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Sat Oct 9th 2010

Brecons - Day 1	3*

Leader: Angela Sanders	Start Time: 9:00 am	Start Location: Talybont on Usk
Description: TBC
Riders: Angela Sanders Bryan Charleston Carin Tranter Chris Walters David Bridge Derek Boutle Janet Charleston John Tranter Steve Sanders Riders = 9 Report: Thanks to Angela for arranging this wonderful weekend away, I am sure Steve made a significant contribution too. The weather forecast looked promising for a mid-October weekend, so buoyed with optimism we arranged to meet at Talybont youth hostel on Friday night. During the course of the weekend we started to wonder whether the theme was murder mystery rather than a cycling trip, numbers dwindled for a range of reasons. The first to drop out through injury was Des, who didn’t even attempt the trip to Wales. Tony made it to within 20 miles of the venue on Friday night, then his car decided to die and they were both repatriated to Oxfordshire. This left 7 riders and Carin to settle down for the evening on Friday night. The next morning Chris joined us for the 9.30 start, it must have been an early start from Hungerford. It wasn’t raining but we started the ride in heavy mist with threats of high winds on top of the mountain. A gentle downhill to Crickhowell was followed by a stiff warm up climb, followed by undulations to Llanthony Priory. We initially planned to stop at the priory for lunch but it was only 10.30 so we stopped for tea, took some photos and decided we may extend the route to Hay-on-Wye for a lunch stop. The climb up to Hay bluff from Chapel-Y-Ffin is always challenging with the gradient approaching 20%, however the wind was behind us and gaining in strength as we climbed. There was no view from the top, we were in cloud and very fast moving cloud. The side wind was quite strong as we descended to the point where Chris decided to stick to the original route and leave us. From then on, along the ridge, the wind was ferocious, strange watching the rider ahead leaning at 30 degrees yet still moving forward. We turned left off the ridge, downhill with a 50 mph wind behind, we literally flew down to Hay in no time. John arranged a lunch time rendezvous with Carin who was shopping for books. Lunch was great and good value. Afterwards we continued to head south over a few up and downs. At the top of one hill we finally had a splendid view over Llangorse Lake. Fast moving shafts of sunlight penetrated the thick cloud and illuminated patches of the valley like a scene from the film “Close encounters of the third kind”. Riders going missing, alien space ships, spooky. We arrived back at the youth hostel just before 4.00pm, a good days riding, some people spent time cleaning, fettling and lubricating their bikes. The sensible ones had a shower, cup of tea and cake. The pre-ordered dinner at the youth hostel in the evening was excellent, washed down with a very reasonably priced Malbec or Rioja. The conversation was lively, swapping tales and gentle banter. During dessert Angela recounted an overheard conversation between a bishop and a thespian “this tart takes some getting into”. Everyone was understandably tired and bid their farewells for the evening by 10.00pm.
Distance: 93.34 km (58.00 mi)
David cresting the first hill Steve and derek approach the priory Followed by Chris and John, Angela, David and Janet Group photo at the Priory
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Start Locations: WMP
Wantage Market Place; OMH
Old Mill Hall, Grove

Categories: 1* - Suitable for irregular, social, beginner or family riders, pace will match the slower riders. Not hilly or long. Expect rides up to 3 hours. Gentle exercise.; 2* - Suitable for regular riders who prefer to cover some distance but at a more relaxed pace. Likely to be half-day rides. Solid exercise.; 3* - Suitable for experienced riders, may be hilly, long, quick, or any combination! Likely to be half or full-day rides. Challenging exercise.; 4* - Suitable for athletic riders who can ride safely above the 3* standard. Quick rides for the fit.; More Information