Earliest advertised start of any OVW ride on Sunday saw Paul (fresh from his warm-weather training camp), Nige, and I trundle away from Brackla at 8am with the mist just about lifted. Nige was keen to push things along in the early stages and we drifted past a few late Dragon Ride starters as I reminded my companions that our schedule would mean we’d be unlikely to see any more from the sportive after the turn for Pontrhydyfen.
Early stop at Craig-y-Nos for breakfast cake before pushing on up Cerrig Duon (the Crai) where a handful of very early Dragon riders were coming the other direction.
Turning left towards Black Mountain we noticed a couple more keen event riders as we crested past Usk reservoir and began descending to the little bridge at Pont-ar-llechau past no more than 15-20 bajillion Dragon riders. Few sketchy moments as the odd car coming towards us was unable to adapt to cyclists travelling in opposite directions.
Over Black Mountain and the group made the foolish decision to follow me while I wasn’t concerning myself with the little direction arrows on my head unit. Fortunately this afforded us the opportunity to avail ourselves of more bike paths and parks in Carmarthenshire and we did eventually make a second cake stop at Ammanford.
Paul was whinging about sore legs at this point so he was delighted to get stuck into the joys of the climb over Garnswllt to shake off his laziness. From there it was the usual trip towards Briton Ferry and spin home down Harbour Way offering a wheel to Dragon stragglers.
