Porthcawl

We roll out from the Rec at 8am and head east along Swansea Bay, picking up the coastal cycle route through Crymlyn Burrows before crossing the River Neath. From there we continue through Baglan and along the Aberavon seafront, a lovely open stretch with the sea alongside us.

Beyond Port Talbot we carry on south past Margam and Kenfig, following the coast down to Porthcawl, arriving at the harbour at around 22 miles for our coffee stop.

The return leg is mostly the same route in reverse, so you know roughly what is coming and can settle in for the ride home. Around 44 miles in total, back at the Rec for roughly midday, and a very satisfying way to spend a morning.

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Morning Coffee in Porthcawl. An early start, a long flat run east along the coast, and a proper coffee at the halfway point before we turn round and ride home. We leave the Rec at 8am and aim to be back for around midday. This is 44 miles, our longest ride so far, but do not let that number put you off on its own. There is barely 550 feet of climbing across the whole route, so this is not a hilly day out. The challenge is time in the saddle rather than gradient, and on flat ground with a group around you the miles pass more easily than you would think. A word on pace. We are aiming for an average of 13 to 15 mph, which is a bit brisker than our usual social rides and is what gets us to Porthcawl and back for midday. That is an average across the whole ride, so it will be quicker on the open flat sections and slower through the busier bits. We still ride as a group and we still regroup. Some of you have come up through our confidence programme over the summer and this is a natural next step. If you are new to us and already comfortable with this sort of distance, you are very welcome too. One honest word. This is a long morning at a steady average and there is no short cut home. If 44 miles at 13 to 15 mph sounds like a stretch, come out on one of our shorter rides first and build up to this one. There will be another.

The best thing about this route is how much of it is away from traffic. We follow the National Cycle Network east for most of the ride, on dedicated cycle paths and shared use routes along the coast, with quieter link roads joining them together. There are road sections, junctions and crossings to negotiate, particularly through the built up stretches, and we will regroup and talk these through as we go. On the shared paths we keep our speed sensible and give plenty of room to walkers, runners and dog walkers, especially along the seafronts. We will ease right off through the busier sections, so please do not expect 15 mph the whole way. That average is earned on the open stretches, not through the seafront on a sunny morning. The surface is good throughout, so any roadworthy bike will handle it. Flat and largely traffic free, it is an ideal route for settling into a steady rhythm and letting the miles tick by.

Coffee at Porthcawl harbour, which is rather the point of the whole thing. We stop at around 22 miles on the Eastern Promenade, right by the harbour with the lighthouse in view. There is a lovely independent coffee shop there. Public toilets are nearby. We should be there for around half nine to ten, and we will keep the stop to roughly twenty minutes so we are back for midday. Long enough for a coffee, something to eat and a stretch, but this is a stop rather than a sit down breakfast. There will also be a short comfort stop on each leg so nobody is riding for two hours straight.

A longer ride than usual, so a bit more preparation pays off. A roadworthy bike and a helmet, both essential. Two full water bottles rather than one, and top up at the halfway stop. Proper food for the ride and not just what you buy at the café, so flapjacks, bananas, cereal bars, whatever you know works for you. Eat little and often rather than waiting until you are hungry, and stick to things you have eaten on a bike before. A spare inner tube, tyre levers, a pump and basic tools. Money or a card for the coffee. A lightweight waterproof, because the coast turns quickly whatever the forecast says. Sun cream if it is bright, as there is very little shade out there. An 8am start means an early breakfast, so please eat properly before you come out. Riding 22 miles on an empty stomach is a miserable way to arrive at a coffee shop. A charged phone, and please check your emergency contact details are up to date on your Let's Ride profile.

If this is your first ride with us, welcome, and do not be nervous about turning up on your own. Most people do exactly that, and by the time we reach Porthcawl you will know half the group. Come and find us by the bench at the Rec from about 7.45. We will do a quick M-check on everyone's bike, which is just a simple safety look over the frame, wheels and brakes, and we will run through how we ride together before we set off. That means calling out potholes, signalling turns and letting each other know when a car is coming past. It sounds like a lot written down but it takes about two minutes to pick up, and the leaders will talk you through it as we go. You do not need lycra or a fancy bike, just something roadworthy and clothes you are comfortable in. The only thing we would ask is that you are honest with yourself about the distance and the pace before you book. This is one of our longer, brisker rides and it is not the place to find out how far you can go. If you fancy riding with us but this one looks like a step too far, come to a shorter ride first and we will see you on the next one.