Amblers ride - 29th April

[Ben]

Weather is looking dry (at the moment)
Four choices this time.
Who's out?

[ron b]

According to my granddaughter 2+2=4, I will get a second opinion. I can only play for 2 hours this week, birthday party. 

[Ben]

2+2=3 in IT Ron 

[ron b]

Weather is looking very good, route depends on who turns up, but Rhigos would be my choice.

[Ben]

My thinking for Rhigos was to ride to Treorchy from Smilog. Ride up to the top then turn round have Coffee in Treorchy then maybe up over Bwlch down to Nantymoel and either down the cyclepath back to Bridgend or over Llangeinor and back that way.

https://www.strava.com/routes/12892116 - Over Llangeinor

https://www.strava.com/routes/12892238 - Down cycle path.

[Ben]

7 today including a trio of chasers looking for hills. They found them. We had
Me
Ade
Ron b
Roy 2
Mike
Patrick
And the return of G.
Instead of going to Treorchy from Smilog we decided to have the wind at our backs on the way home and did it in reverse. So up over Llangeinor and through Ogmore Vale. We stayed on the main route to Nantymoel instead of Tom's route with all the parked traffic. I set a PB on Clocktower hill without Steve Curry needing to give me a push. I think we lost Ron at this point. Ade and me waited at the cattle grid for him for about 5 minutes but decided as we were cooling down to carry on. The top of Bwlch was like a hurricane had hit so while I fought to get my jacket on it started raining. Once in Treorchy we stopped for coffee and decided not to carry on up Rhigos as it would have been far too cold and the rain looked like it was coming back again. So we went back down the valley up towards Tonyrefail and over Smilog. The group the headed back through Llanharan before splitting up. I lost Patrick and Roy at this point so carried on home just in time for the F1.
Great ride and awesome performances especially from Graham after not being out on his bike and recovering from dreaded diseases less than 2 weeks ago.

[Tom]

Well done Ben et al-I'd always prefer parked cars to moving ones though!

[ron b]

I was disappointed with the Amblers ride today, the three chasers were allowed the dictate the pace from the off. It’s always difficult to control the speed of the ride, but it must be controlled. Some riders no longer attend Sunday Social rides for fear of being dropped.If you need hills and speed you mist yesterdays hilly TT, or go with Steve and co. Any potential new riders and existing riders will be put off coming out, just check the list of riders who no longer turn up. Being dropped doesn’t bother me but if I am going to have to ride alone, I might as well do it from the house.

[Nick H]

Sorry we didn’t make the start yesterday -my fault; set off with ample time but had to turn back after a few Km to pick up some essential equipment I’d left at home. 

[Ben]

Sorry Ron. We waited for you but as it was getting cold we waited as long as we could.

[mal jones]

Mixed rides wether it be pacers/chasers or chasers/Amblers never work as the pace always reverts to the stronger riders  . There must be a group which caters for new riders who may want to gain experience with the Amblers I don’t think bwlch/rhigos is really an Amblers ride

[mal jones]

I should clarify that it’s a thankless task Ben and you are doing a good job the problem is that you could easily ride with the chasers and I don’t task anyone else  can commit on a regular basis myself included

[Ben]

 You're right Mal. It is a thankless role. I enjoy it though and I'm proud to be doing it. I try and cater for all riders that's why I try and offer a good selection of rides. Likewise I will always try and drop back to the slowest riders but on a climb I've always been told to climb at my pace and wait where possible. I'm sorry if you did get dropped Ron but the weather turned rather quickly and Ade and myself didn't want to get too cold and struggle then.

 I know stepping up to the Chasers may improve my fitness and skills but it leaves a gap for the amblers.