Concerns about Wednesday’s ride started on Tuesday morning. Unless you have just come back from another planet you will be well aware that the weather has been rather unfriendly recently. On Tuesday I had looked at the BBC weather site on the internet and it was predicting heavy rain and winds from the south west of about 23mph. This did not seem good. However, even if we were not able to ride it was rather crucial that as many members as possible got together somewhere so that the rides programme for the new year could be put together. Sometimes we have this comfortable feeling that a new year is always some distance away by virtue of the fact that it is tucked away the other side of Christmas. There was real danger of an empty programme.

I sent an email out on Tuesday morning pleading with everyone to turn up at the starting point whatever the weather conditions and that if necessary we would find somewhere dry to get together. I neglected to tell them that I possibly meant the sheltered spot under the road bridge!

As the day wore on I revisited the website and noticed that the forecast was of a slight improvement. The icon had changed from a rather manly two drops of rain to a more wimpish one spot. A second email went out advising members that we may well ride after all so be sure to come on your bike.

The morning dawned wet underfoot but with no rain and the cloud cover looked rather thin, clearly it had been bucketing down in the night and rather windy. I packed my waterproof trousers. On reaching the cycle track at Black Pill I noticed that Jan was about a hundred yards in front of me, chance of a chat perhaps but there is a dilemma. You see if I were to put my feet down hard on the pedals I would catch her up quite quickly but I would be out of breath by the time I reached her and therefore unable to talk so I had to be content with sneaking up behind her. As it turned out I was to be glad of her company because we hadn’t gone very far before we came across a lanky birch tree that had fallen over the pathway. During its whole lifetime this tree had longed to assert its authority, dreamed of the day when it would be able to say “I’m in charge here.” With the assistance of the wind its dream was fulfilled and it was able to die happily. But now we had to shift it. Its top branches were stuck between the branches of a tree on the other side of the path and it seemed that no matter how much we tugged it would not come free. I had to stop and rest, Jan seemed to have a plan. She reached into her saddlebag, pulled out a can, ripped the top open and poured the green contents down her throat. With rippling biceps she heaved the tree to the side with ease, brushed the bits of birch bark off her hands and smiled with satisfaction. I realised I had just played Olive Oil to her Popeye!

Women! They just need to show off!

I tried to take no notice and told her that if she didn’t stop messing around and wasting time we would be late meeting the others. We went on our way.

I was very surprised at how many riders had turned up, this was, after all, not a promising day, Walter was back from yet another world tour and we were also graced by the presence of ‘Dynamo’ Dai Harris. Ken Bowden had turned up in civvies to offer to lead one of the rides in the new year. This all looked rather promising!

Off we went up the hill out of Killay and on to Fairwood common where we were introduced to the promised 23mph wind, frankly that was something we would have preferred not to have met. At Bryn Farm, Welsh Moor we met up with the still dapper Bob Smith and his friend Barry Fox who was joining us for the first time. Although the sky was overcast the rain was holding off and in the less exposed areas we were blissfully unaware of the strong wind. It seemed wise to say nothing about our good fortune.
We reached the Britannia Inn and regrouped in their car park. Regular readers will know that we would now be casting our eyes on a rather steep bank in front of us but this time there was more than that because above that bank was a bluish-black cloud swollen with rain, so swollen it could hardly contain itself any longer and it seemed determined to share its contents with Swansea’s Wednesday Riders. Say what you like this cloud was generous. We donned our waterproofs and headed on up the hill. The cloud opened, gently to start with but as it gathered its confidence it released more and more of its contents on 13 struggling riders. At the top of the hill we sheltered under a hedge and tried to amuse ourselves until the rain eased. John Cardy and I put Colin under our joint hypnotic spell and managed to take him right back to his childhood, he responded well to talk of liberty bodices with rubber buttons. He found a dry part under the hedge and noisily sucked his thumb.

Peace, perfect peace!

A patch of blue sky was seen, just a small patch to start with but it was hanging over Llangennith. It grew bigger and bigger until the whole sky to the west cleared, it was now just a matter of getting Colin back to the present day and we could have a well deserved lunch. We reached the top of the hill and through streaming eyes could see the surf pounding the beach in the distance. Weary and wet we reached a closed looking Kings Head but were relieved to find that the door opened and food and liquid was on offer.
Replete we turned our attention to the new programme. The compilation of our programme takes a different form from the new year – no longer will it be compiled by one person it will now consist of rides that the members choose and lead. This should give us new destinations and new lunch stops, but would the members be able to come up with enough ideas? I really need not have worried, there was no shortage of volunteers and we left Llangennith with a full programme for January, each ride completely new.

This is really brilliant!

Homeward bound with a following wind meant that hills which normally encouraged perspiration were, well not quite a doddle but certainly easier. We had no further showers and I was home by just after 3.00.

All in all a rather good day. Many thanks to all who joined in the fun and to all who committed themselves to leading a ride next year. Who would have thought it?

Next week its our Away Day to Newport Velodrome courtesy of John Cardy.

Happy pedalling

Lew Spokes

Bob Smith prepares to address the crowd		It may be faint but its a halo alright
Mike, Bob, Barry and Dai		Jan, Martin and John (photo - John White)
Colin receives a bouquet (photo - John White)		Please pass the Grecian 2000! (photo - John White)
Caught (photo - John White)		See the blue sky!! (photo - John White)
Last but .... (photo - John White)		... not least (photo - John White)