PTW

Just thought I'd write up a newbies take on yesterdays ride.

For those that don't know me by the way, I'm Spots brother in law, Kerry's brother.

So, a good ride to the golf range and back. I have only done a few rides with the club up until now, the sunday club run around Gower a few weeks back and two porthcawl bashes, so this is the first time I have been put to the challenge.

It was impressive to see how some of you can just fly past. I got stuck on the inside going up the hill toward Ewenny roundabout but by the time I could get past, you had all sprinted into the distance. I am a bit rubbish at the pulling out and passing people thing, not being used to riding in a group.

I was determined not to be left behind so went all out at the downhill part to catch you all up. So glad when I managed that only to pull up to the lights and they turn to green just as I was turning into a pile of jelly. Damn you lights!!

Bit of a detour on leaving the golf range when I followed a guy in a yellow jersey who wasn't in our group and had to do a sharp uwey to catch up with you. I thought it was a bit of a strange route to go too.

I made the decision to join the faster group when we split up. Not sure if that was the wisest move but glad I did in the end. I was pleased that I managed to keep up with them belting it through the lanes around pen y bryn. I didn't want to slow the group down or get lost off the back and managed it ok until margam road when I got stuck behind cars at Tollgate juntion. I managed to catch up though, even if it was pile of jelly time again by taibach lights.

If anyone has a garmin statistics of the ride I'd be interested at the faster part of the route. All I know is my average speed for the whole ride was 19.3 mph so would be interesting to see how we did for the second half.
19.3 is my fastest average so far but Ive only been riding a few months, weve all got to start somewhere.

Next step is to try the Resolven time trial. That should give me a good benchmark, just got to wait until I'm not working on a thursday, it's right at shiftchange time so Ive not been able to do it for weeks.

Thanks guys for an enjoyable day out, look forward to the next one.

Hi Ray
Glad you enjoyed.... By the way something I didnt enjoy....... you ripping my legs off going up Parc Slip..... Have you no respect for your elders..... LOL

As requested, here's the garmin charts. PS If you have an Iphone or Andoid Phone, go on to WWW. Strava. com and you can generate the same kind of info. with the added advantage of having a community of riders doing the same thing.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/177750368

Thanks Les, next on the to buy list is an iphone.
It's not letting me view the route though. It lets me view the one from a few sundays ago but not this or todays club run

Hi Ray
Try it now I've unlocked it

Great, thanks Les.

I only raced ahead up parc slip to have a rest at the top but you buggers kept catching me up.

My only disappointment of the day was not actually going to Porntown as I thought Griff had said. Corntown was nowhere near as exciting