Monday 1 December. Buying and maintaining your next bike. Meet at Mediapoint, Chapter Arts, Canton at 7 p.m. With Christmas imminent, this month’s meeting will focus on advice for prospective bike buyers. Richard from Bike Shed will be talking us through the options for buying a new bike and the questions you should be asking your retailer. Andrew from Cycle Training Wales will run through the maintenance essentials to make sure it’s not a short-live Christmas thing. We’ll also be looking at the options for second-hand or recycled bike purchasing. Contact: Nick Canham 029 20222016.
Posted 26 November 2008 by Nick Canham
Eglwysilan. Meet 10.00–10.15 on the Bute Park side of the Sophia Gardens footbridge. Along the Taff Trail north to Nantgarw (lower route), then a short steep climb on country roads to the Rose and Crown , where we’ll have around half an hour stop, for snacks or lunch. The return to Cardiff is mostly downhill so we should have a quick return at about 2.30 p.m. Return route via Caerphilly. Hard: 37 km (22 miles), but mostly on trail and slightly inclined. apart from the hills on country roads to Pub. Contact: Robert 07967 127382.
Posted 26 November 2008 by Nick Canham
Gastroride – The Hollybush in Draethen. Meet 10.00–10.15 on the Bute Park side of the Sophia Gardens footbridge. Riding out via Old St Mellons, we’ll pick up NCN route 4 and end up at this cosy pub for lunch. While not essential, if you let Nick know in advance a table will be booked. Otherwise, just try your luck. From there, it’s uphill to Rudry on a full stomach, then back either via Caerphilly and the Taff Trail. Hard: 40 km (24 miles). Contact: Nick Canham Tel: 029 20222016 / 07949 389550.
Posted 15 November 2008 by Nick Canham
Wednesday 5 November. There will be an informal get together in Chapter Bar at 8 p.m. to look at options for taking forward our successes in 2008, such as the Sustainable Transport Question Time, and also for talking through how we intend to approach campaigning, and our relations with other groups and the council.
Posted 4 November 2008 by Nick Canham
Sunday 2 November. The overnight rain subsided and the onlyweather problem was the cold wind which strategically was only blowing the wrong way on the outward journey! Nine of us set off up the Taff Trail newly muddiedfrom the fire works display the night before.The Trail itself was in full autumn setting with yellows, browns and reds blending to give a real feeling of Hydref as we cycled further north.We passed through Caerphilly quickly pausing only to look at the castle and get our bearings. We then headed to Rudry going up and down the obligatory hills in a ying/yang cycling experience which culminated at the Maenllwyd Pub, which is highly recommended as the staff are friendly, the service prompt, and the food good.Before departing for Cardiff via Lisvane we spotted a Pepsi Cola machine incongruously planted in a farmers field, the South Wales equivalent of a mirage? Before we knew it we were all back in the Metropolis being thankful the wind helped us home. Thanks to Ken for planning and leading and to everyone for making it a fun ride.
Posted 4 November 2008 by Nigel