Playing catch-up again; I got out to bag my challenge ride for the month yesterday.
The forecast looked good (sunshine, no rain, light winds) so the Raleigh and I were up bright and early and out on the road just before seven to head for Lake Vyrnwy, which is a favourite destination. In spite of the new saddle having given me gyp on the last couple of centuries I decided to start off with the long route on the way out so headed to Condover, Exford's Green, Minsterley, Westbury, Prince's Oak, Melverley. Waen Wen and Llynclys. This section was all pretty uneventful apart from a timber waggon overtaking at Coedwy which I thought could have left me a
bit more room.
At Llynclys I paused for my second breakfast and got chatting to a passerby (with dog) who told me a lot of information about the local area, a lot of which I know to be wrong.
I wasn't going to upset him by being pedantic though.
Having eaten I pressed on towards the Tanant Valley but didn't get far before finding a Tanat Valley coach following me and not wanting to overtake - it's not a good road for that anyway so I pulled in to let him (and a few other vehicles) past only to find that he stopped a short way up the road and blocked the traffic, including me.
The reason for his stop was that he'd obviously hit the nearside mirror on something (possibly why he didn't want to overtake - not being able to judge when he was past me?) and was getting out to try and straighten it. When it came off in his hand I could tell things weren't going well.
The wind I'd encountered so far was stonger than hoped for from the forecast and the valley seemed to funnel it so that my progress was not quick. I plodded on but needed a couple of stops where I wouldn't usually bother unless there was something to photograph. Llangedwyn school were doing Bikeability training when I went past.
After the Llanrhaeadr junction I had one or two iffy passes. The container lorry I know couldn't give me a lot of room due to the narrow road, however I'm never keen on them starting to pull back in
before they are past me. The car driver who started to overtake, lifted off when they saw another vehicle coming the other way but then changed their mind and went for it anyway is the one that gets my goat. Probably not as much as it did for the driver that they forced into an emergency stop though.
At Pen-Y-Bont-Fawr I could break away from the weekend trippers heading for Bala or the coast and take some quieter roads over the climb to Llanwddyn. This was fine, apart from the road surface which is horrible, and after some effort I got to the dam with 48 miles showing on the clock and thought it a good point to have some elevenses with a view.
I like riding round Vyrnwy because it's scenic and, being so flat, the riding is swift and easy. Today though, tiredness and the wind meant I went round at a more leisurely pace but still enjoyed it very much. The Old Barn cafe was open so I paused there for coffee and bara brith with a view from their terrace before retracing my steps round the lake at a slightly better pace than earlier that improved further once I got the wind behind me.
When I'd completed my second lap of the lake another pause for lunch was taken then I was all set for the journey back. I took the alternative route back to Pen-Y-Bont-Fawr (more climbing but different scenery and a slightly better road surface) then had a cracking ride back down the Tanat Valley with the wind at my back which kept me mostly in the 17-20 mph speed range.
Back at Llynclys I met the same passerby that I had in the morning and we had another chat, about bikes and the dodgy Llynclys crossroads this time, then I carried on still with a tailwind and still setting a pretty good pace by my standards. I'd intended to go to Knockin but the weekend traffic was picking up by now so I turned off towards The Wood (near Maesbrook) and took much quieter lanes through Argoed, rejoining the intended route at Kinnerley for Pentre, Great Ness, Montford Bridge and Shrewsbury. All was well up to Montford Bridge where the traffic as far as Shelton was rather discourteous so I hopped on the cyclepaths at the first opportunity.
I'm able to stay on the cyclepaths almost all the way home. When I'd come to the end of the one I use, a friendly van driver allowed me out onto the road ahead of him which was really nice. They say that no good deed goes unpunished though and this was true when he was immediately hit up the back by a careless cyclist.
Unfortunately from where I was I couldn't see how it happened so couldn't offer to be a witness.
The June Imperial Century finally done: A fraction over 112 miles for the day at 13.8 mph moving average with a top speed of 36 mph. 10 hours 15 minutes with stops included.
Just outside Plealey on my way to Pontesbury.
The view to Coedwy and into Wales from near Prince's Oak.
Plas Uchaf in the Tanat Valley.
Descending to Abertridwr.
Made it to Llyn Efyrnwy. Time for a bite to eat.
After the first lap of the lake, the view from the terrace at the Old Barn Cafe.
Making my way round on the second lap of the lake.
At Pont Cynon.
Last look before I work my way back to Shrewsbury.
) I took a longer route home. Only a couple of miles in all but enjoyable. Later I did various bits of tinkering with the Kingpin so added a few short test rides to the tally. Maybe four miles in total for the day. Enough to keep the leg muscles from getting too stiff.
