B-bug trial - Builth Wells & Brecon Beacons

Its 9.45 on the 21st September 2011 and I have finally opened up the shop after racing as fast as I could on the 24mph B-bug from my Grans in Builth Wells to Erwood Station Craft Centre.

Its been a funny morning, obviously I over slept, waking at 7.45 with the ear plugs still in from the noise last nite. I had intended to get the 7.30 bus from Llandrindod Wells to Llanelwedd (just outside Builth wells by the Royal Welsh Showground) to get in the  B-bug and be early to work.

Plans change all the time, so I get a cuppa and a bakon sani and i'm out the door - I get to the main road out of Llandod by 8.15 and out goes the thumb.



By 8.20 I have a lift with a council employee and he drops me at the door, 'Hi Gran, mornin  Frank & Nancy... I'm late and must get going'. I run down to the garage to see if the B-bug had actually charged sufficiently. I had had problems with the B-bug last night but all seemed great now - I donned the Waterproofs and jumped in, ready to take the healm.... nothing, power at full charge but nothing, I take a chance look under the ignition key, to find that the red wire is disconnected 'You got a soldering iron Gran?' I shout....



I get a pair of scissors some elastic bands and some tape from the med box. Emergency Bodge kit!!!!
Bodge Job done - no time to call the B-bug owners to ask for pick up, there 30 mins away and I need to be at work at 9am - Its 8.55 - and it took me 24mins to get from Erwood - Builth last night - oh well, no rest for the wicked - I bodged it reall good, it didn't fall out all the way to the Craft Centre. (I will call them after writing this...)


On the way down I was not stressed as I usually would be if I was late for something, the B-bug really makes you slow down, Its brilliant, and the Orange Snowboarding goggles really give the Wye Valley an Autumnul brightness, as the leaves start to fall in front of me and cars overtake - like I shouldnt even be on their roads - I sit back, relax and feel a great sense that I do really want one! even if the trials and tribulations somewhat put me off yeasterday.

I'm thinking EPoS system so we can sell online and about meeting John Wake to buy a suit in Cardiff. I'm representing Tourist Partnership Mid Wales at the Business awards in Newtown on the 27th Sept.


I have the B-bug until Sunday and hope that the ignition was the failure I had by Builth Quarry yeasterday evening and not the low milage rate on the B-bug.

I will be strapping on the head cam tonight before I try again to get to Llandrindod!