PTW

All the best to our two hardy souls riding the 12 tomorrow. Les Thomas and Andy Evans,have a good un.

I marshalled there between 05.45 and 12.45hrs and the boys were doing well. Les, in particular, looked full of beans and did (approximately) 102.5 miles in 5.20:00. The event looks like a battle royale with Sean Childs and George Rose very close and Chris Bates also looking strong but, of course, the second half might be a totally different story.

Anyway, Good Luck Andrew and Les.

Gary and Will are still there so we might get an update

Yep it was a close run thing between the big boys sean childs won with 277.407
George rose was second with 276 and Chris Bates was 3rd with 275.298

From Our Point of view Andy Evans recorded 231.671 Whereas I recorded 226.533

All in all a good day out but I am trying to find bits of me that doesn't hurt. (without much success)

Wait till tomorrow Les, You'll be in even more numbed exhaustion !!

Well done to both you and Andy.

Seriously well done boys, that is crazy stuff!!!

Just quick thank you to those that helped me got through the day.

My wife, Skippy, Willy and Alf your support throughout the event, was much appreciated and needed. For those that haven't done one of these, after 8 hrs on a bike, a friendly face is a real boost and a banana or even better "a wet sponge" is like manner from heaven.

Just a note for the future after 10 hours on a bike, Fruit pastels.....OH Yes!

A big thank you to Richard Beech from the Ogmore for the Rice pudding in an icecream cornet.......( Could be my new favourite food)

For all the encouragement from the Merthyr boys (and the fruit pastels..... Mark Andrews I think I love you)

Yes it hurt like hell yesterday, hurts as much today but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Incidentally can I book you all for July the 4th next year as they a bringing it forward due the the national championships at Llandovery

what a day! in stark contrast to Les' euphoric outlook on the day - (by the way, he was looking so fresh at the end I thought he was going to get up and do a song! - dont know how he does it) that has to be the one of the worst (and on reflection, best) experiences I've had on the bike! 12 hr champs and 24 hr champs shouldnt be allowed!
Not to put anyone thinking of doing next years event off, Here's some graphic detail as to what goes on in the 12 - when your not on a particularly good day!!
Talk about mind games - 3 hrs in and my fist twinge of cramp, reality sets in - you got 9 hrs to go mate- pack up now and spend the rest of the day with the kids or see it out! the choice is mine. Then I rode past Alf who's been up since the crack of dawn and he eggs me on, Gary and Will running after me with sponges like something out of the tour - I will never forget it, my 2 trustee helpers - messers Jayson James and Steve Edwards - I cant let any of these guys down, could'nt have done it with out them - screaming at me to eat and drink, and those poxy food bags!!! they'll know what I'm on about! donuts, coke, hi - F****** 5 by the gallon, jelly babies, jam sandwiches and turkish delight -all USED to be my favourites!! The chainbridge loop - 125 miles of soul destroying head windy lanes and dual - counting down the hours- over an hour a lap - I got 6 hrs here!! Its enough to make you question your sanity! I get to 8 hrs and I'm counting down. busting for a pee but cant go. On the finishing circuit now, at 9 hrs, People on the side of the road scream encouragement, its all a blur. My bottom hurts, cant rest on the tri bars, hands hurt, fingers numb, still numb now, feet hurt, nose hurts where my glasses have been - of all the things!!! In the granny ring now up the old road blasting out a good 5mph up over policemans hill, the leaders pass me - how do they do it! back down the dual - Steve shouts only a lap and a half to go - 21 bloody miles. Another circuit finished, back on the dual for the last time, winds behind me now and trying to get as far along it before the 12hrs are up. Get to the old road and policemans hill for the last time and then.......I've finished!! Get helped off the bike, too many emotions to describe, tears of joy, pain, relief, everything hurts and more. Cant walk, talk, cant make it to the car, Jayson gets my shoes off, feet are killing, quads and calves in bits, triceps, neck, back you name it - its in pieces! then the bonk sets in, I'm freezing cold, double vision, Im in a bad way. Back to the HQ and some friendly faces, Gary and John Wills, Les all congratulating me. We did it. I bury my self in to another sandwich, I hate tomato, but they all go down. I cant stick the noise and want to lie down.I ask Steve to drive me home. One bottle of Lucozade later and I can see straight again.
So off to bed, heart rate 120bpm lying down - not good, freezing cold, sweating streams, cant sleep. My son wakes up at 2am, comes in to our room - I sleep on the floor downstairs. Got a chicken sandwich craving at 4am and a chocolate biscuit craving when I woke this morning.

So, if your thinking about doing the 12, remember, its the hours you put in from january to April that will get you through, if you find yourself cramming the miles in the month before - beware! Get a great support crew and be ready to experiences some or all of of the emotions above. You'll ask your self some serious questions in those 12 hrs, but at the end, the feeling is hard to put in to words.
Thanks again to Jayson, Steve, Alf, John Wills, Gary, Its guys like these that make cycling what it is!!

The 12, what a spectacle - it has to be experienced to be appreciated!

Mad B*****DS. But seriously, good effort. Well done. I thought about doing next years event after reading this topic, for about ............................................. 0.5 sec, then sense prevaild.

Wow, a very close result!

Well done to Andy and Les - very impressive rides for 12-hour novices.

andy_Evs wrote

The 12, what a spectacle - it has to be experienced to be appreciated!

Aye, the Welsh 12-hour is a cracking event for sure but the Mersey Roads 24-hour is at a higher level again - especially the night section.

Well done lads , your reports only reiterate to me how mad you have to be to even con sider riding one!. i was helping out Martin Edwards and Lyndsay Jones several years ago, i can still remember what state they were in on finishing, but a few pints later and all was o.k. .Once again well done

Well done both of you. Great report too.

Well done Les and Andy.Hope you'll both soon recover from your efforts.It made really good reading I was on the edge of my seat!!!Once again hats off to you.

ANDY A BRILLIANT REPORT. MUST HAVE TAKEN YOU AS LONG AS RIDING THE EVENT. JUST IMAGINE RIDING A 24.

I think I'd only contemplate doing it on a 'bent! Hope you get back to enjoying your riding ASAP.