Rides Programme 2024 update
Wednesday 24-Apr-24 Grade 2
Meeting: Sainsbury’s SA1 10.00
Leader: Elaine Rohman 07970026017
Destination: Ystradgynlais via bike path and return via Dulais valley, Neath canal path. 36 miles.
Also:
A shorter flatter Pennyhalfpenny grade 1.5 option is up and back on the bike path. 30 miles
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Sunday 28-Apr-24 Grade 3c
Meeting: Tareni Bridge Godre’r-graig 10.00
Leader: Alison Maddocks 07796037114
Destination: A Loop around the Black Mountain via Ystalyfera, Cwmtwrch, Brynamman, Brest Cwm Llwyd, Glanamman, GCG and back to Pontardawe. 35 miles 3000’
Grade 1.5 Pennyhalfpenny pootle
Meeting: Gowerton 10.00
Leader: Ian Davies 07813856969
Destination: Pembrey via cycle paths there and back. 30 miles 800’
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Monday 29-Apr-24. Alfie Funeral ride.
Meeting: Gowerton 11.30
Leader: TBC
Destination: Llanelli Crem for 13.00 Service followed by refreshments at Machynys Golf Club.
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Wednesday 01-May-24 Chain Ferry Ride
Meeting: Gowerton 08.30 and picking up at North Dock, Kidwelly and Ferryside.
Leader: Toby Picton-Day
Destination: Chain Ferry Crossing from Ferryside to Llanseffan, lunch at Carmarthen. Ret via NCR4 mainly to your start point. Gton 58 miles, 1650’ Lib #328. North Dock 43 miles, Kidwelly 25 miles, Ferryside 20 miles.
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Sun 05-May-24 Grade 3c
Meeting: Railway Inn Killay 10.00
Leader: Simon Jenkins 07769351421
Destination: Castell Carreg Cennen via Pontardulais, Llanedi, Cwmgwili, Gorslas, Carmel, Milo, Pentregwenlais, Derwydd, Blaengweche, Trap. Return via Llandyfan, Ammanford and Garnswllt. 47 miles 3500 ft.
Grade 2b
Meeting: Railway Inn 10.00
Leader: Ian Davies 07813856969
Destination: Rhossili via Upper Killay, Fairwood, Welshmoor, Llanrhidian, Oldwalls, Stembridge, Fairyhill, Scurlage. Ret via Cefn Bryn, Llanrhidian, Marsh Road, etc, 34 miles
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Wed 08-May-24 Grade 3c
Meeting: McDonald’s Briton Ferry 10.40
Leader: Elaine Rohman 07970026017
Destination: The Bwlch via Afan valley and return to Glyncorrwg 40 miles, 2,975’
Grade 2b.
Meeting: McDonald’s Briton Ferry 10.40
Leader: Ian Davies 07813856969
Destination: The MTB Centre Glyncorrwg. 28 miles
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Friday 10-May-24 David Naylor 90th Birthday coffee ride
Meeting: Gowerton 10.00
Leader:
Destination: Southgate, calling for David on route in Pennard.
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Sun 12-May-24 Grade 3 suggested
Meeting: Gowerton 10.00
Leader:
Destination: Ferryside
Grade 2 suggested
Meeting: Gowerton 10.00
Leader:
Destination: Kidwelly
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Mon 13-May to Fri 17-May. North Pembrokeshire tour.
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Wed 15-May-24 suggested
Meeting: Sainsbury’s SA1 10.00, McDonald’s Briton Ferry 10.40
Leader:
Destination: Porthcawl
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Sun 19-May-24 Grade 3 suggested
Meeting: Gowerton 10.00
Leader:
Destination: Cross Hands via Garnswllt, Ammanford, Llandybie. Ret via Swiss valley.
Grade 2 suggested
Meeting: Gowerton 10.00
Leader:
Destination: Cross Hands via Bynea, Dafen, Swiss Valley. Ret via Gorslas, Capel Hendre, Llanedi, Pontarddulais. 32 miles, 1900’
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Wed 22-May-24 suggested
Meeting: Sainsbury’s SA1 10.00
Leader:
Destination: Resolven via the Swansea valley, Pontardawe, Bryncoch, Aberdulais. Ret via Tonna, canal path to Briton Ferry etc.
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Sun 26-May-24 Grade 3 suggested
Meeting: Sainsbury’s SA1 10.00, McD BF 10.40
Leader:
Destination: Ogmore by Sea
Grade 2 suggested
Meeting: McDonald’s Briton Ferry 10.40
Leader:
Destination: Ewenny
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Wed 29-May to Sun 02-June CTC Swansea and Gower Cycling Festival
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Wednesday 29 May 2024
Ride 1: Gateway Resort - A Leisure Ride, suitable for families with children, and those new to cycling.
Start: Dunvant RFC, 10.00. Distance: 13 miles, mostly flat on cycle path with one short section of road.
Ride 2: Southgate & Three Cliffs - a Moderate ride, suitable for more experienced cyclists.
Start: Dunvant RFC, 10.00. Distance 34 miles, with 2257 feet of ascent. A lovely ride out through mid-Gower over Cefn Bryn with some fantastic views, then back along south Gower to Southgate for lunch, and a short ride across the grassy cliff tops for the views over Three Cliffs and Oxwich Bay.
Ride 3: Carreg Cennen Castle - A Challenging ride, suited for experienced cyclists who enjoy longer distance a more climbing. Start: Dunvant RFC, 10.00. Distance 46. miles, with 3618 feet of ascent. A beautiful ride heading north from Swansea into Carmarthenshire, up and down hills to the historic castle of Carreg Cennen for lunch. Returning via Ammanford.
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Thursday 30 May 2024
Ride 4: Up the river to Clydach - A Leisure Ride.
Start: Sainsbury's, Swansea Marina, 10.00. Distance 14 miles, mostly flat, following NCR 43 along the river to Clydach for lunch.
Ride 5: Along Rivers and Canals to Ystradgynlais - A Moderate Ride
Start: Sainsbury's, Swansea Marina, 10.00. Distance, 36 miles with 1404 feet of ascent. A very pretty route following NCR 43 along the Tawe river, and later between the river and a canal, through the villages of Clydach and Pontardawe to Ystradgynlais for lunch, returning with a good climb to the village of Crynant before descending to the Neath Valley for the ride home.
Ride 6: Kidwelly - A Moderate ride
Start: Dunvant RFC, 10.00. Distance 42.5 miles with 1608 feet of ascent. Cycle path to Llanelli then up NCR 47-the Swiss Valley Cycle path--to Horeb, then on quiet country lanes, with one short steep climb for great view from Mynydd Pembrey, before descending through Trimsaran to Kidwelly for lunch. Return via Pembrey and the Millenniukm Coast path.
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Friday 31 May 2024
Ride 7: Pavilion Cafe - Leisure Ride
Start: Loughor Boat Club, 10.00. Distance, 17.5 miles, mostly flat cycling. Join NCR 4 cycle route heading west to join the Millennium coast path, and follow this through the Wetland Centre, with view across the estuary to the Gower Penisula. Skirting the edge of Machynys Golf Club, keep on the cycle path through North Dock to the Pavilion Cafe and playground at Pwll for coffee and ice cream. Return the same route.
Ride 8: Rhossili - Moderate
Start: Dunvant RFC, 10.00. Distance: 36 miles, 2193 feet of ascent. A beautiful north Gower circuit, heading north and west from Dunvant, out over the heights of Welshmoor to Llanrhidian, on through Burry and Scurlage to Gower's most westerly village of Rhossili. Return via Burry, Reynoldston, up over Cefn Bryn, through Llanrhidian and down on to the Marsh Road, for the return.
Ride 9: Llandeilo - Challenging Ride
Start: Dunvant RFC, 10.00. Distance 50 miles, with 2905 feet of climbing. A tough but fantastic ride west and north to join the SWiss Valley path at Felinfoel, following this all the way to Cross Hands; up through Penhriwgoch, and east through Fairfach before reachcing the pretty town of Llandeilo. Return via Derwydd, Llandybie, Saron, Capel Hendre, Llanedi and Pontardulais.
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Saturday 1 June 2024
Ride 10: 'Sails & Rails' - Around the bay to Swansea Marina & Mumbles - Leisure Ride
Start: Dunvant RFC, 10.00. Distance 17.5 miles, 246 feet ascent. Follow the cycle path down to the seafront, then flat ride on the promenade to the marina to hear about Swansea's maritime history, then back around the bay to Mumbles for Ice Cream and perhaps a spin on the Big Wheel.
Ride 11: Upper Lliw Reservoir - Moderate Ride
Start: Dunvant RFC, 10.00. Distance 34 miles with 1856 feet of ascent. North along the cycle path (NCR 4) to Gowerton, on through Gorseinon, before swinging east and climbing up above Felindre. Drop down into the village before climbing up to the reservoirs. Return via undulating route to Craig Cefn Parc, dropping down onto new cycle path, on through Clydach Park, before joining NCR 43 and following the River Tawe back to Swansea, then around the bay to the Clyne Valley cycle path back to start.
Ride 12: Brynaman & Amman River Cycle Path - Moderate Ride
Start: Dunvant RFC, 10.00. Distance 50 miles, 1800 feet of ascent. An anticlockwise Loop south to the seafront, then following cycle path to the Marina, up the Tawe River path to Ystalyfera, then northwest to Brynaman to pick up the beautiful Amman River Cycle Path heading west to Ammanford, before turning south with a climb up to Garnswllt, descending into Pontarddulais and back to start.
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Sunday 2 June 2024
Ride 13: Pontardulais - Leisure Ride
Start: Dunvant RFC, 10.00. Distance 14.5 miles with 402 feet of ascent. A pleasant, mostly flat ride suitable for newer rides and families with kids, along cycle path to Gowerton to pick up another cycle path to Pontardulais for coffee and a sandwich , before returning by the same route. Ride 14: Llanmadoc - Moderate Ride
Start: Dunvant RFC, 10.00. Distance 31 miles, with 2044 feet of climbing. An anticlockwise North Gower loop that shows off the beauty of the penisula, with fantastic views to the north and south from the Cefn Bryn Ridge. A couple of decent climbs, but well worth the effort and rewarded by lunch at the fabulous Cwm Ivy Cafe.
Ride 15: The Bwlch, via Ogmore Vale - Challenging Ride
Start: Sainsbury's, Swansea Marina, 10.00. Distance 55 miles, with nearly 3000 feet of ascent. One of our signature rides, tackling one of the top 100 climbs in the UK. Heading east from Swansea, to Pyle, then to Blackmill to start the climb up through Ogmore Vale and on up to the top of the Bwlch for amazing views down into Treorchy. Return via Cymmer and the Afan Valley, following the river down through Pontrhydyfen and Port Talbot before heading back to Swansea.
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Ride Disclaimer:
By participating in a Swansea CTC ride, you acknowledge that it is a condition of participating that you do so at your own risk and abide by the statement below:
You acknowledge that participating in the ride may involve a risk of serious injury from various causes, including over exertion, dehydration, equipment failure, and / or accidents with equipment and / or surroundings
You confirm that you are physically fit enough to participate safely in the ride and you have not been advised by a medical professional not to do so
You are not aware of any medical condition, injury or impairment that maybe detrimental to your health by participating in the ride.
If it is detrimental to your health if you participate in the ride, you understand that it is your responsibility to inform the ride leader immediately. Should you choose to continue with the ride despite these conditions, injuries or impairments, you accept the increased risks and likelihood of injury
You certify that you are over 16 years old and have read and fully understood this statement.
You consent for any photographs taken during the ride to be used on social media. If NOT, please advise the ride leader before any pictures are taken.
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Grading System
Pace
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A. Easy Touring: anticipated pace of about at 8-10 mph (13-16 kph) on a flat route, with stops as required.
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B. Touring: anticipated pace of about 10-11 mph, (16-18 kph) with stops as required to regroup at top of climbs.
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C. Touring Plus: anticipated pace of about 11-12 mph (18-19.5 kph) with stops as required to regroup & refresh at top of climbs.
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D. Fast Touring: anticipated pace of about 12-13 mph (19.5-21 kph) with fewer stops to regroup & refresh at top of climbs.
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E. Intermediate: anticipated pace of about 13-14 mph (21-22.5 kph) with fewer stops.
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E+. Sportive - anticipated pace of at least 14-16+ mph (22.5-26+ kph)
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Route
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Grade - Terrain
1. Generally flat with a couple of easy climbs, up to a max of 800 feet (250m), over a distance of 20-30 miles (32-48km).
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2. More undulating, with climbing in the range of 800-2200 feet (250-660m), over a distance 24-40 miles (38-64km).
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3. Partly hilly, some longer climbs, up to 10% (1 in 10), total climbing between 2000- 4000 feet (610-1200m), over a distance of 40-60 miles (64-96km).
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4. Hilly route, some hills steeper than 10% (1 in 10), total climbing between 4000-5900 feet (1200-1800m), over a distance of 40-60 miles, (64-96km).
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5. Longer hilly route, some hills steeper than 10% (1 in 10), climbing between 5500-7200 + feet (1700-2200m), over a distance of 60-100+ miles (90-160+km).
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