Psicle: Brecon Boys

Having not had a decent group ride for 18 months we have finally settled on a weekend to tackle the Brecon Beacons. I cycle down to Pete's Friday early afternoon to make a quick getaway and after a bit of faffing about we leave Tower Bridge at a reasonable hour. A pretty clear journey down to Chris' gaff in the Gower sees us arrive just in time for the Wales France rugby game which wasn't great but at least Wales win. Soon afterwards Simon arrives and Pete and I play our historic first gig to an audience of two disinterested punters. They recognise two of the four songs although to be fair to us they were chatting instead of listening. I think a bit of singing even broke out for a few bars of the Sex Pistols. Not being asked for an encore, in fact asked specifically not to play any more, Pete and I pack up and go home. Or rather go to bed. It's gone 1am anyway.

Up early ish and after a decent breakfast of porridge we start the big ride of the weekend. Heading for Swansea Chris takes us up the first hill and it's a wickedly steep one. Simon realises that his derailleur is not working and then manages to break his chain. We've only gone about half a mile. Good omen. At least it tested the chain tool on my multi tool set and it does the job. Having struggled up and over the Gower we coast into Swansea to meet Nick. We head east and north past flyovers and beside a grimy canal that the Pogues would be familiar with stopping briefly at Neath for Chris to ask the way and then to have a cleat related stationary bike incident (he fell over, very funny although we've all done it). Once Simon and I stop laughing we head out along the canal which is becoming more picturesque and there are even some fish. At least bubbles. The day is warming up a bit from the bitterly cold start but at least it's dry. The first time for 4 months according to Pete. We stop at a small town called Resolven on the 25 mile mark. It's been pretty easy and flat so far. The Farmers Arms, or Ars as the sign says, is a cosy and friendly place with a geordie bar tender who tells us that ice in water constitutes a cocktail and so I demand an umbrella for Nick's half pint of bitter. He gets one. The food is great and just what was needed. Vegan burger and chips for me. Nick is suffering with the cold and out of sorts and can't face the climb to come so he calls for a taxi to take him to our hotel that's booked. The four of us hit the road and after 5 miles we start to climb. And some. We're soon into the Brecons proper and after hitting a false flat at Penderyn distillery where we chat to miserable French folk and stock up on whiskey (why do I end up carrying a glass bottle up the hills?) we push on up into the scrubby landscape where the wind whips up and cools us down despite struggling up the climb. We reach 1,300 feet before a scarily fast descent to the Llwyn-on reservoir and then just a few bumpy bits to reach our hotel.

We're welcomed by Nick and just in time for the England Ireland rugby game. Did you time this Pete? Our hotel is lovely with Simon and I getting a luxury room complete with sofa and weirdly a comfy chair in the bathroom suite next to the bath. Neither of us used it. The bath or the chair. Well maybe Simon used the bath but I didn't use the chair. We're at the Nant Ddu Lodge and Spa which we went for cos all the youth hostels were booked but to be honest it's well worth and extra couple of quid a night not to be squashed in bunk beds and sharing toilet and showers. Well done Chris. We're near the source of the legendary River Taf with the Taf Fawr running next to the hotel. After the rugby watched in the bar we have a(nother) hearty meal with a Fawlty Towers experience thrown in for free (Sybil, not Basil) and then we repair to our suite to listen to music drink beer and polish off the whiskey and go to bed late. Just what you want to before an early morning ride. Next day Simon and I go for a swim and steam room before eating a massive breakfast and say farewell to Nick.

We start climbing gently for a few miles past another gorgeous lake and after ascending 300 feet to the top of the Brecons we hurtle downhill for a few miles on a main road but with very little traffic and a lovely smooth surface. Spectacular scenery up here if you can look up from the road. Beautiful and well worth the effort. It's another cold but dry day and we even get a bit of sun and times. After the descent we turn off the main road and knuckle down to a few steep bumps picking up the A40 for a mile or so before turning off on "Simon's route" at Trecastle. This is a gruelling mile or so up then a hairy speed trip down before a gentler climb to Glasfynydd Forest and another reservoir. Here we're not sure of the way and I decide to ask a local who gets a little miffed when Pete starts telling her that Google maps says that there is a gap in the road across the reservoir. A road that is 20 yards from her house. Luckily she doesn't set the dogs on us. Anyway the climb was worth it Simon. Spectacular views up here across the Brecon Beacons. Amazing weather up here too you can see for miles. Windy though! On slight rises and the flat I don't need to pedal as the wind is behind me. Almost unheard of in cycling folklore. From here it's a little bit more up before about 10 miles downhill mainly freewheeling. Fantastic! I think we all clock our top speed of the weekend on this stretch. Long roads down fairly straight with only the odd farm or village to check our speed. We land at Llangadog and after failing to find anywhere for a cup of coffee all morning we have the luxury of 3 pubs literally within spitting distance of each other (we are all seasoned punks after all) but we go for one 50 yards down the road. The Red Lion has a few rooms and as it's Sunday it's packed for the carvery. They do a nut roast for me and we all tuck into mammoth portions with every veg you can think of piled high. We deserve it though. Good beer too. After that we are in good time for the train to take us back to the coast. This was the plan all along - we didn't wimp out after lunch. Simon stays on for Swansea and London whilst Chris, Pete and me cycle from Gowerton back to Crofty. I'm especially pleased that my new BTwin road bike got me up the climbs and was comfortable to ride. Very pleased. A bit of pasta for dinner and after a few beers we have an early night. Next day we tidy up before going to the Gower for a coffee overlooking a lovely beach then after dropping Chris off in Swansea Pete and I pop over to his folks outside Cardiff for a cuppa before driving back to London. Great weekend boys...