect to cycle today but eldest son has broken a thumb so I dropped him into Cardiff instead of making him struggle on the train.Not worth coming home just to go back again so chucked the bike in the car to fill in the hours waiting for him

Rode from the city center up over Caerphilly Mountain into the town then back to cardiff via Rudry and Lisvane.

Havent done the Caerphilly mountain road before, had me puffing a bit at the top

Top two pics are Caerphilly Castle with statue of Tommy Cooper

bottom two are Cardiff Castle and Bute Park.

 

[L.E.D.]

Rode from the city center up over Caerphilly Mountain

Nice climb

, That sod of a dip on top of the mountain is a nice little tester just when you think it's all over lol.

Did you go down the hill to the Garden Centre or turn right at the top of the mountain and go down into town ?

Going straight down to the garden centre is where i try to break my speed record

 

[Banjo]

Turned right at the Mountain View Cafe into the town. Will try the other way next time. Your right about the dip a few seconds of elation then" Oh $hit" when you see whats waiting round the next bend for you .

 

[Jerry Atrik]

My favourite Tommy Cooper joke ! Went to Moscow on holiday huh huh huh . See the Kremlin so i knocked on the door huh huh huh , and said is Lenin ! The man was a genius .

 

[ianrauk]

looks like a nice ride Banjo..

 

[NormanD]

Is Tommy Cooper looking down at the bike and thinking "Could use some Crud catchers on there!"

Looked a good ride 

 

[mgarl10024]

Looks a great ride Banjo.

Do you happen to have any links to any maps for this route? Or is it one you just made up?

 

[Banjo]

Looks a great ride Banjo.

Do you happen to have any links to any maps for this route? Or is it one you just made up?

Spur of the moment job so made up as I bimbled alolng. Have mapped it here if anyones interested http://ridewithgps.com/routes/211196 Not the best idea starting in the city center if you dont have to. It is quite busy and the big RAB at the Junction of Crwys Road and Western Avenue is not for the faint hearted (there is an underpass you can push the bike through)

The area North and East of Cardiff is quite pleasant countryside.Wouldnt mind spending a day exploring that area as its not somewhere I am familiar with.

If your into cycle paths you can take the taff Trail which is a shared pedestrian and cycle path that follows the river Taff .That will get you out of the City avoiding all traffic except pedestrians ,dogs etc. Once north of the city there is a link to another Trail which would get you to Caerphilly or you could leave the Taff Trail at Tongwynlais and use the road s.

I know commuters do it every day but personally I try never to cycle through Cardiff at Rush hour ,its quite manic in places.

 

[L.E.D.]

Turned right at the Mountain View Cafe into the town. Will try the other way next time. Your right about the dip a few seconds of elation then" Oh $hit" when you see whats waiting round the next bend for you .

If you do go the other way then don't touch the brakes, grab the middle of the road and have some fun. It has an excellent run off at the bottom to lose the speed safely.

 

[pepecat]

Fair play Banjo! Caerphilly Mountain's a bit of a slog. Haven't done it myself, but used to live in Cardiff, so know it well. The run back into town through Lisvane / Llanishen/ Roath is nice.

 

[carpiste]

I also did a run to Wales the same day as banjo. The weather was fantastic and the scenery superb.
If there`s any beginners (like me I hasten to add) this is a cracking place to visit. It`s 11.5 miles from the cafe/carpark by the dam wall.Very quiet roads and flat as a pancake.I went round twice.
The cafe does bike rentals, crafts and a mean walnut and chocolate cake although the coffeee leaves a lot to be desired

I`ll definitely be going again.Took a few photos for anyone who`s interested.

A big old Victorian reservoir.....to serve Liverpool!

This is not a Welsh castle but a filter sluice....impressive engineers them Victorians.

Fortunately (for us beginners) the hills that surround the lake are just for show, the road is on the lake shore

 

[Banjo]

Nice pics Carpiste.Which one is it? Looks similar to the Elan valley Reservoir but must be further north if it serves Liverpool?

 

[carpiste]

It`s Lake Vyrnwy. I guess I should have mentioned that