Today’s club ride was out on the Wirral, but the brisk riders today decided that due to favourable weather conditions, we would do a hilly 3AAA audax ride used by JohnW.
Nick, John W, Richard, and I met up at Blacon station on the Greenway, and cycled along the Greenway to Flint where we re-joined the main road taking the turning before Deeside college up to Northop.The sun was beginning to show through the clouds and a prospect of good weather was encouraging.
Today's ride is achieving over 3000ft within 45 miles and since leaving Northop it is certainly going upwards. The Cilcain Road is a long drag all the way to Loggerheads before joining the Penbarras road up to Moel Famau. During the ascent up to the car park the weather changed and we were in a deluge of water coming down from the sky and also running as a river along the road; so wet feet !!!
On arriving at the car park the rain ceases and the sun is out again, but the road is too wet to hammer down nevertheless JW leads the descent. Although the roads were wet, the only poor surface road was not experienced until approaching Ruthin. It was a very poor surface and combined with bright sunshine flashing through the hedgerow made cycling conditions poor.
However, on arriving at our lunch stop “Chatwins Bakery” all is forgotten as we tuck into hot pie and cream cake. On leaving our stop, we again climb out of the town towards a place called Llanfwrog!! A steep climb but on excellent road surface. Strava calls this area – Mwrog Street Climb and that says it all really.
We leave the climb NEAR the summit and we’re back on off-road surface plummeting downhill. JW showing his downhill skills of speed succumbs to a puncture giving us time to relax and take a couple of pictures of our location. We are in a valley surrounded by hills and the autumn colours are stunning. However, it doesn’t take long to fix and we are on the move again.
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Our next climb is from London Bridge over the top of Coed Llangwylan. Again, we endure an uphill ride in the wet. It's strange how we fell foul of the weather then as soon as we complete a long climb, its blue sky. Thankful for small mercies!
Rattling downhill to Nannerch, we’ve competed 6 out of 8 Strava climbs but the final two are only rolls in comparison. Rhes-y-cae and Windy Hill are nothing in comparison and stopping at the top we take in the splendour of the Wirral in full sunshine and wonder if we made the right decision.
We enjoy a down hill flight al the way to Flint where we join the main Chester old road to take us back home. No stopping at Flint for coffee and cake today but straight on to Connah's Quay and re-joining the Greenway back to Chester.
An excellent day with many challenges but in good company all was enjoyable. A 60+ miles out and back but if anyone is interested in a Flint circular for this ride it is under 40 miles. You will still enjoy 4380ft of ascent and less descent so not a flat ride.
Thanks to my brave colleagues for today’s ride. Back home to clean the bike again!!
See route map and/or gpx file download
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