Your ride today.... (part 1)

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gbspark

New Member
Location
chingford london
river lea

along the canel to broxbourne woods, 15 miles then all around the woods, and back to chingford, 38 miles all in all, on a full sus, spesh, and fat tyres, good ride, anyone done canals?
 
Merlin 50. Part 1

56 miles today to try out the new "50 mile" Merlin Ride route. The new start at the National Botanical Gardens makes it much easier to get to from the M4/A48.

We met in the car park around 10 ish,
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and set off towards Porthyrhyd and the first climb of the day!
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It wasn't very steep but it did go on for a mile or so,
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Then it was the drop down to Gorslas
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Merlin 50 Part 3.

Whilst waiting for the stragglers, some of us took the opportunity to have a toilet visit. And he's the respected owner of an LBS too! No wonder he looks so shifty!
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Thus with bladders empty and stomachs full of gels and fluids we rode to Brynamman and the Black Mountain. I don't think we'll be troubling the speed limit on the way up though. :tongue:
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Fairweather pushing on past. :ohmy:
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Fairweather taking it a bit too easy for my liking:ohmy:
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The view back down the valley. We're about a third of the way up here.
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potsy

Rambler
Location
My Armchair
Lovely 28 mile ride today (my longest so far) to Tatton park and then back via Manchester airport.
Weather great,no incidents or muppets on the road.
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You sure you got the correct map? :tongue:, it's got the full snakes pass on and we did not do winnats pass, we did this other "slightly" easier one, although one of the other guys got lost so he went and did winnats pass and met up with us again :ohmy:

Or does snakes pass go all the way to Sheffield?

Since last sunday that is the 3rd long ride.

128 miles
80 miles
92 miles

On saturday or Sunday I think another 90 miler is on the cards, this time abit easier including mow cop, macc forest, then into the peaks for the cat and fiddle and down into the goyt valley through the no entry sign, then up the hardest side of the road called embridge causeway on google maps.
 
Merlin 50 Part 4

Onwards and upwards we go and are greeted with a few tonnes of Welsh Black Beef.
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Once safely past it was "as you were" i.e. up.
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And we're over the top! :tongue:
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And it's all down hill from now till we reach Llanddarog.
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Side view of the above section of road.
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Entering Llanddarog and welcome stop for refreshments in the Red Lion!
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Fnaar

Smutmaster General
Location
Thumberland
Two weeks off the bike... v. busy and stessful time at work, and developed a cold I couldn't shake off. Need to keep miles up in prep for Northern Rock in 2 weeks, so decided a shorty was better than nowt. Did 21 miles, lovely ride, fantastic sunshine. Not up to my usual, but cold seems to be going. :tongue: (and it isn't Mexical flu) :ohmy:
 
Merlin 50 Part 5.

Then it was back along the A40 for a quick blast through Llandeilo and onto the B4300 to Llanarthne.
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Passing Dryslwyn Castle,
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Before turning up to the gardens and one last sting in the tail in the form of a mile long climb.

We thoroughly enjoyed the route, and there are 70 and 112 mile routes to choose as well. If you fancy the challenge then have a look here.
 

Fairweather

Well-Known Member
Location
Swansea
Yet another cracking review lardster. Will there be a hardback available for Christmas?

Great route for the Merlin Ride this year, although the wildlife seems to be getting even more stupid! The bulls standing in the middle of the road with a "you can steer - so go around me smart arse" look in their eyes, and then the sheep that wanted to play chicken when I was approaching it at about 30mph - I found that a scream made it decide to get off the road damn sharpish.

Perfect weather and amazing scenery - so come and join the Merlin Ride - (weather cannot be guaranteed, stupid animals are a deffo!)
 

Will1985

Guru
Location
Norfolk
Just a 45km ride today under a perfect blue sky - I went sleeveless for the occasion and felt like a triathlete!
Time to taper off the hard riding now and rest up for next Sunday...save for a 10TT on Tuesday - hoping for a float day on the pan flat course to PB with an aeroed up Pompino.
 

515mm

Well-Known Member
Location
Carmarthenshire
Fairweather said:
Yet another cracking review lardster. Will there be a hardback available for Christmas?

Perfect weather and amazing scenery - so come and join the Merlin Ride - (weather cannot be guaranteed, stupid animals are a deffo!)

+1 most assuredly

An excellent 'short' route. Special mention should be made of Little Miss who despite very limited experience of long distance cycling showed exceptional grit and made it round in the end. - Chapeau!

Expect footage of Little Miss' ''clipless moment'' injury to be provided by the boy Lards any time soon. More Savlon dear?* :laugh:







*other soothing unguents are available.
 
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