After 4 weeks not riding, because of wobbly wheels and
sheer apathy, I rode down to Barry Island today. I'm not
sure what the draw of Barry Island is for me, but I love
the ride down there.
I'd decided to try the road all the way this time, rather
than the Taff Trail then across. So, I set my alarm for
5:30, looking forwards to some empty roads at 6-7 am.
Unfortunately, I didn't actually get to sleep until 4am, so
unsurprisingly I slept through the alarm. I set off at
10:45 or so.
Down through the Treforest Estate was fine. I started off
on the MUP - for about 50 yards, when I realised that the
road was a) a dual carriageway and b) very quiet, so
switched. I surprised myself by running out of gears on the
middle ring, and changed up to the big ring for maybe the
third time ever.
Going through Radyr, I found out that even 4 weeks out of
the saddle had killed my nascent fitness. I struggled up the
first hill, took one look at the second hill, at the blazing
sun, and at the thickening traffic, and chickened out onto
the Taff Trail.
I have to say, I'm pretty sure that the Taff Trail is doing
its job. I didn't count, but I'd guess I saw at least 70 or
80 people cycling between Radyr and Cardiff. Family groups,
kids on child seats, teenagers, plenty of OAPs. I might be
wrong, but I doubt all those people would be out if the
trail wasn't there. (I must have seen at least 30 kids, and
not one of them had their saddle at the right height
🙂)
After a cup of tea and a chocolate cup cake at a mate's
house in Cardiff Bay, I crossed over the Ely, and made my
way down through Cosmeston Lakes, which was lovely in the
good weather. A quick detour down to Swanbridge was great,
the 99 I bought down there even nicer.
At Sully, I decided to try to avoid the horribly busy road
into Barry by going through the docks. When I got past Sully
Hospital, I was confronted by a big sign, "Associated
British Ports. No entry except on business". I could see
where I wanted to be the other side, considered the 4 miles
I'd probably have to double back, and decided to go for
it. It was a perfectly good road, the only people I saw in
there were other cyclists, and got to the other side
in no time.
Going along Millennium Drive, I didn't exactly bonk, but I
did find it very hard to even turn the pedals. I stopped for
some Lucozade and a breather, which worked
Got to Barry, discovered hundreds of people staring at the
sky. Turned out I'd arrived just as the RAF Falcon
parachute display team were jumping. Stopped to have a look
- they landed feet away from me, and then a few minutes
later, I turned around to see what the noise was and saw a
Hercules, wings vertical, flying directly over me at a few
hundred feet.
Hung around Barry Island for a couple of hours, ate a hot-
dog and an ice lolly, briefly considered cycling home, and
got on a train. 🙂 30.5 miles in total. Magic stuff.
Now I have to fix my gears, but that's another thread . . .
--
Keith Willoughby flat222.orgkeithOpen ↗ "Do you want it
pasteurised, 'cause pasteurised is best??" "Ernie, I'll be
happy if it comes up to my chest"