There were a lot of us at the Coast Cafe as I turned up after a 5 mile warm up ride around Rhos. It was positively buzzing. There were three (or perhaps four) distinct rides today. I had taken one of Mike’s brisk routes and then reversed it to ride the big hills before lunch. As ever, getting the rides going was more disorganised than herding cats. Slowly it became clear that there would only be three of us Brisk riders today - Nick, Ken and myself.
I was looking forward to the first few miles as it was all along the foreshore and cycle path No:5 i.e. flat and interesting except it wasn’t. I made the fatal mistake of remarking to Ken at the start that the promenade was finally finished after three years - but it wasn’t. There were barriers across the road which meant we had to take the old main road up to Penmean Rhos - and up it was for a good mile and 300ft. So we run down passing the massive quarries to rejoin Highway 5 to rejoin the cycle path near Llanddulas. There may have been a diversion sign back down to the coast path but I didn’t see it.
The path was rock and debris strewn as result of recent storms so we either rode very slowly or carried the bikes over the worst bits. Eventually after 6 miles of inconvernience, we start the six mile uphill ride to Trofarth. It is a very beautiful valley with some nasty steep bits - but very picturesque. Ken tells me one hill was 19% and I believed him as I very slowly ascended it.
Eventually, we reach a very good and wide road and head ever upwards almost due south battling a vicious gusting side wind. Just before we hit the A548, we notice the rainstorm strafing the hills and Conwy river valley in front of us, so we don rain jackets just in time. The descent on wet roads into Llanrwst is very fast and very bendy but we arrive safely in the centre and head north to locate the tiny lane by the station which takes us over and across the Conwy river and its flood plain into Trefriw.
Our route now is straight north along the B road to Conwy passing the surfing centre. We notice a few Mod riders on their way to lunch at Trefriw. We pass the Roman fort turn before peeling off left towards Rowen then onwards to the Dutch Pancake House cafe after 30 miles of hard riding. Lunch was adjudged to be very good and quick and we all took a pint of hydrating Snowdon ale as well.
The lane into the back of Conwy was very pleasant as I lead our trio around the town and down to quayside. We stop awhile to take in the scenery with the famous Liverpool Arms pub and the fresh seafood shop before cycling across the bridge and around the estuary to Deganwy junction. We were held up by the level crossing for some time here but we were in no hurry. Just as we get onto the main drag to Llandudno, the Mod+ group arrive alongside us having ignored the long queue of traffic that had built up due to roadworks.
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| Conwy Castle quayside |
Unfortunately on getting onto this road from the side turning, Nick has a front mudguard malfunction which tips him off his bike and into the road narrowly missing the slowly moving traffic. Thankfully he is not too badly hurt but rather shaken as you would be. We rest awhile until Nick is ready to ride again. We set off now following the Mods+ to the West Shore model railway park. They head off for a turn round the Great Orme via the private road.
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| Waiting for Godot ( aka CA) |
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| At "Rest and be Thankful Cafe" |
I’d modified the route to ascend the Great Orme by road and then drop down via St Tudno’s Well onto the private peripherique. Unfortunately this meant about a mile or so of 15-20% hillside either cycling, or in my case walking, up along side the railway track. All respect to Ken and Nick as they rode the whole way !!!. By walking up though I had given them time to briefly explore the Great Orme Bronze Age copper mine. We eschew the summit by turning off right and down passing St Tudno’s Well and its church and cemetery and onto the peripherique. We had agreed to stop at the “Rest and Be Thankful” cafe only to find the Mod+ group there enjoying their recently purchased cake and coffees.The home run back to Rhos was uneventful taking in the bay’s wide promenade and the last hill up and over the Little Orme.
A great route thanks to Mike's initial suggestion, but the stiff wind plagued us all day, and we could have done without the stinging rain as we swooped down into Llanwrst. Steve Hu sent me a newspaper cutting the following day which informed me that, the part of the closed promenade that pushed us onto the old main road, was now open (after three years).
So many thanks to Nick and Ken for their patience with me on those hills today, but nevertheless 50 miles and 4000ft of climbs on an interesting and stunning route with great company all day.
CA
Photos KP
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