Re: Sunday Ride 8 Jan 2012

[ValleyMan]

When I eventfully made it to the Bloomfield car park (equipment change needed when weather forecast not as promised, more later…) I was greeted with the usual abuse but from a larger than usual peloton itching to head for the hills.

In addition to the usual suspects, Andrew R, Andrew M, Huw, Mark D, Celia, Kim and Matt G, we were joined by new member Mark from Pendine and his Father-in-law, Richard K (now a new member having handed over his cash) a welcome return by Nick G from way ‘up North and Richard J (aka Stagg). Roger, fresh from his week of après ski, joined us dressed in black to aid visibility on the promised sunny morning.

The route, as suggested by Andrew R, involved us scaling the north face of the Preseli’s (the hard way up Aces…) via Crymych then a gentle roll back to Narberth via Maenclochog. Simples…

You may have noted in Andrews post that he considered the ‘weather looks ok for it’. Given the mist/fog/drizzle/rain that accompanied us for most of the way, I can only assume that he thought it would be helpful not to be able to see the climbs ahead, rather than confusing Narberth with Nice when looking at the forecast.

Apart from Andrew M’s chain jumping off, we were blessed with no mechanicals to the extent that it was commented that my pedal had remained intact (replaced under warranty) and that neither Kim nor I had got a puncture. At this point I did have to confess that my prowess at changing tires extended to wheelbarrows; it took me three attempts to fix a puncture yesterday. Roger got very excited at this point when I offered to lend him my back issues of Wheelbarrowing Weekly. If there is enough interest we could have a whole section on the forum devoted to wheelbarrows, mine is 90 litres single speed in Binachi Cerise, however, I am saving up for a carbon fibre Orbea model which now comes with Di2.

Anyway, back to the ride. The peloton was well and truly split climbing Bwlch y Gwynt and as I laboured up through the mist I saw a small white light coming towards me. Have I maxed out on my heart rate and am about bit meet my maker I wondered? The lack of a life flashing before me said something, but, no, it was Nick G looking for stragglers…

On the descent I was thinking smugly about the size of the turnout and imagining it would surpass our seaside cousins when wave after wave of Aces came into view heading for the summit.

I arrived back in Narberth exhausted having set an average speed of 13mph. More training is definitely needed. Can’t wait for next week’s route and of course the forecast.