Weekend trip to Afan in May

What about coed y brenin if its for a long weekend???

I'm definitely keen. The only weekend I can't make is 24/25 April, so I guess that's narrowing it down to 4 possible weekends in May. The bank holiday weekend is probably not a good choice as people are bound to have other plans and also the trails and accommodation will be busier than normal. I'm flexible about choice of destination and whether we stay in accommodation or camp. I guess there will be cheap-ish accommodation options in the form of hostels/bunk rooms which might be more appealing in the (highly unlikely!) event of bad weather. Either way a top priority is to ensure there is a suitable local pub nearby to keep us well fed (and watered) in the evenings.

Now comes the hard bit to try and get agreement on a suitable weekend to go. What do others think?  

May is looking clear for me at the moment

As a thought - there is an MTB Marathon event on Sunday 23rd May in Builth Wells which could potentially be incorporated into a MTB Wales weekend - would probably have to drive down the Friday night though to get the most social drinking /  riding time .

Accommodation wise - don't mind camping / hostels / bunk rooms or b&b as long as there is ale close by and deep fried pub grub close by.

Ian

Can we try and finalise a date for this Wales weekend? I think we had narrowed it down to either 8/9, 15/16 or 22/23 May, and Steve you were going to check your work rota to see which weekend was best for you? I can make any of these weekends and could also be free to travel down early on the Friday if that suits some or all or you? Let's be decisive and confirm a plan (while our memory of the daytrip to Cwmcarn is still fresh in our minds!)

Neil 

hi having some issues with a wedding and the birds birthday in on the 15/16 and 22/23 of may which a cant get out off!!!!! cant take the 8th off in the work diary, so only leaving the bank holidays in may for me.

OK.....so what does everyone else think?? Any suggestions....

 I'm easy..

..but then you probably already knew that :op

Prefer not to do the BH weekend, but if everyone else can only do that w/e, then I happy to give it a miss for the sake of group harmony!

 ok so trying to keep some momentum in this plan it looks like we have 2x options:

1.) bank holiday weekend beginning of may when Greg can make it (singlespeed??)

2.) Steve, get your finger out and get a free weekend sorted :op

Out of the two dates, the weekend in early May is my preference.

I'm still flexible, but also keen to actually fix a date when as many people as possible can go. However I do believe it is probably better to avoid the bank holidays if possible.

Steve - any chance you can swap your work committment so you are free to go away on w/e of 8/9 May?

Greg - can you actually make the first BH w/e in May if that seems to be the only option?

No, I can't really do either of the BH weekends in May.

hi all who would of though a small trip to wales would prove so hard to sort out!!!

cant take the 8th as my manager has that day booked off

doesn't suprise me in the least! This always happens and I repeat my previous conclusions on the subject. Get a general idea of a date and one that suits you the leader and then commit to/publish it and see who comes. Forums are rubbish for getting agreement on these sorts of things as we have learned on previous versions of this forum with attempts at trips to wales.

OK, Mark's right, it's time to be decisive. So let's fix a definite date for the w/e of 8/9 May!

.....or failing that the w/e of 1/2 May?

(anyway who's the leader?.....I don't think it's me....) 

well i thought it was Steve's idea, so would kinda make sense that he should lead it, but if he can't make it then i suppose we need to form a committee and take a democratic vote!! [joke]

consult the club rule book on what to do under these circumstances. Section 4, subsection IVX, point 11.2 I think...

have now booked the first weekend in may off work (so someone else did not nab it), i would rather not do the bank holiday weekend but the powers that be (my lady indoors and work) have come out on top of the good weekend date battle for may!!!!!!!

i take it your are having a laugh at me leading as i dont ever recall any of the ride leaders taking up the rear.  

I think taking up the rear is best left for other sites Steve, lets keep focused on the trip to Wales here please!!

Hmmmm.....is it just me or is anyone else still none the wiser about which dates Steve can or cannot make?!!

I understand from Steve's post is that he's booked off the bank holiday weekend from work, but doesn't want to go to Wales that weekend anyway and as far as I know the other weekends he still can't make due to other commitments? the plot thickens..

I vote Neil for ride leader!!

Ok chaps, i have got the first weekend in may off work, this happens to be a bank holiday weekend and i was thinking about going to wales for a cycle, would anyone else be interested???  

Sounds like a good plan. Count me in.

 me 2

Oh, go on then, twist my arm.....but don't expect me to do any leading (even if the trails are marked!).

Are we going to set off on Friday or Saturday and as it is the bank holiday are we going to return on the Monday?

i should be ok to do monday also

do we want to stay in a hostel, holiday cottage, good old tent ect ect, if the cottages are not all booked up this might be a good option to look at,

well personally I'd be looking to keep the costs to a minimum, especially if we're looking at going for 3 days, though have to confess that after a day out on the bike something more comfortable than the tent might be a more attractive option but finding something bank holiday weekend might be tricky...

www.ivyhousewales.com

here are the details of the holiday cottage i am booking, I am going to send the deposit to the lady tomorrow, she has put my name down for friday , saturday and sunday.

Typical bloody estate agent.....it looks nothing like the description I was given on Saturday!

But seriously...thanks Steve and well done for finding us a suitable property....although I guess that is what you're trained to do. I just hope you're not taking your usual commission.  

So we've got 4 definites, myself, Steve, Ian and Andrew. Anyone else care to join us?

haha, you should be lucky its not like this,

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/745571-for-sale-charming-white-fronted-cottage-by-nuclear-power-station

As this month slowly passes by!!!!, anyone started thinking about our trip yet.

I cant get the friday off work and will be working until 6pm at the latest

Steve, 

Can't afford any time off work so guess I will be travelling friday night  direct from work near the m4 (read horrible traffic) or early saturday morning.

Andrew.

I'm flexible with my working hours (one advantage of being self employed!) so would prefer to set off earlier on Friday afternoon and hopefully miss the worst traffic. Ian, are you still keen and able to travel earlier as well? Then we could get dinner ready for the others....or perhaps just check out the facilities at the local pubs!!

Neil    

Neil,

I am happy to travel down earlier on the Friday afternoon to miss the worst of the traffic and check out the local drinking establishments.

I

hi Andrew

what time do you finish work on friday?? as if you wanted we could car share on the way over to wales keeping the cost down. i finish work at 6 so really would be close to 7 before starting out, if i take the bike in the car to work might be a bit earlier.

i dont mind driving but let me know

Hi Steve,

Potentially interested in sharing driving friday evening. I work in bracknell just at the bottom of the a329m and am flexible as to what time I finish (and hence start work!) though I was offered a night out karting tonight for that friday so need to get more details about that to decide what I'm gonna do and when I'll travel. I hope to find out asap and let you know or if you're out we can chat on a sunday ride?

cheers,

Andrew.

slept in for the ride today doh!!!!  also been fixing or trying to fix my creaking bike. i spoke to my partners dad last night about traveling to wales after work on friday he seems to think the traffic should not be to bad at that time, "he's a taxi driver"

i think my preference is to get going after work???

Only a few days to go, hope you guys have got plenty of spares, I've got some tyres, tubes and brake pads on the way and hopefully will have a spare bike to bring with me too!

Andrew.

Don't forget your rain jacket, Andrew....

Have a good time guys.

Cheers for the weather report greg!! also managed to sort the bottom bracket noise with the help of that tool.  

role on the wet wales weekender,

also spoke to the lady today about the house, she would like to know what time to expect us as she can be there or there abouts to give us the keys. Myslelf and andrew are going to head down after work??, what you planning neil and ian????? she is ok for us to pay when leaving

Planning to go down after lunch, so should arrive late afternoon. Have you got a phone no. for the landlady?

Ian, any develpoments on your search for a car? Otherwise I assume we will both be travelling in my van. What time do you fancy setting off? I guess we should aim to be on the road by 2pm-ish.

hi neil

the lady is call hayley 07979 218017  she said to call her 30min to 1 hour before you think you will get there so she can meet you with the keys at the house.

Ivy House - 10 Craig Y Fan, Cymmer, Port Talbot, West Glam, SA13 3LN

So how was it?

I didn't realise you were there for the duration otherwise I would've called. I took my new bike down and did White's on Sunday night and W2 yesterday morning. Camping was bloody freezing but yesterday was lovely when the sun came out ;o)

L

great weekend, legs are still feeling it today!!!

did w2 on saturday, on sunday did skyline but not the full one (diner) then myself and Ian did whites energy, cwm carn xc on monday then i had a blast down the downhill to top it all off

wow. better than the weekend i had laid up in bed with some germs from the kids and a sprained ankle. was actually pleased that the weather was shite..

well done for organising this. if you do it again hopefully i'll make it along.