Today I have a problem, as indeed I did yesterday. Tomorrow, or even later today I will not, hopefully.

What happened to start all this was that I had arranged for my central heating boiler to be serviced and yesterday was the day. No big deal really just an hour's work, make a cup of tea for the plumber and give him a cheque.

That was the theory. Ah, would that life was so straightforward!

He arrived, opened the boiler room door and says "I can smell gas!" But he would find the leak and if it was on the domestic side of the meter, fix it - no real problem.

Except he couldn't find the leak so Transco had to be called in. With their more sophisticated equipment the leak was found - on the domestic side so the supply is sealed off until the plumber comes back to fix the leak. Only trouble was he could not come until today. And that is why, on this wet day, I am not on the ride.

Anyway John Cardy sent the three riders at the start on their way for me and hopefully I can get up to Ammanford to meet the riders for lunch. We shall see!!

So while we are waiting let me tell you about two little incidents which I was witness to yesterday. I was waiting at the traffic lights at Dyfatty Street, about fourth in the line and going straight on, to my left the traffic had started moving on because there was a filter light. That is to say three cars moved on, I turned my head to see a yellow headed girl in a red car suddenly burst into action and shoot forward revealing a bumper sticker that read "CAUTION - blonde thinking".

Which left me thinking "How true!"

And just to balance matters and to ensure that no-one can accuse me of being sexist let me relate to you a further incident.

Five minutes have now passed and I am waiting to get on to the roundabout by the Liberty Stadium, I am quietly minding my own business and just generally being patient. I hear a crash, I looked to my right to see an Audi busily reshaping the railings on the other carriageway. The roads were dry, no other vehicles were near. What is more he had hit the barrier to his left so it wasn't a case of him being too wide on the turn. I still can't understand how he did it. I looked at the driver, as I'm sure everyone else did. Outwardly he looked cool and unperturbed. Slowly he reversed away, his front bumper hanging loose. First gear was engaged and nonchalantly and silently giving the impression that this was all part of his daily routine, he clanked away.

I wonder what explanation he gave his wife!

And now I can tell you that the plumber has finally finished, he has been paid again and he is off to his next job. What a costly service that was!

So, thanks to a phone call from Big Trev I can now tell you about the ride.

We left the story with John Cardy tearfully waving the three riders on their way. They were Des, Chris and Ken. They suffered the first shower before even reaching Gowerton but, undeterred they rode on.

Another five are waiting by the surgery and, for the record, they are – Big Trev, The Dapper Bob Smith, Martin Brain, John White and Mike Brewer.

Big Trev announces that he has devised a new route and, providing he can remember it, that is the one they will use. Sounds a bit ominous but as anything is better than the mountain route everyone is ecstatic. Off they go, Big Trev ably leading from the back. Big Trev has been riding for donkeys years and knows a great deal about how to fall off a bike safely. He is anxious to pass on this knowledge to all and on the way to Pontardulais he spies a wet metal grating in the road. This is his chance so he dexterously slips his front tyre to the left, rapidly unclips his shoes from the pedals, rolls with the fall and, just for good effect, executes a triple somersault as a grand finish. It was a brilliant show (Big Trev told me so himself) and it would have elicited rapturous applause had Big Trev not forgotten that he was at the time leading from the back!

Anyway John White saw it, was greatly impressed and is at this very moment perfecting the roll before moving on to practice the triple somersault.

Onwards then and somewhere near Llandybie confusion sets in and maps are brought out.

“I think it’s that way” says Des.

“No, I think it’s this way” says Big Trev.

“I’m hungry” says Mike.

“Me too” says Martin

Eventually when all the dead ends are found only the correct route is left. And so they reach Ammanford.
Big Trev had planned to have lunch at Jenkins’ Coffee Shop but a look through the window reveals only one table free.

“Leave this to me” says Big Trev. He straightens himself up to his full 7’2”, puts on a mean look and walks through the door, eyes look up, faces fall, lunchtime is over. One by one the tables empty and Big Trev and his sidekick The Dapper Bob Smith park their saddlebags and go out to tell the others.

But there were no others. They had all found a pub and were already perusing an interesting menu and slavering over the range of beers.

So the cowboys ate alone.

The ride back was not without it’s rain and from Llanedi to Gorseinon it simply bucketed down.

Sorry I missed it really!!

Today we have Des to thank for the photos.

Next week - Rossili.

Happy pedalling

Lew Spokes

Big Trev and Sidekick (photo: Des Radford)		Ken leads the Pack (photo: Des Radford)
The Crowd replete after lunch (photo: Des Radford)