What a wonderful ride
As forecast dry, chilly nagging NE wind; just about 20 started, should be more on such a great route though methinks.
Quick run out to Bala and a lap of the lake for Llanuwchllyn control then draggy climb into wind up to control on A5 at Country Cooks. It then got a whole lot better, narrow lanes, steep and steady climbs mixed with some main roads and long steady climbs, although headwind again nagging away. Very good café at Loggerheads and then up and over Halkyn Mountain with views over Dee and Runcorn (not so good) and a long run along spine of the mountain. narrow twisty lanes then down through BontNewydd, limestone cliffs and woods along the valley before run into Rhyl / Pensarn and the beach café
Then back with a tailwind
long steady climbs over rolling hills before the final long long 4- 8% climb up onto Denbigh Moors / llyn Brenig--but by jove it was worth it with a setting sun behind the mountains of Snowdonia, blood red, a silver crescent moon reflecting in Llyn Brenig---late evening riding can`t get much better.
A stonking descent down to Cerrigy drudion in gathering dark, Strava gives me maxm 81.4 kph
, and then a steady gentle downhill 15km run into Corwen and a well earned beer
Highlights for me :
Exploring what was for me a very new area of hills, moors and lanes
The lanes around Bont Newydd, limestone crags
Halkyn mountain, a fascinating area of Common Land perched high above the industry of Deeside / Runcorn
Evening riding across the Denbigh / Cerrig ydrudion moors, Llyn Brenig in moonlight, fabulous
great descent down to Cerrig Y Drudion in the dark--good lights helped !
Many thanks to Vicki for organising it and to the benevolent weather, a tough route indeed but highly scenic
