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

[iddu]

Aww - Things DNF :-(

[ludwig]

we had a good day in the Cilgerran control even if the pub did get a bit rowdy at times ( the singing from the locals reached unbearable at times and a girl from the hen night left with two bananas down her trousers) but despite what sounded like a tough stage from Pendine most riders were doing just fine although peter Simon went through before we even opened the control at midday and we didn't see another rider until three. The best bit was returning home to find that my girlfriend had bought me a banjo for my birthday. Result !

[Chris S]

OK, so today's the hard day, right?


Mwwaaahhahahahahaa... 

[hellymedic]

Aww - Things DNF :-(

 

Any idea what happened?

[Chris S]

There was a tweet yesterday that suggested Thing1 had a severe nose bleed episode -  not sure if this is related... 

[iddu]

>...hard day Come on over - check it out ;-)

[iddu]

>...nosebleed
Believe so, yes

[αdαmsκι]

Aww - Things DNF :-(

Yeah, just seen that on Twitter too. Ar$e    And I also saw a tweet by kcass saying

Started stage 2 this morning. Gave up after 20 mins and did stage 4 back to Upton Magna instead.

 

[GruB]

Jeepers, this is fast becoming an epic 

[kcass]

I'll write more maybe when the event is over but suffice to say I wasn't mentally prepared to spend  that long on my bike. I've learnt a lot about long distance cycling.

The first day was amazing though and I really enjoyed the ride back to Upton Magna with 2 other retirees. I was just too tired to cope with the thought of 2 more days on 3 hours (or less) sleep.

Respect to everyone still out there. And good luck.

[Fidgetbuzz]

Anybody able to say how many started - how many retired or how many still going?

[ludwig]

Last night I got a text from john to say that 14 had packed at about 8 o'clock. One guy was planning to pack in Llanwtyd due to knee problems. We had one unacounted for rider at 10.30pm when the control in Cilgerran closed

[L Hedley]

so...come on, any news of any VC167 riders yet please, any of them packed? Anyone seen Aidan H aka Sleepy?

[Weirdy Biker]

suffice to say I wasn't mentally prepared to spend  that long on my bike

Ditto.  I started day 2 and just wasn't up for it mentally.

I reflected in Llandovery and, despite going strongly, decided that I was punishing myself for no reason as all of my cycling goals, bar completing this ride at the first time of asking, would be achievable if I didn't do it but would be in jeopardy if I did (the same feelings were building up as I had in 2008, which I ignored and ended up not riding over the almost all of 2009).

I rode back to the start, having to look in the eye those who were stronger than me.  Oh the shame  (LIGAF)

As Iddu said to me as I sat with a coffee looking sheepish, a ride over 400km is all about the mind not the body.  Very true words. I'm going to be doing much of day 3 tomorrow (well, I am on my holibobs) which somehow doesn't seem that daunting in isolation.  

Good fortune to those out on the road, most of whom looked resolute at the start of day 2 when I returned to Llanwyrtd Wells  

[iddu]

>sleepy
Still going

[kcass]

I think there were 77 starters

[Andydauddwr]

5 thru Aber so far.

[simonp]

Yesterday is said to be hardest. 20 steep Coastal climbs...

[iddu]

Yay - chaos, panic & (dis)order; my work here is done

53 thru' Llandovery. Back to L. Wells, to tuck them in tonight.

[iddu]

>simonp...
You ain't got time to post -HTFU & back on that bike, boy ;-)

[Drone]

You always start a ride of this length with a bit of trepidation counter balanced with a bank of similar rides in the memory which tell you that you can succeed. My anxiety was added to by a lingering knee problem and having had Monday and Tuesday off work due to sickness.  

I had a relaxed start with the third wave of riders at 6.30am.  I only stayed with the bunch for a short while until we got split by a set of traffic lights.  It didn't seem to take long through the gently rolling countryside of Shropshire before we were at Lake Vyrnwy. I was Lanterne Rouge at The Old Barn Cafe but caught a few on the next section. The view off the Bwlch Y Groes towards Dinas Mawddwy was stunning as ever. I love the descent from there to Bala. You can just let the bike roll apart from the short steep section near the top. I stopped to help Chris Wilby just before Bala. He had dropped his deraillier into his spokes.  The derailier was completley borked.

I mentally kicked myself as I rolled down into Penmachno for not counting how many cars had passed me since the start. It certainly wasn't many.

At Pete's Eats the food portions were their usual (huge) size.  The climb out of Llanberis through the middle of the quarry was cruel on a full stomach, but I should have known better having covered the same ground on the Snowdon and Coast 400. It felt like food never settled in my stomach after that.

The A470 after Dolgellau was busier than I'd ever seen it with packed cars rushing to the coast. I guess that's what happens on the day the schools break up for summer holidays.

I thought my stomach had sorted itself out as I was going well from Dolgellau to Llanidloes. But on a climb shortly after Llanidloes I had to stop to be sick, subsequent to that any significant effort had me retching.  I tried eating but my body was having none off it. This resulted in me effectively riding 40 hilly k with no energy. I was walking the hills and didn't change off the granny ring all the way to Llanwrtyd Wells.

Usually on a multi-day ride I get to the end of the first day tired but looking forward to getting out on my bike again in the early hours of the next day. I couldn't face eating at Victoria Hall, all I wanted to do was sleep. My decision was already made that my ride was over.

When I got up I found out what arrangements had been made for collecting bags and went to the Drovers Rest for a Welsh brunch.  I followed this up with a liquid lunch at the Neuadd Arms.  Its a good thing that Shrewsbury is the end of the rail line otherwise I would have slept past my stop.

I now feel mentally battered but physically OK.  So the good news is my knee has now been fully tested and passed with flying colours.

I hate unfinished business so I hope that John will either run this again as a calendar event or as a perm for those of a similar mind to me, with a need to exorcise dragons.

Tony

PS I have a very nice new jersey that I can't wear until I've conquered the red beast.

[Andydauddwr]

14 thru Aber as at 13:30.

[L Hedley]

>sleepy
Still going

Thank you 

[DanialW]

I passed Peter Simon (I was driving) about 95km from the finish. He was climbing a small ascent and looked very pained. He rode through the first night, and slept a few hours on the second. What a superstar.

[L Hedley]

I passed Peter Simon (I was driving) about 95km from the finish. He was climbing a small ascent and looked very pained. He rode through the first night, and slept a few hours on the second. What a superstar.

Hi Danial, if you see Sleepy, tell him, "there be dragons in them hills!" from me, and I expect him to bring one home! It'll be good for heating in the winter!