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

[plug]

12-29 with 30/40/50 for me.
It works for most things, but if I don't get much riding in between now and then I might swap the 30 for a 28 or even a 26.

[kcass]

Joolz suggested I should get a triple but I think I'll have to try and get by with 50/34 and see if I can get a 32 at the back even if that means buying a new derailleur.

I wouldn't be too worried if it was just one hilly 300. Its the cumulative effect of each day that scares me as I have never done back to back days like these.

[red marley]

I was wondering what colour tyre pressure people will be using for the ride. I had planned on using a slightly purple pressure and perhaps with some added green for day two. But with all this anxiety and forward planning on this thread I wonder now if I am making the wrong choice. The possibility of getting a puncture on some remote Welsh hillside makes we wonder whether it might be safer to take along some spare orange pressure in my Carradice, just in case.

[vorsprung]

I was wondering what colour tyre pressure people will be using for the ride. I had planned on using a slightly purple pressure and perhaps with some added green for day two. But with all this anxiety and forward planning on this thread I wonder now if I am making the wrong choice. The possibility of getting a puncture on some remote Welsh hillside makes we wonder whether it might be safer to take along some spare orange pressure in my Carradice, just in case.

You are being silly.
Just use cheap brown pressure.
It all gets mixed up and goes that way any how

[MSeries]

I was wondering what colour tyre pressure people will be using for the ride. I had planned on using a slightly purple pressure and perhaps with some added green for day two. But with all this anxiety and forward planning on this thread I wonder now if I am making the wrong choice. The possibility of getting a puncture on some remote Welsh hillside makes we wonder whether it might be safer to take along some spare orange pressure in my Carradice, just in case.

I shall be taking some canisters of compressed Yorkshire air with me in case I get a puncture. I don't want any of that Welsh shit in my tubes, it'll slow me down.

Think I'll use yellow tyres if I use my yellow bike and maybe get some red ones if I use my red bike.

[Greenbank]

Organic Sugino 13-29 50/40/20 3-in-1 chainsaw agri-pressure mit spitzensparken und mittengrabben.

[TOBY]

I plan on taking my Summer Legs (if they've arrived by then) with the Winter Legs in my drop bag as back up.

[GruB]

I think Dragon pressure in the tyres is more apt.
If that fails, take some sheep as back up.
If the worst comes to the worst, resort to Leek pressure.

[Hummers]

All this talk of fears, gears and squiggly lines ..... are Postie and I alone in actually looking forward to this event?

 

A perusal of the AUK handbook, reveals that in the 5 months before the ride takes place, there are multiple opportunities to harden your buttocks and improve climbing legature. A fair number of these opportunities will lead you into and through the mystical Wales itself; a land over-endowed with interesting roads, sporting fine views of the surrounding countryside (if it stops raining long enough, that is).

But what if you, like me, want to save the exploration of Wales until July but still need to tone up that flacid tissue below your waist that floated you over the hills last summer?

Again, the answer lies in the sweat stained and yellowing pages of the Handbook. For example: are you intrigued by all this talk of the second leg being like the much fabled, buzzard bedevilled, Kernow & South West? If so, why not enter this fine 600 and find out exactly what this means.  Stranded in the flatlands of the Greater London and robbed of the voluptuous undulations of South West? Why not take a trip to the sea side and enjoy the three outstanding events organised by Wessex CTC over the coming months in the form of the Dorset Coasts, Wu'Ze and the 3D.

With these events under your padded gusset, pondering gear ratios will be a thing of the past as you will know exactly what gear is required to get you up a 25%, hairpinned 'interesting road' and a three and a bit day tour of Wales will hold no fear for you.

Think on.

H

[teethgrinder]

I've ridden along the A40 then on to St Davids, then back along the coast main road on a 53/17. It's a lot of up and down. A few steep ones, but nothing I couldn't handle and nothing especially memorable as being hard climbs. There are a few that stand put on those roads though. Fishguard springs to mind as does a hill on the south coast with a nice view of the seaside. I reckon someone like Mal Volio would cope with a 75" fixed or 70 if erring on the side of caution, which could be wise with the Elan Valley the next day. 63" is for really hilly rides or super spinners, but not excessively low and a good choice for the nervous. I'd bung a bigger gear on the other side if you have a flip flop hub though.

Take heed from Hummers. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

[border-rider]

I reckon someone like Mal Volio would cope with a 75" fixed or 70 if erring on the side of caution, which could be wise with the Elan Valley the next day. 63" is for really hilly rides or super spinners, but not excessively low and a good choice for the nervous. I'd bung a bigger gear on the other side if you have a flip flop hub though.

I'm more spinny

63 is my comfortable winter gear, and or a hilly ride I'll use 59 or even 56.  72 is big for me.

75" on that route would have me knackered.

[Ian H]

I've recently gone down from 68 to 64. i did so for a particular ride, but it made so little difference to descents that I've left it. Mind you, I'm old enough to be Kneegrinder's father.

[simonp]

I am avoiding thinking about this by discussing PBP 2011. 

[scottlington]

All this talk of fears, gears and squiggly lines ..... are Postie and I alone in actually looking forward to this event?

I am looking forward to it. Very much. I have no 'fear' of the event. I'll either make it round or I won't. Still dodgy knee aside, I know my limitations, I know what I have to improve between now and then and I have a plan.

...sort of.

[Hummers]

That's the spirit, laddiie!

This is the sort of spunk we want (well, some of us) and the fighting talk that made Yarmouth, Great.

H

[vorsprung]

All this talk of fears, gears and squiggly lines ..... are Postie and I alone in actually looking forward to this event?

I am!  I love riding round Wales.  And John Hamilton's a great organiser. To me, this is the most exciting event since PBP

I have already advised mattc on how to mentally prepare for the event

[Bez]

I'm really looking forward to this as well.

It will be tough but if I complete it (preferably within time) the sense of achievement should be massive. If I fail to complete it then it won't be for want of trying and I'll get some consolation from having taken part in this epic.

In terms of gearing 30 x 29 is my lowest and that's what I'll work with (well it is quite low). I'm not averse to walking up the occasional hill and just hope that 'occasional' does not become 'nearly every’ hill.

I intend investing in additional cleats rather than changing my gearing.

I'm anticipating that the frequent, and sometimes very steep, downhills will also need a good degree of concentration - so all in all it will be a tiring experience.

Like Scottlington, I have a plan to prepare for this and I'm looking forward to the various 'warm up' events this includes almost as much as this Welsh madness in July.

[mattc]

All this talk of fears, gears and squiggly lines ..... are Postie and I alone in actually looking forward to this event?

I am!  I love riding round Wales.  And John Hamilton's a great organiser. To me, this is the most exciting event since PBP

I have already advised mattc on how to mentally prepare for the event

Yup, I'm excited too.
And how can I fail, with encouragement from Vorsprung and Little Hummers?

[Hummers]

Yes and you will have it first hand, so to speak.

H

[Hot Flatus]

I'm excited too!!!     And I'm not even riding it.

I'll be using a 34/50 12-26 by the way.

[MSeries]

I'm not really excited about this. It's just another bike ride. Got Easter Arrow first and The Old 240 and a couple of 600s to do first.

[Weirdy Biker]

I am tumescent with anticipation.

PS: How do you pronounce Cwm?  I always think "quim", but that can't be right, surely.

[MSeries]

I am tumescent with anticipation.

PS: How do you pronounce Cwm?  I always think "quim", but that can't be right, surely.

cum, cymru = cumree I think

[border-rider]

Cwm is pronounced almost like coom (but with a slightly shorter vowel sound, as if said by a Yorkshireman ) ; analogous to the English coombe (even if it's not quite the same thing)

Cymru is pronounced come-ree.

[border-rider]

I'm really looking forward to this as well.

and me.  It'll be ace.

It will be tough but if I complete it (preferably within time) the sense of achievement should be massive. If I fail to complete it then it won't be for want of trying and I'll get some consolation from having taken part in this epic.

absolutely

I'm looking forward to the various 'warm up' events this includes almost as much as this Welsh madness in July.

That too.