Category Archives: News

Club Ride 21st August 2016

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Sunday morning club ride : 45 Miles /72 km - meet at Priory School entrance 9am. Guest riders welcome
Total distance: 44.7 mi
Max elevation: 879 ft
Min elevation: 10 ft
Total climbing: 2526 ft
Total descent: -2524 ft
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Wheelers do Wales and then some!!!

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Congratulations Alex, Laura, Paul and Andy on a fantastic achievement conquering the NCN8 route from the north to south coast of  Wales. Read about their adventure below!   Day 1 What a day! Started in lovely sunshine and a lap around the Great Orme (Some would say the wrong way) after a small detour to find a steep hill to send Andy up. Then heading West along the undulating coast we managed to get to Bangor before the rain started 🙁 we than had the joy of 18mph head wind and rain to Caermofon. We omitted not to stop for coffee and press on for the campsite. Turning left and heading south we picked up the ncn 8 properly and headed along feeling rather wet and miserable by this point. Finding the campsite and being amused by Andy's tent erecting skills a nice warm shower, we headed back into Caermofon for a Weatherspoons refill.   Day 2 and what can I say apart from EPIC! We're all in agreement that it was the hardest days cycling we've done, but... what a day! Dry when we woke up but wet rain by the tent down and leaving time 🙁 this then set the scene for most of the day. After a spinning downhill start with a few cheeky 'rises' we found ourselves in Criccieth for a beach photo opertunity. From there it was off to Porthmadog and then the hills started. Short and sharp to begin with a few walking sections for the more loaded of us. Then came a nice long ascent to the summit above Harlech where we were greated by guess what... Yes harder rain and a bit of wind! From Harlech we popped down the coast for lunch at Barmouth where we dined at the Isis cafe before starting again very cold to a great spin across Barmouth bridge and up the Mawddach trail to Dolgellau and the start of the biggest climb of the day. And what a climb, which took us to the summit of Cadir Idris's neighbour and though not a true mountain was plenty high enough. Once over to top we had what I belive is the best road in the UK with about 2 miles of great decent with superb views. Unfortunatly there was no flying on the Mach Loop today due to the low cloud base, but we were done with excitement by then! At last the rain cleared and we had a dry struggle into the campsite with one last unexpected climb. Hot showers and a walk to the local for posh nosh and rehydration. Day 3 and 4 A quick summary of the last 2 days of the Lon Las Cymru ride Day 3 started with the same putting on of wet kit Off we went riding through Machynlleth and onto the biggest climb of the ride and then the worst would be behind us… well we were correct about the big one… Cat 2 climb with 1500ft and 20% in places, but we did it and after was a great decent. But then we were wrong about the worst being behind us as what followed was an unrelenting terrain of steep hills, short descents all on a mixture of paved roads, forest tracks and ancient coach tracks making the going very tough. If the weather had been the same as the previous day, then I’m sure we may have cracked. This was by far the hardest day of the trip. During one of our pit stops to refuel, we noticed that Laura had been riding all this way on a 25t rear cassette! KUDOS! Other items of note that day were, Alex rescuing a sheep with a bucket on its head, some numpty bragging about riding up rocky coach path and then immediately falling off and Andy’s quest for the ever elusive café. Day 4 was powered by paracetamol So it started, SUNSHINE and an unexpected 20% climb, were all Wheelers present scooped a Strava trophy on very sad sounding bikes and 180mile legs. Onto the first real climb of the day which was by now in rain. A slippery moss covered 17% number saw us all having a nice country walk at some point! Pushing on and into Brecon, the sun came out again and we picked up the canal path for some picturesque FLAT cycling so we opted to follow the canal path a bit further when the official route veered off as Laura & Alex had already ridden this part of the trail, and how nice it was too. Re-joining the NCN route we ascended to Talybont Reservoir where in appreciation of Laura’s brilliant effort on the ‘corn cob’ rear cassette, we all climbed the 5-mile gravel fire track in the same gear as her. (thank god I have a 34t) From here on it was all downhill, literally, picking up the Taff Trail and cycling through more and more urban settings than we had been used to Merthyr Tydfil and ever onwards towards Cardiff. After a small detour and another quick lie down in the road from me, we rode alongside the beautiful river Taff and after stopping for one last refill by the Millennium Stadium we were finally in Cardiff bay and the end of our 260mile 18,000ft ride. A quick group photo then off to find the hire cars. What a great trip, it’s funny how something so painful and miserable can be so fun! Many, many thanks to my 3 amigos Laura, Alex and Andy without whom the ride wouldn’t have been the same. If you want a challenge, ride the NCN 8, if you want to supersize that challenge, ride the NCN 8 unsupported, if you want that challenge at Chuck Norris level, then borrow Laura’s bike!!! By Paul Stone Adventurer and Wheeler    

Wheelers Enmore Dash

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    It was overcast but the relentless wind that had tormented us all week had lessened somewhat as we set out to take on Enmore hill near Bridgewater. After a quick dash up past Banwell bone caves to start the hearts pumping we ambled down the Winscombe valley and then across the levels towards Mark. The sun came out and all was well until Duncan was caught by one of the many patches of subsidence, punctured and fell heavily. He was soon back on his feet displaying the classic cyclists injuries, a badly scuffed knee, elbow and shoulder. Less than twenty miles from home having left several square centimetres of skin on the road and bleeding from his injuries most normal humans would have understood if he had chosen to head for home but Duncan is a cyclist as it was hardly a surprise that he opted to fix the puncture and carry on. The pace was fairly brisk with the usual halts to allow the peloton to rejoin the breakaway, nobody thought to made allowances for Duncan, and nor did he require them; even by cyclists standards he is made of stern stuff.
We endured the brief horror of the A39 through Bridgewater before taking the turn towards Enmore. The road climbs for just over 4 miles although, officially, Enmore hill is the last two miles. Andy had dropped us several miles back and reached the summit some time before the rest of us tackled it. Katie, resplendent in her new kit, and having chosen to ride her black and white Canyon with tastefully matching socks, gave a demonstration of effortless superiority as she blatted past everyone to set the second fastest ladies time and reach the cafe whilst they still had coffee; she is a remarkable rider and it is a privilege to see her in action. Paul C, recently back on his bike after a romantic distraction, despite dreading the climb, reached the top without too much pain and completed the whole of his ride successfully. Pete G, recently back from some hilly rides in North Devon was in fine form. Most of us put our heads down and ground out the miles.
Coffee drunk and cakes consumed we dropped down from the top at a cracking pace to endure another section of the A39 to and through Bridgewater as we retraced our route across the levels before diverting towards Weston-super-Mare. Pete G and Merrion had the energy for some hard charging down the flat mile beside the railway as we approached Weston, but most of us were happy to let the mile roll by. Another splendid ride with the Wheeler’s; a great bunch of riders, a couple of hills, pleasant scenery, some good flat sections, coffee, cake and plenty of chat as we went along. You could ask for nothing more on a Sunday morning, to join us, check our website for the route, and meet us at Priory School at 09.00hr next week.

Sunday club ride New kit special !

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Weston Wheelers Cycling Club – Ride report 7th August 2016. A little early morning drizzle could not dampen the spirits of the sixteen riders that assembled at Priory School on Sunday morning; for the Weston Wheelers Cycling Club regular group ride. The club ride had special significance due to the arrival of the newly redesigned club riding kit. A suitably enthused group of riders left Weston Super Mare via the quiet roads towards Wick St Lawrence and headed towards Congresbury. Taking the turning towards Brinsea, the club commenced the long ascent up to Shipham. What goes up, must come down, and even with slightly damp conditions, speeds approaching 40MPH brought smiles to faces before inevitably, the riders slowed as they neared Cheddar. Making progress as a group, the club, made a lesser ascent through Rodney Stoke, passing through Clewer and Cocklake before taking to the Somerset Levels and the arrow straight back roads. It was a little unfortunate that the strengthening wind reduced the riders average speed, but it did provide an opportunity to their 'through and off' technique as they took turns to take the brunt of the headwind. Glastonbury Tor, visible for miles on the flat terrain, provided a focus for the clubs efforts and the relatively quiet Sunday traffic, meant the riders made good time to the base of the tor. The short, sharp, incline to the top of the road encircling the tor certainly woke the legs up, if it were needed; pausing at the top to catch their breath and for a brief photo call. Descending the tor a welcome cafe stop in the centre of the town provided a brief respite from their labours. An improving weather situation, barring the gusty wind, had long since dried the roads and with the sun on their faces, the club enjoyed a beverage in the August sun. Refreshed and with water bottles refilled the Wheelers commenced the ride home. Although the wind was now consistently in their faces and flat terrain enabled a rapid pace to be set through Meare and Mark, and before long, Brent Knoll approached. Skirting the knoll, even though a tongue in cheek suggestion was made to ride over the obstruction, the riders now turned northward and with a final stretch of their legs along a sprint segment, the club returned to Weston Super Mare. The Wheelers welcomed Mat to his first Wheelers group ride today. And although he had to battle through a nagging old injury, Mat completed the ride in the company of the group. Several new club members also took part in the ride, having previously ridden with the club on a number of occasions The route covered 60 miles with a wind affected average speed of around 16 MPH, with approximately 1600 feet of ascent. Any local riders wanting to try group riding are welcome to ride as a guest with the Weston Wheelers on their regular club rides; Sunday at 9am and Wednesday at 6pm – meeting outside Priory School. Details can be found on their website;http://westonwheelers.cc/ Duncan Robertson Club Secretary