Roughstuff Reconnaissance

I've got an itch to organise a decent old-fashioned Roughstuff Ride with the club. I've been slowly piecing together little sections I know of and poring over OS maps to find other bits. Today was a chance to find out how parts of it might join up, and what a glorious day it was.
I don't believe there's such a thing as lost when you've got a map with you, you are momentarily misplaced shall we say. I had the advantage of a decent visible landmark in the form of the Sugarloaf to aim for which was useful as I got a little misplaced by the NCN 42 signs.-

My bike for the day was my usual road bike, still on open tubs and running 39/53 chainrings. I did come to regret not changing to the compact.
From that point on there was some more dithering, sorry, ascertaining direction and after a rude fat lady in her Rover tried to force me off the pavement where I was mapchecking I as away again thinking I'd head off course a little to get a swift half only to find that the pub was shut. Gutted. Oh well, onwards.

The road became a section I knew from motorbike travels and so I was expecting a climb. Even though you know it's coming, it's still a bit of a wrench. This one is worth it though as it puts you at the start of a short off-road descent leading to a ford.
The beginning-

Those rocks are big enough to trouble a road bike so after avoiding going over the bars I walked a short section before hopping back on for the smooth run down to the ford-

and across the ford I went rather than trying to stop on the greasy concrete bed-

Lovely. From there it was just a 20 mile ride home.
Granted it's not going to be a proper roughstuff ride as there will be large sections of road joining it all together, but it will be the road less travelled.

Summer time?

First time trial of the year for me today. A 15 mile run with the Pontypool Road Cycling Club.
The clocks changing, and me forgetting until half 5, meant I had less sleep than I wanted. Plus I stayed up watching crap films last night.
Anyway it was a pleasant ride to the sign on and start.

Conditions were lovely apart from a mild headwind along the dual carriageway. Average time for me but good to do.
After a good lunch the legs got a stretch going up the Blorenge, where it is still rather white.

Now I am very ready for some more food...

Summer? Autumn?

Not really sure where we are with the seasons, I'm saying Summer still. Either way today was a lovely day. An early morning ride took in some proper hills, and all the time the sun was shining.
Here's the reservoir nearby at just gone 8am.

Fresh.

Nice out

Last night I fitted my freshly received mudguards as I was fed up with getting water and shite in my face, mouth, eyes, feet etc when pedalling. When I pull back the curtains this morning the sky is blue and the barometer is pointing on 'dry'. Hey ho.
I had a nice, if painful in places, pedal out to Chepstow and back along some of the B and C roads. Thought I should probably take a photo of the Oil Seed rape in bloom, as the smell pervades the route. Always a reminder of this time of year.

Sweaty cyclist out of shot, you'll be thankful for.