Linked Events

  • Yr Elenydd: 14 April, 2012

Author Topic: Hir oes i'r Elenydd! (Sat 14th April 2012)  (Read 23904 times)

JohnHamilton

Hir oes i'r Elenydd! (Sat 14th April 2012)
« on: 03 October, 2011, 01:10:49 pm »
[shameless plug]
Long live The Elenith...

Dave Pountney may have retired but The Elenith lives on. From 2012 Yr Elenydd will be an undulates(TM) event, to be held on Sat 14th April.

There'll be a new start, from Upton Magna just outside Shrewsbury (familiar to Pengwern veterans and I can happily report that the village pub has now re-opened :)). Basic accommodation (camping or use of the AUK strategic campbed reserve) will be available before and after the ride.

A flattish start follows Roman Roads through Church Stretton to Leintwardine, Mortimers X and the first control at Shobdon (mmm, the smell of aviation fuel in the morning), with a couple of small bumps along the way to wake you up.

From Shobdon the classic Elenith route is retained across to Builth Wells, the infamous Tregaron Mountain Toad and the Ystwyth & Elan mountain road to Rhayader. All the same controls will be present, including the secret(sshh) feed stop at the Devil's Staircase. Thanks to Dave, his helpers and the Tregaron Bowls club for continuing their association with this classic event.

The return route leaves the A44 at Penybont to follow the A488 over Penybont common, through Dolau and Bleddfa to return to England at Knighton. A short section of B roads takes you to the new final control at Little Brampton who'll be staying open for us and doing a special cyclists menu for the occasion.

The hills don't finish here - the final leg will take you to the west of the Long Mynd up the Onny Valley and the final climb of the day (or night) over the Mynd at Thresholds. Then it's a flat out 20k descent (bring good lights) through Picklescott and all the way to the finish.

Overall my (rough) contour count gives a total climbing figure of 4,500m. A GPS track is with the AAA man for a definitive figure, which I expect to be roughly the same as the current route.

See you all in Upton Magna...
[/shameless plug]

marcusjb

  • Full of bon courage.
Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd!
« Reply #1 on: 03 October, 2011, 01:18:41 pm »
This is brilliant news! 

I've only ridden the Elenith once (this year) and the weather was amazing - I feel I haven't really had the authentic experience, so I am glad it all lives on and if you could please see to it that the weather is atrocious - I want hail, wind, lightning, ice, the works please!  ;)

No, in all seriousness, it really was one of my highlights of the year despite some mechanical challenges (seatpost slipping down all the time due to a frame problem) - it was a staggering route, the weather was amazing and there are some really good lumps to test the legs.

It's gone into my provisional diary for next year!

Right! What's next?

Ooooh. That sounds like a daft idea.  I am in!

iddu

  • Are we there yet?
Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd!
« Reply #2 on: 03 October, 2011, 01:26:59 pm »
From 2012 Yr Elenydd will be an undulates(TM) event...

 :facepalm:
Is there going to be a flat bit anywhere? ;D
I'd offer you some moral support - but I have questionable morals.

border-rider

Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd!
« Reply #3 on: 03 October, 2011, 01:31:56 pm »
Bendigedig :)

That sounds like a great route; good to see the event surviving, and even adapting to be something with the feel of the old one but its own personality too.

Chris N

Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd!
« Reply #4 on: 03 October, 2011, 01:34:55 pm »
Excellent - closer to home and free camping.  Will the rest of the Pengwern SR be on next year too?

DanialW

Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd!
« Reply #5 on: 03 October, 2011, 01:48:04 pm »
Nice one!

vorsprung

  • Opposites Attract
    • Audaxing
Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd!
« Reply #6 on: 03 October, 2011, 02:10:29 pm »
This is encouraging news.

Further away for me Chris  ;D but it's an overnight plus a journey anyhow

jogler

  • mojo operandi
Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd!
« Reply #7 on: 03 October, 2011, 02:12:43 pm »
From 2012 Yr Elenydd will be an undulates(TM) event...

 :facepalm:
Is there going to be a flat bit anywhere? ;D

Be assured that the floor of Upton Magna village hall is flat :)

border-rider

Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd!
« Reply #8 on: 03 October, 2011, 02:22:46 pm »
Unfortunately it puts it a bit too far for me to do there-and-back in the day now, but I can't complain as it's been easy for me for many years and now it's easy for people who live the other side of Birmingham :)

Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd!
« Reply #9 on: 03 October, 2011, 02:24:49 pm »
I fancy this one! it's in my diary...

Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd!
« Reply #10 on: 03 October, 2011, 02:37:08 pm »
Well done that man for picking up the gauntlet.

I still ain't doing it though. About 4,000m of climb too much for me :)
You're only as successful as your last 1200...

Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd!
« Reply #11 on: 03 October, 2011, 03:24:08 pm »
It's time I did something bigger than a 200 again.  Always fancied this, but always felt it was a bit early in the year with guaranteed night riding.  Pencilled into my diary - may get rubbed out again!

border-rider

Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd!
« Reply #12 on: 03 October, 2011, 03:31:32 pm »
Tewdric & I have done the middle "Elenydd" horseshoe part as a perm starting from Chepstow. It's a hard ride and needs to be done in the summer, really, since it takes in a traverse of Epynt on the way to the Elenydd

Maybe you could join us next summer :)

Salvatore

  • Джон Спунър
    • Pics
Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd!
« Reply #13 on: 03 October, 2011, 03:37:04 pm »
Duly pencilled in.
Quote
et avec John, excellent lecteur de road-book, on s'en est sortis sans erreur

bikey-mikey

  • AUK 6372
  • Yes, I am completely mad ! a.k.a. 333
Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd!
« Reply #14 on: 03 October, 2011, 05:51:45 pm »
With the camping option this is one for me - I love the hilly stuff... O:-)
I’ve decided I’m not old. I’m 25 .....plus shipping and handling.

Cycling heatmap
https://www.strava.com/athletes/4628735/heatmaps/6ed5ab12#10/51.12782/-3.16388

Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd!
« Reply #15 on: 03 October, 2011, 06:09:19 pm »
Superb news - many thanks for taking up the baton!

Salvatore

  • Джон Спунър
    • Pics
Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd!
« Reply #16 on: 03 October, 2011, 07:45:56 pm »
[I thought] I'd never heard of Thresholds, so I looked it up. It turns out I went along that road last Tuesday, between Picklescott and Bridges. Not a flat road.
Quote
et avec John, excellent lecteur de road-book, on s'en est sortis sans erreur

Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd!
« Reply #17 on: 03 October, 2011, 08:25:44 pm »
Great news  :thumbsup:

I don't want to grow old gracefully. I want to grow old disgracefully.

Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd! (Sat 14th April 2012)
« Reply #18 on: 04 October, 2011, 12:08:33 pm »
This is a mix of good news and bad for me.

Undulates is a worthy successor to Dave and many thanks for keeping a classic event on the calendar.  :thumbsup:

I'll be out of the country and won't be able to ride  :demon:

Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd! (Sat 14th April 2012)
« Reply #19 on: 04 October, 2011, 08:58:56 pm »
It sounds like a great route! :thumbsup:
Organiser of Droitwich Cycling Club audaxes.  https://www.droitwichcyclingclub.co.uk/audax/

Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd! (Sat 14th April 2012)
« Reply #20 on: 04 October, 2011, 09:06:13 pm »
Anyone got a link to an online route map??  TIA.

JohnHamilton

Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd! (Sat 14th April 2012)
« Reply #21 on: 04 October, 2011, 09:29:56 pm »
Route map, GPS & draft route sheet will be available soon.

Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd! (Sat 14th April 2012)
« Reply #22 on: 04 October, 2011, 10:34:47 pm »
The hills don't finish here -

I didn't think they would somehow ;D

Really hope you get the same kind of turnout that Dave used to get John. No reason why not.
I'll see if I can brace myself to click the paypal button whne the time comes [assuming there is one!].
Good news!


Garry Broad

Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd! (Sat 14th April 2012)
« Reply #23 on: 08 October, 2011, 06:06:01 pm »
Glad this ride will continue as I have it on my 'to do' list (Keira Knightley is also on my 'to do' list but it probably won't happen)  ;D

jogler

  • mojo operandi
Re: Hir oes i'r Elenydd! (Sat 14th April 2012)
« Reply #24 on: 08 October, 2011, 06:08:57 pm »
WRT Keira Knightly.Don't fret it.She's NGIB ;)