PTW

Thought I would post this up...

James Lewis, Hefin Price, Dan Pearson, Rhys Lloyd and myself did this with others on the weekend, tackling the 220km Gran Fondo, taking in just about every climb there ever was.

Dan, Hefin and Tank were under orders to tow Team Wiggle leader Ben Simmons around and he compelted the route in a staggering 6 1/2 hrs!! I came in at a bit over 7 1/4 hrs... (I wasn't quite 'official' so didn't get a time ).

Amazing route and packed from beginning to end with riders from all over the UK, it was quite a sight!!

Also of note, Port Talbot President District Judge Crowley completed the Medio 130km route, tackling Maesteg, Cimla, Coel Bren, Glyneath Rhigos and Bwlch! Pretty impressive...

Good day out had by all.

Well done your father Dave, does this mean he will be taking out a racing licence?

Think you forgot to mention me ! joined the route in neath hoping to tag along with the wiggle warriors didnt see them untill cwmlynfell only to realise after about 4 miles starting to climb the blacks hanging on is gonna be a bad idea so completed the rest of the GRANFONDO on my tod after riding over from clydach then left the route in cwmavon to ride back to clydach total mileage 122miles door to door in approx 8.5 hours !!, but this did include a couple of food stops to take on fluids and a hot dog van stop at the top of the bwlch !! like dave said the sight of nearly 2000 riders tackling what i must say was the toughest ride ive ever done tbh to tough it was quite awe inspiring seeing riders 60+ of age and riders 17 stone plus in weight, riders traveling for all over the country to sample what amazing roads, veiws we have on our door step, i for 1 will deffinatly be paying my £39 next year, some might say that thats £39 thrown away coz all you get is a couple of free energy bars and your name printed on a bit of paper, but to part of probaly the biggest cycling spectactular in the UK with amazing atmosphere at all food stations, from what i heard also amazing atmosphere in margam park, and chating to some of the riders listening to there stories of training for the ride, why they are doing it, i did feel a bit guilty having tagged along and taking some food on at the food stations, from what i gather some of the entry fee does go to a prostate cancer charity and definatly raises the awarness of cycling especialy in our area was amazed the ammount i bumped in to from the port talbot area who wernt even aware of the wheelers and what rides we do and a few to embarassed to turn up for a club run especialy one guy must of been 16 stone plus i tagged along with him up over crai then dyffynog for a bit of moral support he was from tan y groes street if he does read this i take my hat off to him climbing like a trooper deffinatly a guy who should join the club runs on a sunday.. Again i know the likes of Les will be "tut tut"ing right now as im guilty of "forgeting" to pay club membership, which i will be paying friday coz im racing next week, apart from davey i didnt see 1 club member again probaly because of the clash with the 50tt , but untill you ride this event i dont think you can appriceate what an amazing day it is to be part of and deffinatly an oppuntunity the wheelers should use to promote the club with a display stand at margam riders doing the route encouraging other riders, coz seeing all the shapes and sizes on this ride does actualy make you proud to be a cyclist.. Going back to the some call extorcinate entry fee i think dedicating a year of cycling to complete the grandfando at £39 is bloody good value compared to dedicating 12 months of cycling for a dozen 10 miles tt's on a thursday night at £3 a pop !!

After an early start helping with the club TT, only Captain Spot and me started the club run from Resolven around midday. We met the Dragon Riders at Glyn Neath, at which point I started noticing Spot looking at his watch a little too often (he must have been on a promise). As like last year I got the false feeling I could actually climb ok passing many riders while chewing the handlebars, occasionally lifting my neck to look at shapely females kitted out in Asssos. 
While I struggled, Spot was looking all too comfortable with no one contesting him for primes, so:-
KoM goes to Spot
Primes goes to Spot
Though Best Young rider is open for debate

The year I did it (the small loop) there was one guy on one of those big wheeled unicycles tackling it. Up and down the Bwlch and Rhigos 3 times on one wheel.

I cycled to and from the event, and by the time I got back (to my sister's house) with over 100 miles in the can, I was totally cooked. The microwave had gone ping, and I was ready to serve. Absolutely exhausted. Fair play to all that tackle the big loop.

I was also out representing the club in an unofficial 'guiding' capacity. I went with Stef, Calum and Gareth from Onit Sports. A couple had popped into to the shop the day before and due to injury were unable to compete, so, Stef & Calum took their places doing the Medio route. I hadn't intended to ride the whole thing but it looked so well organised and it was great seeing the mass starts that I couldn't resist. Stef & Calum went in the pens to start and me & Gareth waited outside. I mistakenly thought we were out to enjoy the atmosphere and spirit of the event, I was soon put right, they were there to race. I spent most of the time about 100m behind them trying desperately to catch up.

I stopped to talk to Selwyn at Aberdulais and Mark & Bev by the cricket club. Eventually Gareth caught up and we took a short cut on the back road looking for anyone who fancied joining us up the Rhigos & Bwlch. However, I saw Spot going the other way and Jez in the car, so, we rejoined the Medio route.

In the end Stef came 4th on the Medio and Calum was the first woman! By the time I got home I'd ridden 92 miles in around 6 hours and my legs are still hurting!

I've never seen the point in paying to ride roads we can ride for free but the event was, so, well run that I'll definately be up for it next year.

I did it! the full 120+ miles and loved it.
I even hopped on the back of the wiggle express for the last few miles to the finish. My other half did the medio, too.

Granted that paying £39 pounds on roads we all know well does seem a little excessive, but the organisation was superb and the goody bag wasn't bad either. However, I'd pay £39 every sunday to look over my shoulder on the black mountain and see a thousand riders lined out behind me. Epic!

My advice to PTW echoes what someone else mentioned, here.
Why don't you approach the organisers (Lou Lusardi?) and get a stand at Margam or negotiate discounted entries for the club.
...you'd get a lot of those unattached locals joining then, wouldn't you?

PS, nice punctuation, Charlie

PS, nice punctuation, Charlie
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if i could read and write id be dangerous lol !! at school i choose pedaling over puctuation