12 riders, consisting of 10 ordinary mortals and 2 superheroes started out from Brackla this morning, accompanied by Jack Frostdoing his best to freeze us to the bones. The ordinary mortals today were Tony M, Mark B, Lewis, Henry, Andy, Richard B, Scott, Nigel, Paul and myself whilst in the superheroes category were Mark R and Karl W who ( bless their cotton socks) both turned up despite having severe mild colds.
The route took us first through the sub zero territories of Aberkenfig and Parc Slip before emerging into the eternal sunshine of Port Talbot. A sensible speed along Harbour Way where despite Nigel's prompting to get a chain gang going, the boys at the back of the peloton were having none of it, suffering a surfeit of Guinness from the previous day/ night. Through into Neath, where Andy peeled off, having been up all night riding as part of a Big Moose 24 charity ride.
https://bigmoose.enthuse.com/pf/bigmoose-4ba3c and then onto Skewen we thence took the road up towards Clydach and Pontardawe before heading back towards Neath for a coffee in Costa in Neath. Scott decided we did not merit his company and passed on the offer of a coffee, taking us down to 10, but still 2 Superheroes 🦸
Out of Neath we then took the much avoided road up through Cimla before heading downhill to Pontrhydyfen and a minor altercation with a BMW driver and a split in the group into roughty tufties and softy Walters. The roughties went up over the Bwlch and the Softies headed back down the Afan Valley and home.
Once again great group riding in staying together and good preparation for Bethlehem next week.
