Many of you will know the track up to Pen Bwlch Llandrillo on the old drovers road between Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog and Cynwyd in the Berwyn Mountains. Many of you will know it as the Wayfarer and perhaps know something of its importance in the history of off-road cycling in Britain.

Well this March is a hundred years since WM Robinson (aka Wayfarer) and a friend rode this track in heavy snows and later described the experience in a magazine article that set imaginations firing among cyclists up and down the country. It contributed in a major way to the blossoming outdoors movement of the 20s and 30s that combined camping, cycling, hiking, mountaineering, the foundation of the YHA, and access campaigns like the mass trespass at Kinder Scout.

Together with folk at the Rough Stuff Fellowship, the Anfield Bicycle Club and the Veteran Cycle Club, I've been organising a weekend of rides and lantern slides, based out of the West Arms Hotel (nearby B&Bs, bunkhouses and bivvy spots are also available). The rides are free to join as are the talks (a Friday night slideshow by Mark Hudson who is running the RSF archive you may have seen on Instagram and on Saturday evening a Wayfarer talk by David Birchall of the Anfield Bicycle Club).

There's also a centenary dinner on the Saturday night at the West Arms that's £25 a head for 3 courses of very good local fare (veggie options too). The only thing you need to book in advance for is the dinner (and any accommodation if you want that), else it's just turn up on the day.

It should be a fun weekend and a real gathering of the clans. I can only figure out how to add one attachment at at time to this so will add a bit more info down the thread.

Here's the menu for the dinner on Saturday night. Not quite the 10 course banquets that Wayfarer's Anfield Bicycle Club used to enjoy in the 1890s but looking pretty good for £25/head.

Thus did we three travel over the top of the Berwyn Mountains on the penultimate day of March. At Llanarmon it had been a case of "'Try not the pass,' the old man said", but we decided to chance it - to face such risks as there were, and, in the event, our enterprise, or courage, or folly, or whatever you like to call it, was rewarded.

"But was it worth it ?" cries somebody. "And is this your conception of cycling ?" asks another. An emphatic affirmative reply is given to both questions. Was it worth it? Well, last August I crossed the Berwyn Mountains by this same route, but in sunshine and shower - chiefly shower, and more than shower. I am glad to have made the crossing in more or less easy and more or less normal conditions, but it is an infinitely more interesting and adventurous trip when done in deep snow. Normally, this journey over the top is well worth doing, for there is much to be seen. When, however, you add snow to the picture, the result beggars description and I am more than glad - I count it a privilege - to have crossed the Berwyns on a "white" day in March.

And is this cycling? Per se, possibly not altogether. Some of the way over the mountains was ridden, but for the most part it was a walking expedition, as has been made clear. It should be emphasised, however, that only through the medium of cycling was the outing in any way possible. Prefaced by a 60-mile ride and followed by one of nearly 50 miles. I claimed that, broadly, this is cycling. At least, it is cycling as I understand it, for my conception of the pastime includes much besides main roads and secondary roads and much beyond the propelling of a bicycle. And, though I am almost a "one-pastime man", I fling wide the boundaries of that pastime and include whatever is incidental thereto. Some of the best of cycling would be missed if one always had to be in the saddle or on a hard road.

From "Over the Top" by WM Robinson aka "Wayfarer" in Cycling, 1919.

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Been kept amused by the RSF pictures and i’m planning on attending

i’m planning on attending

Me too and I'll put something in the next newsletter.

At least, it is cycling as I understand it, for my conception of the pastime includes much besides main roads and secondary roads and much beyond the propelling of a bicycle. And, though I am almost a "one-pastime man", I fling wide the boundaries of that pastime and include whatever is incidental thereto. Some of the best of cycling would be missed if one always had to be in the saddle or on a hard road.

Amen to that

Bearbonesnorm wrote:

i’m planning on attending

Me too and I'll put something in the next newsletter.

Interesting, will look to attend too. Love the old style of English and writing

Amen to your amen Peter . It's the incidentals that are the best bit in my view, and often the more seemingly mundane (to the unperceptive ) the better. Mr Jerome was right (see below).

Not quite sure what's happened to Jack's pictures but is anyone still up for this?

I'm going

Think I have a copy of the pictures somewhere I can repost.

FFS, asked work in mid January for it off and they’ve given it to someone else

I'll be there.

There's an earthwork on an adjacent hill that looks very 'interesting'.

Oh i may be up for this as im on leave then, are folk booking somewhere or bivving out??

are folk booking somewhere or bivving out??

Wash your mouth out ... I'll be int' bivvy.

Very interested in this one.
Are we allowed on modern bike with modern gear?

Are we allowed on modern bike with modern gear?

Owt you want John.

Stu, im off that week u fancy riding over to the venue?

Stu, im off that week u fancy riding over to the venue?

That's what I was thinking

Sadly can't make this, was always looking both interesting and unlikely based on a work commitment. Ah well. It's a great idea, hope it's a good weekend and there's something else similar in future.

I’ve been in contact with Jack to see what things will be going on over the weekend:


Friday night
An informal slide show by Mark who is part of the RSF archive project.
Some fantastic pictures
https://www.instagram.com/rsfarchive/
This should start about 7

Saturday
There are some organised routes (road based) that set off at 9:00 to head over the Wayfarers, based on Jacks ‘Lost Lane’ book
The VCC are setting off at 10:30 on period machines on a shorter ride to the summit.

Thinking we may want to sort out our own offroad route?

Around 6pm there is a talk by David Birchall from Anfield Bicycle club before the main dinner.
Sure we’ll find some chips and head for a night out in the hills?

Sunday
Nothing arranged.
I’ve been asked if we would like to arrange a ride.
I suppose it depends on what the plans by be for Saturday night?

Also my knowledge of that part of the world is a bit limited, so suggestions welcome

Plan at this end is to ride over (bit of a meander) on Fri and arrive in good time for the slides.

Fri night out somewhere but not too far from the pub - there is a potential spot that springs to mind.

Mike needs to be home not late on Sun, so probably join a ride over the Wayfairer on Sat morning then continue heading for home with Sat night out on the way.

If you're arranging a ride for Sun Chew, I can point you in the direction of some decent tracks that should form something enjoyable.

If you could send some stuff over that would be great

Was very keen to come to this but Stuff is conspiring against me . It should be ace, you lucky lot. Look forward to hearing about it all.