Sunday, 29th December 2013

https://www.facebook.com/events/635969693131896/

http://www.goskyride.com/Search/Details?eventid=32467

A cold and frosty morning only brought out three intrepid souls for the latest attempt at 3 Hours around the Redwick loop.

With ice on the roads it was never going to see many records set, but as the roads started thawing the average pace got better. Progress was only halted by a puncture for Tony Griffiths which may have cost the team a lap.

Results:

1. Leon Jones (Specialized Secteur Elite RB) 18 laps (PB)
2. Greg Tinker (BeOne Diablo RB) 17 laps
3. Tony Griffiths (Specialized Secteur Sport RB) 17 laps

On completion of the 3 hours, it was into the Rose Inn for a warming cup of coffee.

Sunday, 8th December 2013

https://www.facebook.com/events/231778990316644/?ref=23

http://www.goskyride.com/Search/Details?eventid=32466

What a great ride. The day started off with rain-showers but a decision was made to go anyway and we were rewarded with a dry, sunny morning and not too cold for December.

Leon, Tony and recent newcomer Sue Earnshaw (recruited from the excellent on-line cycling website GoSkyRide www.goskyride.com) started from the Choir Hall and made their way down towards Magor via the off-road lanes through Undy. Climbing the hill up to the brewery before turning down the lane at Wilcrick and heading for the low railway bridge at Bishton passing the model aircraft field.

At Bishton, choir member, photographer and now a new cycle club member Stefan Edwards joined the trio and together rode the rest of the way to the Wetlands via Saltmarsh Lane in Goldcliff. Once on the Wetlands, Stefan proved his worth with his camera and snapped the photos that can be seen on this post.

The return journey was interrupted for a welcome stop at the Seawall Cafe for teacakes and coffee before heading home.

Riders:

1. Leon Jones
2. Tony Griffiths
3. Sue Earnshaw
4. Stefan Edwards

 

Sunday, 24th November 2013

Tidenham Diving Centre Route – 24 miles

Three members made this ride on a cold late November morning. The ride went through Portskewett and Sudbrook to Black Rock, climbing up through Leechpool before joining the A48 and turning off for the long ascent to Shirenewton.

A lovely ride down the valley alongside Mounton Brook before entering Chepstow at the former Racecourse Garage. Taking in some of the beauty spots of the old town including descending through the Castle Dell before crossing the old Wye Bridge and crossing the border into England.

A steep climb up Castleford Hill before entering the village of Tutshill and then back on the A48 for the short ride to the Diving Centre at Tidenham.

Bacon rolls and coffee was in order on this cold day, with photos taken with the quarry lake forming the backdrop before returning to Caldicot via Garden City, Bulwark and Mathern.

Riders:

1. Leon Jones
2. Tony Griffiths
3. Garry Veale

Sunday, 10th November 2013

https://www.facebook.com/events/564421183613697/

Thanks to the GoSkyRide web site (www.goskyride.com), the club gained four new members, Vince Beacham, Sue Earnshaw, Diane Potter and Mike Kinnersley along with the appearance of an old school friend of Leon’s, Garry Veale doubled the rides attendance to 10 making their way from the Choir Hall on a sunny Sunday morning.

Along with regular attendees; Nathan Finney, Grahame Morton, David Whittle, Leon Jones and Tony Griffiths, the group made their way through Caldicot, taking note of the cenotaph on the way. Dropping down to Caerwent again going past the cenotaph before eventually arriving at the packed centre of Magor, with hundreds of people thronging the square around the war memorial just in time for the Remembrance Service. A special treat was the attendance at the service of the Serenata Ladies Choir, of which regular cyclist Carolyn Griffiths is a member. Following the ‘Last Post’ and the laying of wreaths, the choir performed an excellent version of the song ‘Wherever You Are’, made famous by the Military Wives choir.

Once complete the group made their way along the new road through the Llanwern Steelworks, stopping whilst a puncture repair was made. It was then onto Goldcliff with the regular stop for coffee and tea-cakes and a chat with the already arrived Caldicot Town Cycle Club.

Fed and watered the return journey was made via Redwick, Undy and Rogiet before arriving back at the Choir Hall for photographs and goodbyes. An excellent ride made better by the new arrivals, the weather and the lovely remembrance service at Magor.

Approximate Distance: 28 miles

Riders:

1. Leon Jones
2. Tony Griffiths
3. Grahame Morton
4. David Whittle
5. Nathan Finney
6. Garry Veale
7. Diane Potter
8. Sue Earnshaw
9. Vince Beacham
10. Mike Kinnersley

Sunday, 27th October 2013

https://www.facebook.com/events/186998404816607/

The second running of the Redwick 3 Hours was held on a very blustery, Autumn morning. Disappointingly, only three cyclists turned up on what was a wild day, with the wind blowing down the back straight making the completion of each lap very difficult.

That being said, there was some good efforts made with club newcomer, David Whittle completing 22 laps in the 3 hour period and Tony Griffiths beating his personal best with 18 laps in the period. This despite the harsh conditions which was made worse on the windy back straight with a section of road heavily made muddy by tractors and cows. On top of this, a puncture for David and a fifteen minute delay for both David and Tony negotiating a herd of cows being moved to another field.

The boys were joined later by Carolyn Griffiths who ventured out and completed 4 laps. A special thank you must go to Dave Kirton who took out 3 hours of his life to record the laps and keep time and also Lyn Gauntlett who came and took the photos displayed on this post.

Following the completion of the event, it was over to The Rose Inn for a very welcome cup of coffee by the warm fire.

Full Results

1. David Whittle (Specialized Allez Road Bike)          22 laps (approx 43 miles)
2. Tony Griffiths (Specialized Secteur Road Bike)     18 laps (approx 35 miles)
3. Carolyn Griffiths (Specialized Myka MTB)               4 laps (approx 8 miles)

 

Sunday, 22nd September 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the cancellation of the planned trip to Coleford, it was a trip to the Sea Wall Cafe in Goldcliff where we were sure of a warm welcome and some scrumptious tea-cakes.

Five members made the trip on a muggy autumn morning, starting out at the Choir Hall before dropping down to Caerwent, on through Carrow Hill to Magor before cycling on the new road just opened through Llanwern Steelworks and on to Goldcliff.

On reaching the cafe, it was a pleasant surprise to meet up with our comrades from the Caldicot Town AFC Cycle Club who obviously had the same idea.

Riders:

1. Tony Griffiths
2. Leon Jones
3. Grahame Morton
4. Nick Powell
5. Carolyn Griffiths

 

Sunday, 15th September 2013

 

 

 

 

 

With a storm brewing, the decision was made to go on the ride with the intention that if the weather was too bad we would turn back.

Three members started at the Choir Hall; Grahame Morton, David Whittle and Tony Griffiths to take the route up to Devauden, with Carolyn Griffiths and Julie Donoghue starting later and following a shorter, flatter route to Mathern.

The Devauden route included some tough climbing, firstly Shirenewton drag, then the steeper climb to Itton and the long drag up to Devauden. Some respite was had descending on the Chepstow road before the steep climb up to the top of St. Arvans.

The two groups met at the Millers Arms for a coffee and a break before completing the journey back to Caldicot, just before the rain started.

Riders:

1. Grahame Morton
2. Tony Griffiths
3. David Whittle
4. Julie Donoghue
5. Carolyn Griffiths

Sunday, 25th August 2013

Following the successful choir tour to Cornwall and a late arrival back in Caldicot the night before, it was little surprising that only two members; Grahame Morton and Tony Griffiths made this ride.

On road bikes, it was on the Newport Road down to Undy then to Redwick before heading through Llanwern Steelworks and turning left into Goldcliff with a visit to the Sea Wall Cafe for coffee and tea cakes. The return journey through Undy, Rogiet and home was about 27 miles for the whole trip.

 

Sunday, 11th August 2013

Well that was different!

Seven members turned-up early on a lovely Sunday morning to see how many laps around the 2 mile Redwick loop they could do in 4 hours. Well, it got downgraded to 3 hours once the pub opened and it got a bit boring.

So from 9am, the team circled the village and marked-up on a whiteboard the number of laps completed. The purpose of this exercise was to trial an idea of Grahame Morton’s to run a similar event next Summer for charity over 12 hours.

Once the clock struck midday, the pub opened and we where joined for a drink on the patio by Carolyn Griffiths and Julie Donoghue who had cycled down from Caldicot.

The results:

1. Nathan Finney – 26 laps (about 52 miles)
2. Greg Tinker – 24 laps (48 miles)
3. Nick Powell – 20 laps (40 miles)
4. Leon Jones – 17 laps (34 miles)
5. Grahame Morton – 17 laps (34 miles)
6. Tony Griffiths – 17 laps (34 miles)
7. David Gould – 7 laps (14 miles)

 

RIDE CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER.

Sunday, 5th August 2013

https://www.facebook.com/events/346694535460493/

Meet Choir Hall at 10am