Re: Preseli Angel 2012

[Roger]

Ha bloody ha!…..I can only write a “short” statement as I have a series of interviews and promotions throughout today…

Lovely though the scenery was,this was a brutal ride.

I managed to stick with a group of 3 others for 20 miles until the top of Preseli mountain..and then they were just too strong…and then I began to curse..yet again you’ve gone off to fast and now you have no group to share the front with and you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere with nearly 60 miles to go with the prospect of a fresh mountain climbing Andrew appearing at any moment in a large group that will just whistle past you..idiot!

So spurred on by self-recrimination I set about the task of staying away from persuers for as long as I possibly could…..and my isolation went on and on..horrible hills,paranoia about missing a turning,paranoia about being caught up and spat out..and then at 50 miles cramp..happily in one leg at a time this time rather than both (unlike the Daffodil). I didn’t see a soul. Finally I was on the last climb out of the Gwaun Valley and nearly fell off several times as I tried to ride looking backwards for the closing pack. It was only on the top The Angel that I allowed myself the realisation that I wasn’t going to be caught and ,even then,I waiting for the inevitable puncture or suicidal sheep charge…but for once it didn’t happen!