PTW

Your man in the field reporting once again...

A full field and fuller clouds was the order of the day in Bronllys, as the dynamic duo of Andy Evans and myself took to the start of the above race. It was to be 7 laps of an undulating, twisty turny course, with a steep enough and long enough hill to hurt the legs right in the middle. Not only that, the race would finish on top of said climb, for maximum gladitorial entertainment.

We set off, and the pace was hot from the word go. The Cwmcarn and Abergavenny were out in force, this race was home territory for them and club pride was at stake. As a result, there was much activity that kept the speed high and morale low for me!

We soon hit the climb, and whoosed up and over it. It wasn;t too bad, and my legs felt good. Unfortunatley my training and racing hasn't been as good as it should and I was unsure about how I would cope 6 laps in. Nevertheless I followed some moves, and so did Andy. I soon found myself in a tasty little break that cotnained all the right people, but the bunch didn't like it and brought us back. It was after this that Hugh Wilson (Forza) launched a counter attack that would prove to be the winner. Cwmcarn, Abergavenny got a man each with him, and despite 5 laps of chasing, with the gap hovering at 30-40 seconds, they were gone. Unfortunaltey I didn't quite have the confidence to go, depsite my legs feeling quite good, so I played a cautious game that no doubt cost me a few places.

Eventually after some fun and games on the last lap, we hit the climb to the finish. I had been climbing well all race but my messing around on the last lap cost me dear here, and I couldn't quite keep away from the bunch, and a few passed me on the line. I rolled in (I think!) in the top twenty, pleased with how I felt but ruing my caution.

Nevermind - a good race, and some miles in the bank!

PS - don't know what happened to Andy?!!

Well done Davey and a nice, concise report too.

Update - got 17th, one up from last week, so I should be wining in about 16 races time!

Bit of a mixed day for me - the climb was more tasty than Dave makes out - a mini Alpe d'uez if you ask me!!! and despite trying to follow Davey in the bunch (and I must mention here that that takes some doing - well done mate - I was up and down the bunch like a flaming yoyo after every corner!) I waved the bunch farewell on lap 4 on the climb but continued to chase in between 2 groups for the next 2 laps, and decided - or my legs decided to call it a day with a lap to go. More than a little disapointed I decided to give myself a thorough going over last night by riding the 2nd day course of the L'etape de la defonce - Gilfach - Glynogwr etal just to make sure that when the man with the hammer turns up maybe I'll be able to fight him off for a little longer in 3 weeks time!! Here's hoping! all joking aside, that was a tough one. A few comments were made on the day about Dave's great performance in that he's has only been training for 3 weeks! - my reply was yes, and there's only 15 weeks in a year too!!!, Pigs fly, elephants are pink, the tooth fairy's real........... well done mate - crackin ride.

Yeah well done cuz !!! andy has got a point, this does seem to be the longest 3 weeks ive ever known !!! nearly as long as my "well i only sat back on a bike 6months ago" !!!! lol

Cheers for the compliments Andy - I'm sure you'll get your revenge on me this Thursday, or at any time trial throughout the year for that matter!! (PS - I'm sure it was that warm up oil you gave me that did the trick! - where did you get it?! It is awesome!)

As for my '3 week training programme' - it's almost true! I started training on 25th March, and I have witnesses to prove just what a state I was in when I started! (Charles even has pictures!). The fact that I have trained like a nutter almost everyday since then is beside the point...

Update - Andy has put me on to his 'dealer' and I'm getting a shipment of 'gear' later this week.

Davey C wrote

Update - Andy has put me on to his 'dealer' and I'm getting a shipment of 'gear' later this week.

So you're playing cards with Andy and having a new clutch fitted to your Laguna?

For anyone else who needs some "gear" there are 2 variants - the first is for leisure cyclists and is called "how to look great and tanned while riding your bike" and the other is for racing cyclists and is why I use it, and is called "get that majorca training camp look, and look great and tanned while racing your bike.... even though you are shi*" lol
I must have been the best looking - most tanned guy going out the back last Sunday. Trouble is, and a good job to, I was unrecognisable after a shower.

Top tip of the day - dont stick this stuff on your face!! afterall its warm up balm!!!!

The colour on your legs does drag the eyes away from looking at the crack of your A**e. Clearly visable through the PTW shorts.

Some shots of the 'squadra' in action, courtesy of Steve Thomas: