PTW

This is the route for this Sunday:

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-kingdom/-port-talbot/667128802298613923

Starting off with some long climbs before hitting the short sharp climbs of the Rhondda Valleys.

Plaza 9.30am - see you there!

Davey C wrote

This is the route for this Sunday:

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-kingdom/-port-talbot/667128802298613923

Starting off with some long climbs before hitting the short sharp climbs of the Rhondda Valleys.

Plaza 9.30am - see you there!

OMG

that's a route I only dreamed of doing even when i was fit( ter )!!!

This is my super secret training route. You guys are privileged to be allowed to see it.

Gulp!

I'll have to start eating pasta on Wednesday to be able to finish this one!!

Anthony Vallario wrote

OMG

that's a route I only dreamed of doing even when i was fit( ter )!!!

Indeed, Indeed young man!!

Nigel Pitt wrote

I'll have to start eating pasta on Wednesday to be able to finish this one!!

nigel, I've been eating pasta for years but i still wouldn't get up a couple of these climbs

Anthony Vallario wrote

Nigel Pitt wrote

I'll have to start eating pasta on Wednesday to be able to finish this one!!

nigel, I've been eating pasta for years but i still wouldn't get up a couple of these climbs

Some good climbs in this route. I think I would need either a compact or a triple chainset for this ride. Davey is an animal

Well no-one said these rides would be easy! The first few you'll be familar with, Maesteg, Croserw to warm the legs up and then the good ol' Bwlch and Rhigos. The ride will start to bite when we hit the Alp D'Huez style hairpins of Maerdy, with the only thing on top to look forward to is a wind swept road that often is harder than the climb!

A drop down the valley and we start to tackle the 'bergs' of the valley - the first being the easy side of Pen-Rhys. A sharp steep slog all the way up this but then a fast descent through the valley before we hit Tonyrefail. This is a brute, a deceptive climb that is far steeper and longer than you would think possible.
In comparison the drag to Gilfach Goch is easy, although by this stage speed bumps seem like tour style Cols.

We hit the final climb up to the Windmill common through a pot holed lane that evokes Giro style suffer fests and following a technical descent we are on to the flat lands of either the dual carriageway or Heol Common and home.

This is the ride that sorts out the men from the boys.

You know, people from deprived lowland countries like, er, England, have to travel for hundreds of miles to get to terrain such as we have on our doorsteps. I love this place

Burn out comes to mind Davey, all this because you lost the hill climb trophy!

Bill Gannon wrote

You know, people from deprived lowland countries like, er, England, have to travel for hundreds of miles to get to terrain such as we have on our doorsteps. I love this place

My thoughts exactly Bill - people pay silly money and drive stupid distances to ride the Dragon and we can do it each weekend for free! Sod Pen y Bryn lanes - let's go and explore the land of my fathers!

'arry, 'ad an 'orse.

Well yesterday was the day that the gloves really came off.

A big turn out for the elite ride yesterday morning. I joined them just as they were setting off so didn't get a chance to see who was in attendance but it was a sizeable bunch. Also there and determined to set back inter club relations 20 years was Rob Powell of the Ogmore.

I knew we were in for a tough one when I started to struggle riding past Pen Y Cae with Rob forcing the pace. By the top of Maesteg we had shed all but Curtis and Mark, with Nigel and Chris not too far behind. They got back on but it was game over for them when we hit Croeserw. From then on it was a 4 way slug fest with Rob setting the pace and Mark + Curtis giving me a tuning.

Finally got back after 5 hours in bits. What a ride!