Out on the mildest Sunday morning of the year were Nige, Paul, new-Pacer Ben and I. Longish ride so the group had democratically elected for an earlier start and a requisite enthusiastic preliminary pace.
Uneventful riding to the base of the Crai, with the only distraction being able to chuckle at Paul getting a face full of sealant from new-Pacer Ben’s back tyre which other than softening very slightly held firm all day.
Social pace on the climb and a lengthy, serpentine descent to Sennybridge where my morning-long dreams of a breakfast bap (2 sausages, 1 bacon, fried egg and mushrooms) were dashed by the presence of approximately four million motorbikeists waiting on their Big Breakfast (2 bacon, 2 sausage, fried egg, fried bread, mushrooms, hash brown, baked beans, toast with a choice of tea or coffee). Unbowed we cruised round the corner to the International Welsh Rarebit center where new-Pacer Ben particularly enjoyed his Peppery Patagonian and we all checked the terms of our overdrafts.
Having meandered back over the Devil’s Elbow we skirted some serious looking traffic congestion as 20 or so cars tried to leave Ystradfellte, just as 20 or so cars tried to reach Ystradfellte on a car-width lane.
The Rhigos from the North is always a drag although at least what breeze there was was in our favour. Second stop of the day on the top for ice-cream which if nothing else made the rarebit lunches look cheap. Then it is was just an amble up the Bwlch with Nige enjoying the views so much he ambled especially hard before we dispersed on the road to Blackmill.
Great weather, great scenery, great route (natch). I’m cracking out the canvas saddlebag next Saturday and may have my feet up Sunday so a Pacer route from someone else is much encouraged.
