PTW

"Sunny intervals and a moderate breeze"

There's still 36 hours to go so the weather might change but it doesn't look too bad as it will still be nudging 20C at race time. After a week off I'm hoping you're all ready to have another crack at our '13' course before we return to a diet of 10's.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

START on the B4242 Old Vale of Neath Road at unused entrance just south-west of the new Health Centre in Glynneath. Proceed south-west on the B4242 to Resolven junction. Continue south-west on the B4242 passing through Abergarwed village and Ynysarwed village to the ‘Rock and Fountain’ hill, climb and continue to TURN with care at the break in the dual-carriageway opposite the Groundhog factory at Ynysgerwen, SA10 8HH (6.5 miles).

Descend hill and retrace route north-eastwards along the B4242 through Ynysarwed village and Abergarwed village. Continue north-eastwards through Resolven junction and past Rheola Pond to FINISH directly opposite the start.

The ride to the start is 3.2 miles or 15 mins at a 13mph plod.

2021.13 by Alf Williams, on Flickr

It was nice and warm last night (better than the forecast) but there was a bit of a swirly wind thing going on that generally made it tough on the outward leg. Anyway, Shirley got us underway with her first attempt at the '13' this season and actually went faster (mph wise) than her '10' ride a few weeks ago. Shirley was followed by Mike Davies who was riding his first club event of the season and it's fair to say that he found it a bit tough but battled around and Mike can now set a target time for our next visit to the '13' course in early August. Once again, Emma Davies eased under 40 minutes whilst Rob Lucas chipped a useful 13 seconds off his SB. Clinton Evans went back half-a-minute this week so I'm giving him a target of a short '32' to get a SB on our next visit to this course.

Hollie Labunsky went back but by just a handful of seconds whilst Dan Black's hair style went back a lot further. John Shehan rode his first '13' of the season to automatically set a SB but his mph was a bit down on his R10/23 ride a few weeks ago. Perhaps conditions were a bit better later on as we then had a flurry of riders (a hurry of riders?) all nabbing new SB's. Stephan Wilcox took 24 seconds off his SB, Bill Gannon took 12 seconds off his SB, John Deeley took a full minute off his SB and Mike Broadbent (who has a habit of doing this) took 7 seconds of his SB and also took the midfield win. Tony 'The Tiger' Howell was riding his first '13' of the season but was a tiny bit slower (mph wise) than his best '10' time set earlier in the season. Graham Rogerson went back by 18 seconds but took the solitary road bike point on offer this week.

Our 1-2-3 this week were all as seeded. In third place, I think Mike Hall was subconsciously holding a bit back for Sunday's National Championship 100 and in wishing Mike good luck on Sunday I must also wish the same to Heath Williams and Hugh Pascoe who are also riding for PTW (see you on the start line). Rod Hicks recorded exactly the same time as two weeks ago to take second whilst Neil Seaward slipped back from his earlier rides but still made it a hat-trick of sub-30 rides to take the win this week. For Alfie's 'man of the match' it's simple maths this week and for taking a full minute of his SB the award goes to John Deeley.

Thanks to Dai for time-keeping, Gareth for marshalling at the turn and to Will for taking the snaps. Stephan Wilcox deserves a special mention for settling our nerves by doing a mid-afternoon recce of the course checking for roadworks. Cheers mate!