Re-hydrated (Red Stripe lager), re-fuelled, (curry) and re-lubed (bike), so time for a quick update on today's ride.
Seven of us left Brackla at 8:00, under grey skies with promise of a shower and rain later at 2:00pm. Mark R, Harpo, Greg, Dave W, Jason, Nigel and me. We started at a pretty rapid pace considering it was into a headwind, early in 130 ride and the ride was 'back loaded' with climbing. I was struggling to hold a wheel by the time we reached Stormy Down and it went on for another 8 hours. We made good time to Neath, Abercraf where Mark and Haydn split to take on the Devil's Elbow. We climbed along Bwlch Cerrig Duon with the early part of the River Tawe on our left, some stunning views on the quite roads. Then dropped on a fast decent through Glasfynyydd forest before rolling in to Trecastle for a very civilized cake stop at the Trecastle tearooms.
Next on the ride was the climb from Llywel up to the military road, Jason, Dave and Greg chatting away like the Three Amigos while Nigel and me slogged away some distance behind. This is a great section, well surfaced, 'rolling' with fast, swooping bends on the way to Tirabad. After a sharp decent into Tirabad, we headed on to Llangamerch Wells, Upper Chapel, Lower Chapel and Brecon. The climb out of Llangamerch ells had me struggling, quite steep and into the headwind, a combination of tiredness and the need for food had me zig-zagging my way to the top and the climb wasn't that steep!
Managed to make it to Brecon where we refuelled before taking on the final challenge of the day the Ponsticill climb, it had now started raining and we'd spent most of the previous hour or so 'psyching out' Nigel about the climb, so when he saw the 20% sign at the bottom I'm sure he let out an audible sigh, I was just too far behind to hear it, fair-play he made it up without TOO much problem. The paced upped a bit from Cefn Coed to Merthyr and Pontypridd and it took a lot of concentration and last vestiges of energy to try and hold a wheel, be it Jason, Greg or Dave's. Kudos to Dave who was strong all day and had ridden in 10 miles and had 10 more to get home.
130 miles in 7:50 (moving time) 8000 ft of climbing, so not strictly speaking an 'Epic' (10,000ft per 10 miles) but an epic day out, thanks all.
Contrary to what I said today I won't be out on tandem next Sunday, as I've got Severn bridge half marathon. I am going out with Keith on Monday, so if anybody fancies an extra ride on weekend drop me txt or whats app message to arrange a meet time
