Open to Offas Ride

[theclaud]

There'd be shed-loads who would want to see that !

My tandem is fettled and waiting for them. It is only a few years old and has a wide range of gears (+ a granny ring) - it'd suit them perfectly. Thing is though, they'd never agree who'd be at the front.

I wonder if we should work on them - perhaps they'd do it for charity ?. IF they could both be persuaded to turn up, it'd be the talk of CC!

Stop wondering. We definitely shouldn't. And I think it's rubbish of Smeggers to wuss out of this ride by making his participation contingent upon something significantly less likely than hell freezing over. Besides, DZ has no idea of the meaning of the phrase "granny ring". He thinks it refers to a 23T sprocket.

 

[pubrunner]

I think it's rubbish of Smeggers to wuss out of this ride

Yes, especially when Smeggers can get to the ride more easily & quicker than the South Wales contingent.

. . . . . . . making his participation contingent upon something significantly less likely than hell freezing over.

I like a challenge - do you think they might be persuaded if a petition is set up - requesting that they both attend ?

Regarding hell freezing over, you know how Patrick & Dell would love to share a discussion on Global Warming.

Patrick & Dell on a tandem - would be a match made in . . . . . . .

 

[ColinJ]

Come down on the Friday & kip over - I'll be bunging up a 5-man tent just in case and we've also got a couple of sofa beds. There'll be plently of grub, before & after the ride; during the ride there'll be a cafe stop at about 6 miles and a couple of pub stops after that !

If the weather is half decent, I might even attempt a BBQ. I've plenty of weird & wonderful liqueurs that I could do with getting rid of and there'll be beer of course !

Alas, time and money constraints mean that any further events I take part in this year will have to be one-day and cheap! (Hence me choosing an inexpensive cafe for my Otley ride from Hebden Bridge on 15th July, which you are welcome to join us for if you fancy it.)

 

[pubrunner]

First cafe stop after 6 miles?? That's got to be a record.

It didn't seem any further than that, when we stopped on the Llandovery ride.

 

[pubrunner]

. . . . . . . my Otley ride from Hebden Bridge on 15th July, which you are welcome to join us for if you fancy it.)

Too soon for me, but I'm potentially interested in rides that you might have in July, August & September. Especially if you can get some of those who did the Settle ride - great bunch. What's happened to PaulB ? I've not seen him post in quite a while; he was a very strong cyclist.

 

[pubrunner]

Can I follow you all and drive round handing out drinks bottles and sage advice?

After all, I have got a Skoda, slap a few stickers on it and we could REALLY confuse the locals?

Most of the locals here have Skodas . . . . . you don't think it is posh here do you ? - To someone who lives on the cusp of Prestbury & Wilmslow.

Since TC reckons Patrick & Dell would be a no-show, you'd be free to use my tandem yourself - saves you bringing a bike. I think Spire's free that weekend . . .

 

[ColinJ]

What's happened to PaulB ? I've not seen him post in quite a while; he was a very strong cyclist.

Paul has made a reappearance on the forum recently.

He is taking a sabbatical or maybe early retirement (depending on whether he decides to go back to work later) and is using the free time to go Munro-bagging!

 

[al-fresco]

I might be up for this as its not to far away. What kind of speed do these Cycle Chat rides go at? 60 miles is a fair way for me, won't be able to average 20mph.

I will be wombling around at the back and would expect to average about 10 mph over this type of terrain. (Especially now that Pubbie has shortened the route by cutting out the easy bits!) You won't be left behind as I can go slower if the occasion demands it.

 

[pubrunner]

I will be wombling around at the back and would expect to average about 10 mph over this type of terrain.

Ahem, could you please keep to the script - in line with my posting below :

. . .. . . . There will be a few hills - but nothing to worry about . . . . . . .

There are some cracking bits of road on this route Al, I did most of the ride on Saturday morning; apart from a short climb in Tregeriog, it is pretty much downhill from Llanarmon to the turning for Bronygarth. Judging by the pace at the end of the Llandovery ride, I'll be the one hanging on the back.

There is a hill from Oswestry up to the Racecourse, but it's nothing nasty; I went that way in the car tonight - the descent from the top, down to the Trefonen road is really good - not too steep and almost exactly two miles . . . . . . . the others will need to be aware that there is a junction at the end though.

Will you be on your fixie ? (chortles)

 

[lukesdad]

Is the little red icon the start and finnish ?

 

[pubrunner]

Is the little red icon the start and finnish ?

Indeed, it is !

 

[lukesdad]

.....cafe, 6 miles you say ? Dunno if I can last that long

 

[Matthew_T]

If you want to see some good scenery, then look at this route: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/llangollen-route
28 miles in and you get this view of the horseshoe: https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=ll...=pNNgmnYEL8q0Vp4Sp5lIxQ&cbp=12,131.99,,0,13.3

 

[pubrunner]

If you want to see some good scenery, then look at this route: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/llangollen-route
28 miles in and you get this view of the horseshoe: https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=llangollen&hl=en&ll=53.015816,-3.206635&spn=0.091704,0.220757&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=5.763873,14.128418&t=h&hnear=Llangollen, Denbighshire, United Kingdom&z=12&layer=c&cbll=53.015527,-3.207241&panoid=pNNgmnYEL8q0Vp4Sp5lIxQ&cbp=12,131.99,,0,13.3

Yeah, I know the Horseshoe Pass very well; but given the choice, I'd much prefer to cycle on 'my' route - it's at least as scenic (yes, really) and the roads will be much quieter. The Horseshoe Pass in August can get rather busy; it is a tried and tested route, but I thought I'd use roads that the other riders (excepting Al-Fresco) will almost certainly not have been on.

I know a (little-used) road not too far away, which is almost the same length as the Horseshoe Pass and slightly steeper and yes, better views. What is great about it, is the fact that it has no difficult bends and no cattle grids. I'd imagine a top rider would get close to 60mph on the descent . . . . . . . but I'm saving that for another ride.

 

[Matthew_T]

Yeah, I know the Horseshoe Pass very well; but given the choice, I'd much prefer to cycle on 'my' route - it's at least as scenic (yes, really) and the roads will be much quieter. The Horseshoe Pass in August can get rather busy; it is a tried and tested route, but I thought I'd use roads that the other riders (excepting Al-Fresco) will almost certainly not have been on.

I know a (little-used) road not too far away, which is almost the same length as the Horseshoe Pass and slightly steeper and yes, better views. What is great about it, is the fact that it has no difficult bends and no cattle grids. I'd imagine a top rider would get close to 60mph on the descent . . . . . . . but I'm saving that for another ride.

I have used StreetView to have a look at some of the roads on your route and they do seem to be quiet. There is quite a nice view just at the start of the ride here: https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=os...a30VplOMouTy_Sg-er5Zjw&cbp=12,238.92,,0,10.78
IMHO there are probably going to be better ones but I havent got the patience to Street View the whole route.