Amblers ride 14th January

[Ben]

I will be out this weekend. Weather is looking Ok. Chasers are going up some hills so maybe we could try the same. A couple of options.

The Bwlch -37 miles from Treorchy side coffee stop in Treorchy.

https://www.strava.com/routes/10800548

The Bryn - 34 miles Coffee at Margam park

https://www.strava.com/routes/10646234

A trip round Maesteg - kinda similar to Bryn but over Llangeinor as well. 44 miles - Not sure about a coffee stop there.

https://www.strava.com/routes/11001239

And just to throw it out there if there's anyone wanting to try it - Caerphilly Mountain - 42 miles - Coffee maybe in Caerphilly before we climb.

https://www.strava.com/routes/10871124

The choice is in your hands. Usual caveats apply if a new rider turns up then we'll do something a little easier. If the weather turns rubbish then we'll change the route. If my legs don't want to work then I'll complain a bit and follow you all anyway

[ron b]

Should be out, what about a practise R2 run, for the unsure? With a stop in Garw park?

[Ben]

Where is Garside park Ron?
Test of RR2 sounds good to me though.

[Tom]

I probably won't be out on Sunday but we normally do a practice for each Reliability ride the week before each(they are at 2 week intervals)Starting with the second may be a bit confusing but up to you!

[Andy H]

RR1 and RR2 are on consecutive weekends.

Only way I could fit them in, without starting in January,  avoiding rugby and before you lot 'swan off' to Mallorca.

[ron b]

If the weather is good perhaps we should take advantage and go over the Bwlch, as for  Garside, fast fingers ,slow eyes?

[ron b]

Anyone out tomorrow?

[Ben]

I am Ron.

[Jo]

I will be, I love hills 

[ron b]

If it’s going to bee RR 2check the map/route. That’s the Bwlch and finish in Ewenny?

[Ben]

Yep. Start Brackla finish at Ewenny. Shall we stop at the Cafe at Bryngarw? Although it's nearly home by that point.

[Tom]

Just in case anyone apart from me spent fruitless hours pondering which local coffee stop could with the aid of typing error and possibly predictive text become Garside....having given up and sought the answer from the Guru he revealed it was Bryngarw Park.Enlightened but none the wiser!

[Carrie H]

I hope to be out, but feeling lardy and tardy but not very hardy. If we are not at Brackla in time, please don't wait.
Should be a good ride, looks to be dry & bright

[Ben]

I spent a few hours looking for Garside too Tom. Closest I found was New South Wales which I think might be a bit far for the Amblers. 

5 of us today at Brackla. Myself, Ron, Jo, Nick and Carrie made it on time. So once the bigger boys (Pacers and Chasers) had left us we departed towards Parc Slip trying to work out if we were going the right way. Pace was kept well (by Ron on the front) as we got towards Margam. But Jo was struggling with her back. A quick stop and the saddle looked about correct so we carried on. So we could decide if Carrie and Jo wanted to carry on we stopped at Skyline Cafe in Afan. It was decided that we'd carry on and Jo put her saddle up a few millimetres which seemed to ease the niggle. All made it to the top of the Bwlch and there were some happy looking faces. Especially from Jo who had never made it up there without climbing off for a walk before. We then went down through Nant-Y-Moel and over Llangeinor. Jo left us once we got back near Bridgend while Ron, Nick, Carrie and myself carried on across the common to Pencoed. A good pull on the front from Nick kept us together well as Carrie was starting to flag after the distance. Ron went home then Nick and Carrie turned off at Troes. I struggled up the last few hills to manage just shy of 68miles altogether. Was a great ride, great weather, great company and good pace all round. Hopefully everyone enjoyed it. Well done to everyone it was a tough ride.

[ron b]

At primary school we did not have predictive text on our blackboards, that my excuse. Anyway nice ride today, weather was kind and it did make a change from the Vale.