Today's ride is from Castle Bistro in Chirk and John W and I are travelling via train from Chester. The service is on time and unusually very quiet. Arriving at Chirk the temperature is already warming up for the making of another day in the sunshine. August already and this weather will soon be a memory as we face the wind and rain!!
Arriving at the café and joining the other riders in the garden, it was a surprise that only two other riders present – Ken and Mr Dave P who is incredibly 30 minutes early. Now we know it's Liz who makes him late, our secretary arrives shortly after and that was it for today. 3 brisk and 2 mods riding today.
Ken has put today's ride to the group and so the three of us set off heading out to Weston Rhyn and Oswestry. We then head up Mount Road !!! a two-mile slog of up to 8% ughhhh and the sun is truly on our backs. At the top, we make a left onto a lane to head towards Morda. A down hill but another hill to climb to summit Sweeny Mountain. John has a puncture and, with riding tubeless, we sit on our bikes for a couple of seconds whilst he holds his finger on the hole to keep the white stuff in. All sealed and no problem we continue to the summit. That’s the hills out of the way and now we have a relative flat ride with only rolls to hinder us. Llclys is soon passed, and the road traffic is non-existent except for three hay-baled tractors and trailers.
Our lunch destination is The Royal Hill inn, Pentre near Edgerley on the banks of the River Severn.
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| River Severn opposite the pub |
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| The pub - Royal Hill inn |
This has been our lunch venue several times now and the pricing and meals are good value. A 17th century inn with friendly staff. We enjoy a table outside and are soon served with our food which as usual was excellent. Unfortunately, we must re-join our steeds for a short 25 miles home back to Chirk.
After passing Whittington, we decide ice cream would be pleasant and call into the Derwent college garden centre and enjoy lollies. Onwards to St Martins and down to the A5 roundabout taking us back to Chirk. John and I make our way to the station and Ken continues home to Rossett.
Ken's route today was a circular 46 miles ride with 2684 ft of ascent. You can miss out the lumps at Oswestry and head towards Morda via much flatter roads but not as interesting or scenic.
Thanks to Ken for a super route and one we MAY do again. Ken covered 80 miles cycling out and back
John and I had also ridden on Tuesday riding an audax route of 200k, so today's effort was sufficient.
A great day out and thanks to my two buddies
See route map and/or gpx file download
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