PTW

Leaving Briton Ferry police station 8.00a.m, weather not to promising, so bring your mudguards.

Left B/Ferry 8.05 a.m, Myself, Ian and Tony, over the Ferry bridge, Llandarcy, Skewen, Ynysforgan, Llansamlet, where we swung by Tredz to pick up Dai who was collecting his Specialized, which had just received a forking upgrade( so all you readers out there with Specialised Tri-cross bikes with juddering forks, call Specialised direct and they'll probably have a pair of '09 non- juddering forks fitted for you F.o.c.). Just prior to meeting Dai, Rufus punctured and I've got to be truthful, it got quite embarassing watching him chasing the tyre around the rim with a pair of levers, in an attempt to refit it. I felt forced to take control of the situation and much to Ians annoyance fitted the tyre without the need of levers . Well as I say, after meeting up with Dai, it was off down to the Marina, across to Black Pill, Clyne Valley cycle path to Gowerton, Marsh Road, Lloughor (where we lost Ian to a call of duty), Llanelli, Swiss Valley C/P, Tumble, Pontyberem, Pontyates, Ponthenry, Pontnewedd, Trimsaran, Pembrey, Burry Port, with a cafe stop at the Pavillion Cafe (very good prices). Leaving the cafe, we continued on the millenium cycle path untill the wetland centre, then it was a bit of road work to Gowerton, then cyclepath all the way home, Clyne Valley, Osytermouth Road, Fabian way, Briton Ferry (for me) and Baglan and Baglan Moors for Tony and Dai respectively. 82 miles for myself, a couple more for Dai and Tony, 30+ of which were into a banging headwind, hard would be an understatement. At one point I ended up with ear-ache , which got me to thinking of the time I visited the Doctors with a ear infection. I entered his room and sat down, the doctor said "what seems to be the problem", to which I replied " I've got a ear infection and I'm going deaf ", He then said, "can you discribe the symptoms", and I then said," certainly, Hommer's the one with a bald dome shaped head and Bart's the one with spikey hair".

Nice one Kev. Forgot to mention my toilet stop though, getting the shi-ites 35-40 miles from home is never fun Bib short/tights don't help matters either

That headwind sure was a bar steward!

Fair play lads, impressive ride today, building up the mileage more and more every week. Should be in top form ready for the end to end chalenge !!!. If you wouldnt mind, id fancy joining one of these "lon uns" if it were on a sunday one weekend, would enjoy experiancing the more recreational and relaxing side of cycling for a day, with some good company and take in some of wales scenary at the same time.

Caught short in Burry Port!, there's a song there somewhere. Charles, you along with anyone esle would be more than welcome on the long un's, only one problem and thats the long un rides will never, for my part be organised on a Sunday, for fear of them disrupting the long standing Sunday club run, which is an equally enjoyable ride in equally good company and Welsh scenery.

Nice ride report kev.
You are certainly right about the headwind!!!
We did think tony had fallen down the pan and were about to send in the "bog divers" to go and fish him out after waiting for him for 15 odd mins for him but then he returned looking about a stone lighter and very pale, but much relieved! Didnt help him ride any faster though! All we could get out of him was "how fars the caff". Fair play tho he did buy me food and tea.
Had a really good ride, good laugh, top company, just what cycling should be about!
Charles, come over to the "slow side" you never know you may just enjoy it!

Kev, i dont know if you were riding when i was a wheeler in the late 90's?, if so then u should recall the club runs that i still have memories of riding and enjoyed routes simular in distance and caracture to ur "long uns". I think that we as a cycling club should start rides on a sunday like ur "long uns", startin earlier like urs do so we can still get bac to keep our families happy and i for 1 would enjoy some good mileage on sundays in the sun.

also, want to know how there is a abundance of punctures during these "long uns". I hope u are taking these inconveinces as lessons to be learnt and gonna asses ur tyre choice before the end 2 end

Tyre choice has been an issue for myself Charles but some sound advice from Dai, Tony and young John Will and I think on a personal level I'm sorted for the right tyres, plus of course the utterance "I haven't had a puncture in an age", didn't help, anyway a big cheer for Schwalbe marathon plus, "Hitshot tyres", says I!. I wasn't trying to sell the Sunday club runs to you Charles and I have made mention of maybe starting them earlier myself. It was in an A.G.M, after discussing it with other members(who I naively thought would back up my suggestion) on previous rides, in an attempt to drum up support for what was then a flagging Sunday club run and as I recall I stood alone and was catergorically told,by someone who, rarely did and rarely does attend the club run "that the Sunday club run has always and always will be at 10.00 a.m".