Mr. Pickwick's Cymraeg Cyrch - Tewkesbury - 200km - Sat. Nov 7th

[merlinator]

Is the canal path similar to the one between Slimbridge and Gloucester or is it tarmac

It's a hard surface, much smoother than than the lump-fest between Slimbridge and Frampton.

Cheers mark

See ya 7th Nov

Lee A

[The Solo Socialist]

I will be there, fixer set and rarin to go!

[BlackSheep]

   I will be closing entry Wednesday evening, we've reached max field size. 

[Clemo]

  I will be closing entry Wednesday evening, we've reached max field size. 

All those people keeping their RRTY's alive as there is very little on in terms of calendar events this month.

[jamesld8]

Good to know there`ll be a full field, was worried that only 13 had entered but see that` s for 07:00 start ! At least there`ll be a few wheels to hide behind on the into wind leg out westwards  --if anyone has seen forecast for Saturday 

[Clemo]

if anyone has seen forecast for Saturday 

Aye does look a little gusty! 

[Saftlad]

Good to know there`ll be a full field, was worried that only 13 had entered but see that` s for 07:00 start ! At least there`ll be a few wheels to hide behind on the into wind leg out westwards  --if anyone has seen forecast for Saturday 

Looks like there will be a full on peleton then, fighting to get to the back of the queue 

[Saftlad]

  I will be closing entry Wednesday evening, we've reached max field size. 

All those people keeping their RRTY's alive as there is very little on in terms of calendar events this month.

I'm more worried about next month, with just 2 local 200s but both on the same date    Guess I'll have to prep a Perm as backup

[Malmesbury Monk]

  I will be closing entry Wednesday evening, we've reached max field size. 

All those people keeping their RRTY's alive as there is very little on in terms of calendar events this month.

Nice and early in the month too!

[merlinator]

Weather cant be as bad as last year well that's what im telling myself

[Under the arches]

The weather in the morning looks absolutely horrendous! Straight into the wind with heavy rain. Not sure even the light cloud and tail wind on the way back makes me want to start, but my head will not be happy as I need this to keep my randonneur status 

[Philip Whiteman]

Weather cant be as bad as last year well that's what im telling myself

Looks like deja vu.

[jamesld8]

Weather cant be as bad as last year well that's what im telling myself

Looks like deja vu.

don`t know about the deja vu as wasn`t riding 2014 but at least it looks like `warm ` rain @ 12 -14c albeit a tad breezy too

[jamesld8]

A thought >>> is BlackSheep setting new trend:

Start--a pub

Control 1 --a pub

Control 2 --a pub

Control 3 --a pub

Finish-- a pub

or does he just (understandably) enjoy a beer or five 

thank goodness for cycle drink ride laws 

[Hot Flatus]

Bugger. Missed Transporter because of cold. Now looks like a deluge. Still have cold.

[jamesld8]

Bugger. Missed Transporter because of cold. Now looks like a deluge. Still have cold.

sorry hear that but you could always do whisky macs at the pub controls 

and I`m going to be camping the w/e 

[Hot Flatus]

Thanks James. I'd really like to ride but I've had luminous snot for a week now and painful sinuses.

[BlackSheep]

A thought >>> is BlackSheep setting new trend:

Start--a pub

Control 1 --a pub

Control 2 --a pub

Control 3 --a pub

Finish-- a pub

or does he just (understandably) enjoy a beer or five 

thank goodness for cycle drink ride laws 

One pub every 50km  (The departure is dry until 09.00), it doesn't come close to the "pubs/km" density of ACB's South Glos 100,  with 4 pubs  that's a pub every 25km. 

Sorry you're still sidelined Flaatuus,  the wind and rain won't be as bad as forecast.

A bit of route info. The B4233 Abergavenny to Monmouth on the way back will be open. It had been closed for bridge repairs over one of the many rivers along that stretch. There were diverts, which actually shepherded you along the outward route. So there were never any real probe.  Not that I expect many would have used it as there's a faster long-cut back to Monmouth. Thanks to Jack for raising the issue.

[jamesld8]

"the wind and rain won't be as bad as forecast."

in fact ? latest forecast Tewkesbury / Monmouth / Brecon  would indicate a nice sedate SE / S semi tailwind / cross wind veering after lunch to a brisk SW / WSW tailwind for return leg.
So dally until lunch at Talybont , enjoy a meal and beer and get blown back home  maybe

[BlackSheep]

"the wind and rain won't be as bad as forecast."

in fact ? latest forecast Tewkesbury / Monmouth / Brecon  would indicate a nice sedate SE / S semi tailwind / cross wind veering after lunch to a brisk SW / WSW tailwind for return leg.
So dally until lunch at Talybont , enjoy a meal and beer and get blown back home  maybe

Yep, that's about the size of it James. 

Rain won't really start in Tewkesbury area until  09.00, by this time most will be well on their way to the Wye Valley (where there's no rain forecast). There's not much rain forecast west of Monmouth after this time.  By the time you start the return journey the sky juice will have cleared-off to the east. So a reasonable day for all.

[jamesld8]

although now naturally forecast has revised to less windy but heavy rain all morning !! all way out to Talybont, but at least it`s mild 

[Clemo]

It's only a bit of liquid sunshine, we'll be fine 

It cant be as bad as Brevet Cymru can it.................. 

[BlackSheep]

It's only a bit of liquid sunshine, we'll be fine 

Sometimes irony plays with the senses. I've seen Brains beer mats in The White Hart have the statement ".....it's not rain, but water that hasn't yet been turned to beer .... ".

......... It  be as bad as Brevet Cymru can it.................. 

Bizzare weather at the mo, it will be about 10 Celsius warmer.

Worse case scenario ...... It can only be half as bad. ........

[merlinator]

So gutted ive had to pull out of this ride but family comes first and as wife is in hospital thats priority

[Wobbly]

er.. "wife in hospital" should definitely trump filthy-rainy-Blacksheep-200!

Hope Mrs Merlinator get better.