My Community
General Category => Club Runs => Topic started by: Mark Pope on June 20, 2015, 10:28:55 AM
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Tomorrow's route is:
Brackla - Ewenny - Ogmore -Southerndown - St Brides - The Lanes - Llantwit Major - St Athan - East Aberthaw - Rhoose - Airport - Wenvoe - Culverhouse Cross - St Fagans - Radyr - Taffs Well - Gwaeloo- Y - Garth - Pentyrch - Groes Faen - Miskin - Pontclun - Pencoed - Coychurch - Brackla.
It's around 55 miles and the plan is to have a break for coffee and cake at St Fagans. There's a cheeky wee hill at Gwaeloo-Y-Garth (a new one for the Amblers - ok it's cheeky bordering insolent :o), and we'll stop beforehand to attach crampons and put on oxygen masks. The weather is forecast to be dry and overcast with a fresh easterly wind, so we should have the wind with us for the first half of the ride. See you at 9 am.
Mark
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There is a sportive on around that area tomorrow so you may see some cycling traffic.
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Are you out and about tomorrow Pete I need my wheel bearings sorted, my email is on my profile.
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A great turn-out today with 21 riders departing from Brackla for a mixed Amblers/25ers/Pacers jaunt around a mostly well trodden route, with the added bonus of a slight departure to take in the 'Hill of (almost) Certain Death' near Gwaelod-Y-Garth. We set off at a fair old lick taking in Ogmore, Southerndown and the Lanes to Llantwit before heading via Rhoose to Barry. It was nice to be met with a cheery 'welcome to Barry' by an agitated motorist who stopped to shout abuse at us despite the fact we were sitting in Lay-by and he was traveling in the opposite direction. However, his ire became clear when someone recognised him from a previous Amblers Club Run, when he had been dropped on the first hill and turned round and went home!
After a quick stop for a re-fuel at St Fagans we headed out via Radyr and Taffs Well before we got to the climb at Gwaelod which starts from just outside the pub. The gradient of the climb has been known to make grown men cry, but spirits were raised when we saw the road closed sign at the bottom of the hill and a friendly local came out of the pub to tell us that the route was completely blocked, meaning we could take the easy way up the hill. However, just as a ragged cheer broke out from the assembled Oggies, a well meaning young lady came out onto the terrace of the pub to tell us that the road was now open and there was no reason at all to turn back! Never have a pretty girl's comments been so unwelcome!
So, after stopping to glance at an exhausted Nepalese Sherpa lying with his equally spent Yak at the bottom of the hill we set off up the track. The hill itself touches 35% on one hairpin and averages over 25% for nearly a km, so it was quite emotional for most of us. However, despite the heaving chests and grinding teeth we all managed to get to the top without putting a foot down. After reaching Pentyrch at the top of the climb we sped back to Brackla on flat (ish) roads via Groes Faen, Miskin and Pencoed. Despite the tortoise like pace up Gwaelod we still managed to average over 17mph for the ride as a whole, slightly faster than advertised but enjoyed by almost everyone. The following Oggies were out for today's ride:
Terry
Tony
Tom
Dave - Newbie
Dave Richards (a bit of a Newbie)
Greig - Newbie
Clayton
Lee S
Paul Longthorn
Andrew Storrie
Neil Bartlett
Jonathan S
Chris Reed
Ron
Roy 1
Wayne
Jason T
Ben
Craig
Chris - Newbie
Mark P
I think that's it! ;D
See you next week.
Mark
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A good write up there Mark and a good ride today, cheers all.
Pontypridd Golf Course Next Time ;)
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Yes thanks Mark-a good ride but an even better report!Impressed with your managing to list all who were out today!
May see you Tuesday but I'm away for the next month so far as Sunday rides go!
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Hi Jason,
I've just noticed your wink and reminder about Pontypridd Golf Course. I may keep that one in the back pocket for a few more weeks (er months) 😨, or there might be a mutiny!
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I've yet to do that bad boy - bring it on Mark!
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Great write up Mark, enjoyed the ride today.
Nice pace....although I was a little disappointed to be overtaken by a cat on the "cheeky wee hill at Gwaeloo-Y-Garth" ;D
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Craig,
That cat that overtook you going up Gwaelod-Y-Garth was actually dead! Yes we were going that slowly! ;D
Mark