Conwy/Barmouth Mini Tour Part 2 Phtographs&Video

A mini tour of any kind on a bike or trike in November is probably tainted with let's say the prospect of 'seasonally adjusted weather phenomena', certainly if venturing into the foothills of Snowdonia, North Wales.  Even more so - if  intending to camp out. 

Typically, these sort of scenes start to hit the headlines:           Ogwen Valley
                       Denbigh Moors

Both these pictures were taken on the 19th of November 2013, and only two days after returning from our excursion.  Maybe 'lady luck' played a part in affording us this narrow weather window and the capture of some pretty benign weather!

Conwy Departure  Day 1 Friday 15/11/2013   - Weather fine  - Conwy/Caernarvon (stop)/Barmouth
                                   
72 miles and a late afternoon arrival in darkness (after I overshot the campsite into Barmouth town centre, to make a 180 degree turn, and climb yet another hill).  Our support vehicle and tents in situ, with Bob on his Vortex having arranged to go ahead at Maentwrog and set up the tents in advance of darkness.  A culinary masterpiece courtesy of Barry & Maureen was soon on the boil, to make for a most satisfactory end to a tough introductory touring day on the trike.......even a glasss of Red to swallow it down !  No photographs taken on the way though.

Ice Station Zebra.....as if !!

The Barry & Maureen 'Welcome Wagon".........superb! (+ ICE Vortex with Bob its' handler ! & XL trikes)

Day 2 - Barmouth loop. Barmouth including Tywyn//Dolgellau & return Barmouth - 46 miles

Returning to Barmouth along the River Mawddach:

The Mawddach Trail footpath walk and cycle route winds for 9.5 miles (15km) along the disused railway track on the southern edge of the spectacular Mawddach estuary. Whilst the trail can be joined at several points it starts at the picturesque market town of Dolgellau and finishes by crossing the iconic railway bridge over the mouth of the estuary into Barmouth.  Nice ride!

OS Landranger Active Map 124 Porthmadog and Dolgellau

http://www.mawddachtrail.co.uk/mawddach-trail.html

Day 3 - Barmouth to Penrhyn Bay via Blaenau Ffestiniog - 60.5 mls

Overview Map;

Some 6 minutes of edited footage/Return leg:

Evening Return Rhyl to Penrhyn Bay/Experimental Photography

A late afternoon departure Penrhyn Bay to Rhyl and early evening return.  ICE Trike XL with Bikeray front headlight unit.  Experimental video clips using a Samsung Galaxy mobile, and excercising the Bent legs.

Q.1 First problem - Where's the cycle path ??

A.  Ah!..... but of course, outside the front gate!

The evening came quickly - A quick gander at The new £4.3 bridge @ Rhyl  & then home

                                 

And then darkness fell....but must admit to quite liking a night time ride!

Quarry Hill, Llanddulas.

Colwyn Bay Promenade: 

Proposed Mini Cycle Tour - 168 miles (270.35 km) Friday 15th November to Sunday 17th November 2013

A walk in the park - Maybe ?:
The first serious test of my ability, or inability to get to grips with the trike, will take place next weekend- weather permitting! At 62 to 50 miles per day, instead of the usual AUDAX type distances, this is probably quite tame.  In a world obsessed by speed & distance, this will be a chill out ride, with the first leg going via Bangor/Caernarvon and Porthmadog, or something of that order, with a hill never far away.  All reasonably local to us,  with many of the locations mentioned being achievable in a good days ride.

Check on weather around the Wednesday mark, but looking ok....apart from Sunday with a little rain.  Who knows?   At the very least there will be Bob on his ICE Vortex (no contest), and Barry as support in his camper van.  Barry will carry some dry clothing and all the camping stuff for us etc. (pretty novel really).

However, as different routes and accommodation (YHA) are being considered, all this could change ! The GB rally coincides with our venture, so we will be trying to avoid the routes around the immediate rally area. Camping on the other hand looks the order of the day,  as we continue this years contribution to our outdoor bent, as our luxurious bedding arrangements during 2013 will testify.  Not satisfied with going on the trainer for the winter, or putting the summer bike away........we are venturing out as if its summer.....ish !!

Photograph(s) from this years 'Phil Ligget Challenge ride' up near Sheffield! Holme Moss?.....surely not.



Anyway, enough of that>


Confirmed Route:
Day 1 Conwy to Barmouth - 62 miles (Camping overnight - yes I know! Camping in November ?)
Day 2 Barmouth loop ride - 50 miles > Corris Valley-Dolgellau & cycle trail returning to Barmouth
Day 3 Barmouth to Conwy (Return Leg) - 54 miles.


Positive feelings/comfort & good drivers (mostly):
My initial feelings on the trike experience have been very positive, and is achieving the comfort aspect that was sought. The riding technique is different and it will take me time to get used to it undoubtedly.  I must also applaud vehicle drivers generally for their care in overtaking us recumbent chappies, making the experience that much more reassuring.  They don't just pass,  they go around the trike !

Not so good driver(s):
Of course, this is not always the case as a ride during this last week bears out.  Bob capturing this piece of driving in Llandudno, Conwy, North Wales,  during less than favorable weather conditions.  Who said we're 'fair weather' cyclists? Published on the 8th November 2013 Bob on the trike was nearly sideswiped and forced off the road upon entering the roundabout by the overtaking driver of DK51 UEO ignoring a right hand signal in heavy rain.

I assume that the horn served as a quick reminder?

MMhhhh!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZDgxiI8S9s&feature=youtu.be&hd=1  and another one for the Library @: http://www.youtube.com/user/RecumbentTrikeRider/videos

Lets hope the weather and car driving is better on our ride out next week?

Day 1:    Conwy to Barmouth 62 miles (99.77 KM)

Conwy:



Caernarvon Castle:                                                        
 
               

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Day 2:   Barmouth Loop - 52 miles (83.68 km)
down the coast to Machynllethh/Corris Valley-Dolgellau & cycle trail to Barmouth

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Day 3:  Barmouth to Conwy 54 miles (86.90 km)

Initial Days - Purchased 1st Nov. 2013 - The second hand purchase of the ICE XL from avid enthusiast and friend - Bob Birch (http://www.icetrikes.co/community/ice-blog/mountain-audax0, sees me fulfilling thoughts on what I consider to be the only way to travel. With comfort being the main driver, I will hopefully rid myself of the aches and pains associated with my efforts on the D frame (lower back etc etc). The trike isn't a 'new kid' on the block, but there-again - and lets face it neither am I? However, its' previous owner Bob, has ensured an impeccable maintenance regime, and updated second generation parts when needed. At this stage, it is only fair to comment on the bike's pedigree - call it a c.v. for want of a better phrase ! Well here goes, and over to you Bob: In 2000 I had been pedalling a daily 11 mile commute, summer and winter, rain or shine for well over a decade. Over this period using a succession of different bicycles I had suffered my fair share of minor bumps, injuries and close encounters with inconsiderate or myopic drivers. Finally a potentially serious fall on black ice forced me to make a complete review of my journey to work. Reluctant to give up the exercise benefits of cycling commuting I decided I needed something safer that would cope better with traffic and winter conditions along my usual route. Back then my new Trice XL recumbent trike was a complete revelation; it proved to be no slower than my hybrid bicycle along my usual commute and had the bonus of being completely impervious to cross winds on the A470. Since 2000 the trike’s superior comfort, braking and stability along with its wide “unusual” presence on the road has empirically proved it to be a far safer mode of transport. In the company of Chris my wife on her own XL, our trikes have carried us (with camping gear) reliably and in comfort on excursions over many thousands of miles covering the length and width of the UK and Northern Ireland. Tours abroad have included rides from Bergen in Norway north to cross the Arctic Circle, the full length on both New Zealand Islands, from the Mediterranean Coast to the English Channel across France, and in the summer of 2011, 2293 miles along the continental section of the North Sea Cycle Route.