BIMBLING ABOUT 2006

 

A bit of a quiet year on the bimbling front but when we did finally get away it was well worth it. Bog snorkelling, man versus horse and a couple of pubs doesn't sound like much to get excited about but when you have the marketing skills of these people who needs anything tidy eh!

 

Real Ale Wobble 06

 

This non competitive event, the annual Real Ale Wobble, is held in conjunction with the Mid Wales Beer festival and takes place around Llanwrtyd Wells, the smallest town in Britain. There are a choice of 15, 25 or 40 mile routes waymarked with little pink stickers but don't expect anyone to know which route is where! For those who have paid £20 to register there are 4 beer tokens which can be used en-route to buy half pints of real ale at two checkpoints as long as the beer lasts (which it didn't for us!) Excellent routes 95% off road, using farm and forest tracks, paths, open land, wild and desolate mountain terrain. Our advice - just turn up and do it, but don't get ripped off paying for it.

With a new Claude Butler mountain bike (from Extreme Culture, Ponty) and some new bimblers, some as far afield as Ammanford and St Clears, we set off for Llandovery in the winter of 2006. Finding accommodation in Llanwrtyd Wells was a nightmare so we stayed a £20 one-way taxi ride away in good ole Llandovery - home of Llewellyn, last Prince of Wales.

People on Bimble: Dave, Aled, Derek & Ninja riding out of the Ponty stable (Mark was ill and Alun opted for the slightly safer option of a family weekend in Disneyland) and Warren, Andy, Midge, Bobbie & Chris from the Penclawdd stable.

 

Accommodation:
The Bunkhouse, Llandovery - a fantastic barn, with 11 dorm beds (4+4+3), kitchen, two bathrooms, safe parking, bike lock-up and hose pipe (don't ask if you don't know) about 2+ miles down a very winding country lane. Cracking breakfast (although I missed my beans the second morning) and comfy digs at a great price - £12 a night plus £5 for the breakie. They also do trekking expeditions to Nepal (photos all over the rooms) but we haven't booked that yet.

 

Event:
The "Real Ale" Wobble should perhaps be renamed the "Pay me £20 and I'll give you 4 bits of plastic you can't spend anywhere other than at two checkpoints en route (one of which doesn't have beer left at 3pm!) Wobble". A huge marquee back in town selling real ale didn't take the tokens so we ended up with loads of the things we'd paid for but couldn't spend! Best advice is to just turn up, don't pay, do the Wobble and have a laugh with the boys.

 

After watching Wales thump Canada in the crowded Bear Inn, Llandovery we taxi'd to LW for a rather heavy session on the "Viper's Tooth" and some ear popping live music. We then used Diane's taxi (the only one on the island so book early) to return to our digs in deepest Llandovery over the Sugar Loaf by 1am in readiness for the bike ride on the morrow. It should be noted that such dedication to fitness is rarely seen these days even amongst the most devout of athletes. Anyway, up early for breakie (7:30am) log on, wretch and a few adjustments to the cycling shorts and we were off. Queued for ages to get a crappy unreadable map and a sticky band (bargain at £20) and set off...

Up above the streets and houses rainbow flying high, some nice gentle farm tracks before Andy (who said "Trust me") suggested we hurtle downhill through mud and water - for a laugh. After the fear subsided - I guess it was. Lots of hills, ball bumpy miles and pink stickers later we arrived at our first checkpoint to pinch a real ale - bloody awful it was too with a hangover and not helped by the recycled "Pumpkin soup" that Gordon obviously had left over from Halloween and just scraped the green bits off the top. I settled for a Mars bar and left the cawl to the Smarteenies.

Not at all impressed with the organisation - mainly 'cos there wasn't any - the idea, i.e. the gathering of like minded nutters and a fantastic bit of Wales meant we loved it and will probably return next year for another go.

Serious bit:
Apart from Aled's three tumbles there was one other fatality - that of Ninja's car, which we assume will not be with us next year unless it grows a new clutch (thanks to Bobbie for expert diagnosis).

 

Overall:
A great weekend, a couple of good pubs and fantastic live music (he may be only 15 years old but what a great future he has!), beer tents (don't drink the "Old Rosie" scrumpie, 7.2% otherwise you'll grow a 2ft head and start taking size 18 shoes, drive a tractor and marry your sister - thanks Aled) and some great company and all in all the Wobble comes highly recommended.

Oh, almost forgot, some great mountain biking through one of the most picturesque parts of Wales. Here's a picture of Derek enjoying the stunning Welsh scenery or maybe he's just dreaming about why he missed the last Ponty Curry Club do.

 

We'll be back next year :) Maybe...

 

External links:
Llanwrtyd Wells (town website)
Accommodation (Llandovery)
Virtual Bike (reviews)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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