First big ride of the year – Conwy and Drum Mountain – Piccies

First big ride of the year yesterday, Grant, Neil, Jo and Myself.

Trip the mother in laws Caravan , which is just at the bottom of Conwy mountain
right next to the A55.

Rode from the door and round the cack of the mountain. The weather was nothing
short of perfect, lovely sunshine with a slight breeze.

Butty stop 5 miles in on the backside of Conwy mountain.

P1030494 by eastham_david, on Flickr
Great view down onto Conwy town

P1030492 by eastham_david, on Flickr
Me at the back as usual

P1030496 by eastham_david, on Flickr
Jo and her red shorts, just before the crossroads at the Bottom of Drum.

P1030498 by eastham_david, on Flickr

Bottom of Drum mountain, deciding if to go up or not

P1030500 by eastham_david, on Flickr
It was a long drag up to the top, but the view was fantastic.
The never ending climb

P1030504 by eastham_david, on Flickr
Jo riding the whole lot

P1030508 by eastham_david, on Flickr
The tarn/reservoir on the way up

P1030502 by eastham_david, on Flickr
Here are some Photies from the top.
looking at Anglesey, and the Turner with it’s new coil

P1030525 by eastham_david, on Flickr

P1030514 by eastham_david, on Flickr

P1030516 by eastham_david, on Flickr

Proof we made it !!!

P1030509 by eastham_david, on Flickr

P1030524 by eastham_david, on Flickr

On the return leg home, It’s getting late

P1030526 by eastham_david, on Flickr

26 miles, 7.5hours and 5259ft of climbing later and I’m truly buggered. 🙁

Legs feel like lead today, but what a great ride. 🙂

More Picies here :-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/17059060@N00/sets/72157626179858503/with/5542118406/

cheers

Chucky.

Lovely. 🙂

ace pics dave.

what is that phone thing with the map on.

It’s a software package called ‘Trekbuddy’, it’s free and I use a bluetooth GPS logger to talk to the phone.

My mate had managed to sort most of the UK OS maps out for it, again free

It’s great. 😆

Did you just go up and down Drum?

We did a route once going over Foel Fras then onto Drum. Big climb up Foel Fras, some 900m+ then a crazy steep and very long grassy slope down to a col. Awful peaty carry up the other side of Drum tho but at least it was a loop. Good day that, almost killed my mate’s novice MTBer flatmate 🙂

Went from Conwy, over the top of Conwy mountain, along the roman road, up and down Drum, then followed the North Wales path down to Llanfairfechan, (bloody fast drop that one) and then back up over to Conwy Mountain again.

Nearly bloody killed me, started cramping up at the bottom of Drum, so the 10-12 miles back was a nightmare 🙁

It was a fantastic ride that, compounded by the spectacular views and fantastic weather. One of the more physically challenging rides I’ve done for sure 🙂

Will certainly be exploring that area much more. Cheers for showing us round Dave!

IanB to the forum…

how’s your legs Neil?

I think I left mine in Wales 🙂

Do you know Kevevs off here, Vortex?

I love that area, bin a couple of times now, hoping to come up again sometime soon.

The only thing I don’t like, are them dirty wooly things, what mooch about getting in yer way, then look at you funny.

I like the pylons though. They make me feel safe, that I’m not too far from some sort of civilisation, cos if you get proper lost up there, you can die you know. You have to be extremely careful. Thankfully, I am skilled in outdoor survival so it’s ok.

Not too bad now. I was just shattered last night, slept in till 10 🙂

washed the blur and road bike today, all ready for the commute tomorrow 😀

Any ideas for next Weekend??? 🙂

Brilliant. Did you do the plunge from the Church to Rowen ?

The only thing I don’t like, are them dirty wooly things, what mooch about getting in yer way, then look at you funny.

Scousers?

They are quite safe usually, but if you do get bitten, try to get the name of the owner, wash out the wound immediately and seek medical attention.

Love that area, especially the drop down to Lanfairfechan.
Nice climb up to the res too – bloody fast descent on the way back 😀

With a log on like ‘Elfinsafety’ I can see why you would be concerned about people wandering of into the country side withot a full risk assessment 😆

Nope, don’t know Kevevs off here, seen a few MTB folk up there when we have been to the caravan over the last 5 years or so though.
Although not as many as in the lakes, that’s what’s great about the place.

Did you do the plunge from the Church to Rowen

No we didn’t lowey, I did that last time we had a go at this route and It’s safe to say if I had, I would probably have not made it back from Llanfairfechen. 😳

and no idea for next weekend yet, on the p!$$ friday night, so thats Sat out. 🙁

May be able to do Rivvy Sunday morning.

It is a classic route. Bloody fast drop to Lanfairfechan.

Vortex what shock have you got on the spot?

Fox Van RC.

JUST clears the downtube on full compression.

P1030491 by eastham_david, on Flickr

P1030490 by eastham_david, on Flickr

No I don’t think they’re Scousers, they seemed very docile and really quite thick actually. Good medical advice though.

You do have to be careful up there; take a space blanket in case it gets cold. ‘Phones will work up there though; me mum rung me when I was up there.

You don’t know Kevevs? I’m sure he mentioned you. He’s got an olive green Rocky Mountain Vertex with Rebas and a couple of gold bits? No?

I know he rides with a couple of folk off here, SueW is one.

Wahey the pics look brill Dave, great first ride for the year, views were spectacular and the weather was brill too.

Knees slightly sore today, no bike cleaning for me as it was such a clean ride really, (after mincing round puddles!!!), done a modicum of diy instead!!. Sure bike will be fine for Rivvy this week.

Hope you sorted your fork conundrum, you got me looking at bloomin stems now!!!

Hohum…. weekends really do seem to have gotten too short lately!!!

Elf, I don’t know Vortex!think I’ve commented on his posts before or sommat. Be happy to go ride with ya though mate 🙂
Going thataway with NWMB crew on sat I think.

That looks lovely 🙂 sfb’s bumshots are better though….

Ah, right, thought youse knew each other, innit?

Nice ‘natural’ riding round there, great views and proper nice and peaceful.

Could do with a kebab shop or something up there though. Maybe an offie.

sfb’s bumshots are better though

I know, but he’s had a lot more practice at it than me. 😆

sfb also usually has better models to use in his photos 😆

Legs feel ok today, think swimming before work helps loads.

I have ordered some of those recovery tights though after Neil’s recommendation, mainly for mayhem use but can’t hurt after days like that!

sfb also usually has better models to use in his photos

Not true

Don’t go putting yourself down Jo, there are women in our office that have one cheek bigger than your ar$e. 🙄

Not that I have been looking you understand.

I’ll get me coat 😆

Cool they work… might see if me mam has got some of her old tights going spare :o)… might put off the opposition too :o)

that looked like a fantastic ride 🙂 glad you all enjoyed it.

What do you mean, putting myself down…? I was talking about Grant & Neil! 😉

might see if me mam has got some of her old tights going spare

you instead of wearing Lorraines stockings on a Saturday night? 😆

might see if me mam has got some of her old tights going spare

you instead of wearing Lorraines stockings on a Saturday night? 😆