Cycling UK Forum

Thanks everyone for the info and help. Love Wales and there is so much to see. Difficult to sort out rides for a week. Definitely going on the Coast Train. I intend to visit the site at Bryncoes where I fell off my motorcycle! It was my fault, trying to turn round in a narrow lane. Only thing damaged was my pride. My wife retires from her work today so we could have a longer stay in the future. Cheers.

rotavator wrote: ↑10 Sep 2024, 7:17pm Another good option for the return from Dolgellau is to climb the hill to the SW of the town then follow the minor road that runs along the flank of Cadair Idris. However, if you descend towards Arthog, you need to very careful on the very steep hills that take you back to the main road, the A493, i.e. check your brakes and I probably would not take children or inexperienced cyclists down them.

If I was staying near Pwllhelli, I would be inclined to head west to Aberdaron because there are some nice roads for cycling in that area.

A bit further away to the NE are Cwm Pennant and Cwmystradllyn, both of which are worth a visit by bike. There is a basic cafe at the latter. You could take the train to Porthmadog to shorten the trip if necessary.

Thanks for all that info. Looking into it.

Traction_man wrote: ↑10 Sep 2024, 4:54pm

Steve wrote: ↑10 Sep 2024, 2:56pm It's not very close to Pwllheli and the road there round the coast is a busy one.

do you mean to get to the Mawddach trail?

the obvious option is to get the train from Pwllheli to say Barmouth or Morfa Mawddach and then cycle the trail up towards Dolgellau?

lovely train tride along the coast too!

from Dolgellau it's nice riding up the valley to the Coed y Brenin trails.

Thanks. We intend to do the Coast Train ride when we get a bad weather day!

Steve wrote: ↑10 Sep 2024, 2:56pm It's not very close to Pwllheli and the road there round the coast is a busy one.

We intend to use the car and rack from our base to drive to Barmouth. Looking forward to it.

We have a week in Wales shortly. Based near Pwllheli. Keen to ride the Mawdach trail from Barmouth. Anything to beware of? Thanks.

We have Thule. Very good. Longest travelled with it was from Bawtry to Mortimers Cross in Herefordshire. Stopped twice to check and all was well. We have a cover for the two bikes and on the way home one of my straps had moved. My fault I think. I have since bought more straps and we go to Wales shortly. It is very stable and the bikes are securely held in place. Only thing we have not sorted is where to have the pedals on each bike as we put them on the rack. Once they are on we lock them with the built in Thule Lock. Once all loaded up we can still open the boot using the very clever Thule pedal which allows the rack and the bikes to safely tilt away from boot. Really pleased with it.

That must have been very exiting on a Chopper. Braver than me GungaDin lol.

My speed on the descent into Dunbeath was 42+ mph. Had to look where I was going and my eyes were watering!!!!!

Definitely for me :- the descent down into Dunbeath travelling North. Very exiting and more so because I knew that tomorrow I would be at JOG. Nice memories, thanks for asking.

Thanks all. Very useful.

Just bought Hi-Viz Mountain Warehouse Windproof and Waterproof jacket. Absolutely brilliant. Does what it says on the box.

My wife and I are going to stay at a Premier around Stirling. Any tips for a proposed ride to see Falkirk Wheel and The Kelpies. Booked in at Bowtrees Premier. Thanks.

jimlews wrote: ↑15 Nov 2022, 5:46pm

Golflad wrote: ↑15 Nov 2022, 4:41pm Back in the "Good Old Days". I rode a Elswick Hopper 531 framed bicycle with 3 Speed Sturmey and a double front chainring and changer. Think the rings were 28 and 42 tooth. Straight bars and an old Brooks saddle. What a joy it was. Had the SA hub laced to a nice rim by a great bike shop in Clowne, Derbyshire. The name escapes me. The bike was stolen from the bike shed at Harworth Colliery where I worked.

Hi "Golflad",

That's most interesting. How did you tension the chain?

Jim L

With a rear mechanism of course. Set up so that the S/A sprocket was central and made the chain length so that it would be in tension all the time. Worked really well and very useful around town changing gear while stationary.

Back in the "Good Old Days". I rode a Elswick Hopper 531 framed bicycle with 3 Speed Sturmey and a double front chainring and changer. Think the rings were 28 and 42 tooth. Straight bars and an old Brooks saddle. What a joy it was. Had the SA hub laced to a nice rim by a great bike shop in Clowne, Derbyshire. The name escapes me. The bike was stolen from the bike shed at Harworth Colliery where I worked.

Our best ride thus far in 2021. 2 weeks ago from C&CC site at Sandringham. A route that took us on some lovely rural lanes and to 2 fantastic cafes at Great Massingham and Bircham Windmill. Met a group of four local cyclists out for a ride at the Great Massingham cafe (think it's called The Cart Shed) and got chatting. They asked where we were from and what rides did we expect to do. One of them had a Goldeneye Map of Norfolk and showed us a few good routes..
Our coffee and cake arrived and we finished our eats before them; as we got up to go, the gent with the map stood up and gave me the map. I protested but he insisted and we left the cafe feeling very humbled and warm all over!!
This gesture made that particular ride the best so far and I don't think it will be beaten. It also says how very strong the bond is between cyclists on the road.