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 2022 - first recce ride

 Here at Rideventures Towers it never stops - already planning next year's Ride Clwyd sportive.  

We go North in 2022.

New route already sketched out, but every mile needs to be ridden to make sure it works.  Yesterday (Thurs 21st Oct 2021) I went out riding the first 25miles.

Middle Mill Rd

First 7 miles are the same as the 2018 and 19 editions of Ride Clwyd.  Then things change - going straight on at Northop and after a mile taking a left into Middle Mill Rd and starting a long but fairly gentle climb - this is Middle climb on Strava and popular with local riders - nearly 3miles long and 500ft gained by the top.

This climb starts out on beautiful, wide tarmac and never really deteriorates all the way up.  It's also very quiet - I didn't see a car throughout the whole climb.

Super quiet 3 mile climb

It brings you out on top - the Halkyn area of high moors, quarries and ex-mines.  Great views over towards Liverpool, very exposed but on more wide/clean roads with the occasional smooth cattle grid (plus a few massive quarry lorries but they won't be running on the Sunday of the event).  

 All of this bit of the route has been suggested by Ride Clwyd regular Tim Wilkes - he's the one who rides the event with a fire fighters breathing apparatus on his back - raising money for charity.

Halkyn and The Catch

 

After sliding right past Babel the route drops on a clear, long descent, passes over the A55 and on to Whitford.  There a left turn went into the first dirty lane of the route - probably seasonal and leading up to a farm.  More good lanes around to picturesque/well-heeled Llanasa with views of the sea ahead and rolling countryside to the left.  

Pretty soon getting views of Pestatyn whilst descending towards Dyserth.  

Then disaster - the little lane (Pandy Lane) I'd picked for entering Dyserth was a muddy, leaf/twig strewn downhill slalom not helped by being popular with local dog walkers.  Very quiet (no motorist would want to drive it) and leading to a short, stiff climb into the village that finishes ejecting you onto the main road.  Sometimes what looks good on Ride with GPS just isn't so...

So now I was into re-planning the route.  Exploring another option which turned out to be impossible (a narrow, steep un-sighted descent on gravel) and then finding a much better option - wide, smooth, though 16% downwards and with a mild hairpin that will need judgement.  It leads to an unfortunate short busy main road ride and another stiff climb into the village.

16% descent to Dyserth

 

 Dyserth is at the 25mile mark so is the ideal point for the first food stop.  Unfortunately none of the potential venues in the village are available, and combined with the route difficulties may well lead to a complete re-think of the this bit of the ride - anyone fancy going all the way to the seaside at Prestatyn?

I'll hit Ride with GPS soon to see what can be done - on the plus side would mean we could include the notorious "The Wall" climb after Prestatyn - 16% - suggested by Simon Pike via Facebook.

Anyone know any suitable venues in Prestatyn?

Next 25mile - click here

Ride Clwyd 100 Long 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 - 100s drop left halfway around  - descending down a twisting road to a steep set of roads into Llangollen:

 

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

Get through Llangollen and prepare for Gwernant - your first big challenge - very tough and long:

 Once over that you're got a steep descent to Glyn Ceriog (please note this descent is currently being mended by the Council) and then a great rural road with the odd rise all the way around to the 2nd food stop:

 

2nd food stop is also off route so remember to go back, and prepare for the longest, highest but not very steep climb on the course:

Llangynog climb comes right after the food stop and has 1,000ft of ascent.  Once completed you go right and start heading around to Corwen:

 

Through Corwern 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:

 

3rd 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:

 Stats and Maps at www.rideclwyd.co.uk

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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.