The Pembrokeshire Freewheelers
2002 Annual Club Review: April
April saw the start of the Greenways ride programme. The club had been asked by the local Council Greenways officer to lead a series of shorter family-oriented rides. The first of these was to start in Haverfordwest and to travel out to Broad Haven for a picnic on the beach; returning to town via some quieter lanes utilising NCN Route 4.
We made sure we had a reasonable number of members out, both to lead, sweep and assist any other stragglers or strugglers.
However, only one lady and her young daughter turned up for the ride, and despite our assurances that we would be happy to ride as slowly as they could manage, on arrival at Broad Haven they stressed that they did not wish to hold us up on the return leg and insisted on continuing back on their own.
We felt that they were probably intimidated by our presence of numbers and the fact that we all seemed serious riders.
Vic organised a Quiz night at the Buffs Club, and although not well attended was enjoyed by all who entered.
A weekend trip to Capel-y-ffin had been planned for mid-April, having been cancelled last year due to the foot and mouth outbreak.
The group travelled to the hostel after work to meet up for the evening meal.
Barrie had organised the weekend and led the riders off on the Saturday morning to Hay-on-Wye, where after a second breakfast of the day, some of the many bookshops of the town were visited.
From here we rode out to Talgarth, where lunch was taken with the Griffin.
Leaving the non-mythical creature behind, we climbed around a few hills, observing the many walkers out frequenting the footpaths now fully reopened.
We eventually reached Crickhowell for tea and cakes, before climbing out of the town and past a nature reserve near Stanton. Shortly we arrived at Llanthony Priory, where we stopped to explore this historical sight. After a tough 46 miles we finally arrived back at the youth hostel as dusk settled.
We showered and changed and set off back to the hotel at the priory for a meal, but there was no room and they refused to serve us. We tried at the pub and were refused there too, because it was after 8:30. As we were returning to the car, the owner saw that there were seven of us, and after calculating a quick profit, told us to go back in and tell the chef to start cooking. Reluctantly, they provided us with a meal, and we were glad to return to the hostel for some well earned rest.
We made breakfast early on the Sunday and loaded the bikes on to the cars for a short drive to Llangattock, from where we were to start the day's ride.
Just after we had unloaded and set off for the ride there was an almighty bang, and the rim of Vic?s back wheel blew off. Sadly he was unable to continue the ride and returned to his car.
Meanwhile the rest of the group rode along the bank of the Brecon canal until we reached Llangynidr, where we stopped for lunch.
From here there was a steep climb up, around sharp bends, to the top of Llangynidr mountain, where we stopped to enjoy the view for miles around.
It was a fast descent to Brynmawr and then a short ride over to Nantyglo, where Barrie gave us a history lesson on the town of his birth. He then took us to view all his old haunts, and we rode up to overlook the Clydach Gorge. It was here as we cycled along an old mining tramway that we discovered what a "flat mountain road" was, that he had promised us for months.
One of his old haunts is a cave system, and after promising that it was only around the corner and cycleable for most of the way, we agreed to visit. After much off-road riding and pushing of the bikes we arrived at the cave entrance.
Another promise of a five minute trip inside which took about five times longer and we were back out in daylight. We then had to retrace our "steps" back to the road, before we dropped down the massive 1 in 4 hill to return to the cars.
We had spent two great days exploring the extremes of the Brecon Beacon National Park.