Reliability Trial

[neilc]

Sun 7 Mar Morning -1 °c -6 °c 0 1034 mb 0.0 mm 0 % precip. 9 mph

Can't wait! Haven't been on the road bike since the ill-fated icy one... not that it put me off, it's just that the CX and MTBs are more fun in the gloop.

Neil

[Steve Thomas]

BBC got it listed as between 1 and 7deg C for Sunday with a brisk Easterly (which will up the windchill ) but keep us honest all the way back from Pengenffordd.

Also going to be DRY!!!! Might stick some training wheels on the best bike

[Guy]

Are we heading towards Hereford first?

[Steve Thomas]

If we have an easterly Hereford first would seem sensible, otherwise it'll be grim all the way through Hay, Peterchurch to Locke's

[Mark Prosser]

Really enjoyed the ride today. Thanks to everyone for setting a decent (i.e. not too fast ) pace to Talgarth. Special thanks to Neil (I think!) who went back for my chain tool and towed me back to the group. Pengenffordd was a bit of a drag for me and looking at the prestart photo I can see why - I look massive compared to everyone else A bit hard going over the last 12 miles with a nasty breeze from Tretower home, I got back about 1.40 so lost about 20 minutes or so over the last 20 miles but in my defence it's the lomgest ride I've done in 13 years.

Special word for Graham - he's a machine, 3 weeks after a knee op and he still held in when some of us were miles off the back!

[neilc]

It was indeed me Mark! I felt like a jolly litte domestique nipping back and forth all day. By the descent of Pengenfordd I was tiring somewhat and that wind was indeed a killer, needless to say I took the right turn for Bwlch and home rather than add any more to the ride - I ended up doing a nice round 80 miles in the end.

Chwarae teg's go to Jeff, Lowri, Ian S, Guy and Richie who deserted me just before I turned right to Bwlch! Who was first back then?

Neil

[Guy]

Ian 'won' the sprint for the 30 sign by Nevill Hall but seeing as nobody else contested, it was a hollow victory. Good ride Neil - you must have been beat when you got home. We didn't desert you - you know what it's like - you don't look round and before you know it, someone has disappeared. We presumed you'd turned for home rather than fallen into a ditch.

My legs are pretty sore at the moment. 2.5 hrs very steady followed by 50mins at threshold hurts!

[neilc]

Beat is one way of describing it! Like Steve said, the intervals too and fro helped to create a certain something in the legs, the ascent of Pengenfordd only made sure the pain went real deep, the sprint for the top was a landmark (first time I've ever managed to pip Ian/Richie up there), and the wind did me in fully!

Still, makes this weeks 'easy' week feel positively lazy.
Neil

[Lowri]

Really enjoyed the day, couldn’t have asked for better weather (well once it warmed up anyway!). I have entered my 1st race for Saturday so with upgraded parts now on my bike (thanks to gateway), the club rides and a new set of wheels...hopefully this should all help!

Lowri

[rob bignell]

Good luck for saturday Lowri. where are you racing
had a good day on sunday. dont think i should have been on the front before the climb, might have stayed with you all for longer then. had a realy hard ride back into the wind after the top of the climb, hardest i have pushed this year for that length of time.
i will be out on staurdays for the next few weeks so will see you on a club ride some time in April

rob