PTW

"Sunny intervals and a moderate breeze - 15°C"

What better way to celebrate our Queen's 96th birthday than by riding our club 10?

Happy Birthday Ma'am

Anyway, here are the essentials and please note the start time;

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 a 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.

Course Description

START on the Vale of Neath Supplier Estate service road opposite Lamp Post No. 18. Proceed eastwards along the service road to the Resolven Roundabout (0.458 miles). (Safety Notice:- Do not cross the centre line of the road on the right hand bend). Take the 1st exit left along A465 dual carriageway westbound to the 1st exit left (4.862 miles). Continue up the loop to the small Tonna Roundabout where take the 1st exit to the large Aberdulais Interchange. Take the 4th exit (5.505 miles) to proceed down the slip road to re-join A465 dual carriageway. Proceed eastbound to the Resolven Roundabout where take 1st exit left to FINISH at the access road to the Canal Car Park on the cross-valley link road (10.006 miles).

Happy Birthday Cheryl!

Whilst putting the signs out last night I knew it was going to be a tough night compared to last week but some really did suffer more than others on a tricky return leg from the turn. Anyway, it was nice to welcome back Stephen Morgan of the Gower Riders and he was first off (and first back) to record a 27:35 closely followed by Diane Wilson-Evans who was about a minute down on last week. John Shehan made his 2022 club event debut with a competitive 26:47 and there'll be loads to come off that later in the season that's for sure. Hollie was just six seconds away from catching John but was a full minute down on last week's excellent ride whilst Gavin Thomas, whom we haven't seen for a few seasons, set an easy benchmark to demolish in future weeks.

Starting out of position, Clinton Evans found it tough coming back but claimed another 3rd place with a competitive 22:40 and Stephan Wilcox was also competitive with his 24:56 getting him close to Mike Broadbent whose 24:54 was 51 seconds slower than last week but still good enough for 7th and the top half of the table. Starting off between them was Brad 'CX' Davies making his club event debut for this season and Brad's 25:39 is a benchmark he can trim by at least two minutes during the season once he adapts to riding out and back instead of round and round a muddy field.

Our remaining four midfielders had mixed fortunes with Stuart Evans failing to finish (bad luck Stu) whilst Graham Rogerson's 23:53 (on a road bike) was only 9 seconds away from last week's time making it the lowest deficit on the night... if you catch my drift. John Aspell was well off his usual pace due to some, er, discomfort on the bike whilst David Wilson-Evans followed up his '23' from last week with another to take 5th place and was happy to be just 17 seconds down on last week. That took the midfield win - well done David.

Neil Gregory will probably always be too good for midfield and his very, very, very short '23' took 4th place. As mentioned, Clinton took 3rd place leaving Mike 'Poulidor' Hall to take his third consecutive 2nd place with a long '21' and really not that far away from his time from last week. Neil Seward took the win with a 21:20 and, like Mike, that was commendably close to his time from last week on a far tougher night and that's good enough for Alfie's 'man of the match'. Well done Neil.

Thanks to Dai Triggs for sending all of you off and timing (almost) all of you back! Thanks also to Will and Gareth for marshalling and to Ross and Dan for volunteering to recover Stu (least said soonest mended).