Yesterdays ride: It's the last weekend of the month so I needed a century ride to keep me
in the challenge.
After some rearrangements I got out yesterday and repeated one of my favourite routes; to Lake Vyrnwy, heading out through Shrewsbury to Montford Bridge, Great Ness, Kinnerley, Knockin, Llynclys and up the Tanat Vallet to Penybontfawr then via Cwm Hirnant to Abertridwr and up to do a lap of the lake.
I used the Galaxy this time for the first really long ride I've done on it and enjoyed the way it eats up the miles without much effort and how it seems to smooth out the rough roads. Traffic was light this early in the morning and everyone I did meet was well behaved.
Getting up to the lake there was a notable difference in the humidity and the road was still wet from the rain the day before. On the very flat road (and sheltered from the headwind I'd been riding against) 16/17mph was a comfortable cruising speed and I was soon back round to the dam and heading for a stop at The Old Barn cafe.
Having enjoyed my hot chocolate I headed round the lake the opposite way. There were more cyclists out by now and I overtook several groups enjoying a leisurely bimble.
Having passed the metric century mark it was back into the hills to retrace my steps towards home. By this point I could feel the lack of riding this month. For various reasons my mileage has been well down over the last few weeks and I really knew about it on the climb away from Abertridwr. I toyed with the idea of trying an alternative route to Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant but looking at the contours on the map thought I'd leave that one for another time.
Normally I love the ride back down the Tanat Valley as although it's got the odd climb, the trend is slightly downhill all the way to Llynclys. Today though the forecast
was correct and while I was up at Vyrnwy the wind had swung round so as to be a headwind both ways.
What should have been a fun blast down the valley therefore was a pretty ordinary pace as I did the best I could.
There was more traffic on the way back too. My lunch stop at a crossroads by Llanhraeadr had some entertainment thrown in as a few lost tourists tried to work out where they were going next. One car came past the junction three times while I was there.
Once past Llynclys the wind became less of an issue (due to not being funnelled up a valley) but the drivers were impolite
so I was glad to head onto quieter roads heading for Melverley. I was flagging by now so used a chat with a couple on a tandem as a good excuse to stop for a rest. (Hope that back tyre held up for the rest of the trip.
)
Another stop for a bite to eat near to Prince's Oak was within earshot of the Loton Park speed hillclimb so I enjoyed a sandwich with the sound of screaming engines, screeching tyres and the burble of the commentator in the background.
Stopping to eat helped and the rest of the trip went pretty well. Nearing home the A49 was very busy so I went over Lyth Hill rather than the flat route through Condover this time.
107.89 miles at 14.2 mph moving average (9 hours and 15 minutes with the stops included).
I've really enjoyed using the Dawes for this one but the little finger on my left hand went numb (handlebar adjustment needed?) and there was a certain amount of chafing as this saddle is definitely too wide for me.
My usual first drink stop near to Pentre. Looking summery at last.
I don't usually go in for selfies (and I'm sure you can see why) but I wanted to show off the CycleChat top on its first outing.
The view from my second breakfast stop at Llangedwyn.
Penybontfawr.
A change of scenery at the top of the climb of Cwm Hirnant (not to be confused with the nearby Hirnant Pass).
Llyn Efyrnwy.
The hills at the head of the lake.
The view from the terrace at the Old Barn Cafe.
Heading through the wooded shoreline on my second lap of the lake.
Heading for home and the view from my last food stop near Prince's Oak.
