Your ride today.... (part 1)

[pyranah]

today and yesterday

2 good rides this weekend both only 35 miles

cumbria
wigton climbing up to rosley, backroads to hutton in the forest, back to caldbeck, mealsgate wigton, good ride, seemed to be climbing all but the last 5 miles

silloth to allonby, turn off haytom, climb to moota, down into isel, along to bassenthwaite, castle in, ireby, mealsgale wigton, abbeytown, silloth


to good 2 hour runs

 

[Lardyboy]

Today's ride part 1.

We met by the "Angel" in Pontneddfechan. Allda Pies, Fairweather, 515mm and yours truly. we'd decided to do the "difficult" half of the Dragon Ride.

The weather was sunny but chilly, arm and knee warmers (3/4's for me with my knees)were de riguer. At 11 ish the intrepid four set off on the old road down the valley and into Neath before the first climb of the day up through Cimla.

Spot the ironic sign on the left!

We're at the top!

And the descent down into the Afan valley begins!!!

 

[Lardyboy]

Today's ride part2

The descent down into Pontrhydyfen with the famous viaduct and the house where Richard Burton was born and raised on the right.

So up onto the Valley road and the Bwlch Mountain.

We stopped for a ham roll for Allda Pies and a pee for the rest of us in Afan Argoed. A must do for any MBKer out there.

The wind turbines overlooking Cymmer and Glyncorrwg. I can see them from my house two valleys and 10 miles away!

The last villages, Blaengwynfi and Abergwnfi, before you get onto the mountain properly. You can make out the road clinging to the side of the mountain.

 

[Lardyboy]

Todays ride part 3.

This is where it starts to get serious. They are smiling, but not for long.

We're at the top at last!!!!!!

View back down the valley.

 

[Lardyboy]

Todays ride part 4.

The view from the Bwlch down towards Treorci and the Rhondda valley.

It's a fantastic descent down into Treorci. Long with corners you can really sustain some speed around.

And if you do have to have a pee make sure you go further away and I still don't have the camera in my hand!

 

[Lardyboy]

Todays ride part 5.

The ride out along the valley floor though Treorci and then Treherbert is flat so it gives your legs time to warm up again after dropping off the Bwlch, before you hit the Rhigos!

We did splinter going up the Rhigos each choosing their own pace, quite wisely. As a consequence I only managed to take two good photos. One at the bottom and one at the top.

 

[Lardyboy]

Todays ride part 6.

Then it was a quick blast along the plateau until we got to the lay-by overlooking the Neath valley, where a group photo was taken.

Fairweather taking over the camera duties for the last one to prove I was on the ride!

The view down over the Neath valley with the village of Rhigos in the forground and Glynneath just about visible behind it.

Then back in the saddle for a ba**s out descent down the Rhigos to Hirwaun, then down the old road to Glynneath. Back to Pontneddfechan, the Angel and a pint of Rhymmnu bitter, thank you mine host.

45.5 miles, average of 14 mph. Don't know how much altitude though. but lets say it was enough!

 

[Allda Pies]

Great ride today in fantastic weather for the time of year. Great pics by Lardy that hopefully show how lucky we are to live in this part of the country I wasn't thinking that halfway up the climb of the Rhigos today however when the mixture of recently consumed ham roll and yesterdays copious amount of Guiness started to have an unwelcome effect. I knew I should have had a pie at Afan The last descent was worth all the previous efforts efforts and despite reservations the pint at the end was definitely better than SIS. Good day

Here's to the next one (and the next pie)

 

[montage]

30 miles to grandparents house, 30 miles back 5 hours later, then 8 miles to a party, 8 miles back. To grandparents and back was surprisingly fast riding, think I managed around 23mph average, though computer crapped out on me towards the end so I am unsure! Surprisingly no leg ache whatsoever either... somebody slipped something into my drink?

 

[gbb]

24 miles before work this morning (b/h monday)...a mix of quiet urban roads, taking me onto the edges of the Nene Washes, Whittlesea, back to Peterborough, onto the local country park, then onto work.
Masses of birds out there (the Washes being floodplain thats marshy and wild)..so many species i cant remember them all, but Brambling, a Jay really close up (bugger, couldnt get my camera phone out before he was off), but watchd him real close for 20 seconds or so. Lovely specimen.
Did i see a Swallow ? Isnt it too early ?...caught a fleeting glance of what i thought was one.
Fantastic ride at this time of the morning. A little cold and murky, but still, and as the sun gathers strength, a lovely time to ride.

 

[colly]

Sunday morning about 6 am start. . Out to Selby and back via Cawood and Sherburn. A tad under 50 miles.

www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=6167

 

[bonj2]

looks awesome roads and scenery lardyboy!`

 

[roadiewill]

65 miles

 

[dudi]

My first ever ton today.

total of 100.79 miles.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Congratulations. That is my next target milestone. How did it feel?

My first ever ton today.

total of 100.79 miles.