500 miles for 500 towns - Hay to Ammanford by Anna Haywood

As we approach 500 Fairtrade Towns in the UK, Fairtrade supporters are taking to their saddles for a 500 mile cycle relay from Aberfeldy to Cardiff. We're blogging about their journey that will conclude in Cardiff on Monday 1 November. Learn more about their route at http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/500fairtradetowns

The balloons were out in force and the enthusiastic Hay on Wye send-off party even included a dog on wheels!  By 9.30am our team of five riders (Anna, Lindsey, Luke, Neil and Nia - all colleagues from Drover Cycles in Hay on Wye) was heading west towards Brecon into a foggy autumn morning.  Several hills and an encounter with a mini-herd of Shetland ponies later we arrived in Brecon and paused at the Co-op to buy provisions and fix the first puncture of the day.

Laden with bread and bananas, we rode on up to Mynydd Illtud - a test for the lungs and legs as well as the imagination.  Sadly the potentially glorious views of Pen y Fan, South Wales’ highest peak, were scuppered by a thick shroud of cloud!  Nonetheless these quiet lanes through the Brecon Beacons made for lovely riding and we met a couple of other cyclists out for a Sunday spin.  The sheep and some French tourists, cosy in their 4x4, looked on in bemusement/pity as we tackled a particularly evil climb complete with Alpine-style hairpins.  A good training ground for would-be Tour de France riders but definitely a worthwhile climb as we were rewarded by a long downhill swoop to Blaen Llia, a very fine Fairtrade picnic and, just as we set off, some gleams of sunshine to light up the autumn colours! 

Anna, tandem stoker and chief navigator, promptly put an end to the positive vibe by taking a wrong turn and dragging everyone up an unnecessary and very steep hill beyond Ystradfellte!  Thankfully “Team Drover” is a good-natured bunch and everyone was still smiling as we descended back down to re-join the route.  We pressed on through Coed y Rhaiadr Forest (a bit of off-road riding to spice up the ride!) and joined the Sarn Helen Roman road.  The bright lights of Ystradgynlais were just coming into view when we succumbed to our second puncture of the day and so it was nearing dusk as we pedalled past Gurnos and ground our way up another hill to reach a fabulous, airy moorland road.

It was a little eery in the gathering gloom and we elected not to take the high road but instead put our heads down for the final 10 miles along the main road.  Even an argument Lindsey’s bike had with a kerb which sent her flying didn’t stop us and we finally pulled into Ammanford just before 7pm, where a warm welcome awaited.  Special thanks to the Mayoress of Ammanford for patiently waiting and to Phil Broadhurst for the pre-ride help, directions and a much-needed mug of tea on arrival. 

All in all we had a brilliant day – a 65 mile ride is a small achievement compared with the huge impact that the Fairtrade movement has had on the lives of producers around the globe.  However, what the ride did prove was that with determination and a positive attitude, it’s possible to reach your destination even if you take a couple of wrong turns along the way!  And that’s more or less the story of Fairtrade.

Visit www.facebook.com/drovercycles to view photos from the event and the Drover Cycles website for more information.