Depleted numbers for the pacers today - but it's all about the quality
Dave W and Keith on the tandem, Haydn, Jason and I on the circuit around Margam/Neath/Aberdare. The tandem duo basically pushed out about 600W the whole way round in an awesome display. The ride from Margam to Neath was pretty impressive - Strava PRs all the way despite a headwind. The rest of us did do turns on the front, but after a few minutes the tandem would swoosh past as though we were standing still. Haydn had it all under control though patrolling the peloton as always, and looked even fitter (after his Alpine excursion) than he was the last time I was out. Our anticipated record breaking descent into Aberdare was scuppered by roadworks. Coffee stop at the usual cafe in ABerdare, where we were joined by Rob Jones and Ioan Smallwood (Ajax) who were stopping off on their way to the TT at Rhigos (cycling up from Cardiff on their TT bikes like you do
).
On the way back down the valley the groups separated (unintentionally), with Jason and I leading the way to Abercwmboi, and Harpo and the tandem I assume taking the main road. More road works a plenty, including an unadvertised road closure near Ynysybwl, but Jason and I set a good pace. We both agreed that it was a good job the groups had split, as there would have been no way Harpo could have kept up with us after the enormous slice of cake he'd eaten at the cafe.
Great weather, great ride, great company - and good to bump in to Rob Jones as well. Will be interested to see the times posted by him and Ioan in the TT bearing in mind their 30 mile warm up ride to the start.
