Haydn wisely postponed the OVW's Away Day to Mid Wales in view of the weather forecast for there, so the following gathered at the usual place for 9am:
Reece Adams,
Dave W/Keith (on the tandem)
Steve C
Mark R
Haydn
Mike H
Nige
Richard
Jo
Hannah
Matt
Myself
+ at least one more (sorry, I don't know the gentleman's name + I might have forgotten a couple of others too)
The rain had arrived, as predicted, shortly before 9, so we set off heading for what looked like the best weather (the good old BBC app said west was best). So Swansea via Porthcawl it was. Hannah peeled off early, but everyone made it safely to Swansea marina for the cafe stop. It did get a bit keen down Fabien Way with a sort of tail wind. I clocked over 29 mph hanging on to Mr Chapman's coat tails at one point!
The rain stopped & the sun came out as we approached Swansea, so after the cafe it was coats off and everyone headed back east. An interesting new (for me at least) road at the back of Amazon provided a traffic free couple of miles before rejoining the A48 just before Briton Ferry bridge.
At this point, 4 of us headed north to Neath, whilst the remainder headed back via the flatlands of Harbour Way. From Neath, Haydn, Mike, Nige & myself headed over Cimla, Bryn to Maesteg, climbed again to Llan and Cefn Cribwr before Mike & Haydn went their own way. Nige & myself headed out to Heol y Cyw Common and Pencoed. Despite living in Pencoed, being a glutton for punishment, Nige then accompanied me up and over St Mary Hill and on to Llantwit before escorting me home to St Brides.
A wide range of distances covered by everyone from low 50s to Nige who must have down at least 90 by the time he got back to Pencoed.
Thanks all for an enjoyable ride. I was given a master class in climbing from Haydn, Mike & Nige. I keep telling myself it's good for me......
... and finally, a special mention must go to Dave W who appeared to have no ill effects from his monster 150 mile solo Mid Wales odyssey yesterday. Chapeau Dave.
