Amblers' - Sunday 17 May

[Mark Pope]

The forecast looks reasonable this Sunday, about 13-15 degrees and overcast with a brisk Westerly breeze. I propose the following route:
 
Brackla- Coity - Sarn - Fountain - Sarn Nature Park - Hafodheulog - A48 - Water Street - Kenfig - Porthcawl - 3 Steps Hill - A48 - Merthyr Mawr Cutting - Ewenny - Ogmore - Southerndown - St Brides - Wick - Llantwit Major - Llandow - Pentre Meyrick - Ruthin - Pencoed - Coychurch - Brackla

Distance is 54 miles, with a coffee stop at Cafe Velo at around 37 miles.  See you Sunday.

Mark

[Mark Pope]

There was a last minute rush for today's Club Run, with 19 Amblers (at various times) riding with the group. The group numbers are getting so large that it is now becoming a struggle to find a cafe that can accommodate the Oggie swarm. We set off from Brackla and headed out via Coity and Fountain towards the A48 at a very un-Amblers like lick before re-grouping at Kenfig and heading back through Porthcawl and up 3-Steps Hill towards the Coast Road. We followed the Lanes to Llantwit where David was waiting with pound signs glinting in his eyes at Cafe Velo at the sight of the plague of yellow clad locusts that had just arrived, but unfortunately we had been gazumped by Cardif Ajax who had arrived 2 minutes before us and took all the seats. We then decided to change the route slightly to search out a coffee and headed to Cowbridge for a quick break before the now shrinking group headed back to Brackla via Aberthin, City and Treose.

The average speed today was a brisk 17.5mph, which everyone seemed to cope with (well just about) and we were occasionally helped by a lively tailwind on the home leg.  It was good to see a couple of the 25ers stepping up and coping comfortably with the pace and distance (Clayton and Jonathan) and we also had a couple of Newbies out with us, (Andrew & Neil) who are both strong riders and will be joining the Club in the next day or so.

Out today were (here goes!):

Terry
Wayne
Carl
Andrew Storrie
Paul Longthorn
Andrew - Newbie
Jonathan Saunders
Clayton
Neil Bartlett
Neil P - Newbie
Lee
Marshall - Saxo-Tinkoff
Mal
Tony M
Tony J
Chris Reed
Roy 2
Mark P
Pete Phillips - a youngster, new to the sport and thinking of joining the Club!

Phew, I think that's it.

Mark 
 

[Jsaunders]

Really enjoyed the step up to the amblers today, great route Mark will look forward to next week.

[Clayton]

Thanks mark for making us feel welcome, great route and a good pace. I'm away next week but back with the amblers the following weekend! 👍

[mal jones]

love reading your reports Mark nice  bit of humour I must admit I thought I was with the wrong group the way you all set off to pyle from fountain  think some have been watching the Giro too much . Thanks to Andy (I think) for giving me his wheel to following on first bit of coast road .Headed home from St Brides to Castle upon Alun as she who must be obeyed told me to be home by 12. Away next week but look forward to next ride.

[Clayton]

And a great job remembering everyone's name!!!! Ha.

[Wayne E]

Thanks Mark for a enjoyable ride. Good turn out today .

[neilburns]

Hi all! Thanks for making me feel so welcome, really enjoyed today, apologies if I got a bit frisky on times I'm not used to riding in groups but learnt a lot today, so glad we stopped for coffee thanks Chris!  I have my form filled out just need to hand it in, where shall I drop it? And where can I get the kit from?, again thanks guys for today and I definitely picked the right club

[Andy H]

Forms and kit can be sorted at club night, Friday night 8:00pm 

Gilead Chapel Hall, Coity  CF35 6AU

[neilburns]

Thanks Andy

[Mark Pope]

I'm pleased that everyone (including me ) seemed to enjoy today's ride. However, I read Chris Goodwin's comments about the Pacers' group with interest as the Amblers' group size is growing week on week and we are in danger of becoming a mobile road block and seriously hacking off local motorists . The Pacers rode as a mini-peloton, with leading pairs riding at an agreed pace and with everyone taking their turn on the front. We may need to progress to these tactics when we have a large group, as well as moving to single file when the road conditions dictate. Obviously this will depend on the route and number of riders but it is food for thought. I realise that a few of the stronger riders may need to be forced to wear blinkers and have reins attached to their rear seat stays but that can be arranged!

I'd be interested in your thoughts?

Mark     

[ron b]

Easy to remember names, call everyone Andy, how many in the club. Do we now have the need for a forth group, perhaps for those who do not have so much time, they would go faster for a shorter time. Lets have some ideas.

[wardhaugh]

Interesting point Mark. I think a group of 10-12 riding 2 abreast would not be regarded as anti-social by most reasonably minded motorists - larger than this and you might be at risk from impatient driving (doesn't matter if the driver is in the wrong - it's us who'll come off worse). Might be worth splitting the group, and having a 2 minute stagger in setting off (faster risers first to reduce chance of groups coming together again).

[neilburns]

As im a novice group rider I don't really have any useful ideas but 2 groups does seem a sensible idea, sorry if I caused a bit of mayhem today , too much energy gels was probably my issue

[Jsaunders]

With 135 members numbers turning out for club runs are only going to increase, its a natural progression to step up this isn't happening so the only option is to start another group called the chasers.