PTW

The forecast for race time at Resolven is currently on the cusp of "light rain showers and a moderate breeze" and "light cloud and a moderate breeze" but let's be positive and agree that the race is definitely ON and it'll be good practice for those of you riding the Open 13 next Tuesday (with a much nicer forecast).

Anyway, as the start is three miles from the signing-on can I point out the slightly earlier closing time of 18.40hrs.

Here are the essentials;

1. We meet up at the Neath Canal Car Park in Resolven for signing on from about 18.00hrs and closing at 18.40hrs 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 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.

13 riders for the PTW 13? Sounds unlucky doesn't it? Well, we did have some bad luck with the pre-race weather but it stopped before le grand depart and the roads dried very quickly leaving us with a fairly gentle breeze and some good times for some riders.

Emma Davies got the event underway (on a road bike) but trouble lay ahead on the Rock & Fountain where her chain jumped off requiring Emma's upside down bike chain re-installation technique... you won't see that in the Tour de France! John Shehan was next off and was quite happy with his ride using his benchmark vis-à-vis Hollie although Hollie had some chain problems of her own with her chain annoyingly grazing her front mech all the way around. Get that sorted by Sunday Hollie - you don't want to be listening to that for 100 miles! In between John and Hollie we had Adam Roberts from Glynneath - a new club member riding his first club event and also on a road bike. That's a good start Adam - well done mate!

Clinton Evans kept up his good form of late and sliced 5 seconds off his last ride on this course in early June. Bill Gannon showed a clean pair of wheels to his midfield rivals and his 33:36 not only took the midfield win but gave Bill 18pts in the points competition making him the 3rd fastest PTW rider on the night. Mike Broadbent went 2 seconds faster than his last time out on this course whilst Stephan Wilcox could only match his 34:16 from last time - so it's a PB of sorts! Safely snuggled between Mike and Stephan was young Dylan Sage who was off at Number 8 but was second back with a 30:05 that would survive the best efforts of our later riders to take the win and give Dylan his second PTW club event win - wow!

Graham Rogerson was our final road bike rider and the three points he gained last night has put him back on top of the road bike points competition. That just left our final three riders. Dan O'Connor loves this course and his 31:18 was a very competitive ride on the night. Mike Hall set off to warm up when it was still raining hard and perhaps this dampened his morale as he was off the pace compared to his time on this course from early June to finish third. Neil Seaward was 10 seconds down from early June to finish second leaving Dylan Sage sitting in the podium chair (well, his dad's Transit) with a 7 second margin of victory. For Alfie's MOTM I hope Dylan will forgive me for giving this to Bill Gannon for an excellent midfield win and with an impressive margin over his rivals.

Thanks to Dai for dispatching you all and for checking your finishing time alongside me. Thanks also to JD & Joan for marshalling at Resolven and to the guy that brought Adam along tonight for covering the turn at Ynysygerwen. As always, you were snapped by Will.

My word, the midgies were restless tonight.