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@almac68
saturday 0700hrs i hear a faint beeping sound from Rob's room going for a little while then gives up... i snooze, ffs its saturday and still dark out side.. 0715hrs the faint bleeping is going again.. i know Bernie is up, i hope he isn't disturbing Stu downstairs.. dim recall from last night, many laughs and a few too many beers..
the smell of bacon brings us to our senses.. the forecast is grim, i have no energy gels, bars and transfer a water bottle and cage off Rob's road bike.. good job Rob had zero tablets. we are out the house by 0900hrs.. Rob leading us back to the firetrack.. three steady climbs to Afan is playing havoc with my guts. but the weather is cool and no wind. the rapha pro jacket is caked in yesterday's mud, luckily all our gear dried out over night across every radiator in Rob's house..
we lose bernie for a moment, too eager to get there methinks, the rain starts and continues for the rest of the day.. despite that, the great hill top views return as we reach the edge of the afan trail complex.. the narrow fence gaps and death warning symbols are now commonplace at the single track entrances / exits. our first descent is a black run.. i take things slowly, rob and stu are off like a shot.
bernie is behind waiting patiently. eventually i let him pass. i can only compare this type of biking with off piste skiing.. its death defying, heart in the mouth stuff, loads of raised track sections and steep twisty paths more suited to scrabbling or rock climbing upwards.. day 2 on the 29er with a very technical course. it is hard work, requires alot of concentration. Actually a great cure for a hangover. Two more single track descents through heavily wooden areas are easier to negotiate.. my confidence is growing as i get used to this new discipline. Less braking, more movement around the bike as i swing into the corners...
we lunch in a lodge with a poky little fire and no warmth, cept from more greasy breakfast and tea. We return to the bikes wearing wet cold gloves, shoes, and make our way to the infamous Wall. I swap bikes with Stu. It is good to get a comparision from hardtail 29er to full-suspension 26in. The wall was a dream, and very quick, unlike yesterday where i spent alot unclipped left leg hanging is nervous riding position, i peddled hard, scoped the terrain weaved around stumps. The geometry of the CX specialized fitted me really well. I was in the bike, not sitting on top..
we had a long journey via road and canal paths. Bernie was the hero today, fuck knows how he got through it all without any suspension. Showers and afternoon nap, before we switch on to see mighty Wales against a typical undisciplined Kiwi side on the telly, we are eating microwave curries, more pizza and drinking cans of beers... two hours later we hit Wind St in Swansea another host of bars and new friends til 1am, Bernie wearing his check shirt, glitter Stetson and john wayne walk.. a final call at mcdonalds drive-in thanks to steve our chauffeur, my head is pounding when i hit the sack. another full welsh breakfast in the morning of eggs bacon, sausage, black pudding, beans (with branston), mushrooms, (damn we forgot the potato waffles)..
what asolid weekend