Ride Clwyd 2022 - second 25mile exploration

For the 2022 edition of Ride Clwyd I want to go North to explore routes all the way to the coast and then West into the remote parts of North-Central Wales. Very different from 2021.

First 25miles took me out over the high Halkyn mining and quarry area last week - great scenery relatively near Chester and Broughton - see previous post.  

The second 25mile was going to be completely unfamiliar:

Looking West

 

South out of Dyserth there are good roads rising up to give great views to the West.  There's a flat ride across the top part of the Vale of Clwyd and then it gets back to climbing after Henllan.  A long ascent with chunks of 10%+ got me over to Plasisaf - Strava link (2.7miles long, 1,000ft gained).

The roads were in excellent condition, many sections of new, super-smooth tarmac well up to Formula 1 standards.

10% climbs out of Henllan

It was after Llansanan that things got properly serious - the climbing went up to 18% very quickly and stayed that way for a good while - Strava link (2.3miles, 700ft gained).

18% out of Llansanan

More lumps and bumps after that before eventually emerging onto the remote, windswept moors. Here you really are alone in a massive landscape.

This could be a challenging area in poor weather conditions... Easy riding and very little traffic took me over the Aled Isaf reservoir and then onto the bigger Lyn Aled.

Approaching the reservoirs

 For the event we are likely to have a food stop somewhere on the moors so at least there'll be a friendly spot for participants to call in on.

Previous post - the first 25miles

Next post - more remote riding before a return to civilization...

Ride Clwyd 45 Short route preview

 

 

We start from a new HQ - just 100ft from the old one, on the same slip road outside the Airbus factory in Broughton.  Lots of car parking is available opposite:

 

This year we go left out of the slip road (at the traffic lights) and have a great flat ride for the first 5 miles:

Watch out for the route split at these traffic lights - 45s slide right whilst 65s and 100s go straight on.  Lots of signs will be out on the day:

 

Straight after the split there are several rises and then quiet country roads towards Ruthin:

 

Descend down to the only food stop - which is off-course so remember to go back to regain the route:

 

Penbarra - biggest challenge on the whole course - very long - make sure to reserve plenty of energy for this one and don't go too hard at the beginning:

After that there's no further challenges.  You'll be mostly on quiet back roads all the way around Mold:

 

Stats and Maps at www.rideclwyd.co.uk

 

 

 

Ride Clwyd 65 Medium route preview

 

 

We start from a new HQ - just 100ft from the old one, on the same slip road outside the Airbus factory in Broughton.  Lots of car parking is available opposite:

This year we go left out of the slip road (at the traffic lights) and have a great flat ride for the first 5 miles:

Small rises from Hope onwards start to develop into proper hills:

 

1st food stop comes at mile 18 - it's slightly off route so don't ride past thinking you're getting ahead.  Once you've had food you need to turn back to regain the route:

Next it's around to the Panorama Walk but watch out for the route split:

 

Here's the split - on the day there'll be lots of signs:

 

Skirt Llangollen and on to quiet lanes brings you to The Grim - your 2nd really significant challenge of the day - steep and long:

It brings you out, eventually, on to high moors for a remote ride over towards the 3rd and final food stop:

2nd food stop - again off route so remember the go back the way you came.  Fuel up as it's Penbarra next:

 

Penbarra - biggest challenge on the whole course - very long - make sure to reserve plenty of energy for this one and don't go too hard at the beginning:

 

After that there's no further challenges.  You'll be mostly on quiet back roads all the way around Mold:

 

Maps and stats at www.rideclwyd.co.uk

 

 

 

The big climbs on the new 100 mile Ride Clwyd

Gwernant - mile 27

Gwernant (800ft gained - Strava link) - first serious climb on the 100.  Just outside Llangollen, very long and steep.

Descent to Glyn Ceiriog - mile 29.5

Watch out for the tricky descent soon after the first climb - some distressed tarmac to begin, then a steep 25% drop to the village.

Climb out of Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog - mile 36

An intermediate climb out of Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog keeps things ticking over...

After Llangynog - mile 46

 After Llangynog there's the longest climb on the route - not steep but 4 miles long (1,000ft gained - Strava link)

Maes y Glyn - mile 69

Maes y Glyn - new climb added at end of the route planning - a better way up onto the high moors near Moel Morfydd summit (500ft gained - Strava link)- better photos to follow.

Penbarra - mile 83

Climb Penbarra - 1.5miles long and 800ft gained (Strava link) - No. 88 in  Simon Warren's 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs.  Very steep up to the daunting hairpin turn and then a long further climb after.

Maps, stats and GPX downloads all at www.rideclwyd.co.uk

That's it.  We recommend that you have a go at some of these climbs prior to the big day (May 24th) - send in your photos and stories of how you do - email Rideventures

Ride Clwyd recon

Lets go 100

Been out reconnoitering a new addition to the Ride Clwyd sportive - a 100 mile route option.  This would come after Denbigh and means riders will get to "enjoy" the full version of the Road to Hell - all 6 miles of it.

Road to Hell starts with a hairpin

80 mile riders will do half the "Road" then turn left and head to Ruthin.  The 100 mile riders will carry on towards the wind farm:

Second half of the "Road"

The top comes with a wide view of the desolate landscape around Lyn Brenig - this is half way around the whole 100 mile route:

Lyn Brenig

There's a long descent after this and then a sharp left turn - the start of coming back.  

The route will divert off this to take in a new climb for Ride Clwyd - Melin-y-Wig.  This is a tough one - just under a mile long and consistently steep for a total of 300ft of gain:

Over the bridge and up the hill - Melin-y-Wig

A very twisty climb on good quality tarmac

After this challenge 100ers will head over towards Ruthin - rejoining the 80 and 70 milers.

Roads were in great condition, hardly any gravel or muck and usually on super-smooth tarmac.

Total climbing is just in excess of 8,000ft so this is a tough one...

Ride Clwyd will open for entries in December.