Chasers 28 May

[RichardB]

We agreed last week to do Bwlch and Rhigos this week. The weather looks ok for Sunday morning, not sunny but warm and just a light wind.

So here e proposed route:
Coity - Bryncethin, picking up Neil at the roundabout as we drop back into Bryncethin off the Heol Y Cwy road - across to Llangeinor and over the climb and onto the Ogmore Valley and up to the Bwlch - Treorchy - Treherbert - Rhigos - Glynneath - down the Neath Valley to Neath - Briton Ferry - Harbour Way - Pyle - Stormy Down and home. 65 miles maybe, I'm not good on mileage. And not sure about coffee stop. Is there anywhere in Neath area we could stop! Open to ideas and can agree on Sunday.

Richard

[RoyH]

Hi Rich, this has been cut and pasted from south wales cycling.
Rhigos roadworks! If you're planning on crossing the Rhigos this weekend, be careful. Large sections of the north side have been prepared ready for resurfacing works. Manholes have been raised and the surface has been removed. There are ramps, lumps and coarse surfaces. The road will be completely closed around the 30 also. My friend and I went down it today. And it's not the lovely sweeping fast sprint that it usually is. It's proper hazardous.

[RichardB]

Ok, thanks Roy, just reading this now so quick rethink needed.

Start as planned and up the Bwlch, then down the Afan valley, up over Croeserw and down into Maesteg, up and over to Bryan and back onto the Afan Valley, through Port Talbot, Margam, down Water St to Porthcawl and Broomwagon coffee stop. Dan y Graig, Laleston and home.

[Tom]

If weather ok will see you at the bridge over the motorway on the Common-don't worry if I'm not there!

[RichardB]

Ok cheers Tom hope to see you in the morning.

[Tom]

I realise it's a bit harsh on Richard who did his utmost to keep us on course but I'm afraid I have to report all the other Chasers out today to the event sec for going off course(Rich stopped at the Caerau turn but as everyone flew down the Afan Valley felt he'd better chase them).I followed the(amended)planned route up to Caerau then down to Maesteg and back over Bryn(funnily enough I took the Prime at the top of Bryn very easily).I did look into the Parc Slip café just in case but no Chasers there!
Hope everyone else found some more hills to make up for the ones they missed!(and got back incident free)

[RichardB]

So for the record 10 of us set off from Physique picking up Tom and Neil en route as planned and then headed across to Llangeinor and over to the Ogmore valley making our way up to the Bwlch through Wyndham. At the top there was some discussion around the proposed route and there were a number who did not fancy the route as proposed going over to Maesteg and Bryan so the decision was made to go on straight down the Afan Valley, bar Tom who stuck to the planned route. Well done Tom for the extra miles and climbing.The rest of us then headed through to Taiback and Margam. At the turning to Water St, Nick, Paul and Tony want straight on and the rest off us headed to Porthcawl. We lost Terry to a puncture on the way in to Porthcawl and made the planned coffee stop at the Broomwagon. And then Dan Y Graig, Lalleston and home. Strong riding on the front as expected from Craig today, good to have him out with us. 50 miles for me.
Out today were
Tom,
Richard B
Paul
Tony
Terry
Lee S
Neil
Jonathan
Craig
James
Nick
Richard L
I think that's everyone.
At the Broomwagon we discussed next week's ride which will be out to Caerphilly Mountain and back through Pentyrch. Lee will post the exact route going into next weekend.