Tandem

OMG. I bought a tandem this week. I've been out on it with my 11 year old Huw and he loves it. Elin is 14 and a little bit more self-conscious and hasn't actually been on it yet. Ginny reckons it'll be Tuesday by the time she gets on it.

Hadrian's Wall Cycle Way (HCW)

Just when I thought the boys had planned to do the c2c (the hilly route), we ended up on the Hadrian's Cycle Way (route 72). What a great 3 days out with Doug, Tony, Tim and Ray.

174 miles over 3 days - very do-able and great fun...

Resting before the c2c

Finished the training rides - only two last week of 20 and 25km. Legs just fine!

Setting off on Tuesday to leave the van at the finish point of Tynemouth and then start heading back towards the start point at Ravensglass.

Big Weekend

I haven't blogged for  while, but I had to let the world know about this. Being invited to spend a weekend in a cliff-top cottage in Aberdaron is one thing - cycling there and back is another. I'm doing the c2c Hadrian's Wall route in a few weeks, so this was a good opportunity to get some kilometres in.

Here's my route there and back. Out on Friday and back yesterday, Monday. About 200 Km round trip.

The ride there was surprisingly level, except for the sharp hill up from Trefor to Llithfaen over to Nefyn. I took it very easy and arrived at 7pm after having left at midday.

The ride home was quite tough, as the weather had warmed up and I'd opted to do the Crimea Pass from Maentwrog through Blaenau Ffestiniog over to Dolwyddelan down to Betws. It tops out at 385 metres aod. Must have gone through 6 litres of water...

Big day out

Trying to get sorted for the c2c in June. Thought I'd go for a longer ride to see how if felt - and take some kit and water to add to the weight. Just to see how it felt. 
I did choose a hilly route, though! Ginny, Elin and Huw were taking the dogs for a walk over in Rhuallt, so I got a lift there and rode home.


Route: Rhuallt, Tremeirchion, Bodfari, Llangwyfan, Ddinbych, Henllan, Llansannan, Llangernyw, Black Cat, Home = 58 Km

Daft Day Out

I can recommend a downhill MTB run from Dolwyddelan to Betws Y Coed. Let the train take the strain uphill and then mountain bike downhill.

Scenic little trip - and quite okay for families. There is a very short section crossing the A470 where you have to take care, although you don't need to ride along that road, as there is a dedicated shared use path alongside it.

If you get the train times right, you could catch the next one up and do it again. Less than 5 quid for dad and son.

Icy mud - urrggghhh!

Horrible conditions in Clocaenog Forest today. Huw and I started out in Cyffylliog near Rhuthun and climbed a total of 350m altitude and 17km distance. Semi frozen mud in the forest, along with thawing puddles of mud and ice in the deeply rutted tracks made very slow going. Normally a 2 hour ride, we did it in 4 hours and ended up very cold, wet and filthy. Huge ice patches on the minor forest roads and -3C at the top.

We both forgot the food so we had to blast down to Tesco in Rhuthun for something to eat. Don't even bother with sandwiches when you can buy hot southern fried chicken for a couple of quid! Hot food, that's what we needed.
We're wrecked!

The ice has gone

Since the ice has gone, we got out on Sunday. Destination Marín Trail.




What surprised me was the sign in the carpark in Gwydyr Forest - the one with the map of the bike trails. Actually the sign wasn't surprising, it was the scorch marks where person(s) unknown have burned off the English names of various parts of the Marín Trail; the Welsh place names are untouched. Actually, I'm not surprised at that either - I'm surprised that the course designers (or whomever) decided to call various places by English names. I mean - with the landscape the way it is and the relics of industry scattered around - why did they have to resort to names for sections such as "Sleepy Bear" and "Pigs might Fly"? I don't understand

Swimming not walking !

Snow forecast so swimming is the exercise of the day.

• 500 pull on about 60s / 50m
  
• 500 leg-kick - slow
  
• 300 free on about 60s / 50m
  

About 40 mins.

Found a great Blog - The Massive MTBer - seems there's a few larger riders out there.

walking not biking

Had to go for another walk today - with the dogs. Quite cold in the wind  on the Morfa and it was high tide so no sand for the dogs to run on. So, we had to make do with a walk on the path towards the Beacons opposite Deganwy.
Glad to get back

Fart oo icy to bike

Way too icy to get the bike out, so I've gone for a walk up Conwy mountain starting at the top of Sychnant.

Quite slippery underfoot, but great to be out in the bright sunlight. The sun has some strength in it as we all got warm coming down the south side towards the top of Sychnant.

Hour and a quarter's walking - probably about 5Km
Caer Seiont is a great place.