Just a short note about the next few days which offers enough potential adventures for a few write-ups in due course!

We have a Welsh trip starting tomorrow (Thursday) which sees us take in the Cwmdown service at CwmCarn on what promises to be a rather wet downhill course. Well, what better way for me to do something that makes me feel nervous just sitting here than to throw in a bit of rain too!

I know I shall be feeling under-skilled and probably under-biked on my Orange Five as we head up the valley on the first run of the day but hopefully I’ll get to grips with things. At least I’ll have a few of the other moles keeping me company with DaveC, Colin, MarkJ and myself all newbies to the experience. D’Andy, DaveW and Jem are almost pros by comparison!

The next day sees a complete change as the seven of us head to the Doethie Valley for some proper, natural trail riding (as opposed to all this man-made malarky). We’ll be joined by Tony, the world’s best son-in-law who is paying his wife’s folks a visit. They live in Abergavenny, I can’t think why he’s always down there…

In the afternoon we’re also hoping to squeeze in a trip to Cwm Rhaeadr where the SingleSpeed World Champs are to be held this year. Sounds like it’s worth a couple of laps at least.

Topping things off, hangovers permitting, the Saturday sees us tackle the Red and Black (Gorlech and Raven) trails of Brechfa, a visit I’m hugely looking forward to after reading of D’Andy’s experiences last year.

And I haven’t even mentioned the Scottish trip yet have I?