15 riders gathered at the Railway Inn today for our ride to Pennard, perhaps they thought it was going to be easy, perhaps they just didn't know that this relatively short ride would be packed with three of the toughest hills we face on our rides. Or perhaps they are just suckers for a challenge.

Anyway it turned out even better than that because at Three Crosses (or is it four, I can never remember) we were joined by Big Trev, who probably cycled up the hill to Blue Anchor but said nothing being an extremely modest man.

As we reached Fairwood Common we were introduced to the chilly wind and along came the awful realisation that the cold weather will be with us now until the spring. But if you look back on the year, a year that most people will remember as a very wet one, you will have to be honest and admit that you really cannot remember when we had to cancel a ride because of inclement weather.

Shortly after Three Crosses we lost Andrew and did not see him again until the lunch stop, well that's not quite accurate because he lost us if the truth were known. Apparently he waited for us several times but he waited so long he thought we must have gone a different way.

Between The Greyhound and The Britannia Inn a DHL driver realised that he was having to share the road with us. He passed us several times (safely) but as his work was delivering parcels he soon found himself behind us again. Considering his work must be one with a great deal of pressure involved he was very patient and good humoured, so three cheers for him!!

It was at the Britannia that we noticed a change in Walter, apparently he had seen a couple of birds and wanted to know more about them. This surprised us until we realised to our great relief that these birds were Muscovy Ducks! Well its a simple mistake, anyone could make it!

We were in the car park of the Britannia for quite some time, I rather think that everyone was delaying the steep climb opposite but it could not be put off for ever so it was a case of select your lowest gear and make a start. I was doing quite well and quite close to the front but there were some dastardly plans being made behind me. John Cardy had bribed David Naylor to be his domestique and very quietly came up behind me, they then put on a spurt and before I knew it I had been passed. I wouldn't have minded but Mr Cardy showed rather too much obvious pleasure. He will pay for this, and quite soon I hope - a cunning plan was developing.

We ride through Burry Green, I had correctly anticipated that his next challenge would be Cefn Bryn so I made sure that I reached Reynaldston well in front of him meaning that I would be suitably refreshed by the time he caught up. I allowed no time for him to rest because as soon as he arrived we were off again. I kept plenty of energy in reserve as I climbed the hill and, sure enough, when I was three quarters up David let him shoot past to challenge me. I saw his wheel edge up and let him think that I was a spent force then surprised him with a magnificent burst of speed, he met my challenge and gradually made up the difference. I went up a gear, he went up a gear - there was no doubt that the gauntlet was down. I pressed hard on the pedal, he pressed hard on the pedal. My front wheel was bobbing up and down on the Tarmac, bob, bob, bob. His front wheel was bobbing up and down on the Tarmac, john, john, john - ha ha - his front wheel was confused and muddled. Confucius he say, "muddled front wheel no win race". I knew I had him, up another gear and another and I pulled away.

This was the proudest moment of my life!!

We all race down the other side of Cefn Bryn then through the wood to Park Mill where we all use the ford, Walter and Colin having, on previous occasions proved beyond reasonable doubt that it is perfectly safe. Sandy Lane is the next challenge and we all attack it with optimism but the pace is too fast for me and I have to dismount. A car comes down the hill and several riders have to dismount putting paid to their hopes of beating the hill. At the top Walter cannot conceal his bitter disappointment - he can not be comforted so the rest of us put our heads together and decided that if we stopped the traffic going down then Walter could have another go. We put it to him but he just didn't hear us!

Lunch was at the cafe where the dapper Bob Smith and the elusive Andrew Robinson were there waiting for us. As always with Pennard, because of its location we all drift off to our various homes after lunch but although the distance was not too great the effort that we put into the day's ride was perfectly respectable.

I am informed that a reader was musing that I should have been a journalist but then changed her mind (for she is, indeed, a she) because on reflection I am not inquisitive enough. And that is probably the secret, you see if I were to ask a lot of questions I would get all the facts. Having just half the facts seems to be a much better recipe for a good story.

As the Irish love to say "Don't let the truth get in the way of a good story (begorra)!"

Next week John White's Away Day to Aberfan.

PS - None of us said anything but we were all secretly disappointed at the lack of wine gums and, if you remember Mr Cardy, we made a deal!!

Happy pedalling

Lew Spokes

Raring to Go photo: Martin Brain		Most of the Usual Suspects
One of Walter's Birds? photo: Martin Brain