keiron curtis

I've just spent 20 minutes or so typing my introduction to you all only to lose it all in some sort of computer glich.So I'll keep it very brief.

My name is Keiron Curtis,I live in a village in South Wales,married to Elizabeth with three grown up sons,am now 56,returned to cycling 18 months ago,working to increase my part commute to the full distance.I have to contend with working 12 hour shifts,the British weather,a terrible fear of punctures and the fact that the full commute will be 18 miles each way!!

Currently my part commute is about 5 miles each way.Any tips or advice on how to achieve my goal would be gratefully received.

So it's over to you.

Cheers

Keiron

snowy

Welcome to Bikeforums.

Check out the commuting forum. Tons of people to help you there

Snowy

East Hill

Hello Keiron, where are you in South Wales? I have relatives in that part of the country, just outside of Clynderwyn.

Welcome to BF!

East Hill

keiron curtis

I haven't been through Clynderwyn for a good few years now but I do know the village,it's a beautiful spot amidst lovely scenery.Your relatives,are they aunts and uncles?Have you been America long?

Thanks for the welcome,

Keiron

Johnny_Monkey

You seem to have relatives everywhere.

Johnny_Monkey

Welcome Keiron,

I think you'll find there's a whole commuting sub-forum dedicated to answering the sort of questions you might ask.

East Hill

The rellies are on my mother's side--her cousins actually. They live on a 10 acre farm just outside of Clynderwyn. Been in the US most of my life, but return to visit every two or three years.

Mostly in Lancashire, but also Brum and environs, Wales, NZ, Canada, a couple down in London...and immediate family in Northern California .

East Hill

Johnny_Monkey

My grandmother comes from a village near Port Talbot.

keiron curtis

Sorry East Hill,

I didn't say where I live,I live in a village called Glynneath,in the Neath valley,perhaps 50 or so miles from Clynderwen.

Cheers

Keiron

keiron curtis

I work in Port Talbot,do you know what part of the town your grandmother came from?

Keiron

jaxgtr

Welcome. I spent some time in New Quay many, many, many years ago when I was a kid. Always liked it there. My dad worked for the Dept of Defense at the time and spent most of the week in Bristol or Bath, can't remember which, but set us up outside of New Quay on some farm. I remember it being nice, but always cold especially when the cold fronts came in off the Irish Sea.

Johnny_Monkey

Cwmafon (Cwmavon). I took my Mum there last year to show her where her mother came from. It seems to be a bit of a *****hole. My great grandfather was a coal miner so I imagine that 100 years ago it was a bit more active but it was probably still a *****hole.

Johnny_Monkey

Probably Bristol as I think BAe have operations there.

cyclezealot

welcome kerion. I too commuted while working 12.5 hour shifts. The time was such, i rode just before dark and just after sunsrise. But, I coped with beautiful Calif weather over UK weather. I felt I had more energy for work by commuting. I was so tired when I got home I slept quite well. Congratulations in your determination to commute by bike. I imagine you need extensive rain gear. /Question about Clynderwyn. Is that not the ancesteral home of Bertrand Russel.?

East Hill

No, he was from Trellech, Monmouthshire.

I don't think anyone famous is from Clynderwen (or, Clunderwen if you prefer the Welsh spelling).

East Hill

cyclezealot

Guess, I remember incorrectly. Thought I read he died in Clynderwen?

AndrewP

I went exploring caves around Ystradfellte when I was a teenager. If my memory is correct there were plenty of really steep hills around there. I worked in Bristol on Concorde development after I got my engineering degree. The admiralty had quite a large establishment at Bath.