The Colwyn Collective.
We were all looking forward to this one - two days of Welsh roads, and as the time approached, it looked certain that the weather was going to be dry as well. Late evening the night before, Mac, a very disappointed Mac, rang to say that work had reared up and he couldn't go. He was also going to do something unspeakable to his boss when he saw him. Double cruel luck seeing as he was the organiser and had paid a hotel deposit. The rest of us would just have to do a damn good job of enjoying ourselves even more to make up for his loss. Which I'm sure he was really glad about?!
Sunday morning - meeting at Llangorse Lake. That meant a nice ride for me over the hills along the A465/A4059/A470/A40 to Llangorse. The top section along the A4059 was freezing - even the sheep were somewhere else getting warm. A good road though from there to Llangorse. A flock of Blackbirds turned up a few minutes after me - Paul Rolfe, Tom and his mate Bob (with his now famous furry seated Blackbird). Jase and Ken turned up not long after on a brace of SP1's.
So, three 'birds, two SP1's and a.... TDM in pear tree. OK, I had a slight? power deficit, but all in all it kept up pretty well. That's real roads for you - there is always traffic or roadworks somewhere to slow the others down enough for me to catch up. Being at the back though means you 1) get to see some interesting riding manouvers!, 2) nobody sees your mistakes. It took me quite a long time on Sunday to get back into fast riding as I hadn't been on a run like this for about a year. Just keep the revs up and the big lump (the Tedium I mean) does pretty well.
What followed after setting out from Llangorse is now something of a blur. During Sunday we saw some towns and roads more than once, from different directions. Basically we nailed it in a directish route to Dolgellau in order to drop our kit off and go and play some more. Whatever the route was (sorry - already forgotten if we went up the A483 or A470 after Builth Wells) it passed by quickly. Ken leading at a blistering pace, Jase following, then the three Blackbirds and me. We had a little trouble finding the hotel, even with a map. On our second stop for discussion, Ken eventually said "Is that it?" and pointed to a building about 50 yards away. We were there and didn't know it.
We had a cuppa to warm up (it was still pretty cold) after Jase, the other Paul and myself had unloaded our kit. We set off with a plan to do a circuit back through mid Wales to Crossgates, where we could all split up on our separate ways.
However just after leaving the hotel and getting on the A470, which is heavily policed up there, we were all waved in to a layby by a herd of cops stopping riders for inspection. They checked our plates and exhausts, and waved all of us except Ken up the road to wait. They proceeded to compliment Ken on his nice leathers and his flush fitting indicators, and how his heated jacket worked... Unfortunately it wasn't that - they gave him a ticket for his loud pipes. Not a good result but at least we could all carry on - no confiscated visors and number plates broken on demand.
We took a different route back to Crossgates - blurred again but it went something like A458 to Welshpool and back on the A483. It doesn't really matter - they are all great roads. The petrol station/food stop just outside Crossgates is a popular bike stopping point - everything from purple-bearded Bandit riders to old Brits. We had a drink here then split up - Tom and Bob back home east, Ken back to Llangorse and the rest of us back to Dolgellau.
Apologies here - I lead the way back to Rhyader with the intention of having a steady ride back, but got a sudden impulse at Rhyader to do the B4518 north, but got the bit that goes west - oops. Never mind, we had a nice scenic ride through the Afan Valley - although we did pass other bike groups so it can't be that bad. A bit technical at that time of the day though. We came out at Devils Bridge and took a fast route back to the hotel.
Beer, food, lots of bike talk. The hotel is a base for HUKRC/MAC ridouts and stopovers, and for any other motorcyclists really. Nigel and Tiv who run it are of course keen bikers, and not what we expected. I think we all thought the owners would be getting on a bit, but Nigel is an ex London fireman in his late thirties and a colourful east-end character. He has loads of great bike stories and even though it's hard work it must be a great job. Honda want to give him a 2000 fireblade to do the rides he leads and all he has to do is put fuel in. It's ideally situated, there's a bar and the food is good - but book early because it's very popular and the weekends are filling up fast.
Bikers Retreat
"Trem Hyfryd" Guest House,
Barmouth Road,
Dolgellau,
Gwynedd, Wales,
United Kingdom. LL40 2SP
Tel/Fax: 01341 423192
Monday morning - Nigel said he would lead us for a while on a circular route north to Colwyn Bay. He looked the part in his well used leathers and with old GSXR 1100. A very experienced and smooth rider, he took us on a fantastic route up the A494 to Bala, then a short way up the A4212 to head off on the B4501, which is a real rollercoaster ride. We said our farewells to him somewhere along there and we carried on north to get to the A55 and Colwyn.
The A55 was busy - Jase was leading and he introduced us to M25/London type filtering. Traffic moving at 50/60 - no problem, just make your way through the large gap in the middle. Good fun.
None of us knew where exactly the Honda display and parking facilities were so we rode around for a bit in very busy Colwyn. The Honda bike park was eventually located up an unsigned side road, but at least we could park up and leave the bikes and kit safe. And a free drink. We had a go on the Honda "Carl Fogarty Experience" hydrolic simulator thingy and got something to eat. About 1.30 we were off on our separate ways - Paul and Jase had a date with the Horseshoe Pass near the border, and I thought I would take it easy all the way back through Wales mostly on the A470. Very soon realised that "taking it easy" was going to be difficult.
Brilliant two days and good to do riding like that after what seems like an age in the cold/wet around town. Jase - a good rider, was even more in love with his SP1 by the end of it all - we all want one now. Also very proud of the back tyre scrubbed right to the edge and beyond.
I think the pair of Paul's must have done about 600 miles of twisties by the end of it all - Jase about 900 (that'll teach you to move from Mold to Surrey). There are so many great roads in Wales that will satisfy all types of rider, so I'm sure we will have more rides over the summer.