Big turnout today despite the absence of the sangria smugglers, and Dave who took a wrong turn at Chepstow yesterday. Too many names to list, but highlights included honorary pacer, Karl, Angelo, and although modesty would usually prevent me saying so, myself.
A lovely sunny morning in Brackla as we rolled out for the promised mostly flat route up into Powys and back. We were happy to let Karl set the pace out past Margam and through Neath. Quick pause at Ystradgynlais for neutral service to loop a big tie wrap round Angelo’s cracked bottle cage, and then to stop Karl’s, “are we there yet?” whining, coffee and cake at Craig-y-nos. Karl turned back at this point, disappointed not to be able to complete the ride but constrained by time.
Angelo and I (and all the other people too numerous to mention) pressed on up the Crai climb and then down through windy lanes just beginning to hide under autumn leaves on the way to Defynnog. I was able to demonstrate my trade-mark navigational skills by taking us up steep narrow lane to show Angelo what a farm yard looked like. Having made an early coffee stop we passed by the International Rarebit Centre keen to press on to the Devil’s elbow.
Letting Komoot create the route we were rewarded with pre-elbow lanes almost as wide as a bike and with tarmac in places. Angelo was overwhelmed by the beautiful scenery and had a little sit down at the bottom of the climb before we regrouped and swooped, magnificently into the Hirwaun Co-Op car-park where we demanded Coke and the best pre-packed tuna and sweetcorn rolls money could buy.
Just the Rhigos and Bwlch to float over and downhill all the way home.
