PTW

Hi all, anyone having a go at the Cyclosportif that Davy C has discovered (on the events page)?
Has any one done it before?

No.

So is that a NO then Kev???

Well I'm def doing it (sent off my entry already). No idea what the course is like other than the details on the webpage! The WCU site has slightly more deatils: www.welshcyclingunion.com

I imagine it will cover many of the roads we are familiar with, and I expect it to be a tough one!

Well, there are more details on the official site at http://www.bikewales.org, although not many.

It starts at The National Waterfront Museum of Wales at 9am, then follows the silver route up to Pontardawe, Ystalyfera and Brynamman, then departs to go up and over the Black Mountain, perhaps around something called Mynydd Mallaen, then back down to the NWM again via Ammanford, Pontarddulais and back through Gowerton and Fforestfach

I've decided to enter it

Good man! Just noticed the tag line on the 'race results tab' : you know, cyclosportives, where you pay

I just got the route details and a map through the post this morning, it looks like a nice day in the saddle?!!
Gold route - 110miles, from Swansea - Pontardawe - Brynamman (A4069) to Llandovery across to Cwynt y cadno - Pumsaint, B4302 to Llandelio - A483 to Llandybie - Rhydaman - Pontarddulais - Gowerton - Burry Green around the coast and back to Swansea.

Phew - I'm out of breath just typing that!!

What are you going to be eating for the anticipated six hours? I guess I shall get something in the post shortly too with perhaps a few more details on refreshments, but it is something that concerns me. I'm fine for 3 hours in the saddle - I can get by without eating anything - but I've yet to decide what and how much food to carry for six hours. And somehow I don't think tins of Ambrosia are going to fit in the back pockets!

On the tour to Northampton I consumed nothing but Garibaldi biscuits and water!

They worked fine... until the last day... but I think that was really the combined effect of overeating and overdrinking for the previous 3 nights...

Hi Bill - The letter from the organisers says there will be feed stations on the route with drinks, banannas and cereal bars, so that's a relief.

Me personally I'm going to take Nutri Grain Elevenses (or whatever they're called these days). I find they are the best race food, sweet enough to hit the spot but with some decent carbs in there to. They also fit very well into your back pocket!!
Start eating an hour into the ride and make sure you have at least one bar every hour. Should see you through!!

Remember it's better to feel a little bloated and full rather than empty and blowing up in the middle of no-where!!!!

Davey C: Oh, I've been meaning to ask - what was in your registration pack? It says:

"Your computer timing chip and bike clip to attach it to your front wheel"

Well, all I got in the packet was a piece of red and white plastic - nothing that looks like an actual 'timing chip'. It doesn't rattle and there's nothing inside it, so I'm anticipating a trip to the registration tent to get the missing part.

Can you shed any light on this?

Hi Bill - I had the same as you. I assume that this is the chip, (presumably it is not very sophisticated). You can attache it to the front wheel by unscrweing the quick release and putting it in between the fork and qucik release bolt. (there is a little shoulder on the transponder that fits snugly against the lip of the fork).

It also says that you clip it on and just ride over the start line, so that is what I intend on doing. No standing around for me!

Actually, I should have looked it up on the web first. There's more information than you could possibly want here:

http://www.championchip.com/chips/

including the extremely useful advice:

Quote

Do not cross the systems by walking on your hands. Your chip will not be read.

However, there is quite useful information, such as to ensure the best chance of being read the tube should be pointing downwards, not forwards, and not within 7mm of anything metallic.

I can actually see the imprint of a quick release skewer on my clip now that I look for it, so problem sorted. I think I'll turn up about 5 minutes to 9

Rats! I don't know what happened to Dave Crowley, but I had 3 punctures and did not finish. One of the punctures was my fault (didn't check the tyre for thorns) and it earned me a 70 minute wait in wet kit getting hypothermia whilst the roving mechanic tracked me down. Thank goodness I had a mobile phone signal.

I wasn't setting a good time either - I'd done 63 miles in just under 4 1/2 hours (14 mph av.) when I got the 3rd puncture, but then the weather had been horrible, the terrain energy sapping and the roads, er, well largely absent in places. With 50 miles to go, I might just have made it home within 8 hours (winner did it in 6, so I'm told). Instead I got a lift home in the mechanic's car (lifesaver!).

I should have taken the touring bike, in which case I would have been 5 minutes slower up the Black Mountain, but comfortable, dry, warm and puncture-free. What was I thinking?

Time to crack open a beer...

A rather poorly timed cold laid me low unfortunately

Judging by the weather I don't think I missed much, but I'm not very happy at not being able to have a crack at it!!!

Back luck Bill. It was a nasty day out there wasn't it?

I've might have got the same cold as you Davey. I blew my nose this morning and my snot was orange!! WTF is that all about?

The commentator down at the start said that the forecast was for 'scattered showers'. In point of fact this was stretching credibility a bit since they seemed pretty well joined-up ones to me. I imagine there is generally more rain around Cwrt-y-Cadno anyway than there is in Swansea, because of the topography, but that may have been just the received impression.

Despite the two punctures costing me about 25 minutes, I was feeling pretty optimistic just before the 3rd puncture struck. The showers looked to be petering out and I knew south of Llandeilo the terrain would be flattening out, and I don't cope too badly with head winds. I was cold, but well-fuelled, and had been saving my legs on every ascent by changing right down the gears. My legs hurt less today than they do after a typical run to Porthcawl.

There are a lot of 'what ifs' that could have avoided or repaired the 3rd puncture quicker, but by the time I was eventually rescued it was too late to finish within daylight, and I was too cold to care. I don't know what the lessons learnt are - I'm sure most riders completed all 109 miles without any punctures, but I saw four other riders with punctures, so I think the roads were officially thorny (lots of hedges had just been cut). The touring bike still seems to remain the best Plan B.

Well done Bill for turning up and having a go. Do you fancy having another go in the Autumn Epic this coming Sunday in Mid Wales. Rob Jenkins has pulled out and rumour has it that Kevin Rattenbury should pull out after struggling up the the little hill from Aberkenfig on Saturday's ride. There's a spare place available for any brave souls out there.

Striker, don't underestimate Mr Rattenbury, I've caught him secret training at least four times in the last week. Hopefully we'll have some healthy competition.

Have you spoken to Rob to see if he still has a place as his name is no longer on the events list?

No I have n't spoken to Rob it looks like he must have been replaced already. I suppose I'd best get in touch with the digs as it looks like Kev is getting some last minute training.

Oh, I forgot to mention what happened to me on the way home from Swansea last Wednesday night.

I got a flipping puncture!

On my touring bike!!!

The roads definitely have it in for me at the moment.

Congrats to Chris Fulcher and Phil Evans for actually finishing the Autumn Epic. Hope you are satisfied with the times. Chris was 65th out of 406 finishers on the Full Route, by my reckoning, and Phil was 189th. Well done.