- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
I've been watching the forecast with interest for the last few days and today seemed like the optimum day for this month's challenge ride.
I used the Raleigh and headed for what will likely be my last ride to Lake Vyrnwy until next spring, getting out on the road shortly after seven. I decided to head out via Condover, Lea Cross, Westbury, Melverley, Measbrook and Llynclys then onto my usual route up the Tanat Valley the over the hills via Cwm Hirnant to Llanwddyn and Llyn Efyrnwy.
Setting out it was a few minutes before sunrise so lights were wanted but it wasn't dark enough to need them to see by. The start of the ride went swimmingly and I was setting a reasonable (but not very fast) pace. The weather has been settled the last few days so any mud on the roads was dry and the wind was light, useful as it was against me for the trip out.
Around Maesbrook it seemed to get a bit chilly so a second fleece went on, then at my food stop at Llynclys it started to drizzle (the forecast last night said a 10% chance of precipitation up to 9am so I could live with that). As I proceeded up the Tanat Valley the drizzle got heavier, then turned to rain (not so happy with that forecast now
). At Llangedwyn I pulled over to put on waterproofs in the bus shelter. Since this hadn't been in the forcast I didn't know whether I'd have it the whole way to Vyrnwy or if it would clear. I seriously considered abandoning the ride and settling for a metric century today but in the end decided to risk it and carry on
The rain was persistant as I passed Pentrefelin and Llanrhaeadr-Ym-Mochnant but fortunately I rode out of it at Pedair-Ffordd. At Pen-y-Bont Fawr it had cleared enough for me to be confident the waterproofs could go away again and I headed for the hills, letting a tanker driver go ahead - a decision I later regretted as he was slow enough to hold me up and then he had a standoff on a narrow bit with an Audi driver who didn't seem to know their car had a reverse gear.
Having got over the hills I got to the lake, had a bite to eat and proceeded round for my first lap. I got on well but could feel the legs after the hills. There were quite a few people out cycling and enjoying the autumn colours which are better up here than at home.
The Old Barn cafe has closed for the winter so I ended up at Artisans for a coffee. I went to lock the bike up and realised that I remembered having seen the keys on my bedside table. Fortunately nobody seemed inclined to rob me of the bike today, which is just as well.
The second lap of the lake followed and I got on better than on the first once I'd got into a rythm. I paused for lunch before leaving the lake shore then tackled the hills for the second time today and carried on climbing on the alternative route back to Pen-y-Bont Fawr. Something nice is that I now get a phone signal in the town. On all of my previous rides had nothing after Llynclys, meaning about 60 miles of riding with no means of keeping family updated on progress.
Heading back down the valley I got on well for the most part but with hardly any wind now it wasn't quite as fun as it would have been with a good tailwind. The road was quite busy with articulated lorries - all very courteous and I gave each a wave of appreciation.
After another pause for what was left of my food at Llynclys I headed for Maesbrook again and onto the quieter lanes. I decided to retrace my steps from this morning even though I'd originally intended to take the more direct way. I was slow up the hill at Prince's Oak and not exactly quick for the rest of this section as I'd got over 100 miles in the legs by now and the roads undulate a bit.
On the way out this morning I'd passed a lad near Edge who was cycling to school. It surprised me to pass him again on the way back - what are the chances of being there at the right time?
With the extra stops on the outward trip and having extended the ride a bit it was going dark by the time I got back to Lea Cross. I think that apart from a few short test rides this is the first proper night riding I've done on the Raleigh since getting the B&M lights. A stop was needed for adjustment as one was aimed too high but apart from that it was great. (Not a huge surprise really as I also used them for commuting on the knockabout bike)
I headed over Lyth Hill rather than the flatter way home as that would have meant two crossings of the A49 which was busy, then went the long way round the village just to round things up.
115.2 miles today at 14mph average. Happy with that.
Near Melverley. A bit of early mist around the Breidden.
My friend from the last time I was here is still hanging round.
Getting wet again at Llangedwyn
Arrived at Llyn Efyrnwy. Photo taken for me by a kind passing cyclist.
Attempt at an arty shot at the far end of the lake.
Some good autumn colour up here.
On the alternative route back to Pen-y-Bont Fawr.
Nearly home. Up on Lyth Hill.
I used the Raleigh and headed for what will likely be my last ride to Lake Vyrnwy until next spring, getting out on the road shortly after seven. I decided to head out via Condover, Lea Cross, Westbury, Melverley, Measbrook and Llynclys then onto my usual route up the Tanat Valley the over the hills via Cwm Hirnant to Llanwddyn and Llyn Efyrnwy.
Setting out it was a few minutes before sunrise so lights were wanted but it wasn't dark enough to need them to see by. The start of the ride went swimmingly and I was setting a reasonable (but not very fast) pace. The weather has been settled the last few days so any mud on the roads was dry and the wind was light, useful as it was against me for the trip out.
Around Maesbrook it seemed to get a bit chilly so a second fleece went on, then at my food stop at Llynclys it started to drizzle (the forecast last night said a 10% chance of precipitation up to 9am so I could live with that). As I proceeded up the Tanat Valley the drizzle got heavier, then turned to rain (not so happy with that forecast now
). At Llangedwyn I pulled over to put on waterproofs in the bus shelter. Since this hadn't been in the forcast I didn't know whether I'd have it the whole way to Vyrnwy or if it would clear. I seriously considered abandoning the ride and settling for a metric century today but in the end decided to risk it and carry onThe rain was persistant as I passed Pentrefelin and Llanrhaeadr-Ym-Mochnant but fortunately I rode out of it at Pedair-Ffordd. At Pen-y-Bont Fawr it had cleared enough for me to be confident the waterproofs could go away again and I headed for the hills, letting a tanker driver go ahead - a decision I later regretted as he was slow enough to hold me up and then he had a standoff on a narrow bit with an Audi driver who didn't seem to know their car had a reverse gear.
Having got over the hills I got to the lake, had a bite to eat and proceeded round for my first lap. I got on well but could feel the legs after the hills. There were quite a few people out cycling and enjoying the autumn colours which are better up here than at home.
The Old Barn cafe has closed for the winter so I ended up at Artisans for a coffee. I went to lock the bike up and realised that I remembered having seen the keys on my bedside table
. Fortunately nobody seemed inclined to rob me of the bike today, which is just as well.The second lap of the lake followed and I got on better than on the first once I'd got into a rythm. I paused for lunch before leaving the lake shore then tackled the hills for the second time today and carried on climbing on the alternative route back to Pen-y-Bont Fawr. Something nice is that I now get a phone signal in the town. On all of my previous rides had nothing after Llynclys, meaning about 60 miles of riding with no means of keeping family updated on progress.
Heading back down the valley I got on well for the most part but with hardly any wind now it wasn't quite as fun as it would have been with a good tailwind. The road was quite busy with articulated lorries - all very courteous and I gave each a wave of appreciation.
After another pause for what was left of my food at Llynclys I headed for Maesbrook again and onto the quieter lanes. I decided to retrace my steps from this morning even though I'd originally intended to take the more direct way. I was slow up the hill at Prince's Oak and not exactly quick for the rest of this section as I'd got over 100 miles in the legs by now and the roads undulate a bit.
On the way out this morning I'd passed a lad near Edge who was cycling to school. It surprised me to pass him again on the way back - what are the chances of being there at the right time?
With the extra stops on the outward trip and having extended the ride a bit it was going dark by the time I got back to Lea Cross. I think that apart from a few short test rides this is the first proper night riding I've done on the Raleigh since getting the B&M lights. A stop was needed for adjustment as one was aimed too high but apart from that it was great. (Not a huge surprise really as I also used them for commuting on the knockabout bike)
I headed over Lyth Hill rather than the flatter way home as that would have meant two crossings of the A49 which was busy, then went the long way round the village just to round things up.
115.2 miles today at 14mph average. Happy with that.
Near Melverley. A bit of early mist around the Breidden.
My friend from the last time I was here is still hanging round.
Getting wet again at Llangedwyn
Arrived at Llyn Efyrnwy. Photo taken for me by a kind passing cyclist.
Attempt at an arty shot at the far end of the lake.
Some good autumn colour up here.
On the alternative route back to Pen-y-Bont Fawr.
Nearly home. Up on Lyth Hill.
. Set of this morning at 1030 after the rain had stopped out to Market Bosworth then across the A5 into Atherstone and on to some new roads around Ansley Common to Nuneaton for some veloviewer squares then back over the A5 . Fenny Drayton .Sutton Cheney and Cadeby . Where I felt the rear wheel feel a bit squishy .Pulled over at a convient bus shelter just about to set about taking the wheel off when I realised my pump is in my pannier on the commuting bike in the shed at home 
. Only a slow puncture 9 miles from home can I make it . Gingerly set off soon figured if I stood up and took the pressure of the wheel it might last . Riding 3 miles out of the saddle is hard work it soon became clear I wouldn't make it so had to call for the rescue squad . 30 minutes later bikes in the back of Nephews car and on the way home . Cutting the ride short at 40 miles so missed my target of a 50 mile ride 
but enough for a metric half 
