Event not yet available - coming soon (watch this space!!)
A randonnee in Wales without AAA points! This ride from Poynton (near Stockport) to Holyhead on Anglesey follows the North Wales coastal strip but without using the A55 Expressway.
The first cafe control is at the famous Eureka cyclists' cafe on the Wirral. Be warned that they're only open Wednesday and Friday to Sunday, but there is a petrol station and Little Chef nearby if you have to ride on another day.
The next leg uses the Chester Greenway, a tarmac cyle path to get us from Queensferry to Connah's Quay, before returning to the roads to Flint. The climbing starts in Flint with a 200m ascent of Halkyn Mountain to Babell followed by the descent to Rhuallt to Rhuddlan and Abergele. You can miss out this climb by staying on the A548 through Prestatyn, adding only 3km.
 The coastal cyclepath to Colwyn Bay is well surfaced but be warned; probably the steepest slopes of the entire ride are encountered here. After the historic town of Conwy there is a short 150m climb of Sychnant Pass, then the serious flirting with the A55 takes place. It's possible to get all the way to Bangor without joining or crossing the high speed dual carriageway, thanks to the 21st century cyclists bridges and Telford's 19th century road at Pen-y-Clip. Telford is also responsible for the bridge onto Anglesey, with quiet roads all the to Holyhead and back.
The route back involves another climb out of Dyserth to Holyhead, but it's much easier to stay on main roads through Prestatyn and Mostyn. If you've timed your ride right you'll have these main roads to yourself. There are 24 hour services at Helsby and Lymm on the M56, and you should find some late night eateries in Colwyn Bay and Abergele should you need them. |
| Total Distance: | 412km 0 AAA points | | Climbing: | Total ascent: 3000m Max elevation: 263m | | Start/finish: | Poynton (south east of Stockport).
Alternative starts (if you can get a timed receipt, carpark ticket or bank ATM slip to authenticate your start and finish times): Poynton, Chester, Holyhead | | Entry Fee: | £3.00 for members of AUK, CTC or BCF
£5.00 for non-members | | Controls: | ,55km: Mickle Trafford Post Office
73km: Two Mills, Eureka cafe, Little Chef, Petrol Station
140km: Penryhn Bay, Supermarket, ATM
180km: Llanfair PG, Petrol Station, Cafe, Visitor centre
211km: Holyhead, Supermarket, ATM
296km: Abergele, Petrol station (24), McDonalds (24)
356km: Elton, Motorway services (24)
382km: Lymm, Motorway services (24)
414km: Poynton, Supermarket, ATM
| | Useful Cafes: | 73 km: Two Mills, Eureka (Wed, Fri-Sun), Little Chef
125km: North Wales, plenty of cafes around Colwyn Bay
296km: Abergele, McDonalds and Petrol Station (24 hours)
356km: Elton, Chester M56 services
382km: Lymm, Popular 2000 M56/M6 services | | Timings: | 13 hours 44 mins (30kph) - 28 hours 49 mins (14.3kph ) | | How to enter: | send to Mike Wigley, Higher Grange Farm, Millcroft Lane, Delph OL3 5UX:
* Entry Form
* 2 stamped addressed A5 envelopes
* entry fee eg cheque payable to 'M Wigley'
NB if you are not a member of AUK, CTC or BC, please add a further £2 for temporary membership of AUK for the duration of the ride. This includes compulsory 3rd party insurance coverage |
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This is an extension of the 
you cross Lincolnshire on some lovely lanes to reach Holland Fen and Spalding. It's not absolutely flat, with a climb to Kirton in Lindsey (55m) and Chapel Hill (7m). There's nowhere to hide if it's windy, so be warned!