A slightly shorter ride than originally planed today at around 47 miles. Despite a very small group of 3 riders leaving Brackla, we were joined on route by 4 more Amblers, including new dad Craig who understandably hasn't been out for 6 months or so. The seven of us headed to Coity and across the Common to Brynna with a very strong looking Andy Storrie doing big turns on the front, initially ably assisted by Chris Reed doing his Belgian hard man impression in shorts and a short sleeved jersey. Unfortunately by the time we reached Pontyclun Chris was starting to look like a Woolly Mammoth that had spent 100,000 years under the ice at the North Pole and sensibly headed for home at Llanharry. After Chris's departure I think we were followed by a particularly determined Japanese sniper, as every time I looked behind we had lost another rider!
After leaving Cowbridge we put the after burners on (well if a Ford Anglia had after burners), and overtook a possee of even older, balder, fatter cyclists on the climb to the Llantwit Road. Once on the flat we flew along the road from Llantwit to St Brides. I even managed a PB for that stretch, despite stopping to regroup at Wick and then hitting the lights a little further on. I think this may suggest I don't try hard enough! Andy Storrie managed an 11 minute segment for the same stretch which bodes well for this TT season. After Ewenny we headed out to Porthcawl and a coffee at the Broomwagon, although we did have another incident on route when the Japanese sniper, now driving a flat bed lorry tried to run Tom off the road. Once at the Broomwagon, the surviving Ambler's decided to cut the ride slightly short to head home for the usual Sunday chores. We stayed dry throughout and even saw the Sun once but that was over Cowbridge, which is owned by the Tories, and they've probably got the sunshine on a meter! All in all a good morning's ride.
Mark
