First century of the year

Yesterday I clocked up half a mile short of 110 miles in 7 hours, my
longest ride since last August, and my longest ride on the "new" (OK, six-
month old) bike.

Starting from Chester I followed the River Dee along the quiet B-roads
through Farndon, Cross Lanes and Overton to Oswestry, where I had my first
break. 31 miles in 1:45 - a new speed record for me, but I knew something
was wrong by the fact I flew up the little inclines into the town centre. I
had a raging tailwind. Which meant in a few hours, I'll be going a long way
with a raging headwind.

A quick refuel from Sayers after I'd fought my way through the Saturday
morning market day crowds ("please refill my bidon" rating: 10/10, "yes
certainly") and I set out on the B4580, into the Berwyns, my target the
Milltir Cerrig, en route to Bala. I thought it would be 20-ish miles. I
thought there'd be a long ride along a valley before a long climb up the
end.

Good Lord, I was wrong. Straight out of Oswestry I met a long steep rise
with no corners to dampen the gradient out, not convinced I was on the
right road. I was convinced though I'd suddenly lost my climbing skills -
had I brought the wrong legs this morning? How will I cope on the main
climb later on?

The summit of this first hill passed though by scanning the discarded pages
of newspaper at the side of the road, then a short sharp nerve-wracking
descent took me back down into the valley. If I've come the wrong way, sod
it, I'm not going back up that hill!

Many more miles and many more steep hills (why oh why) took me to
Llanrhaeadr, where I attempted to get directions. First guy didn't know. As
I approached the second group of locals, in their car workshop, one of them
started up a loud drill. Shouts of "excuse me" and "hello" were drowned out
so I carried on up the next hill. As I rolled away, the drill stopped...

Over the next hill, I found myself at last at the main road over the
Milltir. After what I'd crossed since Oswestry the gradient was pretty
benign but it went on, and on, and on. As I spun myself slowly up to what I
sincerely hoped was the final corner, I rounded the corner only to see
another 10 miles to go (OK, half a mile, but it felt like ten). The descent
started disappointing, a truly awful surface meant I was out on the white
line for a couple of miles, luckily the was virtually no traffic. Then came
the real descent to Bala, reaching 40mph with ease, I'd been reading up on
descending and fast cornering, and the car that was following me couldn't
keep up at times.

Dinnertime at Bala, 30 miles covered since Oswestry ("please refill my
bidon" rating: 8/10, the girl serving had a long questioning look at the
manager and mumbled something in Welsh before taking it), then set off for
the long ride back to Chester into the wind. A mile out of Bala, I realised
I didn't have my gloves, so I rode back again. No sign of them. Bummer. *

Progress through Llandrillo to Corwen was tiring and slow when I met the
little inclines, but on the 10 miles from Corwen to Llandegla I felt like
getting off and walking at times. Undulations all the way, but each one
takes you a little higher. Doesn't help when motorists coming the other way
overtake, regardless of the fact they're heading straight-on at a cyclist
who's knackered already. So the last few, I took on my role as traffic cop
and waved them back in with some choice words.

Strangely, after Llandegla is one more three-mile rise and it passed quite
easily. Probably cos 1 mile after that is a pub serving ice-cold lemonade -
ahhhhh!!!! ("please fill my bidon" rating: 20/10, didn't even have to ask -
The Liver Inn, Rhydtalog, recommended!). From there it was downhill, some
more show-off descending through Coed Talon's "slalom", and I'd picked up
enough energy to add a few extra miles to a station further on.

Weather forecast said cloudy and possibly drizzly, so I didn't risk shorts.
Instead, I spent the day sweating heavily, and got a nice brown/red suntan
on my arms. Knackered, well and truly, but happy, very much so!


* - Altura Prolite mitts, gel padded, fingerless, black, very sweaty, just
in case you come across them ... they needed replacing anyway!

"Iain Jones" wrote in message
52.50...
Yesterday I clocked up half a mile short of 110 miles in 7 hours, my
longest ride since last August, and my longest ride on the "new" (OK, six-
month old) bike.

Well done. I recall that the Bala road is quite long and straight with loads
of cars doing 60 mph.

--
Simon Mason
Anlaby
East Yorkshire.
53°44'N 0°26'W
http://www.simonmason.karoo.net

Iain Jones posted ...

Yesterday I clocked up half a mile short of 110 miles in 7 hours, my
longest ride since last August, and my longest ride on the "new" (OK,
six- month old) bike.

Heheheh, nice one. Sounds like a great ride.

--
Paul

(8(|) Homer rocks ..

"Simon Mason" wrote in
:


"Iain Jones" wrote in message
52.50...
Yesterday I clocked up half a mile short of 110 miles in 7 hours, my
longest ride since last August, and my longest ride on the "new" (OK,
six- month old) bike.

Well done. I recall that the Bala road is quite long and straight with
loads of cars doing 60 mph.


The A494, Bala to Corwen? I rode that stretch last summer, I found it too
busy and narrow. Yesterday I went via Llandrillo and Cynwyd, a couple of
miles further but more enjoyable. Just the mile out of Bala on the main
road to the "B" road was hair-raising enough!

On Sun, 2 May 2004 13:10:06 +0000 (UTC), Iain Jones wrote:
Weather forecast said cloudy and possibly drizzly, so I didn't risk shorts.
Instead, I spent the day sweating heavily

Just the day for leg warmers then!

Nice report.

Ewoud Dronkert wrote in
:

On Sun, 2 May 2004 13:10:06 +0000 (UTC), Iain Jones wrote:
Weather forecast said cloudy and possibly drizzly, so I didn't risk
shorts. Instead, I spent the day sweating heavily

Just the day for leg warmers then!

Nice report.

Shorts would have done the job, if Michael Fish had done his job right ;-)
Leg warmers, arm warmers, waterproofs, gloves, other bits and pieces...
what I need is money! I might get round to writing up some other memorable
days out at some time.

Knackered, well and truly, but happy, very much so!

I'm not surprised you're knackered!

Congratulations.

Cheers, helen s



--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam--
to get correct one remove fame & fortune
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Iain Jones wrote:

Yesterday I clocked up half a mile short of 110 miles in 7 hours, my
longest ride since last August, and my longest ride on the "new" (OK, six-
month old) bike.

Lovely report, thanks for posting. It made me feel very nostalgic. I
haven't done a round trip like that since leaving North Wales almost 18
years ago.

The Milltir Cerrig is one of my favourite big climbs in North Wales. I went
that way from Welspool to Bala while on tour in the area a few years ago.

I often died a thousand deaths on the road from Corwen to Llandegla. Were
you on the main road or the hillier minor roads to the left?

Mike

Mike K Smith wrote in
:

I often died a thousand deaths on the road from Corwen to Llandegla.
Were you on the main road or the hillier minor roads to the left?

Mike


It was the main road, and not knowing any easier ways it was a necessary
evil! I had planned actually, from Bala, across to Cerrigydrudion, then
through the Clocaenog Forest to Ruthin and over to Mold. But that was down
to my cack-handed map measuring the night before. I'd never have made it.

Just glanced at my map and I see a pretty much parallel lane on the left
(north) of the A5104 over some hills - what's it like?

Iain Jones writes:

It was the main road, and not knowing any easier ways it was a necessary
evil! I had planned actually, from Bala, across to Cerrigydrudion, then
through the Clocaenog Forest to Ruthin and over to Mold. But that was down
to my cack-handed map measuring the night before. I'd never have made it.

Just glanced at my map and I see a pretty much parallel lane on the left
(north) of the A5104 over some hills - what's it like?

Can't answer your question, Ian, but I just wanted to say I enjoyed
your ride report. I live in Chester and I've done the first 15 and
last 15 miles of your trip several times, but never so far, so
high... Last night I did the end bit again (ie from Hope, over Cymau
to Ffrith and up to where it meets the A5104. I had enough difficulty
getting up those piddly little hills, never mind the big buggers
further South and West...

Anyway, I only did it for the 3 mile descent into Pontblyddin (testing
the highest gears on the new bike - 38.6mph. Fast enough for me...)

David