Cycling UK Forum

pwa wrote:For better or for worse, the Severn Bridge tolls have gone.

Correction. Slightly premature with this. The infrastructure is now being removed but the tolls end on Monday.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46291959
Further talk about reopening as cycle trails former rail tunnels that once linked Welsh valleys. The talk has been going on for quite a while so I'm not holding my breath.

Grrr, the Grauniad has a report from Llanelli, by the North of England Correspondent
Llanelli is not even in the North of Wales

Cyril Haearn wrote:Grrr, the Grauniad has a report from Llanelli, by the North of England Correspondent
Llanelli is not even in the North of Wales

Now that I live here, I want the wonders of Wales for cycling (and much else) to be kept a secret from the hoi-polloi.

I recall when Pembrokeshire was made popular among the swarming hordes of privileged folk from SE England so that they swarmed Pembrokeshire instead of Corsica or The Dordoigne. Horrible wee brats running amok as their supposed parents talked VERY LOUDLY about their latest Porche and the increasing value of their house. They have adopted another fashion in holidaying now so are pestering somewhere else, thus Sir Benfro is once more a quiet and beautiful place with none of that braying & shouting talk in the cafes and on the beaches. No large & speeding BMWs neither.

But as I am nice, I will mention that Ceredigion is also a cyclist's paradise, as is the northern half of Sir Gar where it borders Ceredigion. You are all invited, even those from SE England (but don't shout about your valuable hoose all the time).

Cugel, advising you bring your 36 sprocket or even the 40 (plus spares for when you wear them out).

Pembrokeshire is great, but for cycling I prefer Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire. Or do I prefer Monmouthshire? Choices, choices....

I think the Top of Wales is the Top of Wales
Brechfa Forest looks great on the map, mind

Cyril Haearn wrote:I think the Top of Wales is the Top of Wales
Brechfa Forest looks great on the map, mind

Brechfa views and a cycle trail map (two of many more).

Cugel

Cugel wrote:

Cyril Haearn wrote:I think the Top of Wales is the Top of Wales
Brechfa Forest looks great on the map, mind

Brechfa views and a cycle trail map (two of many more).

Cugel

A neighbour of mine who is a very keen cyclist (several bikes, from road to MTB) is moving to a house adjoining Brechfa Forest.

Specially for Cugel who is still learning Welsh:

God bless the Prince of Wales

Among our ancient mountains,
And from our lovely vales,
Oh! let the pray'r reecho,
"God bless the Prince of Wales!"

With hearts and voice awaken
Those monstrel strains of yore,
Till Britain's name and glory,
Resounds from shore to shore.

|: Among our ancient mountains,
And from our lovely vales,
Oh! let the pray'r reecho,
"God bless the Prince of Wales!"

Should hostile bands or danger
E'er threaten our fair Isle,
May God's strong arm protect us,
May Heav'n still on us smile!

Above the throne of England
May fortune's star long shine,
And round its sacred bulwarks
The olive branches twine!

Mae yfory dydd Cenedlaethol Cymru
Tomorrow is the welsh national day, red-green friday

Cyril Haearn wrote:Mae yfory dydd Cenedlaethol Cymru
Tomorrow is the welsh national day, red-green friday

Also my birfday and this is why the day is named after me, a little saint of a fellow.

Cugel also Dewi.

Cugel wrote:

Cyril Haearn wrote:Mae yfory dydd Cenedlaethol Cymru
Tomorrow is the welsh national day, red-green friday

Also my birfday and this is why the day is named after me, a little saint of a fellow.

Cugel also Dewi.

Longafarchidau/congratulations! William Condry was not born in Wales but he was born on 1.3 too, wrote wrote a Country Diary for the Machynlleth Grauniad, or do I mean the Manchester Guardian?

Cugel looks like Marc Bolan but I suspect he might be a reincarnation of John Seymour

Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mad
Dros ryddid collasant eu gwaed

Gwlad! Gwlaaaad!
Pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad!
Tra mor yn fur i'r bur hoff bau
O bydded yr hen iaith bar hau

The old land of my fathers/mothers is dear to me
Land of bards and singers, famous people of renown
Her strong warriors, patriots so bold
For freedom they shed their blood

Land! Laaaand!
I do love my land!
While the sea protects us as a wall,
May the old language live on

I feel a couple of corrections are in order:

Cudgel's assumption that there are no large and speeding BMW's in Pembrokeshire is well wide of the mark.
Sadly, they're ten a penny down here with hundreds of youngsters driving round in them thanks to the wonders of low rental rates.

And Cyril Haearn's quote from the Welsh Anthem: "while the sea protects us as a wall"
is unfortunately now inaccurate, given that it's eroding most of the coastline around these parts.

And I may add that I never found Marc Bolan to look that frightening.
I think I'll have to by-pass Ceredigion in future.

P.S. Just got back from 4 days in Cardiff.
Wonderful to see Bute Park and Victoria Park absolutely heaving with folks enjoying the warm weather.
'Twas better then the Summer Holidays.