Quick report. Probably the best day of the year so far weather wise. Dave and I rode to the start in Cardiff (only got lost once on the way), and met up with Paul and Andy. Andy had ridden from Penarth. Paul is very lazy.
Was bright until Newport, when a few clouds started coming over. We rode with a guy on a fixed wheel, who was easily staying with us. Despite having left home in Llanelli at 2am to ride to the start! First stop was the Nag's Head in Usk for coffee and pastry. Andy was a few minutes behind. I think all 31 starters had got there before we left again.
Next check point was the beautiful Shell garage in Monmouth where we caught up with a bunch of Ajax whippets. I tagged on to the back of them on the rolling roads to Hay on Wye, and in best Pacer's tradition did absolutely no work for the next 25 miles. I did notice Paul and Dave weren't on after a short distance but was loathed to dropped off a free ride.
The sun was back out and almost tempting me to lose leg warmers by the time we sat down in the cafe in Hay (Dave had been riding in shorts since we left at 5am; I was wearing full finger gloves at that point and my hands hurt for the first few miles with the cold). Dave, Paul and then Andy all turned up over the course of lunch. Andy made a quick coffee and cake stop while the rest of us had something more substantial.
Pleasantly warm from Hay to Talybont on Usk on beautiful lanes with the Beacons / Bannau in the distance. Caught up with Andy again just before another cafe stop. Cake for us, I think something on the go for Andy because he'd gone before we'd sat down. No one really looking forward to the 20% climb up Torpantau but no one walked (although it would have been quicker).
Then pretty much downhill all the way back to Cardiff. Lots of Taff Trail to keep it interesting. Got to the finish a few minutes after Andy, demonstrating that the tortoise is quicker than the hare. Especially when the tortoise rides on the dual carriageway rather than the bike path (and doesn't stop evey 30 miles for another sit down lunch).
Very gentle ride home, made even gentler by a slow puncture for me, and my signtaure multiple botched attempts to change a tube. Really good day. Hopefully we'll encourage a few more to try later in the year. Fingers crossed for Dave next week; hopefully he gets sectioned before having to ride Chepstow to Hollyhead and back in one ride.
