It's all uphill to Blaenavon

This is a challenging ride with around 600m of climbing and is suitable for those of you who are taking on cyclosportive challenges this year. Although we will be riding on the cycle paths for some of this ride you must be comfortable riding roads, some of which will be busy.
We will regroup regularly when needed to stay together as a group as much as possible to ensure no one gets left behind. The overall pace will be around 10-12 MPH and there is about 600m of climbing.

This is a challenging route uphill to Blaenavon where we stop for a well earned coffee and cake before the lovely long descent back to Newport.

The ride starts from Wickes car park taking the bike path to Caerleon where you can start the ride from if you prefer. We will then take the road towards Usk and turning towards Pontypool taking a quiet but hilly route. We will navigate Pontypool town center before heading on towards the cycle path to Blaenavon. There is a short steep section just before the bike path but then it's a gentle gradient all the way to Blaenavon so plenty of opportunity to admire the scenery. We will come back the same route but you can enjoy the downhill as a reward for all the hard climbing on the way up!

We can meet riders in the car park near Cold Bath Road, Caerleon and will stop for coffee and cake in the cafe at the Big Pit Coal Museum Blaenavon

Don't forget your helmets, lights if you have them, spare inner tube, pump and some change for the coffee stop. Please ensure your bikes are in good order and the brakes are working as you will need them!

We never leave anyone behind