25th April 2024 : Rhyl (brisk)

Today's ride was from Gladstone Library Café in Hawarden. I was not expecting any other Brisk riders to be out today as they were mostly on holiday elsewhere but on arrival, I was the only rider for 20 minutes!! Eventually, Alan arrived then at 10:27 Dave P turned up ready to ride. 

I had route to Rhyl and the motion was carried and we set off.  Departing the café, it started to drizzle so we had a quick pit stop to put on our jackets. On setting off again through Ewloe, there were now only two of us as Dave decided to do his own ride. 

Rhuddlan Castle and this ride's peloton.

Clwyd River Path to Rhyl

The route is through Northop and the Halkyns and then on to Trefnant. From St Asaph, we join the cycle way along the busy A525 to Rhuddlan which is a very good cycle road and a lot less potted than the roads. It's then along the Clwyd river cycleway into Rhyl and the ever-popular "The Sussex" Wetherspoons pub for lunch of fish and chips and a golden beer from all the way from Bonnie Scotland.

From Rhyl, although we did not have the history tutor, I was suitably informed of the Sustrans involvement in maintaining the cycleway and Alan's commitment to the Sustrans voluntary work force. On departure from the Spoons pub, we ride the road to Prestatyn before joining our next cycleway through the golf course and Prestaven Sands holiday park.  Again, Alan has been involved along this track only last week, shovelling all the sand back from the wooden section. 

We rejoin the main road (A548), and I realise I am solo and pull over and wait for Alan. When he arrives, he advises me that he’s lost his seat bag. It's quickly established that he hadn’t had one as he swopped bikes and didn’t transfer his kit! I mention that I hope we don’t have a puncture as now no tools. Omen!!! 50 yards along the road he hits a pothole and a snakebite – pop!!  He quickly fixes it and we were rolling again.  

On arrival at Shotton, I head for home via the Greenway. Due to bike malfunction on leaving home and swopping his bike, Alan must now return to Hawarden to collect his car. So a 58 mls route round from Hawarden with thanks to Alan for his company on the ride.

See route map and/or gpx file download

ID

25th August 2022 : Rhyl (brisk)

Apologies to Dave who has arranged a great day out for the club riders today, but unfortunately my group of brisk riders were not able to take part on this occasion

Setting off from our booked start café at Hawarden joining me was, John W, Ken and Richard.

Richard is a new cyclist to the North West and Wales area so as we are in Wales, I thought I’d try to combine hills and flats with scenery in between the miles. Leaving Hawarden, the next 23 miles is only upwards, riding along Wood Lane and to Buckley then Nercwys and up to Maeshafn and up and over Moel Famau. 

We can now enjoy down hill and flattish roads to Denbigh and our final climb into the town. From here the route went via Henlian to Trefnant and on to Waen before heading towards Rhyl but an old bridge closure over the river Clwyd (where road blocked signs were prominently displayed but ignored by us!!) prevented the continued route so about turn and head towards St Asaph. 

Definitely Closed!

Riding the esplanade

The plan now was to follow the river Elwy into Rhyl, but I’d mixed my location up and instead we explored a cycleway to the main A525 which we ride along on the very good cycleway, although noisy until Rhuddlan where we were able to pick up the North Wales cycle path into Rhyl.

There were no grumbles from the group regards the detour or the hilly route to Denbigh and I was hoping that a quick lunch at my favourite Wetherspoons at Rhyl would be as good as usual. Unfortunately, we had a grumpy bar person who split our order up so there were two early diners and two late diners and the food was definitely not the standard fayre we usually enjoy.

The Sussex is a North facing pub and the front is always in shade and sitting outside after all our hard work and sweaty bodies it did get a little chilly and as soon as food eaten, we were off to get into the lovely summer day. The cycle way along the coast was very busy with holiday makers enjoying a sunny afternoon. There were bathers in the sea but certain the water was far from warm today!!

Enjoying the cycle route 5 along the coast on arrival at Talacre / Point of Ayr we stop for an ice cream – lovely. Joining the A548 at the end of the coast path we now enjoy a tail wind to blow us all the way home to Chester.

At Connah's Quay we say farewell to Ken who is riding back home via Hawarden and we three continue with the millennium greenway to Chester.

The route is a 65-mile round trip starting at the Gallery tearoom with a lumpy start but on a fine day as today the views are better than photos can produce although I’m sure some good shots have been taken today.

Thanks to my buddies today for a great day out and hoping this weather lasts until December at the worst!!

See route map and/or gpx file download

ID

Photos JW

A date for calendars: -SEPTEMBER 27^th:  MacMillan coffee/cake morning at John W’s mum's house, so please give your support to this very worthy charity.

Highfield Road, Blacon from 10:00 am

4th October 2018 : Kinmel Bay (brisk)

There were quite a lot of riders at The Gallery when I arrived, including the welcome return of Steve T; out for the his first ride with us since "it" happened. Great to see him so enthusiastic as well.

I'd thought I better show willing, so I had prepared two routes. There was a short 40 miler with 4000ft of climb, and a longer 50 miler with 5000ft of climb. Addressing the Brisk Group of Andy B, John W and Nick H, I was somewhat surprised when John asked for a non-hilly route because he had an upcoming challenging weekend ride! So what to do; then I remembered a route we had ridden twice before towards Rhuddlan. So this was agreed and we set off at an alarming pace the usual way to Northop.
As we crest the rise before tackling the short section of the A55, there is a marvellous panorama of the Mersey Estuary to behold stretching out as far as the eye can see. Both Liverpool cathedrals were clearly identified as were the large container port cranes. Passing the Britannia pub, we now climb higher, but eschewing Pentre Halkyn, we dive down into Holywell.


Here I decide to add some variation from the "planned" route as we turn off for Whitford. We take the NCR5 lane upwards where have to stop twice for an enormous tractor and trailer which filled this tiny lane. I point out the Coed y Garreg tower on the hilltop, which was supposed to be the site of a Roman lighthouse nearly two millennia ago. We arrive at Maen Achwynfan Cross, and we dismount to visit it. It has been here for about a 1000 years and has an interesting history ( see photos).

Three Ancient Britons and a 1000yr old Celtic Cross

Read all about it

Veering left at the junction to Llanasa, we speed down a new lane (for me) to rejoin the "London Road" aka A5151, to hurtle down and through Dyserth towards Rhuddlan, where we touch 30mph on the level straight with no wind-assist at all! Kicking left into Rhuddlan, I can't resist a mini-diversion to the Edward I castle which is still standing tall after 700 years.

Rhuddlan Castle

I suggest the Morfa Table pub, which is just down the road. Andy counter-suggests the cafe by Rhyl Harbour. So Rhyl -or Kinmel Bay to be exact - is where we now head by going along the Clwyd river cycle path. The cafe is pretty busy but we get in, ordered and seated, before a mini-bus load arrive. Conversation is as varied as ever, and we discuss the excellent BBC program about the effect that plastic is having on global wildlife. It is really worth watching, so stoke up iPlayer to find "Drowning in Plastic" BBC1 Oct 1st at 2030.

We had noticed that the wind and dark clouds had been increasing during the morning, and, as we left the cafe, there was a gale force blast which nearly knocked us off our bikes. The ride now was a 20mph wind-assist all the way along the seafront, exiting at the Pontins Holiday camp. Through the golf club and static van holiday park, we arrive at the Point of Ayr. Taking the cycleways further, we circle the old colliery and hit the coast road at Ffynnongryow. It's now a long fast burn to the Chocolate Box cafe close by Flint's Sainsbury's.

After discussing wifi webcams and failing eyesight, we head off homewards towards Oakenholt, where Andy and Nick take Papermill Lane arriving back in Hawarden after 56 miles. John and I take the usual Greenway route back to Chester with nearly 70 miles ridden and still with 2500ft of ascent.

The weather had been dry and somewhat windy, and it threatened rain a few times, and the company was as convivial as ever.                                                                                                
See route map and/or gpx file download

CA

Photos CA and JW

5th January 2017: Rhuddlan

The outside temperature was around -4C, and the 1982 “The Clash” Classic came to mind "Should I stay or should I go now". I decided to go, and the roads were largely dry up to Hawarden. Another lyric came to mind as I cycled "In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone". I was the first to arrive at The Gallery and I was glad of the warmth therein and the hot coffee. 

Soon Tom turned up in builder's mate mode, followed by Andy B from Mold. Dave H then arrived, initially just checking if he was the only one out today, before parking his car and rejoining us. Andy suggested a ride near the coast where the Gulf Stream would have warmed the roads up sufficiently to be ice-free. So we decided to head Dyserth way. 

Just as we were to depart, Dave P turns up in solo mode today. So with Dave P leading, we’re off via Ewloe and Northop bound for Holywell. The sun is shining, the air is clear, and the views over the estuary are worth braving the cold. As ever, the short stretch of the A55 is the only way to access Halkyn and the Windmill. At Pentre Halkyn, we dive down to Holywell then taking the old A55 out to Lloc, then turn right to Dyserth. The A5151 is quiet as we bowl along towards Dyserth. I suggested we go on to Rhuddlan and thus make for the “Morfa Table" pub by the River Clwyd.  

Arriving after 23 miles, we are quickly served with the Lunch Club specials, which were much needed to top up fuel reserves for our internal combustion engines. Conversation was as varied as ever. I suggested we take the river path to Rhyl and then the esplanade all the way to Talacre. 

As soon as we are on the beachfront at Rhyl, Dave P reluctantly concludes that he has left his Garmin back in the pub. Note to Dave P: New Year's Resolution #21: Produce a saddling up checklist! He’s happy to retrace the route back home. So we three trundle down the prom and  through a very busy golf course and an almost deserted mobile home holiday camp, before arriving at the Point of Ayr at Talacre. We now take the cycle path around the remains of the coal mines to access the coast road. 

Now it’s the usual boring route back to Flint, but I did see a lone fox suspiciouly wandering through Bagillt village. At Oakenholt, Andy and Dave take Papermill Lane towards Northop Hall to get back, after 31 miles, to Hawarden. By now the sun has dropped away and the lights go on. So 54 miles in all, during 4 hours of cycling in -4 to +1C temperatures with largely dry roads and not once experiencing that back-wheel sliding feeling. You should have been out and have come with us!

CA

PS: Dave retrieved his Garmin successfully: it had fallen out of his helmet as he left the table in the pub. 

11th August 2016: Clwyd Circular Special Ride

Another day of Pocket Rockets on and off as I set off in the rain for Hawarden. There was a hardy group of four (John M, Steve T, Tom and Andy B) who elected to hitch their ride with me over the hills and along the Vale of Clwyd today. Out via the main roads to Buckley, we were soon passing Llong and up into the hills as the gloom and heavy drizzle descended along with more wind than advertised. We have now hit the highest point of 1190ft passing through Nercwys and arrive at a crossroads. It dawns on me that the planned road is actually a closed road to a quarry, although OSCycle shows it as patent. A quick re-route finds us going down double-chevroned exit to Maeshafn and into Llanferres.

We are now on the A494 Ruthin Road bound for the Clwyd Gate and Llanbedr. The rain starts again as I suggest care on the downhill run into the right turn at Llanbedr. All are down safely and then a crashing sound as John slides off just after the turn. He is OK and so is the bike except for a front puncture. We huddle under a tree as we take ages changing the tube and annoyingly can't find anything wrong with the inner tube or tyre. We now wander along the floor of the valley ending up on the Ruthin-Denbigh main road. I decide to cut out the Brenig loop section to try to make up some time. 

Out and around St Asaph, there is now 6 miles of cycleways as we ride right along the Clwyd River path in a fierce crosswind into the Wetherspoons in Rhyl at around 1400. The “Sussex Arms” is heaving with holidaying families, but as ever, we are served quickly and the food arrives promptly. Just what we needed after 38 miles of rain and high winds. I promise a flat and wind-assisted return as we access the promenade for 10 miles of NCN5 to Talacre. As we pause for a photo, the wind is whipping the sand off the beach and sand blasting our legs and bikes.

Being sandblasted at Rhyl

Cycling at 20mph we feel no wind on our faces as I am tempted to see if the cycleway extends passed Talacre;- and it does!. So we circle the flattened Point of Air coal mine and commence our transit of the A548 coast road race track. I employ the usual dodges on the way to Flint to ameliorate the boredom of the main road and we end up in the usual cafe behind Sainsbury's.

 

Steve T needs to get back so he makes his way to Oakenholt and then up to Hawarden with 66 miles cycled with 2900ft of ascents and several mm of rain! We remaining four run along into Connah's Quay where Tom and Andy head for home as John and I access the Greenway. So thanks to the group for "scouting ahead on the hills" today and enhancing a very enjoyable Clwydian Circular in very unseasonable August weather.

CA

PS: It seems the likely reason for John's dismount was a slowly deflating front tyre as he later found a pin-prick hole in the tube. He was very fortunate that this didn't cause him to come off on the downhill run into Llanbedr.

Photograph by John Mills