PTW

I work most Saturdays but when im off I try to turn up for our 10.30 ride. Today there were 3 riders at the plaza.myself , griff & tank. Where is everyone? Apparently there weren't many last week either! Does the 9.30 ride go to a different cafe because they weren't at the cafe either. Or is a club which boasts so many members drifting apart?

I blame that rubbish cafe

Andy take this answer with a bit of irony but some truths are in there. I too work a lot of Saturdays and find it diificult to find out whats going on.

1. Unless you are in the Freemasons or drink in a certain Rugby Club on a Friday night you will not know if the 09;30 ride is on the road or mountain bikes.

2. if you go on the 09:30 road ride you must abide to following rules
a. Do not ever try and change the route to make it a bit different
b. Do not increase the speed until you are about 400m from the cafe, then you allowed to sprint and pretend your a road racer
c. While drinking the terrible coffee you must comment on how nice it is because the second one is free.
3. if you survive all the pot holes in and out we then ride back to Port Talbot as a club.

So just keep turning up at the Plaza and you never know your luck.

I have been out with Spot on his club runs recently. He puts a little post in this web page where they are going, been a great company and I have really enjoyed it. I will be trying to do more of those.

I wasn't feeling my best yesterday morning, self inflicted, and there were looming black clouds above but the deciding factor whether to go, sadly was that I don't really enjoy that ride.

It's ok on the way back but the A48 route over stormy on the way there is a bit tedious. The coffee isnt the best I agree.

There has always been a good turnout when Ive done it in the past. There werent many on the club run today either but I put that down to people doing other stuff for the bank holiday weekend.

I like the wednesday, friday and sunday rides but if I were to give any a miss it would be the saturday.

Ride back as a club? Is that assuming you managed to get through Bridgend retail park and town centre on a busy Saturday afternoon, jumping red lights so you can catch the rest of the bunch?

Boys boys boys I have been out of action for 8 months now and it looks as if you haven't been able to keep these Saturday club runs sorted. But dont fear I have one more visit to the consultant and will then be at the Plaza 10.30am on Saturday 8th September raring to go.

Disco, read the opening line..........irony

Fair enough! Wasnt sure if that was one of the truth bits! Very funny write up!

I doubt if Selwyn is in the Freemasons(not 100% on that!),but i know for a fact that he does not drink in the "certain rugby club",but he still turns up for the 9.30am ride on Saturdays.

FREE MASONS, i,v got a stone wall that needs rebuilding. Great i,ll get one in. all for free. WOW. i always have my second mug of coffee and pour it into my bottle. its brilliant for cleaning your chain. If people dont like the cafe, don,t go there, SIMPLES.

I think that's the problem!

Interesting reading guys! WOW - lots of change - Having been home and back riding for some 6 weeks and enjoyed a few saturday morning rides with the boys, while trying to get used to there being no ewenny cafe, there seems to be something missing from all this dialogue - a recommendation!
I agree and there could be a few tea cakes and toast going too, while I'm sure everyone enjoys a good winge, whats the alternative? not every cafe owner is open to a gaggle of sweaty cyclists lounging on their cloth!

Cowbridge cafe on top of the dual was always a favorite back in the day - just a suggestion - either that, take a flask!

At best. Ride out from the cafe' on a saturday mid day is life threatening. At best. that is all. Rhys x

Agree about that Rhys! Nothing like Bridgend retail park and town centre on Saturday afternoon to give you an adrenaline buzz!!

So what's the solution? For the 9.30 lot I say we have a Saturday 9.30am 'captain' who posts a route Friday night at the latest and with a selected cafe.

For the 10.30 boys what's wrong with the Barn or one of the other cafes around Ewenny?

Hope you sort out a decent cafe Lads. Nothing worse than rubbish coffee. Its a pity no one took over the old cafe at Ewenny. Coulldn't the club ride use the other Cafe just a stone throw from the old one? Just a suggestion ;-)

They do a fine cup of coffee in the barn. Feels a little too upmarket a place to be sat around in cycling gear but they make you feel welcome all the same.

U ever considered going back to the olden days with a cafe stop in porthcawl or heading west/north on saturdays then finishing with the cafe stop on aberavon beach front ? theres always the option rhigos n bwlch every saturday stopping in the cardiff arms in treorchy lol yes its club tradition to head east as it has for 60 years but 60 years ago people were riding steel frames n fixed wheel, times move on in more ways than one so if west is best then so be it....

sounds a great idea Charles. Something worth bringing up at the agm aswell. Its worth sorting the cafe stop out as even though I'm not riding with the boys due to no bike I certainly have some fond memories of the saturday bash. Be a shame if this was lost. A happy club is a thriving club.

The"BARN"was excellent last Saturday"especially after an approx 40 miler,then a nice ride back

pip wrote

The"BARN"was excellent last Saturday"especially after an approx 40 miler,then a nice ride back

Hope you are well Pip
Forgot about that one. yes the barn was always a good cafe and with 40 miles before will build up a good thirst.
Went up to a cafe in Bryngarw with little John today but its only a 25mile ride round trip. Doc Richards isnt any flatter either

What about the cafe off the cycle path at Blackmill ?
Its 12-13 miles and fairly quiet roads AND a good caff.
And
There are several options to lengthen the ride or the routes for those fitter winter racers

Anthony Vallario wrote

What about the cafe off the cycle path at Blackmill ?
Its 12-13 miles and fairly quiet roads AND a good caff.
And
There are several options to lengthen the ride or the routes for those fitter winter racers

To be honest I thought that was where little John was taking us today. But yes thats an excellent cafe aswell.
Hope you and your wife are well Anthony ;-)

Sorry THE BARN is invite only!

Invite and secret handshake only!
But on a serious note we do need an organiser to sort it out and put something on the web page every week.

Myself and Claire ( her first time out to meet u all) on the same day as Andy's comments, and have to agree it was s##t!
We had a cuppa them decided to hit Forza for a decent "Neil" special!

I do have to laugh at all the bad coffee quotes though, I can't remember any of you drinking anything but copious amounts of Tea in the old caff!
If you like I'll park our camper van at a different location each week (for those in the know) and you can fetch your Tea bags or we will supply everything for 50p, so you get a nice location and it's not too expensive! Lol