PTW

What a beautiful Sunny day for a Club Run. Arm warmers and leg warmers to the fore at the start but they were soon removed as the sun came out.

The club run went to Burryport and Curtis, Spot, JD, Dai Triggs, John Willy, Bevan Hulse, Skippy, Mark Thomas (new member), Tony and Shirley Howell, Griff and me set off apace with a tailwind to help us on our way. With Spot and Me on the front (and a bungee strap on Spots seat post) the pace was just right as we could hear Bevan chatting away happily in the bunch all the way to Swansea.

We picked up Selwyn at Baglan and the pace was comfortably until Fabien Way when Boosh…. Off went JD on a flyer to claim the City of Swansea Prime….. What a shock…… with every one looking on in amazement we all missed a gaping hole in the carriage way and there were frantic shouts of POTS as everyone had to do some last minute switching to avoid the pot hole.

Through the lights of Swansea we plodded until we turned right to head up the Clyne valley cycle path. Selwyn clipped off the front and went in search of primes so the peloton left the lonely figure do a “Dai Abbot” leaving him 100 yards ahead, only to reel him in just before reaching the end of the Path. A quick discussion followed about how many points should be awarded for Selwyn’s efforts and it was decided (Unanimously) that ½ a point should be awarded for the “Patrons only” Car park sign at the Railway Inn and a 2nd ½ point was to be awarded for the Dunvant, “Take your Litter home” sign….

Approaching the Lougher Prime, I went for the points, swiftly followed by Griff. We sped headlong toward the prime, neither willing to give an inch and I just managed to take the Points before we both had to slam on the brakes to get across the narrow bridge. Imagine my surprise to learn that within the Peloton, no bets were taken as my chances of success were rated as being somewhere between fat and a cat in hell’s…… I ask you…

Through Gowerton, busy traffic meant the group was split across the Loughor Bridge and Andy Lewis easily took the Double Points County Prime even after JD tried to get on terms by taking “the shortest route around a roundabout” Hostilities ceased until just before the café when all hell broke loose as a young lad wearing a Bynea CC jersey went past…….. far too quickly……. With a hare let loose, the greyhounds went bananas until the Café.Useful bit of information, today the pavilion Café was rammed but the other little café will now be open on Sundays through the Summer.

Whilst at the Café, Spot had to fix a puncture and then as we left, he had to fix it again…. Under this camouflage, JD did a disappearing act and it wasn’t until we set off again that we realised he was missing….. Where could he be? Had he punctured? Had Joan come to pick him up? Someone said he had kept going to keep warm whilst we waited for Spot…… A likely storey.

With only The Loughor Bridge Prime left, Curtis started to wind the sprint up early… about a mile out, Andy Lewis jumped on to his wheel, quickly followed by Skippy and then me…. Half way up the straight before Loughor Bridge, Skippy attacked and quickly got about a 25 yard lead. This was short lived and Curtis reeled him in going through the roundabout. Loughor Bridge was straight into the headwind and Curtis couldn’t keep up the pace on his cross bike so it was left to me and Andy Lewis to fight out the finish. Andy won but you could imagine his disappointment when we both looked up to see JD standing on the other side of the Loughor sign…… Hands Aloft and a grin wider than the Grand Canyon….

The Club run kept a much more respectable pace back though Swansea until Bevan picked up the 3rd puncture of the day. We counted them out and we counted them back from what had been an enjoyable day at the coal face.

There was no KOM and JD won the Points Award.
Bevan Gets a special Prize for not looking where he was going, hitting a pot hole (While on the front) and Puncturing...

PS A big thank you to Curtis for a rather quick last ten miles to Port Talbot My heart rate's only just got back to normal

Thanks for making my first club run of the year so welcoming.
It's been 4 months since my bum's been on the saddle of a bike and had doubts that I'd be able to "keep up".
No worries there once in the Port Talbot train and it made for me a really enjoyable day. Thank you to John Willy for his many wise words of advice, they have been duly noted. I was suprised that at arriving back at the plaza I'd covered 54miles..only the last mile was the toughest, who put those hills there I,m sure we didn't go down them on the way out. Well pleased with my ride is an understatement. Looking forward to the next

Sounds like another good ride for the club.
Couldn't make it, my mams 82nd birthday, so lunch out with the family on Sunday!
However, did manage approx 70 miles on the Saturday, so did get some bike time in over the weekend.
Excellent write up once again Les.
Wednesday ride next for me, 10am at the Plaza tomorrow for a nice sunny one. Might see you at the cafe Les, if you can manage to get away from work for a tea break.