2024 BB rides | <i>Two Mills (Wirral)</i> <i>Cycling UK Members Group</i>

Chester and North Wales Summer Audaxes 2024

July 2024 Barmouth Boulevard, Brenig Bach a Bala Parade - the 3 Bs Rides

Graham Mills - 'Mills the Hills' a tribute

A wee bit of history about these events as I was contacted by Roy Spilsbury, an elder statesman of our club the Chester and North Wales CTC now living in Penmaenmawr.
These ride were devices by the late Graham Mills (Mills the Hills) in the late twenty century and for many years he used to organise the events until his death in 2007. He was Chair of CTC Cymru and a Corwen resident, well remembered by cyclists and locals.
I had even heard of him and his sudden death while living in Kent.
You can read an article Roy wrote at the time on his wonderful website. www.cyclingnorthwales.co.uk/

Graham Mills 1949 - 2007

Chair of CTC Cymru in this image

Read more about him on the website
cyclingnorthwales.co.uk

Eryri in all its splendour from near Nebo on the 100km

Graham designed the routes and the Clwydian we hold in October. They were rightly famous as classic, hard audax routes people would travel from Kent for example to ride. I am proud to be able to keep the rides going and also disappointed more riders do not ride each year.

The 100km Y Brenig Bach is one of the best out there and to had just 3 riders this year. You get fantastic views of Eryri across the Conwy valley from near Nebo, Cwm Penanner is a remote feeling delightful valley with a gated road. You then go up to Llyns Aled and Brenig before a 10km descent to the finish. Joy

This has stimulated me to write this piece to perhaps get more entrants in coming years.

Llyn Aled Ischaf

The Rides 2024

All the events start and finish in the centre of a small town in the Dee Valley on the A5 Corwen. It is based in the Yum Yum Cafe & Bistro which is open from 8am to late. Run by Christine and Ed the establishment is usual in being a cafe which serves a typical menu for such a place by day and turns into a small music bar after 5pm. No food fro the later returnees but there are take-aways just opposite. There is a ‘Winged Wheel CTC emblem just up the road and a statue of Owain Glyndwr adjacent. The Afon Dyfrdwy (river Dee) here is a beautiful wild river with rich wildlife and a delightful walk, a steam train can take you to nearby Llangollen.

Barmouth Boulevard 200km 2024

14 Riders started the event leaving Yum Yums at 8am along with acouple of DNS as often is the case.
The route starts in a fairly easy manner along the side of the valley following the Afon Dyfrdyw to Llyn Tegid near Bala, we skirt around the quiet side of the lake to the community run cafe/pub the Eagle Inn at Llanuwychllyn for the first control.
Then the first hill - the mountain road to Trawsfynydd (428m). A long descent past the lake to the coast near Porthmadog where South along the coastal road to Barmouth and over the causeway in the photo. The flattest section!
Round the headland to Tywyn and the ride then returns North East to the start ,popping over most of Bwlch y Groes (490m) to Llyn Vyrnwy and the Hirnant pass on the way back to Corwen.

All the riders finished with the usual variety of times from Michael Hall from Cheshire Mavericks CC in just under 10 hours to 13:15 for a rider from Leeds and his companion from Tarporley who wanted to get there moneys worth. Too late for the free panad as Christine had gone home only beer on offer.

Riders expressed to me their delight with the route and commented on the fact they were suprisded there were so few entries. One has written on an Audax facebook page.

The Barmouth Boulevard 200km Audax Route and altitude graphic

Y Brenig Bach 100km

The 110km route I which have partly outlined above goes in a completely different direction after the first 20km heading North out of Bala to Pentrafoelas for a stop at the cafe now called Bocs Boyd just off the A5 which is a welcome stop at about 40km. (right)

The route continues north through Nebo to Llansannan before the longest hill up to remote, wild Llyns Aled and then larger more popular Llyn Brenig before a long descent to Corwen for the last 10 miles.
Only 3 riders did the route this year but all were complimentary about the route, scenery and weather we had arranged for them. No great spread of times 7 hours to 7:45 or there about.

The Bala Parade 60km

11 riders took the option of a gentler ride which was designed by our President Dave Matthews as an introduction to riding audax.
It follows the Dee on a similar route to the first 30km of the 200km ride to the Eagle Inn, Llanuwychllyn at the far end of Llyn Tegid for a cafe stop. It returns partly the same way but mostly on the opposite side of the valley crossing the river on the wonderful old bridge below

It is also a super little ride, there is a similar ride on the Ocerber Corwen event in October along side the Clwydian rides if you want to experience this lovely part of Cymru.

Some of the Chester & North Wales riders leaving Corwen 2024

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