16
Club Runs / Re: Reliability rides 2026
« on: March 28, 2026, 07:55:40 PM »
That?s the plan
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17
Club Runs / Re: Reliability rides 2026
« on: March 23, 2026, 09:13:49 PM »
Don?t forget the clocks change!!
18
Club Runs / Re: Reliability rides RR1 John Edwards Memorial Ride. Sun March 29th
« on: March 23, 2026, 09:13:19 PM »
I?m due back from New Zealand on Friday so all being well, I?ll be at Brackla to do the timing. Hope the weather is improving back home!
Don?t forget the clocks change!!
Don?t forget the clocks change!!
19
Club Runs / Reliability rides RR1 John Edwards Memorial Ride. Sun March 29th
« on: March 23, 2026, 09:08:43 PM »
Sunday March 29th will be the first of the club's Reliability rides.
Here is the route:- https://www.strava.com/segments/14027409
The idea is you ride at your own pace and choose a time you think you can ride the distance in. If you are not sure about the route or your pace then team up with other riders of similar ability. This is really important and makes for a more enjoyable ride.
For RR1 there are 2 options:-
50 miles in 3 hours = 16 mph ave speed
50 miles in 2.5 hours = 20 mph ave speed
Start times are 9:00 for 3 hours and 9:30 for the 2.5-hour option.
Please sign on at least 15 minutes before your intending start time. i.e 8:45am for the 9:00am start.
No computers, watches or GPS devices are allowed,
so if you feel the need to record your ride then tape over or cover up screens. Tape will be provided at the start!
To be 'reliable' or 'qualify' in RR1 you have to finish + or - 10 minutes of your intended time.
The finish is at the Stalling Down next to the Mughal Emperor.
The cafe has closed down, so riders will have to get drop back down into Cowbridge for coffee!
I'll be doing the timing, please be prompt in signing on and remember to let me or other riders know if you don't intend to complete the ride.
please post your intended start times and which ride you're going for, so others can join you.
See you at Brackla for 9:00am start
Here is the route:- https://www.strava.com/segments/14027409
The idea is you ride at your own pace and choose a time you think you can ride the distance in. If you are not sure about the route or your pace then team up with other riders of similar ability. This is really important and makes for a more enjoyable ride.
For RR1 there are 2 options:-
50 miles in 3 hours = 16 mph ave speed
50 miles in 2.5 hours = 20 mph ave speed
Start times are 9:00 for 3 hours and 9:30 for the 2.5-hour option.
Please sign on at least 15 minutes before your intending start time. i.e 8:45am for the 9:00am start.
No computers, watches or GPS devices are allowed,
so if you feel the need to record your ride then tape over or cover up screens. Tape will be provided at the start!
To be 'reliable' or 'qualify' in RR1 you have to finish + or - 10 minutes of your intended time.
The finish is at the Stalling Down next to the Mughal Emperor.
The cafe has closed down, so riders will have to get drop back down into Cowbridge for coffee!
I'll be doing the timing, please be prompt in signing on and remember to let me or other riders know if you don't intend to complete the ride.
please post your intended start times and which ride you're going for, so others can join you.
See you at Brackla for 9:00am start
20
Club Runs / Re: Reliability rides 2026
« on: March 23, 2026, 09:06:34 PM »
Sunday March 29th will be the first of the club's Reliability rides.
Here is the route:- https://www.strava.com/segments/14027409
The idea is you ride at your own pace and choose a time you think you can ride the distance in. If you are not sure about the route or your pace then team up with other riders of similar ability. This is really important and makes for a more enjoyable ride.
For RR1 there are 2 options:-
50 miles in 3 hours = 16 mph ave speed
50 miles in 2.5 hours = 20 mph ave speed
Start times are 9:00 for 3 hours and 9:30 for the 2.5-hour option.
Please sign on at least 15 minutes before your intending start time. i.e 8:45am for the 9:00am start.
No computers, watches or GPS devices are allowed,
so if you feel the need to record your ride then tape over or cover up screens. Tape will be provided at the start!
To be 'reliable' or 'qualify' in RR1 you have to finish + or - 10 minutes of your intended time.
The finish is at the Stalling Down next to the Mughal Emperor.
The cafe has closed down, so riders will have to get drop back down into Cowbridge for coffee!
I'll be doing the timing, please be prompt in signing on and remember to let me or other riders know if you don't intend to complete the ride.
please post your intended start times and which ride you're going for, so others can join you.
See you at Brackla for 9:00am startL
Here is the route:- https://www.strava.com/segments/14027409
The idea is you ride at your own pace and choose a time you think you can ride the distance in. If you are not sure about the route or your pace then team up with other riders of similar ability. This is really important and makes for a more enjoyable ride.
For RR1 there are 2 options:-
50 miles in 3 hours = 16 mph ave speed
50 miles in 2.5 hours = 20 mph ave speed
Start times are 9:00 for 3 hours and 9:30 for the 2.5-hour option.
Please sign on at least 15 minutes before your intending start time. i.e 8:45am for the 9:00am start.
No computers, watches or GPS devices are allowed,
so if you feel the need to record your ride then tape over or cover up screens. Tape will be provided at the start!
To be 'reliable' or 'qualify' in RR1 you have to finish + or - 10 minutes of your intended time.
The finish is at the Stalling Down next to the Mughal Emperor.
The cafe has closed down, so riders will have to get drop back down into Cowbridge for coffee!
I'll be doing the timing, please be prompt in signing on and remember to let me or other riders know if you don't intend to complete the ride.
please post your intended start times and which ride you're going for, so others can join you.
See you at Brackla for 9:00am startL
21
Club Runs / Reliability rides 2026
« on: January 28, 2026, 09:16:07 PM »
After a brief chat with Nigel at last week's club night, we came to the conclusion that the Reliability rides will be postponed to end of March/April time. I'm away in New Zealand for 2 months and Nige is incapacitated for 6 weeks. In addition to this the better weather (I hope) in early Spring will suit the fact that the RRs have become more of a time trial rather than an early season test of legs and ability to ride 'reliably'. This isn't meant as a criticism 
I'd plan to run the events on the following date:-
RR1 Sunday 29th March (BST starts)
RR2 Sunday 12th April
RR3 Sunday 19th April
Hope this suits most of you, if there is any clash with dates when a majority of people can't make it, let me know and I can amend.
See you in March
I'd plan to run the events on the following date:-
RR1 Sunday 29th March (BST starts)
RR2 Sunday 12th April
RR3 Sunday 19th April
Hope this suits most of you, if there is any clash with dates when a majority of people can't make it, let me know and I can amend.
See you in March
22
Club Runs / Club Run Sunday 4th January
« on: January 02, 2026, 06:21:12 PM »
Forecast is for COLD start for Sunday. I plan to be out, so will post the following route suggestion but happy if someone else has different options
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/422286046
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/422286046
23
Club Runs / Re: The pudding run saturday 27th December
« on: December 23, 2025, 09:06:36 PM »
I'll be there, not sure how I'll get home but will work something out!!
24
Club Runs / Club run Sunday 21st December Winter Solstice
« on: December 17, 2025, 09:53:23 AM »
Plan to ride the following route:- https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/422286046 Basically last weeks route in reverse.
Unsurprisingly, the weather forecast isn't great but will keep an eye and post nearer the time.
9:30 start, 15-16mph is the plan (at least until the coffee stop)
Unsurprisingly, the weather forecast isn't great but will keep an eye and post nearer the time.
9:30 start, 15-16mph is the plan (at least until the coffee stop)
25
Club Runs / Re: Club run Sunday 14th December 9:30 start
« on: December 14, 2025, 05:38:36 PM »
Whilst the A team headed to Bethlehem, myself Scott and Richard B had a lie-in before riding the planned route. Lovely morning, dry with sun trying to poke its head out. Early pace was a bit high but soon settled down, until Rich had little dig to pass a rider on the drag up to Brynsadler Not quite a Tadej type move but enough to gap Scott and me . Work done, Richard then headed home from Cowbridge while Scoot and I turned left up Primrose hill. Kept good pace across to Llancadle and coffee stop in Llantwit at Cafe Velo. Home via Wick, around Ogmore, New Inn rd and Laleston
48 miles at a shade user 17mph, bit quicker than planned for a winter outing but enjoyed.
Maybe ride it in reverse next week?!
. Work done, Richard then headed home from Cowbridge while Scoot and I turned left up Primrose hill. Kept good pace across to Llancadle and coffee stop in Llantwit at Cafe Velo. Home via Wick, around Ogmore, New Inn rd and Laleston48 miles at a shade user 17mph, bit quicker than planned for a winter outing but enjoyed.
Maybe ride it in reverse next week?!
26
Club Runs / Club run Sunday 14th December 9:30 start
« on: December 10, 2025, 01:40:58 PM »
Weather forecast is poor but unless it gets even worse, I plan to get out
Suggested route, staying out of the worst of the lanes:- https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/421381886
Winter ride, so start 9:30 from Brackla, dip into either Cowbridge or Llantwit Major for cafe stop.
I'll keep an eye on the weather and post accordingly
Suggested route, staying out of the worst of the lanes:- https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/421381886
Winter ride, so start 9:30 from Brackla, dip into either Cowbridge or Llantwit Major for cafe stop.
I'll keep an eye on the weather and post accordingly
27
Club Runs / Re: Club run Sunday 23rd Nov
« on: November 23, 2025, 08:59:49 PM »
Fortunately the weather was much better than forecast and 7 riders made it out. and it was with some trepidation that I set off in the company of Rob, Richard , Mark R, Mark B, Nige and Paul R.
We stuck to the pre-ride plan as Mark R and myself set the pace up to Maesteg. I'd forgotten that it was mostly an upward profile and had been optimistic with a 16mph average.
Those who like to go uphill, did their thing on the climb up past the golf club before regrouping at the top, descending to Bryn and on to Porthcawl with a bit of a tailwind. Coffee and cake at Corner Coffee. Normally a coffee stop in Porthcawl means you're close to home but after climbing up Cefn Cribwr we still had a loop of the coast via Ogmore. The gradual rise up towards Ogmore was enough for the elastic to break and I had to let the others push on.
Really enjoyed the morning, although it was hard work, the average pace of 16mph overall was manageable. Thanks to all for waiting when needed and sticking to the planned ride
We stuck to the pre-ride plan as Mark R and myself set the pace up to Maesteg. I'd forgotten that it was mostly an upward profile and had been optimistic with a 16mph average.
Those who like to go uphill, did their thing on the climb up past the golf club before regrouping at the top, descending to Bryn and on to Porthcawl with a bit of a tailwind. Coffee and cake at Corner Coffee. Normally a coffee stop in Porthcawl means you're close to home but after climbing up Cefn Cribwr we still had a loop of the coast via Ogmore. The gradual rise up towards Ogmore was enough for the elastic to break and I had to let the others push on.
Really enjoyed the morning, although it was hard work, the average pace of 16mph overall was manageable. Thanks to all for waiting when needed and sticking to the planned ride
28
Club Runs / Club run Sunday 23rd Nov
« on: November 20, 2025, 06:56:31 PM »
Weather forecast at the moment is not great, I'll be out unless it gets worse!!
Have a route suggestion, see below. 'Neutralised' at 15-16mph until climb over to Bryn, where climbers can 'challenge' each other, then regroup and continue to Porthcawl for coffee stop.
Depending on numbers groups of different pace can then form, for the return leg to Bridgend.
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/418803090
Have a route suggestion, see below. 'Neutralised' at 15-16mph until climb over to Bryn, where climbers can 'challenge' each other, then regroup and continue to Porthcawl for coffee stop.
Depending on numbers groups of different pace can then form, for the return leg to Bridgend.
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/418803090
29
Club Runs / NEWS ALERT! Weather forecast wrong again
« on: November 09, 2025, 05:34:05 PM »
Four hardy souls out for a quick (for me) spin around the lanes and coast. Loosely following the old mid-week route.
Lots of mud, water and sh!te in the lanes (XRay you would have loved it) but the morning stayed dry, mainly because we were out and around the route in two hours.
Thanks to Rob, Scott and Richard for towing me around and putting up with my huffing and puffing on what little uphill sections there were.
I'm away next weekend so see you on the 23rd
Lots of mud, water and sh!te in the lanes (XRay you would have loved it) but the morning stayed dry, mainly because we were out and around the route in two hours.
Thanks to Rob, Scott and Richard for towing me around and putting up with my huffing and puffing on what little uphill sections there were.
I'm away next weekend so see you on the 23rd
30
Club Runs / Sunday November 2nd
« on: October 31, 2025, 05:07:59 PM »
Route options:-
1. https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/415202395
2. https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/415204630
Both a bit rushed so may take onto bike path and wrong way around roundabouts but basically all roads that we know
1. https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/415202395
2. https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/415204630
Both a bit rushed so may take onto bike path and wrong way around roundabouts but basically all roads that we know