A warm day in prospect and a bumpy ride in Wales. Arriving at the Gallery café there were plenty of riders in lycra shorts so must be warmer.
The brisk group today consisted of Ivan, Tom, John, Paul and Martin who was out with us just to spin his legs for a short ride.
We set off for Betws-yn-Rhos and the Wheatsheaf Inn for lunch heading down to Ewloe roundabout to follow the B5125 to Northop and to enjoy!! a little sprint along the A55 up to Halkyn where Martin leaves us to make his way back to Neston. The brisk group of four continue a ramble along the tops to Rhes y Cae, Lixwm and Babell enjoying the quiet dry and warming up lanes.
Photographs by Ivan Davenport
We pass through St Asaph and follow the B5381 signposted for our destination. We stop for our first photo call looking down on the North Welsh coast at Abergele. Although from St Asaph to our lunch stop was sign posted 7 miles it was a long up hill ride that took longer than expected!!
We arrived at the lovely village and quickly locked our bikes up in the car park and headed in for lunch. We had ridden 32 miles of undulating terrain and it was 12:40. Lunch was ordered and was a good value meal and much needed calories.
We had climbed nearly 900 meters of ascent to get here and had a similar ascent ride home and the debate was should we drop down to Abergele and enjoy NCR 5 back home or continue with the pain!!
As brisk riders it was no pain no gain and after lunch onwards and upwards again. We were riding on very quiet but some very steep climbs involving double chevrons and on rolling down one descent we arrive at a very picturesque valley where I stop for a photo call only to be advised John has a flat.
Back wheel off and change of tube replaced we are ready to go when bang!! John’s tyre blows again – suspect trapped tube. Change tube again and all well. Enjoy conversation with some local gentry and all they advise whichever way we want to go out of this valley it is up hill – shhhhhhh.
The lady was right, 22-27% and a car chasing us up but we all got to the top then let the very patient motorist pass. Good training for Hardnott.
I had no idea where we were from lunch (but see the attached gpx file route) but on arriving at Trefnant a check of the satnav shows we should head west to go over the Clwydian range before heading for Hawarden so a joint decision is go straight for Mold on the A541. This was a good choice and with John and Paul as lead we were rolling along at a steady 22mph on not too busy a main road.
At Mold we enjoy milkshakes, chocolate drink, cake and apple pie at McDonalds and feeling revived head straight to Ewloe on the A494. We lose Tom at the roundabout who drops down to Shotton while Paul and John head to the Blue Bridge and home from Hawarden. I go to Saltney and ride along the Dee for my return ride back to Chester.
A good ride of 85 miles to and from home for me (slightly less for Tom making a change) and a somewhat 5364 feet of ascent. Not sure if the down hills averaged out but I have scored a KOM at Mynydd descent.
ID
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