Mille Cymru - Welsh 1000 - 23-26/07/2010

[red marley]

Sheeez -  I thought I was scared before but now I'm petrified!

I will survive

Great - that's my ear-worm sorted for 1000km.

[MSeries]

Sheeez -  I thought I was scared before but now I'm petrified!

I will survive

Great - that's my ear-worm sorted for 1000km.

Just wait until I overtake you. I'm gonna change that stupid lock, throw away the key

[mattc]

I see a very small chainring.

... and a very big sprocket.

Current plan is 26x28. This is about the lowest I can go without buying a new derailleur and chainset. I suspect much lower puts you in  easier-to-walk territory, but I'm still mulling this over.

[LEL on 30x26 was fine.]

[Weirdy Biker]

The interactive route maps are really slick.  The MC1K website really is a paradigm for how these things should be done.

[simonp]

Ultegra limits me to 30x27.  Only 4 hills have beaten me on this: The Devil's Staircase on The Elenith (2008), Hardknott Pass and Wrynose Pass on the Fred Whitton Challenge (2008, 2009), and Buttertubs on the Tan Hill Challenge in 2006.

2006 was my first season, so I discount that.  Nothing will compare to Hardknott or Wrynose, so I can discount those too.  The only relevant one is the Devil's Staircase, and I'm stronger than in 2008 - so I might be able to get up that now.

Might be a good idea to do the Elenith again this year.  I hope for less snow than in 2008.

[MSeries]

Ultegra limits me to 30x27.  Only 4 hills have beaten me on this: The Devil's Staircase on The Elenith (2008), Hardknott Pass and Wrynose Pass on the Fred Whitton Challenge (2008, 2009), and Buttertubs on the Tan Hill Challenge in 2006.

2006 was my first season, so I discount that.  Nothing will compare to Hardknott or Wrynose, so I can discount those too.  The only relevant one is the Devil's Staircase, and I'm stronger than in 2008 - so I might be able to get up that now.

Might be a good idea to do the Elenith again this year.  I hope for less snow than in 2008.

You'll get a 28 on an Ultegra triple, I have that on my Hewitt, STis might not change to/from it though. I suspect they will TBH

[BlackSheep]

You'll get a 28 on an Ultegra triple, I have that on my Hewitt, STis might not change to/from it though. I suspect they will TBH

I have a 52/40/26 fitted to the front of my ultegra set-up, and a 9-speed 28-12 at the back - never had any change problems.

Managed all the climbs mentioned earlier - and other beasts elsewhere also.

[mattc]

The interactive route maps are really slick.  The MC1K website really is a paradigm for how these things should be done.

I've just noticed that some of the 'places of interest' aren't even actually on the route - just close by e.g. Llyn Brianne.  Clever!

Can we submit suggested categories for the climbs? Suggested gear ratios?

[simonp]

You'll get a 28 on an Ultegra triple, I have that on my Hewitt, STis might not change to/from it though. I suspect they will TBH

I have a 52/40/26 fitted to the front of my ultegra set-up, and a 9-speed 28-12 at the back - never had any change problems.

Managed all the climbs mentioned earlier - and other beasts elsewhere also.

I'm supposed to be getting fitter dammit, not finding ways to make the climbs easier.

[cyclone]

I've just noticed that some of the 'places of interest' aren't even actually on the route - just close by e.g. Llyn Brianne.  Clever!

As far as I remember the route goes as close as you like to Llyn Briane, the hillsides are pretty steep and the tarmac a slender, undulating ribbon 

[GruB]

Is anyone else planning on using a compact double?

50/34 with a 12-27 I think.

[cyclone]

Was thinking 48 / 34 with a similar block as you Grub... However, experience (mine) tells me that I out really to go for a triple as I struggled up pendine hill (on a 200) on 30 / 29....
If I go compact (depending on arrival of new machine - heading to Mercian in a couple of hours for a fit  ) I'll be on 34 / 29....(13 - 29, 10 spd)

[border-rider]

Is anyone else planning on using a compact double ?

I'm planning on using a relatively compact pair of feet, on occasion.

[Hot Flatus]

If I manage to get a place I will be using a compact 34x26 being the lowest gear.  No problem with walking, although the only hill I've walked up in years is the Devil's staircase.

[MSeries]

Is anyone else planning on using a compact double?

50/34 with a 12-27 I think.

I'm not.

[GruB]

I don't plan on walking.  My logic is my legs are well accustomed to my gearing and if I have to get out of the saddle then I will, standing up I mean.  Walking is a last resort. 

[border-rider]

My legs are well-accustomed to walking

On the Corker on Saturday I was trotting up Bushcombe Lane faster than the few people who could actually ride it.

[GruB]

That is quite steep though. The hills on the BC were right up my alley.  I loved them.
The only one that caused me concern was the one up to the hostel.
If these are like that then I see no problems really.

[border-rider]

If these are like that then I see no problems really.

That may be the root of your optimism

edit: actually, I agree that many of them will be BCM-type hills. As Mr Dulates suggests, though, that day around Pembrokeshire may be of a different ilk.

[vistaed]

I'll either be on 50x36 with a 12-32 or a 44x17 fixed/free, not decided yet.

[Panoramix]

Is anyone else planning on using a compact double?

50/34 with a 12-27 I think.

I will probably be on 50/34 12/26. I have a spare 29 cog that I can swap with the 26 though.

[Greenbank]

If these are like that then I see no problems really.

That may be the root of your optimism

edit: actually, I agree that many of them will be BCM-type hills. As Mr Dulates suggests, though, that day around Pembrokeshire may be of a different ilk.

46x18 (67") worked fine for the BCM and therefore day 1 (Snowdonia) and day 3 (Brecons) but I'd be looking for nervous at day 2 (Pembrokeshire) even with a 46x19 (63").

(I did say that if I ever did the Midlander again I'd do it on fixed so my sanity is obviously failing.)

I keep swinging between sadness at not riding this and joy that I'm not riding this. That's got to be the best Audax compliment.

[vorsprung]

Is anyone else planning on using a compact double?

50/34 with a 12-27 I think.

I will be using a Campag 50x34 and a 13-29 "Alpine" cassette
This worked for me on the K&SW 600, it will go up the Devils Staircase

30-42-52 + 13-25 gives the same(ish) bottom gear but is a more useful spread.  After using a compact for a couple of years I've decided that they are not as good as triples for this kind of thing

[GruB]

I could get an 11-32 for this ride.
It will come in handy for other rides with decent undulations.

[Pete Mas]

Compact 50/34 with 12-28 probably - (on lightweight Spec Roubaix bike) - though you are scaring me into thinking of a triple!