PTW

Yes, that's right. We'll be on the DC.

The back road had another facelift last week but the chippings are still quite bad as the road doesn't get a lot of traffic so it's best all round that we stick with a DC club 10.

"Sunny intervals and a gentle breeze" and 21C so it could well be a good night.

Anyway, the essentials;

1. We meet up at the Neath Canal Car Park in Resolven for signing on from about 18.00hrs and closing at 18.45hrs for a prompt 19.00hrs race start.

2. You have to be member of the PTW or a second-claim member of the PTW. There is no 'single race' fee - you have to join the club as a first-claim or second-claim member.

Well, it could have been our first mountain bike TT.

I rode home on the chippings last week, and I was pretty nervous. There are ridges of them everywhere. You just need to hit a small pile at the wrong angle, and goodbye front wheel. I couldn't imagine racing down the Rock and Fountain on them.

Mind you, Peter Sagan would somehow do it on one wheel.

Not a perfect night but a nice little flurry of PB's and SB's show that we're getting there!

Shirley got us underway tonight and she pulled out a SB and it's pretty obvious there's more in the tank. Caitlin is back home from Uni and looked a bit out of puff at the finish - I think she tried to call out her number at the finish but it might just have been a lickle mouse hiccuping. Ffion romped to a new PB of 26:40 whilst Hollie shrugged off her French holiday to record a 25:27 leaving quite a few of the men in her wake but, like Shirley, there's more to come.

Among the early starters there were PB's for Nigel and Gavin and also a SB for the late Simon Kinsey (7 seconds mate). Julian went back this week but has time to build and slam in a '24' before the end of the month. It goes without saying that Stephan racked up another PB (yawn) and the upper end of our mid-table had a ding-dong or two with Les pipping John Deeley by a second, taking 5th from 8th on the grid and getting VERY close to a PB. C'mon Les a '22' awaits. Elsewhere, Patrick had a better week than of late to edge out Tony but both helped themselves to SB's.

As always, our two roadmen knocked out good rides with Mike Hall recording a 21:37 despite probably having his efforts from the West Wales 108 (sic) still in his legs. Also having those West Wales miles in his legs was Rod Hicks who snatched the win by 6 seconds from Mike Portlock.

I've run my eye over tonight's result again and whilst there was much to admire, Alfie's 'man of the match' award goes to Les Thomas. Well done Les and don't forget, that in your chase for a PB, Dai and myself are open to bribes.

Boys and girls - a good night's racing!

Thanks to Dai and Whistling Willie - those high-pitched shrills really help... as does the whistling.

Meant to add that it was a good job we used the DC as they were white-lining on the back road during the event!!