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The Bottom Line

I first started to notice some saddle soreness after about 85 miles on the first day. I was fairly sure I knew the cause but I didn't do anything about it.

Because I was likely to be arriving at the campsite quite late and there were some uncertainties with the weather, I decided to wear liners under my shorts for ease of washing. These were not cheap liners; they were Holly Hanson's, which probably cost more than my shorts, I had purchased them specifically for this purpose prior to my LEJOG. I had used them a few times on that but without any problem. As I was putting them on before starting this trip I'd noticed the raised seams which hadn't registered in the past and nearly decided against wearing them.

On my LEJOG I had a wider Brooks B 67 sprung saddle, on this trip it was a narrower B17 and I think the seams coincided with the edge of the saddle. I'd only ever suffered saddle soreness once before and that was on my Travelodge tour with the LEJOG bike but with the original Carrera saddle so I wasn't really very concerned about it on the first day. I should have immediately removed the liners rather than wait until I camped.

I wasn't expecting further problems when I set out on the second day, minus the liners so took no further action. I did notice soreness particularly on hills and it got worse during the day. Consequently, I made it a fairly short day.

On the third day I made use of some wide strips of Elastoplast which had been in my small first aid pack for years. Two large pieces, covering the sore areas one on each cheek! I managed to get some sudacreme in Aberystwyth, but didn't apply any until I reached the campsite at Aberaeron. I put more on the next morning but didn't bother with plasters; but they clearly had done more good on the previous day than I had I realised so I rectified that fairly early on (but after more damage had been done). Only when I reached the next campsite did I get the chance to look at the damage with double mirrors and it was worse than I had realised, even though the combination of plasters and sudacreme had made it much more bearable. The seams had rubbed away a layer of skin.

From then on I applied sudacreme each evening after my shower and each morning applied sudacreme covered by a plaster. On a couple of occasions it became uncomfortable (because I'd not put the plasters on in quite the right place) so I changed them on route. I continued to be aware of the soreness until I got home but it was not really a problem.

In future I shall not use liners! Unless, that is, I manage to find some totally seamless and otherwise suitable ones; they must surely exist? I shall also make sure I always carry strips of Elastoplast and sudacreme!

Day 5: Newgale to Llandovery

Got up at 4:20, tended to bum, packed and was off by 5:10. Flat for 200 yards then straight on to a hill which took me up to over 100 m. Then it was generally down with a few bumps to Haverfordwest. I made for the A40 which was fairly quiet at this time in the morning although there were a few trucks. It gradually built up and I was mostly overtaken by short convoys headed by a truck. Very noticeable that the trucks were far more considerate than cars. I'd deviated onto the old road where a new bypass had been built and then again through Whitland. Lots of ups and downs on this section. Bum started to hurt so replaced plasters in a layby.

Decided that I'd stop for a decent break at St Clears. Smaller than I was expecting but I found a nice little cafe in the West Wales Centre for the Crafts. Despite having already eaten my cheese sarny (awful), an energy drink (chemical) and three "irresistible" energy bars (which weren’t) I plumped for a "Full Welsh"; excellent. And excellent value at £4.25 including coffee.

My planned route was to take the track along the right-hand side of the A40 and then turn off and follow NCN 4 to Carmarthen but had already decided to continue on the A40 which became a dual carriageway at this point. This would cut both the distance and the climbing (about 5k. and over 180m climbing). This turned out well. To start with there was a cycle track but this deviated away. The road was fairly busy but there was a large gap between the verge and the white line at the edge of the carriageway. Even on the narrowest bits I could still avoid drain covers. I stayed on the A40 and didn't take any of the deviations along adjacent B roads.

I entered Carmarthen via the B4312. Crossing Carmarthen involved a foot/cycle bridge across to the station and then onto the B 4300. Very straightforward, partly because I'd checked it out on street view when planning.



Just before Llanarthne I stopped to take a photo of the oxbows on the River Towy. Two large birds of prey were being hassled by another much smaller bird. Watched it for ages, attempted photos but camera took too long to focus. Saw several more birds of prey along this section of road.

Entered Llandovery with the sun blazing down; it had been overcast for most of the day although it was clear when I set off from Newgale. First stop the supermarket then onto campsite which turned out to be a pretty good one. Mainly static and touring caravans but a special rate for backpackers and cyclists.

Pitched tent, showered then into town for a pint of OBA. Nice pint.

Back to the campsite and cooked kidney beans, peas, onion, chilli and tomatoes, followed by chocolate desert and washed down with beer.

An excellent days cycling, probably the best so far. Wind was behind me although it hadn't reregistered until I turned west once in the campsite.

Distance: 110.34 k

Time: 6: 44: 37

Average: 16.4 k/hr

Max: 54.5/hr

Height asc: 1472 m

Campsite: Erwlon Caravan & Camping Park, Llandovery, £5.50. Good facilities, picnic tables, friendly. Excellent value.

Day 4: Aberaeron to Newgale

I got up later than I intended just before five. A very windy night with the wind blowing off the sea. It was still windy: the forecast was for a north-west wind, this was a westerly. The sky was cloudy but seemed to be clearing from the west.

As I was leaving the campsite there was a large bird of prey on a fencepost. I wondered if it was a red kite but it wasn't. Later another even larger one flew across low down in front of me. Not sure what it was, either.

I went straight through town and immediately uphill; this was going to be a rollercoaster ride at least to Cardigan. After a few miles my arse was starting to complain. I'd slathered it with sudacreme but not bothered with the plasters, perhaps they did more good yesterday than I’d realised. It was hard going for a while, my state of well-being seeming to be dependent entirely on how my bum felt. Added to my breakfast supplies at a petrol station then stopped in a layby to eat it. When I set off bum felt better although slightly worse going up hill. There were lots of hills, not steep perhaps 7, 8 or 9%, but they were short.

Between 7:30 and 8:30 there was a fair bit of commuter traffic. The usual single-minded half asleep drivers determined to get past at the earliest opportunity so they could get back on the end of the queue just in front.

By the time I got to Cardigan I realised I had to get some plaster on so I looked for a WC which I hoped would be in a cafe. Found an excellent one which was a cellar bar with live music at night. Fortunately a spacious WC for my contortions.

"What would you like, lovely?" I had a black coffee. "Going far?" "A fair way". "Not something like Birmingham I hope!" I said I was aiming for St David’s Head today and she was duly impressed!

Cardigan looked like a nice town but I didn't hang around because I wanted to get on. The plaster seemed to do the trick and this changed my whole outlook; I spent more time looking around taking more interest in my surroundings and taking photographs. More ups and downs but I was going well. I decided I would stop for lunch when I got to Fishguard.

. A replica iron age fort in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

. --------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - so it is!

Entering the town was a steep downhill followed by a very steep uphill which I sailed up.


I looked around for a suitable take-away but couldn't see much -- perhaps I was in the wrong area -- so I settled for haddock and chips. No suitable seating so I rode out of town until I reached the A40 and realised this was not where I should be but I stopped and ate. Very disappointing, chips kept warm too long, batter soggy although the fish was ok

This morning I'd thought I might get to St David's head then go on to Newgale. At lunchtime this seemed unlikely so I thought I'd be camping somewhere on St David's Head.

The last bit to St David's head was undulating and I was going quite well. I went straight through the city without stopping and headed for St Justinian which looked like as far west as you can get on a road. I took a wrong road (too far south) and came to a nice looking creek (Porthclais- a harbour built in the 12th century to serve St Davids, now used by local fishing boats and recreational craft.) where cars were parked and loads of people were mooching about. I carried on uphill until I came to a junction and saw a sign to St Justinian. I rode as far as I could, parked up and walked down to the sea. An enormous lifeboat station with several large inflatables around it. I spent a while wandering around taking photos.

Then back to St Davids, Britain's smallest city, where I went to the supermarket. I set off thinking I'd stop at the first campsite. I was still feeling pretty good so did in fact go on to Newgale, having paused a while at Solva, which lies in a beautiful ravine at the mouth of the River Solva.








As I descended the hill into Newgale I could see the campsite with a pub at the entrance. My sort of campsite: just a field with reception in a caravan, good showers and cheap. Just across the road from the sea. Most campers seemed to be surfers or windsurfers. There was a stiff breeze coming off the sea but I found a reasonably sheltered spot behind a hedge.

Double mirrors in the shower room enabled me to see the damage to my bum for the first time; not a pretty sight, a bit raw with skin hanging loose! So, copious amounts of sudacreme.

Heated a meat and potato pie in my bodged up bain marie. Followed by two chocolate trifles, bananas and nuts. Couple of glasses of wine followed by Galaxy hot chocolate.

Didn't bother with the pub and had an early night and fell asleep listening to podcasts.

This had been a superb day. The plasters and sudacreme had made a massive difference.

Distance: 115 .10 k

Time: 7: 38: 59

Average: 15.0 k/hr

Max: 59.5/hr

Height asc: 1909 m

Campsite: Newgale camping site, Wood Farm, Newgale, Haverfordwest. £5 plus 50p token for shower. Basic but good showers, friendly; my type of site.