Good turnout this morning for the Almost Abergavenny ride, mixed group of pacers and chasers, with 8 of us on the start line, me, Rich L, Karl, Scott, Tammy, Paul R, Mark R, Nigel, and we picked up Ben in Pontyclun en route which turned out to be a good call. Good conditions when we set out but we knew we would be dodging showers later on the ride.
Good group ride out to Caerleon for the first leg with some rolling chain gang at a sensible pace. We did lose Mark R just after Pie Corner on the approach to Newport with his rear tyre not holding pressure and I think he planned to head for home via Risca. Good coffee stop then in the Green in Caerleon although the owner did check out how sweaty we were first before allowing us on his furniture indoors and we then all ended up outside in the sun in the garden in any case. And then on to Usk and up to Abergavenny and the first showers of the day, albeit just light and short lived. From here we dropped down to New Inn and Pontypool and the first incident of the day, Scott taking out Tammy and leaving her on the tarmac, fortunately no damage to Tammy or her bike. And then the second coffee stop of the day at MacDonalds in Newbridge where we were again able to sit out in the sun. From here the final leg home, I did struggle from here up to Nelson on the two drags on the dual carriage way to Ystrad Mynach and then on the Penallta climb, thanks to Richard L for sitting up for me and the others for waiting. I was then helped in my recovery by two unplanned stops. The first for a puncture for Ben as we approached Pontypridd which was the only thing that was going to slow Ben today who spent a long time on the front today with strong turns. There was some problems inflating his tubeless tyre with two CO2 cannisters failing to do the job. Thankfully Rich L had some new technology on hand, being a pump, which saved the day. Next stop in a bus shelter in Pontypridd to escape a very heavy shower and thunder and lightning. And then then final push for home, with Ben dropping back off in Pontyclun and Karl in Brynna, and the rest of us cycling around Bridgend to find the extra miles to get us to 100 miles for the day.
Thanks all for a very enjoyable day out. See you next Sunday.
REMINDER - CLUB NIGHT THIS MONDAY AT 7 AT THE CHAPEL HALL
