Sunday Ride 30 December 2012

[ValleyMan]

We have been invited to join the Aces for a ride on 30th December. The plan is a 40 mile route and then Chilli or Curry at Dennis Cafe on South Beach. If we were to cycle down from Narberth it would:

a) end up being a very long route and

b) require a very early start!

Might therefore be best to drive to the Leisure Centre.

Post here if you are interested, or think we should organise our own Sunday Ride ride.

[MatG]

I am up for it & cycling there & back. Remind me are a cycling club or a Sunday drive

to seaside club.

[ValleyMan]

The Aces have now moved their ride to the 31st. We are still invited, however, suggest that we do a Club ride on 30th anyway and perhaps go to Dennis’ cafe in Tenby for a coffee. We can then enjoy another in the series of ‘Great Cafe Stops of the World’ penned by our very own Sweaty Eds.

Meet at 0900 at Bloomfield.

PS Also keeps Mat happy as we cycle rather than drive to Tenby.

[stoneditch]

The 30th is good for me as Im working on the 31st. Have to make sure I look where I’m going rather that the garmin that now adorns my stem.

Valleyman have you somehow figured out a lightweight fluid concoction to go with your carbon bottle cage?

[Morganite]

Here is the route, from Narbeth to Pembroke around castle back to Tenby 28 miles completed back to Narbeth 41 Miles total.

See you in Bloomfield at 9

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/161906208

[Morganite]

changed the route slightly on the way to Pembroke.

All else the same, including coffee in Tenby at 28 miles?

http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=487482

[Legaleagle]

I’ll meet you around Martletwy. Don’t wait if I am not there

[butcherboy]

Working again this Sunday. Wish i was a solicitor, doctor, engineer, builder, chemist or a general lay about, then i could get a day off this time of year!

Have a good ride.

[MatG]

Slinky riding could be best rode cold lane & gumfreston Thursday & water covered road for over 100 feet & about foot deep. Great fun

[ValleyMan]

Butcherboy, I would imagine that there are a number of turkeys that share your sentiments….

[ValleyMan]

Mr and Mrs ValleyMan were fashionably late as usual, but were greeted by an unusual and unexpectedly large turnout. The ‘off’ was delayed unnecessarily as I had to fend off a number of frankly puerile comments, rather than address the matter in hand – a rather flaccid back tire.

The line-up included Andrew ‘Too busy to cycle/get a proper job/ButcherBoy’ Rees, Roger, Flapjack (released by the Environment Agency from his very important job of pointing out the blindingly obvious), Morganite on his new steed, Gary in his customary winter get up of shorts…, new recruit Pete from Ludchurch, Jonathan, Smurf and Nigel Bev.

The route masterminded by Huw took us to a pre-planned café stop in Tenby via Crosshands, Creswell Quay, Carew, Milton Hill and Pembroke Castle. Along the way we gained two, Nick Brown and Dan at Martletwy and lost one, Smurf who had apparently lost his computer. My excuse for not waiting for him was that I had not even noticed he was at Bloomfield (distracted by tire etc.) and so how could I have realised he had gone? Not sure what the other 11 excuses were…

We were honoured once more to be joined by Nick; this was his second successive club ride (despite his presence on Thursday, the turnout for the ride was pitiful, just 4 of us, but improved significantly at the Ivy Bush that evening). As Nick hove into view, there was a clattering of gears as everyone changed down to up their cadence. Roger was on the point of unclipping one leg and Gary had to be restrained from leaping off his bike to perform The Plank.

As we climbed up from the Quay, it was clear that Huw was suffering on his super slick LOOK 675. The frame might well have been light and stiff, but came with a standard Shimano groupset. The extra effort required to manually change gear was taking its toll.

As we headed along Lower Lamphey Road we came across the Aces Sunday ride, all two of them. It appears they have developed a collective form of agoraphobia that keeps them locked away in the Bowling Club on Sundays.

Flapjack, with his insider knowledge, was taking no chances and turned up with balloon tires that I understand he got at a good price from NASA when they wound down the moon buggy programme.

In what is becoming a worrying trend, we managed to stay together for the most part. However, there is always an exception and we were treated to the rather unedifying and juvenile sight of Roger trying to race Nick up several hills. Roger’s principle tactic appeared to be to try and force an overtaking Nick into the path of the oncoming traffic. However, there were no surprises at the eventual outcome; ‘at least he is used to coming second’ muttered Andrew.

Nick left us at Penally to a sigh of relief as we all relaxed and dropped back to a sub 100 cadence. However, top student Dan continued to spin his legs like the Road Runner; in the developing gloom, the high vis stripes on his leggings began to resemble a Catherine Wheel.

As we rolled into Tenby and down to Dennis’ Café on South Beach the heavens opened. Proprietor Mike kindly let us put the bikes in his back shed before forming an orderly queue for teas, coffees, teacakes and a beefburger (you know who you are). Andrew’s scowl only lifted when we decided it was probably time to head off back to Narberth.

There was a parting of the ways at Kilgetty as Flapjack and Jonathan headed straight back up the main road and we continued to Stepaside then up the interminable drag to Ludchurch. By the time the back markers got to Lord and Lady Rees’ Palace, Andrew was nowhere to be seen, so off we went to Narberth.

There was a final splintering of the now depleted peloton at Princes Gate with the Valley Road contingent turning left, Roger right and the remainder straight on.

All in all a very enjoyable group ride. 41 miles covered at an average of 12.6mph. Let’s see if this enthusiasm will be sustained into the New Year.

[The Slinky Otter]

Great report as ever Valleyman. A classic combination of facts and finger pointing.

[Roger]

Its not being headed by Nick brown repeatedly during the very pleasant Sunday ride that disturbs me…it’s the coffee stop precedent that has now been set..

[Author]

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