Lets Get The Training Started - Round 2

Training Ride Number 2 - as the title suggests this is aimed at riders preparing for forthcoming sportives and will be more strenuous than our normal social rides!

We’ll meet at 9.00 am at Taffs Well Train Station, CF15 7PE, there’s plenty of parking around there, but no facilities – sorry!
From there we will head north through Hawthorn and Cilfynydd to Quakers Yard where the climbing really starts, quite gently at first but just before Bedlinog we turn right and head up a lovely climb to Gelligaer Common (known as Graveyard Climb on Strava, there’s a graveyard near the top, don’t think anyone has actually died climbing it!).
Hopefully the weather will stay mild as it can be a bit chilly up there! Once that is conquered there is a lot of descending to be done, all the way down to Pengam. From there we proceed through Fleur de Lys, Maesycwmmer, along Pandy Lane to Bedwas, Caerphilly and back to where we started from at Taffs Well.
Aiming for a Café Stop at Plan2Ride Café in Tongwynlais , which is just before the end, so that we can discuss the day’s ride. About 33 miles in total, and over 2000 ft of climbing , highest point just over 1200ft !
Please bring the usual food, drink and spares appropriate for a ride of this length.