North Wales Rideabout/walk

I decided this morning that I'd come on the A55, taking the turn off for Colwyn Bay, over to Old Colwyn & up via Llysfain. From there a left-right to drop me onto the B5831 & through Betws-yn-Rhos over to St Asaph & the back road to work. That way I checked out the part of the B5831 that Luckypants mentionned.

Early on the B5831 (before the A54 bugger me, it's a farm track, with a surface to match. That'll only be ridden again if I ever need to go to Betws-yn-Rhos (I remember a nice pub & church grounds in Betws-yn-Rhos...).

After that it's a good enough road, but no where near the caliber of the route home last night.

Then coming into Denbigh I had a nice argument with a WVM (he tried to pull out without bothering to indicate or look). Luckily this all happened to the car in front of me, and I just chose to gesticulate

My personal thoughts for the ride so far, anywhere between Denbigh & Anglesey (possibly inc. Anglesey) & from Conwy down as far as Machynlleth is fair game, but avoiding the A55 as much as possible. No real reason to avoid the A55, just it's plain straight line riding.

The good news is that my chicken strips are down to a couple of mm because of the last few days playing & route finding

EDIT: Oh, and Mike, your directions to your house got me as far as the middle of the village (bottom of the hill), I had to wing it a little & then pull over & ask someone

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Baph

EDIT: Well. If you like twisty road, f**K me that's a blinder of a route! Lots & lots & lots of twisty flicks to keep you guessing where the road is heading, sparce straights for overtaking tractors/locals but enough to cope with. I think when I grow some coahona's I might try that blind crested chicane on the A548 (after T junction where you turn left to head to Llanrwst) with a fist full of revs, it's practically a straight line anyway...

Been having warm thoughts on the route folks can take home too. Those staying in N. Wales can have an interesting return trip from the 'split up' point.

I think sorting out the itinery might be the next step. I think the first day is sorted.
Day 1 - meet in Llangollen / Ponderosa for Brunch. Then my extended route to Llanberis (about 2 - 2.5 hours riding). Arrive in Llanberis and folks can check in / pitch tents etc. Leaves evening free, since some folks will have done a fair mileage by then.

Day 2 - Walking or another rideout. Perhaps the rideout can explore either the Lleyn or Ynys Mon (Anglesey) as these areas are a bit out on a limb and hard to combine with the rides at either end of the weekend.

Day 3 - Rideout homewards. I have thoughts on a route to cover a lot of N. Wales ending at Y Trallwng (Welshpool) for folks to head home from there.

What do you all think?

My thoughts:

Day 1, depends what time we're all meeting up, but at a guess, some time around 11am ish. Depends where folks are travelling from. 2/2½ hours ride to Llanberis ish, we'd have time to go play somewhere like Pen-y-pass, but as Mike said, depends how tired people are from riding there. Chill out in the evening with a couple of drinks.

Day 2, It's been a while since I've done the full lap of Ynys Mon, I'll get around to doing that soon Should be able to cover that in a morning, it's only what? 50miles ish. The Lleyn Peninsula, only been there a couple of times, but the road out to Nefyn is quite a good one, and the A487-A499 has some nice long straights with good views. The road out to Nefyn via Llithfaen has some amazing views, but also has bends that take guts on a spirited ride.

Day 3, If your thoughts are about the A493 from Dolgellau round the coast past Fairbourne & Pennal, count me in That's WAY out of my way home, but hell, it's a good road. Might be a bit much if you're loaded with luggage for the route home, not sure.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Baph

Day 3, If your thoughts are about the A493 from Dolgellau round the coast past Fairbourne & Pennal, count me in That's WAY out of my way home, but hell, it's a good road. Might be a bit much if you're loaded with luggage for the route home, not sure.

It figures.

We can play by ear on Day three, depends how much time, how tired / hung over folks are etc. We can have a twisty route, a scenic route or a combination.

BUT please folks post up on here how you think you are going to feel by day 3 and how long you have before you need to set out for home. Remember it is a bank holiday, so the roads out of Wales will be clogged and you will be filtering a lot.

I am happy for whatever. Have to head South West on the Monday though as its a fair track back to London.

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Remember it is a bank holiday, so the roads out of Wales will be clogged and you will be filtering a lot.

I've also been thinking about the traffic levels over the weekend (not just the ride home). It could get kind of busy on some of the main A roads (A5, A487, A499, HorseShoe etc) but the lesser roads (like the A543) will be quieter.

I'll see if I can have an experiment with traffic over the next few bank holidays, should give a good indication of where to tourists with caravans will be.

Hi Guys , just a quickie, what is the standard of riders we normally have on a rideout and how do go about accomodating for slower riders ( like me probably ) ? .Looks like its all coming together nicely btw.

Originally Posted by stewie

Hi Guys , just a quickie, what is the standard of riders we normally have on a rideout and how do go about accomodating for slower riders ( like me probably ) ? .Looks like its all coming together nicely btw.

I can only talk for myself really (and I don't see the use of comparing other rideouts since it's only really applicable to the people that are there, but still).

When I'm riding by myself, it depends on my mood. I'm comfortable being inches from traffic (and have been known to go between traffic & armco's at motorway speed). If I'm in the mood for a bimble, I ride easy, that being said, "easy" to me is slow round the bends & usually NSL+ in the straights. If I'm running late for work, courier hat on & get a move on. I've never worked as a courier, but I'm not afraid of some time on the pavement if it gains me the advantage. Any & all space available is mine, and any that isn't, is made available.

I was escorted through london by one of the guys on here (svstreetfighter), and he didn't hang about. Excel - Soho in about 10-15mins. On that ride both tyres were off the floor (seperately, not at the same time), and my heart beat was steady (except for the pedestrians that I almost ran over, they're not insured). I remember having a little giggle to myself as the 4x4 driver folded their wing mirrors in electronically after seeing Paul pass, just as I was coming up to them.

When I'm riding with mates, it's usually a fairly brisk pace, but we all know each other's riding style pretty well.

When I'm riding with folks I don't know, I'll generally sit back until I know for certain that they've seen me, then if they're moving slower than me & I want to go faster, I'll go past. If I really couldn't care, I'll sit back a safe distance (closer bike-bike than I call safe when following a car - around 1 second gap instead of 2, sometimes less). If someone comes up behind me, I'll happily move over & wave them goodbye. I don't do chasing folks just because they've gone past.

Most of the time, I don't climb all over the bike, doesn't feel right unless I'm hooning about. I'm usually sat still ala Police riders. I still manage to keep up with IL4's with a pretty good pace though, so that, combined with my high vis jacket, I spook a fair few weekend warriors

I try not to go for the heorics & just ride for me, but I've been known for red mist to develop, and occasionally a bit of bravado.

The main thing I hate is people sitting in my blind spot (and I'll take to the wrong side of the road if there's nothing coming just so I can see where the f**k someone is). So I also try my best not to sit in someone else's blind spot. If I can see your visor, I assume you can see me, if you're looking.

Reading that lot back, it sounds fairly open & honest to me & I think it about covers everything.

If you're worried about being left behind, that won't happen mate. Far as I'm concerned, the weekend will be about relaxing. So I'll probably be taking it easy myself. If I'm in front of folk that are riding with me, I won't push to the point where I can't see you in my mirrors. If you vanish, that's the time to stop. If you haven't appeared over the horizon in the next few seconds, I'll be spinning around to make sure you haven't binned it or broken down. That way I get to ride hard to catch you up after going the wrong way

would have loed to have joined you all but not only am i running the bike in, i'm working

Enjoy

Originally Posted by 9tails

would have loed to have joined you all but not only am i running the bike in, i'm working

Enjoy

Get time off, and who cares about running the bike in or not. Why not run it in around Snowdonia? 5.5k RPM in 6th gear is 70mph. Faster than that anywhere in the UK & you risk points. Hell, most of the roads we'll be on, faster than 50 or 60 & you risk points.

Guys, you grab one leg, I'll grab the other, I'm sure we can drag 9tails to the meet