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 http://flat222.org/keith/
"Do you want it pasteurised, 'cause pasteurised is best??"
"Ernie, I'll be happy if it comes up to my chest"