After his exertions on west Wales Dave Singleton returned closer to home and reduced the race distance for the remainder of July, a deserved “rest” for him.  First up was the PTW 10m TT organised on the R10/22A, an out and back course starting and finishing in Resolven.  This Tuesday evening event was designated as number 6 in the 10 event Celtic Series, and after a day’s work  Dave had a start time of 18.52 on a fine evening.  In spite of his efforts only 10 days earlier Dave’s time of 22.47 was only just outside his PB.

Just four days later the Ross-on-Wye 10m TT used the popular R10/17 course on the A40 from Abergavenny to Raglan. Although conditions were fine there was a wind affecting the riders.  Perhaps the long ride earlier in the month and the wind on the day adversely affect Dave as  he posted a time of 22.50. It would be fair to say that Dave was less than happy with his results in both these events.

To finish off his July programme the distance was increased and a return to the familiar R25/3H in the Neath Valley.  In cloudy conditions with a headwind up to the turn there was not much help for the Acme member. By his own standards, another disappointing time for Dave as he clocked in at 57.30. Determined to improve his form Dave’s next target is a 100 mile event.

I left home on Sunday morning with “Shirley the Surly” and caught a train from Treherbert to Cardiff and then on to Reading. I picked up National Cycle Route 4 and followed the Kennet and Avon canal to my first stop, The Pelican at Froxley. The canal was quite pretty with lots of kingfishers, swans and hundreds of very colourful barges. 

On the second day I followed Route 4 through traffic free country lanes that climbed away from the canal and passed through a number of pretty villages with thatched cottages and pubs. I rejoined the canal about 8 miles from Devizes and struggled along the rough path into the town. After a couple of pints (and lunch) it was a much better surface on the canal path into Bradford on Avon where I was staying that night. I was joined by my mate Ty who was going to ride back into Wales with me on Tuesday. 

After breakfast we followed the canal to Bath and after riding through the city we picked up the 15 mile railway path to Bristol. This included a working steam railway section and a ride through a refurbished tunnel (similar to the proposed cycle way at Blaencwm). It absolutely poured down while we were having a pub lunch on the wharf in Bristol and a second downpour nearly caught us out as we started cycling again. Luckily we took shelter under some trees until it stopped. It was a considerable climb out of the city and over the downs before a decent to Severn Beach. The ride over the old bridge was a bit wild with a really strong side wind. This turned into a very strong headwind all the way to Ty’s house near Magor. The undulating last few miles went past Geraint Thomas’s house (very nice too).

On Wednesday morning, Ty guided me into Newport where I picked up National Cycle Route 47. This followed the canal to Cross Keys before climbing the Sirhowy Valley along the lovely, wooded cycle track through the country park. I dropped down to Ystrad Mynach where unbelievably I lost the track and after adding a couple of miles trying to get back on course I took the main road across to Quakers Yard. Here I took the Taff Trail to Pontypridd before a final push up the valley and home. 

In all I covered 178 miles (all into a headwind) along a fantastic varied route that took me through some lovely countryside.

More Photos @ https://acme-wheelers.co.uk/gallery-2/gallery-2019/nggallery/2019/tony-rees-tour-2019-6

Billed as the biggest multi-sport event in Europe, the Long Course Weekend Wales is based in Tenby, Pembrokeshire,  in early July. The event is run over three days based partly on the Wales Iron Man course.  On the Friday evening is the 2.4 miles open water swim, on Saturday the 112 mile Wales Sportive and finishes on Sunday with the full marathon distance.  Competitors can enter for all three events or just one of them. For those who enter all three the winner is the competitor with the fastest overall time.

2019 was the 10^th anniversary of the event and to cater for the expected high numbers the organised have been able to arrange closed roads for the cyclist. A further addition to this year’s event was an entry from Acme member Dave Singleton in the 112 mile Wales Sportive.

Fortunately for Dave and the other cycling entrants the weather was kind to them, although an energy sapping warm humid day, it did stay dry for the riders.  This was a bonus after the changeable weather this summer. Dave time of 5hrs 42m was an excellent effort given the rolling nature of the Pembrokeshire lanes, this might encourage him to enter the WCA 100m Championships.