The big run out Sunday 5/12/04 .

With a plan " in me head " for a big loop around again met up with the Treharris Trials team (Jamie,Scotty,Jason ) and their latest signing to the team , The Duck! . After a quick top up at Nelson off on leg 1 through the lanes up onto the back on Nelson across to Caerphilly on a new run . First obstacle was a long greasy bank which stopped the brace of DRZ400s in their tracks with a quick detour at hand along the side , the rest of the trail over to Pandy lane and up to top of Bedwas went without any more drama until the drop back down through the forestry where Jamie decided it was time to test the new body armour hitting a big hole of nice brown gloop of water and crashing out .
The next big climb back up to the top caused some startling results with the only premix commando loosing grip half way up and eventually putting the front wheel in a crevis for a good over the bars dismount , damm and blast em thumpers !!!!!! never mind I had a nice little surprise for em later on((((he,he,he,he,))))). 
Back down into Risca for the first fuel stop and the end of stage 1 .

Stage 2, with body ,mind and bike refueled off onto stage 2 with a nice easy run up through the houses a little switch back lane , followed by a nice gnarly climb back up on top of Cwmbran , still no more drama but my ace card was still to come 1.
Took a different route to normal from here tracking along the top of the valley past Cwmbram and down New Inn , bit of road work and back of the road up a lane onto me little surprise , an old roman road running up the side of the valley , elm romans must of been tough buggers because this little obstacle is worthy of a nice trials bike section , with about 1/2mile of a rough rock strewn climb . The premix commando had a bit of revenge here the embarrassing dismount earlier , with a few bend levers , a missing side pannal and lots of dented pride. Picked two stragglers up half way up also premix commando,s who trailed us around the top for a while but also seemed to be having a bit of a dismount day with one breaking levers and handgaurds having a battering in the ruts along the top .

Stage 3 was a bit of a mystery trip as not truly sure where we where but eventually took some nice trail across the top of Mamhilad and down into Varteg . Got a bit lost here and the guys where a bit bemused and and shaking their heads collectively at the hill climb back up to top of mountain ((( chickens))) so an alternative route was found back along some trails and down into Cwmtillary and on to Aberbeeg for me old fav the climb back up to the top through the forestry on the infamous tour of islwyn special test . The run back along the top to Bryn mawr was as usual , full of wheel locking ruts and it soon took its toll on the heavier thumpers , with a few good offs on the way across . Back down into Brynmawr for the last fuel stop and a much needed bacon buttie. With all the fag breaks taking their toll on time by the time food was consumed the light was fading fast , and with the Gasser having a cinderella m.o.t (daytime home by dark) decided on the short route home again .

Stage 4 was me fav of the day as at last with the guys in a bit of a rush a chance to give the gasser a bit of a blow out along the climbs going up and along the top . The drz boys where fading quicker than the daylight by now with Jamie and Scotty sticking tight up behind me . Took a shortcut down through Argoed which revealed another little jem of a climb which this time we came down but will soon be riding in reverse .

All in all another very good day only curtailed by the failing light .
Injuries ........ none reported
Bike injuries ,,,Gasser stand spring broke , brake pads burnt out.
the XR suffering from a dire need of a new plug.
The drz guys bending some levers and lost a side pannal.
With the Wr bending a lever . mileage close to 100mile with a total ride time of around 7hrs ,,, probably 3hrs if you take the fag breaks out !!

click images to enlarge !