Ambler's Ride - Sunday 21 August

[Mark Pope]

The plan for this Sunday is to have a slightly more sedate amble than of late and to take in a few back lanes and climbs we haven't done for a while. So the proposed route is:

Brackla - Coity - Byeastwood - the Common - Bryncethin - Llangeinor - Bettws - Shwt - A4063 - Llangynwyd - Waun y Gilfach - Ffordd- y -Gyfraith - Hafodheulog - A48 - Margam - Water Street - Kenfig - Porthcawl - Nottage - South Cornelly - Pyle - Cefn Cribwr - Fountain - Aberkenfig - Sarn - Bryncethin - the Common - Heol Las - Coity - Brackla

It's around 50 miles, with a coffee stop planned for The Broomwagon in Porthcawl. The main climb is the cheeky little hill from the main Maesteg road up to the Corner house pub in Llangynwyd. It's about a mile long but not too steep. There's then a further steady climb before we ride along the ridge and then drop down to the back lane to the A48. If the weather is good the views are fantastic. See you at 0900.

Mark

[mal jones]

Are you bringing your new toy or are the lanes a bit wet

[Mark Pope]

Ha ha, no Mal the new toy is far too good for the damp, scratchy lanes on tomorrow's ride. In fact I may just leave it on my living room wall and stare lovingly at it. It's far too good to ride!

[Mark Pope]

There were 9 Amblers out today (at various times) , for a tour around some of our less travelled back lanes and up and down a few less frequented slightly cheeky hills. After leaving Brackla we headed out towards Llangeinor via the Common, before heading up to Bettws and down to Shwt. We then headed up the Lynfi Valley towards Maesteg, stopping short to tackle the sneaky little climb up to Llangwynyd (if a mile long hill can be called little). Once at the top we enjoyed a brief saunter along the ridge before an interesting descent to Ffordd y Gyfraith and the lane towards the A48 and the more routine route to Porthcawl. We stopped off at Paul's Broomwagon Cafe for a spot of tea and cake where we were joined by some of the Cardiff Ajax and Bynea boys. We headed home via Pyle and Cefn Cribwr (via the easy route) and across the Common and up and over Heol Las.

Although it wasn't a particularly long ride at around 50 miles, we packed in quite a bit of climbing, so I was quite pooped by the end, which I actually blame on Paul's kilo of Walnut Cake that I was forced to eat at the break, which weighed me down all the way home. Out today were:

Mal (content)
Steven - slumming it with the fat boys
Richard - looking perky
Nick - the bike breaker Langley (too much power through those pedals)
Neil 'the beast' Bartlett
Steve 'the Governor' Chapman
Jonathan 'the bike whisperer' Spinks
Lee ' too much climbing juice'
Mark P - hanging on!

I'm away next week but hopefully one of the old sweats will post a ride.

Mark

[RichardB]

Good report Mark, enjoyed that. Struggled with the early climbing but somehow managed to find my legs for the second half of the ride.

[mal jones]

Great  report Mark I struggled on the hills but only had 11/25 on back so my winter bike needs a service I'm away next 2 Sundays