PTW

Sunny intervals with a gentle breeze (8 mph) - Race Time Temp 17°C

Once again, we are going to run a 30-mile club event for solo riders and this will give us a worthy winner of the Club 30-mile Handicap Trophy which would have otherwise stood in CJ's office on it's own whilst all the other trophies were out getting plastered and dancing the night away. Effectively, it's two laps of the '15' course but starts a few hundred yards down the valley (i.e. further left from the Resolven 'T' junction).

Other than that it's very much like a normal club event - i.e. sign on by 18.45hrs for a prompt 19.00hrs start. The start is about half-a-mile from the car park and starts from the same place as the recent 4-up TTT at Lamp Post 100 or 101 (can't remember but Will has done a nice start line for it).


PTW Comp Records (for the 30-mile distance)

Open: Martin Sage 1.05:13 (2001)

Female: Emma Davies 1.19:23 (2023)

Course Description

RC30/23R - START at Lamp Post 101 on the B4242 (old Vale of Neath road) approximately 300 yards south-west of link road to A465 rbt at Resolven (commonly called Resolven ‘T’ junction). Proceed south-west on the B4242 through Abergarwed and Ynysarwed onto the 'Rock and Fountain' climb to Aberdulais to the junction with the A4109 where turn left with care. Continue south-west on the A4109 through Aberdulais to the Aberdulais Interchange where turn left onto the slip-road down to the A465 eastbound. Continue north-east on the A465 to Resolven rbt to take the 2nd exit along the A465 to Blaengwrach rbt. Bear left along cross valley link road to the junction with B4242 (the old Vale of Neath road). Turn left onto the B4242 and proceed south-west to finish Lap 1 (of 2) at the "30" mph speed limit sign at the eastern end of Resolven.

Lap 2 - Proceed south-west on the B4242 past the start and continue through Abergarwed and Ynysarwed past the 'Rock and Fountain' climb to Aberdulais to the junction with the A4109 where turn left with care. Continue south-west on the A4109 through Aberdulais to the Aberdulais Interchange where turn left onto the slip-road down to the A465 eastbound. Continue north-east on the A465 to Resolven rbt to take the 2nd exit along the A465 to Blaengwrach rbt. Bear left along cross valley link road to the junction with B4242 (the old Vale of Neath road). Turn left onto the B4242 and proceed south-west to finish at the "30" mph speed limit sign at the eastern end of Resolven.

Great conditions for the PTW 30-miler tonight - a club event that also decides who wins the Club Handicap 30 trophy. Neil Gregory took the win and also sliced half-a-minute off the club course record. Only four seconds behind Neil was Graham Rogerson who finished second but won the Club Handicap 30 trophy which will be presented at the Annual Club Dinner. These two rides alone make Alfie's MOTM a head scratcher but I'll stick with the event winner and course record holder so well done Mr. Gregory.

I have to say that the support from the club tonight was overwhelmingly good. Apart from the support from the riders the support in terms of marshals was fantastic. This is a difficult club event as it requires 7 marshalling positions and at least a dozen signs but I hope we can find a permanent home for it in the club event calendar. Thanks everyone!