Today started dull and was promising, that is - promising to stay dull! But as you well know there is nothing dull about the Swansea Wednesday Riders. Nine of us were at the start but without stating the obvious we could have had a real good crowd had a few more people turned up. Big Trev had taken Pat on a well-deserved holiday, Spain had attracted the Brains and Colin and Des were absent without leave.

Questions will need to be asked!!

We had a new member, Janet from Port Talbot, she has been riding with the Afan Nedd Easy Riders and today fancied a Wednesday ride. We were heading for Llangennith and had a more challenging route than usual, out to Llanrhidian over Welsh Moor then turning back on ourselves in order to climb Cefn Bryn from the northern side. She met the challenge and did well. It has to be mentioned that she actually rode from Port Talbot to the start at Killay - about ten miles before we had even started!

The roads were much quieter today now that the holidays were over which makes for much more pleasant cycling but to balance things off the weather now starts to deteriorate, but then you can't have everything! We had reached the top of Cefn Bryn and there was a certain feeling of rain in the air and by the time we had got to the outskirts of Reynaldston it had started to come down. And now I need to talk to you about pilates, yoga, tai chi, karate, karioki, origami and all those other forms of exercise that are meant to keep you flexible. You know, you really don't need them, all you need to do is come cycling with us on a day like today, you see there we were by the cattle grid scrabbling for our waterproofs. It was the work of an instant to decide to change the lunch stop and make for the Britannia Inn at Cheriton, there were many advantages:

1) We could be there quicker.

2) There would be fewer hills.

3) We had never been there before.

4) We could be there quicker.

5) There would be fewer hills.

6) We had never been there before.

Six doubly good reasons just off the top of my head and all these things serve to keep you flexible. So forget about all those fashionable fads - just keep cycling!! We arrived at the Britannia just after twelve, they started serving lunch at 12.30 and here is another example of flexibility improved by cycling. At the entry of 9 hungry cyclists the old pad came out and you could see the pleasure in their eyes as they took our money- truly amazing! We sat outside, hogging two tables under a nicotine stained canopy (not really, but the smoking ban sometimes gives you more benefits than just clean air).

And its a funny thing. Have you ever wondered how one conversation leads to another, you know - the link. Most of the time the link is obvious, sometimes it isn't, sometimes even there is just no link, a matter purely of someone wanting attention. It was like that today. The conversation was centred around the difficulty of finding a National Health dentist and how much it now costs if you have to go private. The discussion was going quite well until a voice from the corner announced.

"I'm having a crown fitted next week!"

We looked towards the source of the voice. Now he may justifiably be known as 'The Great John Cardy' but no-one had imagined that he had royal blood in him. I suppose had we thought about it we would have half guessed. Anyway he told us that it was a private 'do' that was going to happen at Baglan Towers early next month. The person who is to perform the ceremony is a gentleman called Mr I. Pullem and I have actually heard about him, I just hope he cheers up before the ceremony because every time I have seen him he is aways looking down in the mouth.

John will, of course be unbearable after that. I just hope I shan't have to curtsey!

Anyway, don't let's panic just yet.

I was quite settled in and would have had another pint but Chris seemed anxious to get home, perhaps she had had a brilliant idea of what to give Ken for his dinner or perhaps she had forgotten to do the washing up this morning. Whatever it was she was off like a rocket (and I don't mean off like a lettuce either, I know how strange your mind is, dear reader) and we were challenged keeping up with her all the way to Gowerton. We all went our separate ways, John, Janet and myself heading down the cycle track to Black Pill where I have only a mile to reach home, to them it will be more like ten. But it had been an enjoyable ride, challenges were met, laughs were had and the weather was not at all bad. And a new lunch stop!

I get out of the shower and I have a missed call on my mobile. I wonder who it could be? Why, its none other than Big Trev wanting to know how things went.

Now there's dedication!

Next week it is our Away Day - 'The Tour de Aberhonddu' courtesy of Big Trev and Colin. Trevor will be sending details as soon as he returns from his hols. He tells me that he has taken his bike and has fitted a trailer so that Pat and the dogs can enjoy the countryside around Poppit Sands in style. I shall be prowling around the area tomorrow with my camera. Wouldn't that be a brilliant shot!!

Until next week.

Happy pedalling

Lew Spokes

Today's happy suspects		Birds of a feather
Hate to tell you Chris, but you haven't been going fast enough		'Bye to the Britannia