Club Run Sunday 12th January

[Andy H]

Suggest a joint ride of Amblers and Pacers on the route of Reliability Ride 2.

The club has several new members who haven't done the Reliability rides and won't know the courses, so this would be an introduction.
We can start out together and split into groups along the route as we see fit.

The route can be found on the club web site but basically is:- Brackla, past Brewery Field, Aberkenfig. New Rd to A48, Bwlch, Ogmore Vale, Heol y Cyw , Pencoed, Ewenny for coffee. 50 miles.

Meet at usual time, looks it will be windy but mostly dry

Here is the route  http://www.brytonsport.com/mapTrackView?id=275205

[Rob Jones]

Does being a reliability trial run give us license to misbehave, break the group up into 1s and 2s, and leave folk stranded with mechanicals etc. Or is that only encouraged on the actual reliability rides? 

[RichardB]

Sounds good Andy. I was going to head up the Bwlch tomorrow with Wayne but will stick to the flat now and save my climbing legs for Sunday. Going out at 10 tomorrow and will probably do the Saturday club run now. You ok with that Wayne?

[RichardB]

Does being a reliability trial run give us license to misbehave, break the group up into 1s and 2s, and leave folk stranded with mechanicals etc. Or is that only encouraged on the actual reliability rides? 

That's my enduring memory of last year's two rides.

[Rob Jones]

Its the same every year it seems (though I managed to miss them all last year). I think its tactics,cos its  a competition...of will power...those who are disciplined enough to stick to their target pace get their reliability rewards. Those who don't either finish too early or blow and finish too late or not at all. Those who couldn't give a monkeys stir things up best they can!

[Andy H]

Think we'll stick to it being a sociable ride on Sunday. at least to start with!

[Jason T]

As I came through Abergwynfi all I could see was Mark & Joe zooming off into the distance that was all fog & mist... Unfortunately I didn't see anyone after that point in time, I didn't fancy hanging around in the cold to be honest, so not really knowing the route it seems I should have turned off just below Lewistown but I followed the road and missed the turning, Oh Well.

Noticed a bit of ice on the way up the Bwlch and a heck of a cross wind coming down the other side so hopefully nobody got caught out by that.

[Tom]

You brave people-the Bwllch in January indeed.It actually wasn't as bad as I thought it might be but I went out later and bumped into Billy Pring at Ogmore and rode to Llantwit with him.He spent most of the time telling me how important it was we put a Team in his 2 day event and that anyone who could do the Reliability ride could do it(I don't think he expedcted even me to believe that)

[RichardB]

That was hard work today with yesterday's ride still in my legs but need to up the mileage and climbing. Thanks Ron for pacing me and Tom Jenkins up the Afan valley, much appreciated. Enjoyed the big slab of chocolate cake and coffee in the cafe in Ewenny. It was still open when we finally got there!

[woody]

A great first wheelers club ride blrw away a few cobwebs as not done much since summer. Cheers Andy for the company and pacing around the course.

Cheers
Woody

[Andy H]

Ride stayed sociable until first slight ramp up Fountain Road then seemed to naturally split into 3 groups.

Stayed like this until Bwlch where the combination of the climb and headwind caused some more minor splits.

Arrived in Ewenny within 20 to 30 minutes or so of each other, few more members familiar with RR2

[ron b]

As we set off at a pace a little too fast for some, the group fragmented a little. Those who were struggling to maintain the 20 mph went into the red zone too early and dropped back. If we had set off in 2 groups 3 hours and 3.5 hours getting around would be a little more comfortable. If a lone rider had a mechanical on the Bwlch it could have led to problems. We need to ride in a group, is that what this club is about? On the way around someone asked me if this was a social ride. Tom it was a factor 25 on the Bwlch

[Jason T]

It was inevitable that the group would split, as suggested in the first post, it was just a matter of when... although it seems it was sooner rather than later.

One of the main problems yesterday was the temperature, my device tells me:

Avg Temperature:   2.9 °C
Min Temperature:   1.0 °C
Max Temperature:   11.0 °C

In the past where I've waited for people to catch up and for me to cycle to a slower pace, rarely happens mind you, this has caused me problems as my core temperature drops... therefore I find it better riding at my own pace in these situations and to keep at a good working temperature.

Problem with this is that it is so windy and cold that there's no shelter to wait for the pack to regroup... but I can see that it could be awful if someone were to drop off the back and have a mechanical.

[Rob Jones]

Isn't this why you have a pacer group and an amblers group. Wasn't present so not guilty of anything other than mild incitement.

Not sure about this social riding concept. Sounds like the sort of thing would have us spread all over the road and not focusing on what we are doing, probably resulting in silly needless accidents. Surely that is more for the start, the cafe, club nights etc. In my experience people used to riding at 20mph are no more interested in riding at 15mph than visa versa. Especially if its cold and hilly. The reliability rides offer nothing for faster riders in the club other than an opportunity to stir things up. That's why i introduced a 20mph option a few years ago. The club should be for all of us, not just the quickest, the slowest or the middle ground. Ironically when there was a 20mph option many decided to sign on for the 17mph option but ride a speed closer to 20mph! Maybe cyclists are just awkward!

One thing I hope we all agree on is that we don't want anyone getting left on their own. That's just rude and could be dangerous too.

[Andy H]

From the back of the middle group made judgement that the 3 behind would be ok to ride together.

In hindsight should have dropped back and made sure that was the case, as I would have been happy back marking myself but agree with Jason that wouldn't fancy hanging around for groups to get back together.