Monday: Time for another challenge ride. I should have gone out to do this months ride back on the 2nd but put it off as I had an early start
and a late finish at work the next day which I didn't really want to feel exhausted for. The weather, work and other things then conspired to prevent me getting it done so, with the month getting on and the forecast not looking great for any of the upcoming days I was free I decided to just pick a dry day and go for it.
Monday wasn't really the best choice, being sandwiched between two work days, and ideally I wouldn't have picked a day with winds of 18 gusting to 35 in the forecast but I thought I'd risk it and was up and out on the Raleigh just before 7am heading towards Lake Vyrnwy. I used the new bridge at Meole Brace (supposedly the old bridge was being taken away for refurbishment but this new one has a look of permanence about it so I don't know what the intentions are now). The cycle paths to Shelton were fairly quiet at this time of the morning then it was a fairly easy run to Montford Bridge, Great Ness and Pentre.
The headwind didn't seem to be slowing me down too much on the way to Kinnerley where I took to the lanes through Argoed, Llwyn Y Go and The Wood to avoid the main road to Llynclys as much as I could. I did have to use it eventually and apart from one driver who was a bit impatient it was okay. My first snack stop was taken in the entrance to the Cambrian Heritage Railway and I'd made pretty good progress so far.
Moving on, the notorious crossroads at Llynclys weren't too bad but the start of the road up the Tanat Valley was fairly busy with the tail-end of the rush hour. It usually eases once past the turn off for Llansantffraid, and today was no exception. The traffic was lighter but the wind was much more noticeable as I plodded my way up the valley. I was still fairly happy with my progress given the conditions though and just stuck at it through Llangedwyn and up to my next turn off near Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant. I'd passed a couple of sets of temporary lights on the way so was a little disappointed I wouldn't have a clear run on the way back.
A pause at Pedair Ffordd was taken then the proper climbing of the day starts with a short but sharp hill on the way to Pen Y Bont Fawr then the longer drag up to Cwm Hirnant and over the hill to Abertridwr. I was feeling pretty pleased at this point as the climbing felt good on this bike. The final climb up to the dam was slow and steady then the view I've been missing for the last two years unfolded before me and I paused for my next snack stop.
I already knew that the road round the one side of the lake is still closed following damage from storm Darrah last November. The open side should be long enough to give me the distance I wanted if I rode there and back twice so I set off expecting the headwind to make it difficult. I've found in the past that the wind doesn't always come from the direction you expect it to when riding round Vyrnwy and that was the case this time - I found it easier than expected on the leg towards the far end of the lake. There weren't as many signs of the storm damage as I expected until I got right to the end where a large section of woodland had been cleared and I reached the point where the road was closed and could see that it was with good reason.
Turning back I found it harder going than expected, with the wind against me in odd places, which I presume is to do with the way the air flows around the surrounding hills. By the time I crossed the dam and reached the cafe I was in need of a refreshment stop. I did look to see if the Old Barn cafe was open - it wasn't and from the looks of it I'm not sure whether that is permanent. I went to Artisan's instead and found that since I was last here it looks a little run-down. Their food hygiene rating of 1, displayed in the front window, suggests it's not just my opinion either. While I was sat outside with my coffee, a couple came to hire bikes - one of them only just made it out of the car park before the chain jammed into the wheel, so they returned the bikes and asked for a refund.
Starting off on my second trip up the lake and back things went pretty well at the start but after turning at the end I found that the coffee didn't sit very well, making me feel a bit light headed and sick. That passed but my legs started threatening to cramp up. Not a good sign at this distance. I paused again at the dam to have a bite to eat before carrying on (bit of a chat with a guy on a Triumph Bonneville here). I'd passed the metric century at this point so I knew the distance was good so it was just a case of heading back the shortest way. I also discovered at this point that there is a phone signal for my network now, which there hasn't been here in the past.
I was pleasantly surprised at how easy the climb from Abertridwr felt this time and decided to use the alternative way back to Pen Y Bont Fawr. So far so good but the climb out of the village the other side caused my legs to cramp, which was disappointing as I'd really hoped the shorter cranks would help prevent that.
I had a pretty good tailwind now and got along well on the way back towards Llanrhaeadr, only to be baulked at the temporary lights. It wasn't until much later that I realised the driver in front giving me a wave was another of the people I'd had a short conversation with back at the cafe. I had some really fun cruising speeds going but the odd twinge of cramp kept showing up and then came back with a vengeance as I reached Pen Y Bont Llanech Emrys. It eased while I waited for the temporary lights to change but then came back more and more frequently as I worked my way down the valley, causing me to have a couple of stops, but often coming on at points where there wasn't anywhere safe to stop and I just had to cope as best I could. I was very glad to reach Llynclys again and stop for another snack and a bit of a rest.
From here I decided I wanted to be off the main road as soon as I could and took the next right through Waen Wen but not before being annoyed by a driver who passed a little too close before turning into the same road. A bit of a tour round some lanes I know well and some I have only ridden once or twice brought me back to Argoed and Kinnerley where I retraced my steps to Pentre, wishing that this road could get properly resurfaced sometime soon.
Heading back through Shrawardine not only gives a change of scenery but also avoids a climb I knew I wouldn't like. Some of this section had a good tailwind allowing me to keep up with the traffic. I couldn't avoid the climb over to Bicton and the legs cramped up badly again, forcing me to stop to let them recover.
The tailwind was helping so I decided to take the direct route home, even though I knew there was one more climb that I'd probably struggle with. In the end it was alright; the legs were fine standing on the pedals and I was even able to overtake another rider on the way, which was surprising. I took the final climb slowly and steadily. I caught up with a couple of youngsters headed home from school and got challenged to pull a wheelie.
I just said I hadn't got any energy left for that.
105.11 miles at 13.5 mph moving average. Strava says 4034 feet of climbing which confirms what I've long suspected; that this route is flatter than it might appear. 9 hours and 43 minutes total time including stops. June done and still in the Challenge.
Despite the issues it was a good ride in some great scenery. I hope to do it again fairly soon - this time with better preparation beforehand.
Working my way up the Tanat Valley.
At Hirnant.
First sight of the dam.
The view up the lake. I've really missed this.
I suppose that
is a good reason for closing the road.
Coffee stop.
Another look up the lake. Recreating a picture I took the very first time I cycled over here.
More storm damage as I return to Pen Y Bont Fawr.
Passing through Shrawardine on the way back.
). A couple of other cyclists were stopped at the pub too - they'd come down from Cheshire for a bit of a tour round and were headed to The Mytton and Mermaid next for lunch.
