PTW

Heading down line on Saturday, anyone interested in tagging along, meet opposite Briton Ferry police station 8.00 a.m. I'm going any weather,so if you are thinking of tagging along don't be embarraced in bringing your training bikes with mudguards. Just to let you know, there will be a lot of cycle paths involved some of which is just compacted dust.

Doesn't look like I can make it this saturday Kev. Out of interest where is "down line"?

Down west.

I should be able to make it kev, will confirm for definate tomorrow.
Are you at taibach tomorrow night?

Have a good ride tomorrow fellas. Hope the weather holds up for you. Got to see a man about a dog otherwise I'd be tagging along.

We left the Ferry just after 8.am, over the Ferry bridge on the cycle path and joining the road at Lonlas, staying on the road untill Ynysforgan we got back onto the cycle path at the cricket club and rode down the valley to the docks and on through the marina to Black Pill, Clyne valley cycle path took us up to and through Gowerton. We joined the cycle route across the marsh road, over Loughor bridge and down behind the Bynea c.c club house onto the Millenium cycle path.When we got as far as the lifeboat station, we forked off and that took us up the Swiss valley cycle path to Tumble.Just before Tumble we stopped for a quick bite and then u-turned and followed the route in reverse untill Sa1, where we came back along Fabian way, as we were entering Baldwins, Rufus' slow puncture finally gave up and we had to stop and change the tube . Pressing on me and Dai parted company with Ian just outside Jersey Marine. Just before the golfers tunnel under the A48, I thought Dai Crowley had snuck up on us, there was a loud hiss and yes there it was a flat back tyre, much cursing and swearing took place as both me and Dai struggled to free the rim from the death like grip of the Vittoria 28mm touring tyre (oh! how I hate steel beaded tyres), after snapping two tyre leavers (one that is SUPPOSED to free the tightest of tyres) and what seemed like a forking eternity, we managed to liberate the affore mentioned rim, replace the tube, wrestle the tyre back on and set off for the remainder of the journey home. I met up with Ian at his daughters' jelly and blancmange party, where he related the story of a second puncture, about 300 yards from home, he managed to put some air in the tube and ride as quick as his lickle legs would go all the way home. Anyway an enjoyable ride, with a mixed bag of weather. A couple o' nasty showers, but staying dry for the most part. A head wind most of the way out, with a headwind part of the way back. I would hazard a guess at the bigger part of 70 miles, it being a bit awkward to work out big horse of the cycle path riding( unless you know different Esther!). as I say a nice ride with good company and we'll be going somewhere again next week.

Nice one Kevin.

I too have a hatred of steel beaded tyres. I've seen one or two 28C folders but they are not easy to find and the Conti's I had on my single-speed back in the Autumn were 'wired-on' and were a nightmare to fit.