Op Storm Wales 2024 13th,14th, 15th September.

[tony.mon]

Another great day, brilliant roads- ( cheers, Alastair) and a good group of eight in the "progressive" group.
Left. Right. Left. Right. Straight- repeat.

Only one little car park drop- short leg on the downhill side.

[MacV2]

Wales 24...

Another great weekend... 770 miles covered, £120 in fuel costs, stayed dry, face ache from smiling & laughing.

Day 1. Left mine @ 08.00 & rode to the bunk house solo few bits of road works on M25 & M4 one small detour as missed a turn...DOH



Clackets Pish stop... 1st of 3 planned...

Didn't note what time I got there but was about 3 maybe 4 ish.



Pete L already there on his tod & it wasn't long before various bikes started pulling in...



Got changed, got a coffee, got chatting.

Wasn't long before the whole crew had turned up & the beers started being quaffed.

Eve meal was a choice of Chilli or Pizza thanks to Sue & Lynne... Grub sorted firepit & booze.




End of Day 1...

[MacV2]

Wales '24.

Day 2.

Up bright & early, bit of a tidy up around the fire pit, last nights cans & bottles in the bins.

As others slowly arose from their slumbers, coughing & wheezing, get the first coffee & smerk in, before Breakfast is served... & devoured...

Gear up & ready to roll for the days hoon.

Don't know where we went as was backmarker for the day. 8 in the group for the leisurely ride around mid Wales.

The general plan was to head for the Black Mountains, however this was curtailed as it transpired that the road was closed over the top...

This was noted by one of the leaders getting an alert on their sat nav...

So another route was quickly planned & 1 U turn later off we went, only to get caught up in another jam caused by a van somewhere up ahead parking in a ditch & blocking the road.... DOH

Got through that after a delay & off we went again.

At some point on route at the inevitable stop for fuel...




We carried on to who knows where...

Another roadside stop, mainly I think for Kev to consult his Map to work out the next bit...




Basically working out a route to head back to Rhayader, so mount up & off we go.

Throughout the day we did get some great swoopy roads in so all was good on the hooning front, the 20 limits weren't as bad as I was expecting, some real silly bits where it went...50, 30, 20 for a bit then 30 for a few yards then back to 40 or 50...

Whoever got the contract for the road signs, must be laughing all the way to the bank...

Anyway back to base camp 200 miles later... Park up, gear off, shower, coffee, & back to the normal General boll acks n banter.

As the rest of the guys came in from the other group, back to beers & fire up the BBQ with chief burger burner Mr GrumpyFrog who did a great job. Kev was fire pit marshal, he's the Firestarter !












Some salad was involved, but I managed to dodge it...

Last year I got proper blasted on the the sat & was well hungover on the Sunday morn, not great when you have nigh on 300 miles to ride home.
So this year I took it easy on the booze front & just had a few JD n cokes...




It wound up for me around 11pm...

The night was still young for some...



End of day 2

[grumpyfrog]

sound write up Mac.
Another great weekend for most.

Word of advice for all on this adventure- DO NOT eat anything with Lamb in it from any small establishments.
A few years ago a some had lamb burgers at Balla and spent the night hugging the GODphone. looks like, and def sounded like some came down with the lamb bug again this year.

I was absolutely drenched to the extremes on the way north.

[AMCQ46]

OP Storm Wales 2024

Report 1 of 2.

Who turned up?
Budds Osset Posset:
Budd - KTM 1290 SDGT (in back of van)
Mick - KTM 1290 SDGT
Chris Suki - Yamaha MT09 (in Back of Van)
Lil Chris - BMW S1000R

CheekyKev’s Crew:
Kev -BMW triple Black R1250
Mark (VTR1000 on the Forum) - Honda hornet 800
Lee (UK31ker) - Suzuki TL1000R
Freeride Nick - VTR1000
Cheeky Sue and Lynne - Audi TT

Macs Southern Softies:
MacV2 - VTR1000
Jamoi - KTM 1290 SuperDuke
Rob (Bazza’s brother) - Triumph street triple
Tony.Mon - Aprillia Tuono V4

Grumpy’s Family Outing:
Stu (Grumpyfrog) - KTM 890 Duke
Lindsay - BMW GS1200

Midlands local loaners:
PeteL - Suzuki GSXGT
AMcQ46 - VTR1000

Honda = 4
KTM = 4
BMW = 3
Suzuki = 2
Yamaha = 1
Triumph = 1
Aprillia = 1

There was originally 19 bikes coming plus the 3 girls in Kev hareem but that dropped to 16 and 2 by Friday night . so that’s the statistics….. but first we have to wind back to the start of the weekend for those of us who can skive off work or are free to make out own plans because we are economically inactive (retired).

Tony, Pete & I had arranged to meet up on Thursday in Abergavenny at 2.30, so Tony had had an early start and collected Pete at the Severn View Services and they both headed up to meet me.

I had done a cross country A & B road route to Abergavenny, but as its only 70 miles I didn’t need to get out of the house till noon and still had time for a flame grilled whimper at a BK before jumping on to some B roads for the last 30 miles.
When I went into BK, I had parked the bike up on the pavement where I could see it out the window, but the pavement was at an angle and I had thought the bike was a bit more vertical than i would like, but it looked like it was OK……. So you can imagine what happened next!!!!! Yup, I am sitting eating my burger thing and when I look at my bike it is leaning the other way and the stand is not touching the ground…. The bloody wind had tipped it over….. Through good luck rather than judgement, a) I was parked beside some stainless steel bollards that separate the car park area from the pavement and the bike was now leaning its exhaust and my luggage pack on the post stopping it falling over on its side, and b) it was in gear so it couldn’t roll back away from its new found support.
I legged it outside and and pulled it back upright and moved it so it was pointing up the slope. This photo was afterwards, I didn’t think to take one of it leaning over, but I was so lucky those post were there as it would have either go right over the kerb on its side or landed on a car bonnet. So no damage.

BK bollard

Within minutes of Tony and Pete arriving in Abergavenny the skys opened so we sheltered in the petrol station watching the rain and catching up on each others news. (Pete had hurt his back this morning, Tony was on Imodium and might sh1t himself at any moment and I was without medical problems but had written my van off).
After 30 mins the rain was getting lighter, but it was heading in the direction we were going and showed no signs of stopping. so we made the decision to get waterproofs on and get moving the 70 miles to Rhayader.
Fortunately it was now light rain and road spray on wet roads for most of the route, but as we got to the last section of fun road (B4385) it was getting dry enough to enjoy it a bit.
As the bunkhouse is 3miles out of town, we needed to get provisions for food and drink, so stopped by the clock in town and decided to get a pint at the Lamb & Flag before doing the shopping. And who should be sitting outside the pub but 3 of Budds mates who came down from Leeds today without him. So we had a pint and talked bollacks, and were able to add Chris Sukie to the medically compromised list as he and Pete exchanged opinions on the best treatment for gout….. do you think we are getting past it!

We went back up to the bunk house and had our ping tea and a few beers while catching up, then we all made sure we bagged a bottom bunk … one of the perks to coming a day early.

One of the other perks was that we had a clear day forecast for Friday, but that came with an overnight frost so there was ice on our seats if you were in the shade!! Extra layers were worn and we delayed the start till 10.30 to allow the sun to do its magic.

Friday route

For our ride today i had a new route based on a couple of B roads that were documented in a RIDE magazine i was reading when on holiday a month earlier, and i had built them up into a 200 mile loop taking in roads I had never done and some I hadn’t done for many years. ..
So 6 of us set off on my voyage of discovery with Pete volunteering to be back marker and Tony watching his phone for speed camera alerts and talking to me on the intercom from mid pack.
We started with a good one that everybody knows, the A483 going north from Crossgates up to Newtown to get us into the swing of things then started on the new bits. That next 20 miles weren’t the best as they were too narrow, but they were needed to link across to the B4391 that was in the magazine, and i have to say that next run into Bala from the east had some stunning views.
Once in Bala it was time for lunch so we took over 2 tables in a cafe in the high st and had some top grub before going to the old fashioned pavement petrol station to get the storm topped up for the next leg.
Out of Bala we took the normal A4212, but for the first time I took the B4391 that forked off to the right about half way along the A4212 bringing us out in Ffestiniog. Wow, that could now be my favourite road, how did I not know that was there!! Up over open hill ground with great line of sight and lots of bends and crests….. oh and stunning views of the mountains in Snowdonia.

From there we keep heading west to the coast on the A496, but what could have been a great stretch of road was spoiled by the Police car that we spotted taking that turning as we are waiting to get out of the junction on the other side of the main road. Once we caught up with them they were doing a bit above 50mph, but there was no straights long enough to do gentle pass so we had to follow for about 15miles! Then they got stuck behind a very slow car we are able to ease past and get all 6 of us through. But as soon as we got clear I spotted a big castle so we decided it was time to be a tourist and have a look at Harlech castle from the nearby cafe with a cup of tea and a cake.

Harlech castle

From there more scenic coast roads till we got to Dolgellau, then we took the spectacular A487 through the deep valley known as the Mach loop (where fighter jets practice low flying) before jumping on the mega winding B4405 out to Tywyn then more scenic coast views round to Aberdovey where we stopped to admire the flat blue sea (and have a piss as a result of the pots of tea).

Once we were off the fast windy east bound section of coast roads into Machynlleth, we took the B road that goes up over the hill tops directly toward Rhayader, I know I had done some of these routes in the past but I think it might have been wet, because dont remember them being this good. … a bit narrow and technical, but in the dry they were great fun and what a view when you drop down past the Lake Clywedog.

So 200miles of experiment and we were all buzzing. I will be using a lot of this next year for the main Saturday ride.

A few of us had to go back into town to get more beer, so when we got back to the bunkhouse everybody had arrived and the drink and general ballocks was already flowing.

Firepit

Some nice bikes to look at as Freeride Nick was out on his stunning Storm track weapon, Mark had a new Honda Hornet, Lee had a great old school TLR and Jamie had the latest SuperDuke.

Nick

We were treated to Pizza and Chilli by Sue & Lynne and the fire pit was burning late into the night.

Sue’s other mate Sandra also turn up, straight from the airport after being away on holiday, but within 2 hrs she had a call to say that one of the others she had been with had come down with COVID, so not wanting to infect the already aging and infirm, she took it on herself to get back in her car and go home. … so we added her the the sick list and carried on drinking

End of part 1

[MacV2]

Great write up Al...

Lee wont be happy that you downgraded his TLR to a TL in the list & a TLS in the write up...

[MacV2]

Wales '24.

Day 3.

So Sat night/ Sun Morn...
The dulcet tones of grown men heaving into the plop pot... Reachhhhh Arrgg Reachhh Arrrgg Repeat.

This went on for some time as apparently at the fast groups lunch stop dodgy lamb pasty's enjoyed by 4 (?) had a vicious kick later that night...

The acoustics of the downstairs loo are quite remarkable...

Anyway my disturbed sleep was negligible given what they were going through

So up about 6, again got me shite together, coffee & a smerk, shite & a shower...

Cans & bottle's from last nights firepit carnage wombled up ...

The second cooked breakfast is served & devoured ... The final round of General Boll acks.

Gear on Farewell hugs me & Pete head off homeward bound.

Stopped for fuel at the stop & shop outside Rhayader then a blast down to Chepstow to fill up before the M Way, we did stop for a comfort break on the way as Pete wanted a cuppa...

Then onwards, over the bridge onto the M4, Pete peeled off to head home I tanked it on down the M4...

Then coming up to the services for a top up I start seeing on the matrix signs that the M25 South exit is closed... Yes the way I want to go...DOH.

So No choice as you have to take the north bound M25....Staying on the M4 takes you into ULES Zone... So ...

A/ M25 north bound all the way.

B/ Take the M25 north & do a u turn at the first junction.

B/ it is apart from the first junction is the M48(?) & it feeds you straight on to it with no Roundabout to get back the other way... Some miles later I get the chance to loop round, so back the way I came, pick up the M25 South heading home...finally...

Still made one more stop back at Clackets to top up so I can blast it back down The M26-M20 rather than pootle & fill up later on...

Made it back home around 15.30...

Cream Crackered...

Start...


Finish...




770 miles door to Door...

Well done The Murvinator.


& what with it being a Storm meet it would be rude not to show the others...


Al's beastie...



Nicks too shiny good luck cleaning that one...


Once aging thanks every one for making it a great weekend. Roll on '25...

[sirch345]

Great write-ups Mac and Al and good to see the photo's

You were lucky Al with the wind blowing your bike over and having the railings there to save it, obviously planned that way

Chris.

[AMCQ46]

Part 2
Saturday & Sunday

Saturday is our main ride day, and for more that 50% of the lads, this was going to be their only day out playing in Wales, so we had to make it good.

today was a “Dog Day”!
1. because I didn’t sleep well and that combined with all the food & Beer, I was feeling dog ruff.
2. On our ride, we first encountered a pack of 5 hunting dogs with no sign of an owner and they were happily trotting up the fast A44, the main road to Aberystwyth, then in the afternoon we had to emergency stop for a lone collie dog running round on the B road heading east between Knighton and Dolfor, finally when we stopped at the pub there were even more dogs that took a liking to us as we grabbed a swift beer in the sun.

When we got up it was looking overcast, but warmer than yesterday, so I layered up to keep out the chill only to have to take the layers off when the sun came out and I started to overheat.

I was leading the fast group which had increased from the 6 who were out on Friday up to 8 with Budd and Jamoie joining us. Should be a good group as I have ridden with them all before and we can keep a good pace.

Sat route

Fast group head out

The route for today was pretty much the same as last years, but I removed the out and back, over the black mountains because of the new 40mph average speed cameras and the nightmares they gave me last year. I added some other sections and we had another 200 miler, with an option to cut short when we crossed the A44.

Pete’s back was still playing up so he went at the back again and I set off out the A44 to try and get my head into the game. The interlude with the hunting dogs provided some entertainment, especially when one of them stopped to have a crap in the middle of the road as we were trying to get past.
When we get to the petrol station Jamie is not happy with his KTM… he had started to overtake a car and the front wheel was coming up, then bang, the electronics cut in and it drops like a stone and not only does he smash his nuts into the tank but he whacks his chin off the screen. He is not yet gelling with that bike.

The route took us west to Devil’s Bridge and towards Aberystwyth, from there we head south east through Lampeter and then to Llandovery where we stopped for what would become the suspect lunch pasty’s.
It was only Tony who had the lamb pasty, and 6 of us had the beef. Of those 6, 3 of those lads were up all Saturday night / Sunday morning puking, and Pete succumbed to the vomit trend on his ride home the next day. For some reason Budd and I were both fine despite eating the same pasty.
But all this talk of puke is getting ahead of ourself, we still had another 100 miles of fun to get through. so from Brecon I head north on some great motorbike B-roads into BuilthWells, before going to the east through Hundred House to arrive back at the A44.
I stop in a car park on a steep slope to ask who wants to take the shortcut home and who wants to do another 60 miles?
It’s at this point we have our only accident of the day as Budd try’s to get off his bike when its pointing down hill, and its starts to roll away from him into my bike and then it falls over on top of him.
We get the bike off him and he is OK, and the only damage on mine is the LH exhaust is pushed in a bit, but it pulls straight back out again as it had only moved in the mounting strap.

The fall

Pete, with his back still hurting, takes the short route home and the 7 of us go off and do the remaining 60 miles.

Once we get the next dog incident out of the way we finish the day with a fast pass back down the A483 (that we enjoyed at the start of Friday route). At this point I have young Jamie on the SuperDuke in my mirrors and I was having to work hard to make sure I kept him at bay…. I think for a moment he started to enjoy the KTM.

Friday group

Then a couple of beers at the lamb & Flag watching a hen party do a pub crawl before getting back to the bunkhouse to BBQ & drink till we ran out of steam.


Sunday came with the sound of vomit from one of the bunk rooms and the smell of a full fried breakfast for the rest of us.
The weather was already overcast as we got ready to go, and the forecast showed rain especially if you were travelling anywhere north of where we were.

Slowly but surely most people where getting ready to go with only Tony and Jamie electing to stay one more night. We all put our waterproof on when we set off and those going north got absolutely drowned, those of us going east or south managed to get away with it, so I had a nice 100m run home and the bike was put back in the garage wet & dirty so I could take Paula out for the afternoon to earn more browny points to be able to do this all again next year.


Thanks to everyone who contributed to all the OP storm weekends they are still some of the best fun you can have on and off the bike.

[Pete.L]

Brilliant write up Guys
Al, I don't know how you keep all those names of where we went in your head (or how to pronounce them) very impressive.
Thanks to all for a truly awesome ride, great roads, great weather and great friends.

Roll on next year

Pete.l

PS Thanks for not mentioning as well as puking my other part trick is sh1tting though a straw! Those pasties have something to answer for

[AMCQ46]

Brilliant write up Guys
Al, I don't know how you keep all those names of where we went in your head (or how to pronounce them) very impressive.

I can't remember them either, I look at the map when I am doing the write up

[sirch345]

I read the rest of this earlier, a crackin' read as usual. Many thanks guy's for taking time to do this, and for posting up the photo's

Chris.

[AMCQ46]

I read the rest of this earlier, a crackin' read as usual. Many thanks guy's for taking time to do this, and for posting up the photo's

Chris.

Cheers Chris,
It’s a bit of effort, but fun to do, and I think it’s good for the rest of the forum to see what we get up to and hopefully think about joining us next year.

I didn’t know any of these lot before I came to my 1st OP Storm Wales back in 2011, and now they are my mates

[freeridenick]

Great write-ups guys. For my first Op Storm it was a pretty good one. Except for the ride home on Sunday (like standing under a waterfall for four hours) the riding was great. The company too. There was actually a perverse pleasure in the ride home if I'm honest.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

[AMCQ46]

In case anyone hasn’t googled Mach loop jets, this is the type of photo the fans get from the top of the hills as the jets go past.

We rode out along that road past The lake

Mach loop