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

[JohnHamilton]

Having DNS'ed the Brevet Cymru thanks to a rather too busy week of work and organising I've finished using up my stock of round tuits this weekend.

First up, thanks to our new venue at Llanwrtyd Wells, there's now a limited number of additional entries available for this event. Details as always on the event website Mille Cymru 1000 - 23 July 2010

Next, for those who have already entered, there's a fair bit of extra information on the site now, including

• Rider Information Pack http://www.mille-cymru.org.uk/downloads/Rider_Info_Pack.pdf
• Schedule Planner http://www.mille-cymru.org.uk/downloads/Schedule_Planner.xls
• Draft Routesheets http://www.mille-cymru.org.uk/downloads.html
• Order Form for the jerseyhttp://www.mille-cymru.org.uk/downloads/Order_Form.doc
• or you can order online if you prefer http://www.mille-cymru.org.uk/about_jersey.html

And the medal...

[Hummers]

Thanks John.

Getting quite excited about this now.

 

H

[Weirdy Biker]

schwing

[mattc]

So, progress report. I missed the Elenith (and indeed any other 300 this  year!) so unlike some of you, the BC400 was my first long welsh adventure to get a benchmark from.

I noticed the Bwlch control was about the same distance as the MC1000 1st "sleep" stop. Can anyone translate the preceding climbing discussion to give a comparison between the two? (I know the answer is "more" - but by how much?!?)

(It was nice to get through 500k this weekend - it may have been a lot flatter than half-a-MC1000, but it's a start. Incidentally, Somerset Monument on my way home was the only thing I walked all weekend! )

[marcus]

First up, thanks to our new venue at Llanwrtyd Wells, there's now a limited number of additional entries available for this event. Details as always on the event website Mille Cymru 1000 - 23 July 2010

And I'm in! I didn't manage to get my act together and enter earlier in the year but when this opportunity for late entries came up I coudnt resist temptation.

[simonp]

So, progress report. I missed the Elenith (and indeed any other 300 this  year!) so unlike some of you, the BC400 was my first long welsh adventure to get a benchmark from.

I noticed the Bwlch control was about the same distance as the MC1000 1st "sleep" stop. Can anyone translate the preceding climbing discussion to give a comparison between the two? (I know the answer is "more" - but by how much?!?)

(It was nice to get through 500k this weekend - it may have been a lot flatter than half-a-MC1000, but it's a start. Incidentally, Somerset Monument on my way home was the only thing I walked all weekend! )

If I'm not mistaken, not much different.

The day 1 figure given was 4800m climb.  The Brevet Cymru is 4900m climb.  However, there is virtually no climbing between Bwlch and the finish - it's pretty much a steady drop until you reach the climb to Shirenewton, if the height graph from my GPS unit.  I'd hazard that to Bwlch was in the region of 4700m.

(My GPS says it was much lower than this, I noticed this on the Elenith and on the BCM also).

However, since the same method - contour counting - is used on both events, the figures are probably comparable.  Hence if you can get to Bwlch at 1.45am then you ought to be able to complete day 1 in a similar time.

Getting to the sleep stop by 2am would be gravy.

[mattc]

...
However, since the same method - contour counting - is used on both events, the figures are probably comparable.  Hence if you can get to Bwlch at 1.45am then you ought to be able to complete day 1 in a similar time.

Getting to the sleep stop by 2am would be gravy.

Thanks Simon. (Comparable counting methods was exactly what I wanted).

That really does make this seem feasible. I was really fretting on Sunday morning, but looking at the numbers now I'm a lot happier.

Feasible - not easy, just feasible ...

[Weirdy Biker]

Put like that, I'm increasingly confident that this one is doable.

Profile is bound to be different though.  Brevet Cymru only gets properly Welsh lumpy around Builth Wells.  The first 100km is relatively flat (barring the lump at Grosmont).

[simonp]

Irish Mail had 2500m of climb in a 100km section.  However, it wasn't that bad, because it was in long climbs.

[scottlington]

I was doing some simple and rudimentary comparisons only today in fact along these lines. What does each day 'equate' to in terms of existing calendar rides? I came up with the same thing for Day 1 = BC400 (roughly). That made me feel better. Day 2 I think I equated to roughly a bit harder than The Dean. Day 3 was the one that worried me being just a tad less hard than the Cambrian 200 (which IS a hard 200) but by then I'll be nearly done. The run in I guess is roughly equivalent to a lumpyish 100 down south, although most of the climbing is in the first half.

I know this is simplistic and doesn't take into account the type of climbing but psychologically it made me feel better. It works for me; breaking this down into manageable, easily digested sections which I can relate to known entities.

[Nuncio]

I think I'll work on a profile recording the group's collective fear quotient based on this thread.  After an undulating, but generally rising start, the profile kicked up alarmingly before a recent unexpected descent.  I predict that by the time we set off from Upton Magna this profile will resemble the Newbrdge/Beulah stretch (but with fewer downhills).

[cyclone]

 

[Justin(e)]

Having DNS'ed the Brevet Cymru thanks to a rather too busy week of work and organising I've finished using up my stock of round tuits this weekend.

First up, thanks to our new venue at Llanwrtyd Wells, there's now a limited number of additional entries available for this event. Details as always on the event website Mille Cymru 1000 - 23 July 2010

This whole event is looking very professional.  I sense that the bar has been raised for AUK's long distance organisers.

I think I'll work on a profile recording the group's collective fear quotient based on this thread. 

Be afraid - be very afraid

[Euan Uzami]

Put like that, I'm increasingly confident that this one is doable.

Profile is bound to be different though.  Brevet Cymru only gets properly Welsh lumpy around Builth Wells.  The first 100km is relatively flat (barring the lump at Grosmont).

another way of putting it is 356, 311, 232, 127. whether that makes it sound any easier i don't know...

[cyclone]

Nope! When you have 3 days...

[vistaed]

It will be fine! 

[Pete Mas]

Another way of looking at it is....

We probably have the stamina for this ride, but (some of us ) could do with being able to ride it a bit faster.
Ideas how to do that? eg Go out on shorter training rides (club runs) with your local racing club. Try when next out riding up a few stiff climbs faster than usual.If you have any audaxes before then try to ride faster to see how that affects your day. (I always thought I would quickly exhaust myself by riding a bit faster but soon found that not to be the case). Cut down on weight on bike by carrying only essential spares and clothing. Eat healthy and well from now til the ride, and cut down on unhelpful calories like saturated fats and alcohol.

Any other suggestions?

[Weirdy Biker]

Any other suggestions?

I'm doing evening 10m time trials with my CC.  Teaches you to control power output (useful on hills) whilst giving a stiff workout just below LT.

Also, most days I commute 25km+ with climbing of 350m+ with at least one hill >6% and >1km.   I experiment with climbing style (out of saddle, in saddle, low cadence, high cadence etc).  Involves a detour given I live 2km from my workplace...

[Hot Flatus]

I've ordered a months supply of Onanabics from Hummers to help with the weight loss. Just had an email from him to say that he is having trouble keeping up with supply as mr nesbitt has been placing a huge weekly order for some months now

[Hummers]

I've ordered a months supply of Onanabics from Hummers to help with the weight loss. Just had an email from him to say that he is having trouble keeping up with supply as mr nesbitt has been placing a huge weekly order for some months now

Yes, he has developed quite a taste for it; I shudder to think how much he has splashed out.

It's all on a strictly first come, first served basis now and whoever is on-hand at the time gets first dibs.


H

[Pete Mas]

Following on from yesterdays tips....
Commuting on fixed since feb has helped my hill-climbing also, I'm sure.
Re trime-trialling. Yes that's also good, especially if you live in a flat region lacking hills for practice, to build the stamina for hill-climbing.

Re yesterdays tip for eating healthily and cutting down on alcohol - I'm out to see a band, drink beer and probably eat pub food tonight (oh well....)

[mattc]

I was shocked to discover that there is an entire YACF sub-forum devoted to riding faster, using underhand tricks like 'training', and 'intervals' (sometimes together).

What's worse is that some of the posters are AUK members.

Further and Faster

[red marley]

I've studiously avoided ever doing any 'training' on my rides. It's quite important to me to enjoy them for what they are rather than raise the question "Am I supposed to be enjoying this one, or is it misery in preparation for some future event?". I appreciate that collective fretting about the big rides of the year is part of the YACF ritual though.

[Pete Mas]

Some interesting (and also not so ...) stuff on further and faster. Will read it when I get a chance. Very much a personal decision whether just to ride or aim for constant improvement, as constrained by ageing, I suppose. In the meantime I think I'll see how the 'hard' rides go this year, and then maybe take it  a bit easier next year (Just PBP and SR series....)

[Hummers]

I was shocked to discover that there is an entire YACF sub-forum devoted to riding faster, using underhand tricks like 'training', and 'intervals' (sometimes together).

What's worse is that some of the posters are AUK members.

Further and Faster

This is quite shocking.

I feel a letter to Bikes and Bikemen coming on regarding the dangers of long distance training in the U-cycle hostile-K.

What are these people thinking of?

H