Rideouts – 2024

Rideout Reports 2024

November – Llyn Brenig and Horseshoe Pass

Ten riders gathered at Montford Bridge for the November rideout, including four first-timers, all no doubt tempted out by the overcast but very beautiful autumn morning. After a pre-ride briefing the group, led by Hugh Trevor-Jones with Nigel Bright as TEC, departed at 10:45 for the first leg to Llyn Brening for lunch, via a quick stop in Llangynog and a very foggy climb over to Bala; special care was needed over the top to avoid the sheep lurking in the fog. On the second leg the Ponderosa café was reached a few minutes after 3pm, which was unfortunately just after closing time, and so it was decided to end the ride at the Ponderosa. Hugh and Nigel swapped roles and their remaining group of five riders made their way home through Llangollen and down the A5, peeling off one-by-one as they went.
Hugh had some difficulties with his BMW satnav while leading (that’s his story), which lead to some interesting, ahem, manoeuvres, and he’s most grateful for the tolerance and support of the group who made light of his deviations. To add further interest, he was also nursing a slow rear puncture, made worse by the failure of the air pump at the fuel stop at Morrisons in Denbigh, which seemed to suck not blow.
This was a most enjoyable and positive ride, and a great reason to get out on our bikes, especially at this time of year. Roll-on the next Rideout in April 2025.

Ride Leader – Hugh Trevor-Jones
Tail End Charlie – Nigel Bright
Photos courtesy of Nigel Bright

October – Knighton, Elan Valley, Machynlleth

Despite a stark weather warning 8 riders gathered at Montford Bridge Picnic Area, 6 members and 2 non members who came along to see what we are about. Ride leader today was Andy Ostrowski with Steve Clarke bringing up the rear as Tail End Charlie. The route was via Bishops Castle to Knighton where we stopped for the obligatory coffee break. Suitably refreshed we journeyed onwards through Rhayader to the Elan Valley Visitor Centre for lunch where we sampled tasty pasties and put the world to rights. Our next point of interest was Devils Bridge, accessed by stunning roads following the near empty Craig Goch Reservoir. Devils bridge wasn’t that interesting today so we continued on some wider roads to Llanidloes with a stop for fuel. Continuing on more country roads we arrived at Llyn Clywedog which is some sort of sanctuary for wildlife and very pretty. Sadly at this point the expected rain started, hoping that ride leader would curtail the ride a little by taking a shortcut, sadly not, we continued to Machynlleth (spitting distance from the West coast), then to Welshpool and on to Dinkys back into Shrewsbury.
Despite the rain it was an excellent ride and I am hopeful that my kit will dry before next months rideout. Jason, one of the non members who joined us for the ride, has sent a video of the best bits of the route from Elan Valley to Devils Bridge in real time so around 48 minutes long. Grab a drink and a bucket of popcorn, sit down, chill and enjoy.

Ride Leader – Andrzej Ostrowski (Andy)
Tail End Charlie – Steve Clarke
Photos courtesy of Andy Ostrowski, Steve Clarke & Ken Swinton
Video courtesy of Jason Steel

August – Ludlow and Clee Hills

Around 12 bikes met at Montford bridge on Sunday 4 August. We started out at 9:30-ish following a pre-ride briefing ride that Nigel Bright has kindly helped me out with. From A5, we took the A488 towards Bishop’s Castle, navigated the twists and took a picturesque B4385 road towards Montgomery. From A483 Newtown Bypass, we proceeded left towards the mountains, where we were greeted by some interesting bends (one of them containing wood debris in the middle). We stopped as planned in Beguildy, where we managed to create a queue at the local post office – fortunately, everyone got their coffees in the end. After that we headed towards Knighton, then A49 in the direction to Ludlow. We did not stop in Ludlow as previously planned, as I decided that trying to find a parking space was going to be a challenge. Instead, we left A49 into A4117 towards Clee Hill, with its panoramic view. The road took us to Kinlet, where we had a lunch break in Kinlet Kabin cafe. After we set off along another twisty road, we had a slight incident with marking, due to which some of us missed a left turn bypassing Bridgnorth resulting in the group briefly falling apart. Fortunately, we all met together on A458 and proceeded towards the Dobbies roundabout, where the ride ended.

Ride Leader – Andrzej Ostrowski (Andy)
Tail End Charlie – Nigel Bright
Photos courtesy of Nigel Bright, Richard Moorhouse and Bryan Murphy
Video courtesy of Bill Croxon

July – Snowdonia National Park

The July rideout managed to avoid the worst of the weather and enjoyed mainly dry roads on the trip into Wales. The ride started at Montford Bridge, heading to Llangynog and over the stunning pass overlooking the Berwyn Nature Reserve to Bala and then on to The National White-Water Centre for a coffee break. Leaving the centre, we headed into the Snowdonia national Park on wonderful biking roads towards Llan Ffestiniog and into the Migneint Moors before taking a break and walk around Ruthin with its magnificent old buildings and to take onboard its interesting history including seeing the house of Sir Hugh Myddleton who provided London with its first supply of fresh water. During our break we took up Andy’s suggestion to go ‘Off piste’ and visit The Old Stores biker café at Mold with its interesting collection of bike memorabilia. We decided to end the ride at the Ponderosa Café as it worked best for the various home destinations of the group.
Thank you to Nigel Clifford who led a well-paced ride. Nigel Bright was TEC.

Ride Leader – Nigel Clifford
Tail End Charlie – Nigel Bright
Photos courtesy of Bryan Murphy and Nigel Bright

June – South Shropshire & Eardisland

The following text has been provided by Nigel Bright: The June rideout was led by myself with Hugh Trevor-Jones doing an excellent job as Tail End Charlie. The ride enjoyed sunny and warm weather (hot even at times) along roads that passed through South Shropshire and some of the Black and White village tour in Herefordshire. Passing through Cleobury Mortimer, Clee Hill, with its stunning views of the valley and then over to a lunch break at Shobdon Airfield where we were able to sit outside in the sun and watch the busy aeronautical activity. After lunch the ride passed through Lyonshall, Weobley and Dilwyn before taking a short break in the pretty award-winning village of Eardisland and then making our way back to Much Wenlock where the ride ended. For this ride we tried something new and started the ride at Telford Services as we have a number of members in the East of our region.

Ride Leader – Nigel Bright
Tail End Charlie – Hugh Trevor Jones
Photos courtesy of Brian Andrews, Hugh Trevor Jones and Nigel Bright