Ambler's Ride - Sunday 18 September

[Mark Pope]

As most of you are aware there has been some justified grumbling about the increasing pace of Ambler's rides recently (perennially)! This is a subject we need to formally address at the next AGM. At the moment we advertise the Ambler's rides as a social ride, ridden as a group at between 15-16 mph average speed, but clearly we haven't ridden at those speeds in a long time. Most of the group enjoy the faster, more competitive rides that we now do, however, it is noticeable that we have lost some regular riders and newer members over the last few months because of the regular floggings dished out on something advertised as an 'amble'. So this Sunday, I would like to get back to our roots and ride closer to the ethos of the Amblers. This doesn't mean a cycling version of Driving Miss Daisy, but just a lighter touch on the accelerator, that is riding at 21 mph-23 mph on the flat rather than 24-26mph (or balls out). You can still flog yourself on the hills of course, just wait at the top!

Sermon over! So the proposed route for this Sunday is:

Brackla - Coity - Bryncethin - Brynmenyn - Bettws - Llangeinor - Black mill - Bryncethin - the Common - Brynna - Talbot Green - Miskin - Hensol - Pendoylan - Gwern -y-Steeple - Bonvilston - Llantrithyd - Flemingston - St A than - Llantwit Major - the Lanes - St Brides - Death Valley - Ewenny - Brackla

It's around 52 miles with a coffee stop at Cafe Velo. See you Sunday, 0900 at Brackla.

Mark

[ron b]

Never watched "Driving miss Daisy", is it about Time Trialing ? Can't please everyone though, us 25er's ride along at a pace where we are able to swop jelly babies and talk about Strictly. get some wine gums and come out with us.

[Teresa]

Came across this video some time ago and thought it was quite apt, considering what Ron has just posted about jelly babies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fvy43QrIW5I

[Tom]

I plan to be out tomorrow Mark but depending on how
a)Tired
b)Depressed
I am after my ride to Cardiff City Stadium and back today I will see you
a)On the bridge over Coity Common
b)by Robert Price's on your return from Llangeinor/Blackmill
c)somewhere else
Obviously only if it's dry(still trying to find cause of constant punctures from Thursday so only best bike available!)

[Tom]

ps wherever I am I will be going very slowly!

[mal jones]

I'll be on top of coity common Mark

[Lea Watkins]

I'll be out Mark.

[Mark Pope]

That's great guys.See you tomorrow.

Mark

[Nick Langley]

Cheers Mark. See you at Brackla

[Nick Langley]

Ps Teresa, them guys are so silly...a decent thermos bottle would keep water warm for the pot noodle instead of a kettle. Definitely one to try out over the winter!!

[Tom]

Thanks to Mark (and all)for a nice spin this morning. I'm told ave speed to the café was 16.2 MPH (so I slowed down a bit).I particularly admired the way you arranged for tractors to pull out in front of us whenever it looked like we were going to speed up!

[Mark Pope]

An enjoyable amble today in fantastic weather. Eight Amblers set out from Brackla  to be joined a short while later by Mal and Tom. We popped over to the Garw Valley to climb over Bettws and Llangeinor before heading around the Vale of Glamorgan and coffee and cake at Cafe Velo in Llantwit Major. The pace was a tad slower this week, helped by a strategically placed tractor that popped up in front of us as we hit the Common and paced us all the way to Pencoed and magically reappeared just as we hit the TT course around St Athan going fast enough to keep us riding well but going too fast and being too wide to overtake. Terry and Steve C also did sweeping up duties at the rear to help keep the group together.

After coffee we followed the Lanes home via St Brides and Death Valley to finish the ride at just under 50 miles. At coffee we met John 'the Headmaster' Edwards who rode most of the way home with us and predictably nobody felt like throwing the gauntlet down and overtaking him! which also kept the pace honest. Out today were:

Tom
Steve C
Terry
Lea W
Nick L
Lee S
Jonathan S
Craig
Mal
Mark P

[craig m]

thanks again for organizing Mark, great weather and an enjoyable route -was home in time for Sunday lunch! 

[Nick Langley]

Really enjoyed it Mark, the camaraderie, the sunshine, the cheeky hills and without doubt the best fruit loaf I've had. Thanks a lot, enjoy Gibraltar! See u for the hill climb

[Mark Pope]

Craig/Nick,

Glad you enjoyed the ride chaps. Less than 1mph average speed slower made a big difference to the tail end Charlie's. Home in time for Sunday lunch too, that's got to be worth a few domestic smartie points. You'd get even more if you were home early enough to cook it! I'm away next Sunday but I'm sure one of the old sweats will suggest a route. I'll see you for the Club Hill Climb Champs at Llangeinor the following week. That should be a very easy amble to the start line, 5 minutes of lung burning pain, and then an easy amble to a cafe to discuss our exploits. See you there.

Mark