Chasers Ride - Sunday 13 November

[Mark Pope]

Tomorrow's forecast looks ideal for a late Autumn spin over the Bwlch . Even in Treorchy the current met suggests temps of around 8 degrees, with sunshine and light winds. So my proposed route takes in the Bwlch from the easiest direction, riding up from Talbot Green and up the Rhondda before descending via the Afan Valley and home via a coffee at Parc Slip. As follows:

Brackla - Coychurch - Pencoed - Bryncae - Talbot Green - Smilog - Tonyrefail - Penycraig - Tonypandy - Llwynypia - Gelli - Ton Pentre - the Bwlch - Afan Valley - Taibach - A48 - Hafod heulog - Parc Slip - Fountain - Bridgend - Brackla

It's around 54 miles and although the coffee stop is late on in the ride, we have a nice descent all the way down the Afan Valley with a slight tailwind to help us home. The exact route is copied below. See you at Brackla at 0900.

Mark






https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/13955080

[Nick Langley]

I've never climbed it from that side so that'll be a tick in the box. See you tomorrow

[Andy H]

DON'T FORGET BIKE BITS AUCTION, CLUB NIGHT, NEXT FRIDAY NOV 18th!!

[Mark Pope]

A great day for a Remembrance Sunday ride today, with sunshine, light winds and mild temperatures for this time of the year (and any time of year for the Rhondda). Nine of us set out from Brackla to head out towards the Rhondda via Talbot Green and the climb through the forest at Smilog. We then climbed up along the Western edge of the valley towards Ton Pentre before heading up the Bwlch from arguably the easiest side. The views from the top were fantastic and it was a great place to observe the 2 minutes silence before the descent down the Afan Valley. It made a nice change to be shooting down the valley, as we normally slog our way up to the Bwlch from Taibach.

We then headed home along the A48 past Margam Parc, hanging on for dear life to Neil 'the Beast' Bartlett's back wheel. After coffee and some doorstep sized cake at Parc Slip we rolled home via Fountain and Bridgend. The total distance today was around 54 miles and we mostly stuck to the advertised pace. Out today were:

Neil B
Paul L
Nige W
Tony M
Nick L
Jonathan S
Lea W
Rich B
Mark P

See you next week.

Mark

[Nick Langley]

Cheers Mark, great route today 👍

[Mark Pope]

Thanks Nick, glad you enjoyed it.

Mark

[RichardB]

Yes great route, we must do it again.