RR2 Sunday 22nd February

[Tom]

Yes-Chapeau(or possibly strait jackets)to those who braved the Bwllch today.A few hours round the Vale left me as cold as I've been all this Winter(no bikes outside Café Velo mid-morning tells it's own story).As Andy and Rob said it may be character building but my character is fully formed and,as you will know it's the character of a wimp!

[Tony M]

I actually had a pleasant ride apart from hands so cold I couldn't change gear, and I am not exaggerating!

[Andy H]

Well done to all who made it around today and also to those who made it most of the way around! Conditions were challenging!

Having driven to the top of the Bwlch and ridden down to meet the first group, I've never been so happy to cycle UP the Bwlch, to try and warm up.

There were 5 qualifiers, Tony Mansell, Terry Anthony, Jonathan Spink, Mark Pope and Wayne Evans.

4 DNFs, including Joe Williams out on his first club run, who did well to survive his memorable, first climb of the Bwlch!

[ron b]

Glad to hear you all survived, but the risk of accident was too high. Why do we not run this event at a later date, it was actually sleeting in Cowbridge and lot of ice on the sides of the main roads.

[Mark Pope]

A big thanks to Andy for organising RR2 and for pacing young Joe up the Bwlch. Thank goodness for Andy's 'Safety Car' too as I'm not sure what we'd have done if we'd had to wait for Joe at the top of the Bwlch, as it wasn't the weather to hang around at the summit. I'll second Tony's comments about it being a good ride though. Apart from the snow, sleet and cold over the top, it wasn't too bad, although the sleet did freeze to my glasses (and eyelids) making the descent slightly more interesting than usual. It still didn't compare with 'Armageddon Day' in Majorca two years ago but then again today we were (mostly) dressed for the occasion.

Mark

[Wayne E]

Thanks again to Andy for his time . Good ride today in mixed weather conditions.

[marknott]

Well done to all who completed or even attempted the ride today....I decided to "bottle it" and stick to the lowlands as the temp in Barry was 3 degrees C...so guessed it would be freezing up there!!!!

Pretty grim in the lowlands too...coldest my feet have been all Winter season,couldn't feel them with 2 hours of riding still to go !!! Had a mild case of "trench foot" me thinks LOL !!!

Chapeau !!!

[Rob Jones]

It was a southerly wind, so coastal roads in the vale were probably as grim as anywhere (except perhaps the bwlch summit! Presumably would have got the rain earlier too.

[Terry A]

+1 on the thanks to Andy for looking after us.

As for the ride, it was fun in a perverted sort of way. Temperature wise, I'm pretty sure that's the coldest my hands and feet have ever been in my life - and that's quite a while.

[xrayspecs]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/6299349
To warm you up a bit.

[Tony M]

Perhaps this will be known as the RRmageddon ride. 

[Andy H]

Chris, kindly keep your Mallorca post in the appropriate section, so those of us who aren't going can avoid reading them!!