Saturday 4th September 2021 DIAMOND GOLD PRE RIDE DINNER SPONSOR RIDE REFRESHMENT SPONSOR SILVER MEDIA SPONSOR SHIRT SPONSOR GRAIGWEN CHALLENGE RIDE PACK Hi Graig100 Rider, We meet at Brewhouse and Kitchen Public House, Sophia Close, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9HW. The Start times are as follows and please arrive 30 mins before hand for registration. 1 - “Full Monty” riders (100km) registration 7:30am start time: 8:00am 2 - “Graigwen Challenge” riders (60km) registration 9:00am start time: 9:30am 3 - “Garden Route” riders (40km) registration 9:30am start time: 10:00am For those with cycle computers the routes can be downloaded from Strava by clicking above route titles. Riders for 1 - “Full Monty” riders (100km) will ride unguided and should familiarise themselves with the route and follow the signs. Riders for 2 - “Graigwen Challenge” riders (60km) will ride in one pod with experienced local riders to guide them over the routes. Riders for 3 - “Garden Route” riders (40km) will ride in one pod with experienced local riders to guide them over the routes. A VERY 9. You understand and agree that you participate in this event entirely at your own risk, and that you must rely on your own ability in dealing with all hazards, and that you must ride in a manner which is safe to WELSH RIDE yourself and others. This includes adherence to the GRAIG 100 | SATURDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER highway code and not riding more than 2 abreast at any time. THERE WILL BE SIGNS PLACED 10. Maintaining your fuel supply is very important. We THROUGHOUT YOUR RIDE have an organised stop at Penderyn for the 100km route and there are shops and cafes on the 60km and 40km routes, but please take food and water with you RIDERS BRIEFING NOTES and remember to eat and drink little and often. 1. Participants will be responsible for the 11. Please ensure that you take adequate clothing to roadworthiness and safe working order of their own allow you to remain warm and dry throughout the ride bike. Please ensure your brakes are in good working order, and that you have the tools and spares 12. There will be some descents on the 100km and necessary. 60km routes that allow speeds more than 40mph. Please ensure you descend only at a speed you are 2. The use of triathlon handlebars or other bar comfortable with. Take particular care on the descent extensions is not permitted. Disc wheels are not from Llanwonno, Maerdy and Cwm Cadlan. permitted. The use of electric bikes is not permitted without specific agreement of the organisers. 13. Should you find that you need the train to take the strain, the route travels close to the following Railway 3. This event is not a race or a trial of speed, but Stations – Taffs Well, Pontypridd, Aberdare, and a personal challenge. As such there will be no list Merthyr. published of rider times or finishing positions. 14. Personal support vehicles are not allowed. If you 4. This event takes place on the open road, and you are being supported by a friend or loved one during must always obey the Highway Code. Please always the event, can you please ensure that they do not keep to the signposted route. impact the other participants in anyway. 15. There is a website resource on group riding do’s 5. The routes will be marked with numerous signs and don’ts. – Green background and black arrows indicating direction that the riders should follow. 16. There is a support van which is available to assist riders in dire straits. The support vehicle numbers are 6. The wearing of hard-shell cycling helmets shall be Mike 07780 676206 and Simon 07976 872935. If you compulsory. are going to abandon the ride, it is essential that you call either number to inform us. 7. All participants under the age of 18 shall have a consent form completed by their parent/guardian. A 17. The riders will be supported by the emergency parent or guardian must accompany riders under the support vans on the basis that they maintain an age of 16. average of 14kmh/9mph (including for all stops) based on the start times. The rides will operate a “broom 8. You accept that if you do not abide by this briefing wagon” system, where a support van will patrol the sheet, then the organisers will make all reasonable rear of the event, and advise any riders unable to efforts to remove you from the event. maintain the 14kmh/9mph. 100KM ROUTE PLAN Kilometre Description 0 From the start head for cycle path to Millenium Bridge and cross river taff left onto Taff trail - follow Taff trail head north 9.1 Left at T-junction onto Merthyr Road, proceed through Tongwynlais 10.2 2nd exit at the roundabout onto the A4054 (Cardiff Road) , through the traffic lights and proceed through Taffs Wel 13.3 1st exit at the roundabout onto the A4054 15.5 2nd exit at the roundabout onto the A4054 and proceed through Hawthorn 1st exit at the roundabout, cross the River Taff and immediate left, keep in right hand lane to proceed right onto Fothergill Street, onto the B4595 18.8 (Broadway) 19.9 Take the left hand filter lane onto the busy A4058 into Pontypridd 20.5 As you approach the roundabout take the right hand lane and take the 3rd exit onto A4223 21.1 Turn left onto Gelliwastad Grove - this is the start of the climb up Graigwen 21.3 Turn right onto Tyfica followed by an immediate left onto Thomas Street, then left onto Graigwen Place 21.5 Turn right onto Graigwen Road - beware traffic from the right CLIMB- Graigwen 22.5 Cross cattle crid and that is the first part of the climb over - WELSH CAKE FEED STATION 28.6 Turn left at T-junction - Brynfynnon Hotel will be on your right 29.8 Reached the top of Llanwonno climb (405m) - start descent to Ferndale - CAUTION! take care , steep descent, twisting narrow road 32.5 Turn left at T-junction onto Commercial Street 33.2 Turn right at T-junction onto A4233 - North Road 36.4 Turn right onto Station Road and descend to the foot of the Maerdy mountain 38.2 Reached the top of the Maerdy climb (407m) 40.5 Descend into Aberdare - CAUTION! take care as the road is steep and twisting 43.6 Turn left at T-junction onto Aberdare High Street 44 2nd exit at the roundabout onto Gadlys Road - B4275 46.3 Straight ahead at the roundabout - 1st exit onto Hirwaun Road A4059 48.5 2nd exit at the roundabout onto Brecon Road and proceed through Hirwaun 50 Turn right at the T-junction onto A4059 heading for Penderyn 52.7 Penderyn Distillery is on the right - TIPSEY KITCHEN FEED STATION AT PENDERYN DISTILLERY VISITORS CENTRE (TOILETS) 52.7 Take a right on leaving the distillery 53.4 Turn right at the Cwm Cadlan sign into the lane and climb Cwm Cadlan (EASY TO MISS) Reached the top of the Cwm Cadlan climb (398m), begin the descent to Llwyn-on reservoir - CAUTION! take care steep descent on narrow, twist- 58.2 ing road with sheep and poor surface in places 60.3 Turn right at T-junction onto lane, keeping reservoir to your left 61.9 Turn right at T-junction onto the very busy A470 CAUTION! 64.2 Turn left (EASY TO MISS) onto Upper High Street and proceed through Cefn Coed Y Cymmer 67.1 At the mini roundabout turn right onto Cyfartha Road A4054 and proceed through Merthyr Tydfil, stay on A4054 100KM ROUTE PLAN Kilometre Description 69 At the roundabout take the 2nd exit - stay on the A4054 70.4 At the roundabout take the 2nd exit - stay on the Merthyr Road A4054 71.2 At the roundabout take the 3rd exit - stay on the Merthyr Road A4054 72.5 At the roundabout take the 2nd exit - stay on the Merthyr Road A4054 and proceed through Troed-Y-Rhiw, Merthyr Vale, and Edwardsville 81.5 At the busy roundabout - take the 2nd exit and stay on the A4054 and proceed towards Cilfynydd 89.4 At the roundabout - take the 2nd exit and stay on the A4054 and proceed though Rhydyfelin and Hawthorn Turn right then immediate left and cross the A473 onto the cycle path and rejoin the A4054 when safe to do so. (Alternative proceed to the very 92.6 busy and large roundabout and take the 5th exit onto the A4054) 95 At the roundabout take the 3rd exit - stay on the A4054, proceed through Taffs Wel 98.4 At the roundabout take the cycle path (EASY TO MISS) to the left of the 1st exit and proceed to Tongwynlais on Merthyr Road 99.3 Turn right onto Iron Bridge road and onto the Taff Trail. Follow the trail through Hailey Park, Blackweir and Bute Park to Millenium Bridge Turn right after crossing the Taff at Millenium Bridge then the 1st left and the finish will be directly in front of you - Brewers and Kitchen for some 108 well earned drinks and meal - well done! Please note that if you decide to deviate from the sign posted 2021 Graig100 route, you will NOT be supported by the Graig100 support team GRAIGWEN CLIMB - A SPECIAL MENTION The climb to Llanwonno, shortly after leaving the houses of Graigwen Road This climb truly is beauty and the beast. If you survive the absolute wall out of Pontypridd along Graigwen Road, you’ll be treated to one of the most beautiful routes in this part of South Wales as the road follows a ridge high above Taff Valley to the historic church of Llanwonno.