Manchester - Llandudno 2016 : Saturday April 23...for Harry, England and St George

[rich p]

Yes and if you need further information, @rich p's specialist subject is the difference between Llandudno and Llandudno Junction.

The precise difference is £25 in taxi fares

 

[nickyboy]

The precise difference is £25 in taxi fares

I think this is a story with which I am unfamiliar. Please elaborate. But please don't tell me you rocked up at Llandudno station on Sunday, only to find your train was from Llandudno Junction. I can't believe anyone would make that mistake after I repeatedly told folk it was LJ

 

[Freds Dad]

I was hoping to get a lift home after the ride but it looks like I'm on the train. What time are we expected to arrive in Llandudno?

 

[rich p]

I think this is a story with which I am unfamiliar. Please elaborate. But please don't tell me you rocked up at Llandudno station on Sunday, only to find your train was from Llandudno Junction. I can't believe anyone would make that mistake after I repeatedly told folk it was LJ

You were probably three sheets to the wind when I told you!
I'd managed to book the Llan. Junc. Premier Inn which entailed a lift from Mrs Crackle with the bike and then an expensive taxi to the boozer and back. It's only money...

... to add insult to injury, I was late booking my ticket back from Swansea to Brighton, and the bástards stung me for an 85 quid single fare.

 

[nickyboy]

I was hoping to get a lift home after the ride but it looks like I'm on the train. What time are we expected to arrive in Llandudno?

Million dollar question....

It depends on three things:

1) How fast you can ride
2) How long you want to spend at the stops
3) Headwind/Tailwind

This is not a "keep everyone together" ride. I think we should all be at Eureka café at the same time. After that participants can leave the café when it suits them and can ride at whatever pace they like to Llandudno

I'm estimating arriving Eureka café about 1330. From there it's 48 flat miles to Llandudno. So if you took an hour for lunch there and rode at 12mph you'd arrive Llandudno at 1830. Of course you can spend more time or less time at the café. And you could ride slower or faster

So it's up to you. I wouldn't book a train back from Llandudno Junction much before 1900 if I were you

Absolute worst case scenario is this: There's a howling westerly gale which means you can't get to Llandudno in time to get your train. You can still use your Advance ticket to get on at any of the stations your train stops at on the way to Chester. So you wouldn't miss the train, you might just miss Llandudno. But as I say, worst case scenario

 

[Jaykun85]

ill look into the tickets and see what the last train time possible to get home to northwich via chester

Just got my bike back from the LBS after upgrading to the Ultegra Chain set . looks very nice i have to say. Had a leaflet for the British Cycling Cheshire Ride for Life in September, So though may as well book into that one swell to keep me with some goals to aim for hopefully

 

[nickyboy]

ill look into the tickets and see what the last train time possible to get home to northwich via chester

Just got my bike back from the LBS after upgrading to the Ultegra Chain set . looks very nice i have to say. Had a leaflet for the British Cycling Cheshire Ride for Life in September, So though may as well book into that one swell to keep me with some goals to aim for hopefully

Last train is a good tactic as quite a few of us will be decamping to the pub once we've had something to eat in Llandudno

 

[Jaykun85]

Well if I make it I don't want to disappear too soon as would be first ride like this pub sounds good though

 

[I like Skol]

Well if I make it I don't want to disappear too soon as would be first ride like this pub sounds good though

You can stop off at the pub around the half way point and neck a few pints if you like. We did last year didn't we Nick

 

[nickyboy]

You can stop off at the pub around the half way point and neck a few pints if you like. We did last year didn't we Nick

We did have probably one more pint than was wise

Anyway....what are you doing lurking on this thread without sticking your name down?

 

[I like Skol]

We did have probably one more pint than was wise

Story of my life!

I have been hanging around since you announced it and mostly crying into my beer because I am working that weekend and can't spare the 2 days off needed to join you

I will be with you in spirit and monitoring progress over the actual weekend via this thread as it gets updated

 

[rich p]

Story of my life!

I have been hanging around since you announced it and mostly crying into my beer because I am working that weekend and can't spare the 2 days off needed to join you

I will be with you in spirit and monitoring progress over the actual weekend via this thread as it gets updated

Skolly you tart, I've got a twin room booked and all...

 

[Jaykun85]

well thats my train ticket booked last train is 21.29 to get me home to Northwich about 23.00. Hope they will let me take the bike on as know sometimes they only have limited places.

 

[nickyboy]

well thats my train ticket booked last train is 21.29 to get me home to Northwich about 23.00. Hope they will let me take the bike on as know sometimes they only have limited places.

You can book a bike space

http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/Bicycles/

There are two bookable spaces per train. What a booked space gets you is a guarantee you can put your bike in the official "bike bay" on the train and there are straps to hold it secure. You automatically get a seat reservation close to the bike if you do this

Having said that, Arriva Trains Wales seem very relaxed about bikes and I've seen at least a dozen on a train from Llandudno with no objections from the staff. Not that there should be many bikes at 21.29 though. It's about a 15 minute ride from central Llandudno to Llandudno Junction (quantity of beer consumed dependent of course)

 

[I like Skol]

Skolly you tart, I've got a twin room booked and all...

Thanks Rich, rub salt in the wound why don't you! Not only am I missing the cycling highlight of the year but have turned down a hot date too.....