Author Topic: This is not a tour. Welsh rides in the spirit of Mike Hall - 2/3rd June 2018.  (Read 63797 times)

I did the 100B (Abergwesyn-Tregaron-Claerwen-Elan) on Sunday, and found it challenging - with more elevation than any of my 200kms packed into 113km.  The scenery was simply stunning.  First time for Abergwesyn to Tregaron and found it pretty lumpy (Devil's Staircase - followed by Devil's offspring family!), but with some great descents, and the bonus of hearing a Cuckoo. Post lunch, and heading up to Ffair Rhos my lack of a good night's sleep in the tent (Disserth) caught up with me and found myself yawning, so in the heat, I picked a shady tree to stop under for 20 mins.  Climbing to Claerwen I found tough - though the vistas were amazing, and was glad it wasn't as bad once getting on to gravel.  At Claerddhu ford, took off shoes, and... sat with feet in water admiring the view, then managed to cycle through.  The track around Claerwen felt longer than I'd expected, but 32C Schwalbes did pretty well. I made it to Elan visitor's centre at 4:45pm, just before closing, for some welcome beverages!  Beer and hog roast back at Highland Moors in LW; saw the Mayor in attendance...

Many thanks to the whole team!



IMG_20180603_104030668 by ao, on Flickr


Looking East to Abergwesyn from Devil's staircase

IMG_20180603_105636681_HDR by ao, on Flickr


Flattest bit of the ride - Cors Caron railway track

IMG_20180603_131454846 by ao, on Flickr


Looking back before Lyn Teifi

IMG_20180603_142440086 by ao, on Flickr

IMG_20180603_144401040 by ao, on Flickr

IMG_20180603_150047051 by ao, on Flickr

IMG_20180603_145205150 by ao, on Flickr

IMG_20180603_153705972 by ao, on Flickr

IMG_20180603_153256056 by ao, on Flickr
Cycle and recycle.   SS Wilson

Chris N

I had a lovely day stamping cards in the Elan Valley on Saturday - was great to see so many riders out enjoying themselves (for the most part).  :)

Great photos rabbit. :thumbsup:

Best bike award goes to this guy:
DSC_0212 by Jo Page, on Flickr

This chap was the first 600 rider through, ridiculously early:
DSC_0115 by Jo Page, on Flickr

My favourite photo:
DSC_0056a (15) by Jo Page, on Flickr
The boys had a lovely time too. :)

I left at 1530 - I hope that we were there long enough to catch everyone coming through.

Zed43

  • prefers UK hills over Dutch mountains
Thanks Chris, I'll forward the compliments to its builder, Marten Gerritsen!

It was originally conceived as a tourer, I had not done any audax back then. But with its low gearing (Rohloff hub with 42/19 chainring / sprocket) and wide 650b tyres it has proven itself on the Yr Elenydd, the BCM and esp. on TinaT as an audax bike for when the going gets steep. Despite its 30 pound weight (including the kick stand...)

Note to self: next time start eating your sandwiches after the fotoshoot

Chris N

Ah, that was you!  Nice to meet you, briefly. :thumbsup:

I had a lovely day stamping cards...

No doubt, but you know you should've been the third man in this photo :P

DSC_0346 by Jo Page, on Flickr

Not this one:

DSC_0343 by Jo Page, on Flickr

Great pictures Jo. :thumbsup:

Chris N

Yeah yeah, I know.  I'm quite happy I wasn't riding. :P

whosatthewheel

Thanks Chris, I'll forward the compliments to its builder, Marten Gerritsen!

It was originally conceived as a tourer, I had not done any audax back then. But with its low gearing (Rohloff hub with 42/19 chainring / sprocket) and wide 650b tyres it has proven itself on the Yr Elenydd, the BCM and esp. on TinaT as an audax bike for when the going gets steep. Despite its 30 pound weight (including the kick stand...)

Note to self: next time start eating your sandwiches after the fotoshoot

I've got the same Shimano grey shoes, perfect for long rides that end in a pub...

I rode the 400A and 100C, probably the toughest rides ridden so far!! The scenery was breathtaking though, well worth all the pain.

Huge thanks to Mark and the other helpers in making this a cracking weekend.

Thanks for the pictures Rabbit(donation on it's way), you even caught me smiling!!

vistaed

  • Real name: James
    • Everyday stories
Thanks to everyone that came to Wales this weekend to rides bikes in hard terrain to remember Mike. The grimace on some faces and all the socialising after would have made him smile as it did us. And to those that didn't make, you missed a great weekend. Next time maybe?
after hardship comes ease -
 www.strava.com/athletes/188220

I rode the 400A and 100C

 :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o

WOW! All on less than ideal terrain for fixed, a truly inspirational effort, chapeau!
https://creweandnantwichaudax.wordpress.com/ - See the Audax events I currently organise

www.milehousebarn.co.uk - Cycle Friendly B&B in Nantwich, Chehsire

SoreTween

  • Most of me survived the Pennine Bridleway.
What a weekend  ;D

Friday: Mr Bond & I rock up at Bryncrach camp site in Hundred House good and early, lovely site with superb facilities and showers to die for.  After pitching up we took a reconnaissance ride into Llandrindod via a very technical but fun (when taken downhill) byway.  Checked out the start and finish locations for the weekend and then found and got slightly delayed in Arvon Ales, an excellent micro pub.  Back to the camp site by a more sensible but still very unflat road route. A good feed at the Hundred House Inn.

Saturday:  Into Llandrindod by another ++hilly route for second breakfast at Greggs.  Then to the bandstand for the start of the 100a which was just sublime.  I particularly enjoyed the way so many routes converged in four dimensions through the Elan Valley, it was really enjoyable being among so many riders on the road.  We threw in a short bit of extra gravel before Bwlch-Y-Sarnu (recommended!) and used some cycle tracks (not so recommended) to avoid having to go through Llandrindod town centre on the way back.

Sunday:  Feeling better than expected we got to Llandrindod for second breakfast on the garage forecourt just up from the Highland Moors.  At 09:00 we rolled off with a good number on the 100b.  More sublime scenery all day (nice photos andyoxon).  Extra gravel at the Devils Staircase bypass, thanks Iddu and Wilkyboy, and Cors Caron before the heat drove us into the Teifi Inn at Ffair Rhos for unscheduled extra liquid.  The Visitors centre at the Elan valley closed while we locked up the bikes outside, should have paid more attention :(  We really did not fancy the A470 finish one bit so at Llanwrthwl we peeled off right to reverse the outbound leg of Saturdays 100a, extra gravel and much nicer.  Free beer and pig at arrivée ;D

May find a closer camp site next year - Hundred House to Llandrindod & back three times added almost 2000mtrs to our weekend.  The showers were almost worth it.

Thank you to all the organisers, route planners & checkers, card stampers and everyone who made this a superb weekend.  Oh and the weather gods too.
2023 targets: Survive. Maybe.
There is only one infinite resource in this universe; human stupidity.

wilkyboy

  • "nick" by any other name
    • 16-inch wheels
... Extra gravel at the Devils Staircase bypass, thanks Iddu and Wilkyboy ...

When we got there on Saturday morning, the gate to the track was closed and apparently there was a sign up that said "Devil's Staircase Bypass Closed" — nice one, Mark (or whoever did that), I chuckled when Alex told me  :thumbsup:

As it happened, I rode the staircase itself, as I felt good, so I never got close enough to the sign myself to see what it said  :P
Lockdown lethargy. RRTY: wot's that? Can't remember if I'm on #8 or #9 ...


Best bike award goes to this guy:

DSC_0212 by Jo Page, on Flickr


My personal preference was for the sage green Sven 650b Randonneur bike with front bag, I liked it that much I forgot to get a photo! (I last saw the rider fixing a puncture around Claerwen Reservoir).
https://creweandnantwichaudax.wordpress.com/ - See the Audax events I currently organise

www.milehousebarn.co.uk - Cycle Friendly B&B in Nantwich, Chehsire

Thanks Chris, I'll forward the compliments to its builder, Marten Gerritsen!

It was originally conceived as a tourer, I had not done any audax back then. But with its low gearing (Rohloff hub with 42/19 chainring / sprocket) and wide 650b tyres it has proven itself on the Yr Elenydd, the BCM and esp. on TinaT as an audax bike for when the going gets steep. Despite its 30 pound weight (including the kick stand...)

Note to self: next time start eating your sandwiches after the fotoshoot

Never mind the bike - where did you get the shades? I haven't seen a set like that since... well, yesterday, actually, when the York CTC gang was coming in the other direction.

... Extra gravel at the Devils Staircase bypass, thanks Iddu and Wilkyboy ...

When we got there on Saturday morning, the gate to the track was closed and apparently there was a sign up that said "Devil's Staircase Bypass Closed" — nice one, Mark (or whoever did that), I chuckled when Alex told me  :thumbsup:

As it happened, I rode the staircase itself, as I felt good, so I never got close enough to the sign myself to see what it said  :P

I was going to give it a go for a change but...

20180602_074904 by jwilton634, on Flickr

Zed43

  • prefers UK hills over Dutch mountains
Haha it was on the clearance rack of my favourite optician some 4 years ago for a reason I guess... Still, I consider it one of my best cycling-related buys; it is just soo much better than riding with my regular prescription glasses! They change colour depending on the amount of light btw.

I did consider that staircase alternative (more gravel) but, can you imagine, I actually like the Devil's Staircase! It just needs low gearing, that's all.

After reading a comment on Strava that only 30 out of 100 finished in time for the 400a I am very curious about how everybody got around, or not; will there be a short report on this?

And speaking of reports, I just finished putting my memories of the 300a on Strava; a whopping 1169 words. Maybe I should submit it to the editors of Arrivée?

That was quite a ride! All things considered probably one of the most challenging outings I've ever had on a bike.
Brutal climbs, but with big rewards at the top. As always, plenty of good company and this time lots of new faces.
The off road bits were fantastic - definitely the highlight.

Many thanks to BlackSheep, vistaed and all of the others who put this together. A great atmosphere at the Arrivee on Sunday...even though I did feel like a bit of a zombie.
A fitting tribute. I hope it's a regular fixture. I managed to visit the National Cycle Museum on the Friday. Definitely worth a look.

A few photos

It's probably not the done thing to rate one country's drunks over anothers, but the Welsh on a Saturday night came out top.
Kitchen was closed at the pub. The (well oiled) patrons tried to get some food cooked for us and when that wasn't happening they insisted on buying us 6 packets of peanuts.
...didn't really want to carry that up the next hill, but didn't have the heart to refuse.

...and then there was that stop in Llanberis for a coffee around last orders:


iddu

  • Are we there yet?
Well done to everyone who took part in these amazing events over the weekend, and particularly well done to the outstanding efforts from Mark Rigby and the rest of the Tinat Organisers. I managed to get a few half decent pics - apologies I didn't get all of you and that I haven't had time to edit any photos. I've uploaded some low res files to Flickr, and I am happy to supply the original RAW files if anyone wants them to edit/change etc.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/154699339@N04/

Feel free to use the pics for personal use (not commercial).....all I ask for is a small donation to my 'Bring Mo Home' fund which can be found here

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jo-and-mo

 :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Bloody paparazzi...best gut forward that man.

I spent more time on trains that I did riding :facepalm:

[mini-Rant] TOC's - If you're applying a reservations policy then throw the non-reserved off, rather than deny the reserved in middle of nowhere Wales. Otherwise, what's the f'point of the policy >:( [/mR]
I'd offer you some moral support - but I have questionable morals.

alfapete

  • Oh dear

A few photos


Fabulous photos, well worth a click, thanks for sharing!
alfapete - that's the Pete that drives the Alfa

SoreTween

  • Most of me survived the Pennine Bridleway.
I was going to give it a go for a change but...

20180602_074904 by jwilton634, on Flickr
There was a bit of discussion but we figured it was most likely closed due to logging which would not be happening on a Sunday. If it had been impassable we had time in hand to retrace and walk the staircase. Turned out fine, nice bit of extra gravel. 
2023 targets: Survive. Maybe.
There is only one infinite resource in this universe; human stupidity.

vistaed

  • Real name: James
    • Everyday stories
I've started the process of collating videos, articles and photos of the weekend rides. The collection can be found at http://tinat.cymru/stories/

If you know of anymore then let me know.
after hardship comes ease -
 www.strava.com/athletes/188220

mattc

  • n.b. have grown beard since photo taken
    • Didcot Audaxes
I've started the process of collating videos, articles and photos of the weekend rides. The collection can be found at http://tinat.cymru/stories/

If you know of anymore then let me know.
FTFY James  :-*
Has never ridden RAAM
---------
No.11  Because of the great host of those who dislike the least appearance of "swank " when they travel the roads and lanes. - From Kuklos' 39 Articles

Alex B

  • Headwind specialist
    • Where is there an end of it?
... I rode the staircase itself, as I felt good, so I never got close enough to the sign myself to see what it said ...

On reflection it's obvious who put the sign there: the Devil! :demon:

Staircase involved much zig-zagging all over the road for me, even with 20" gear.

...apparently it's all about the fine print.

IMG_20180603_105619547_HDR-001 by ao, on Flickr
Cycle and recycle.   SS Wilson

mattc

  • n.b. have grown beard since photo taken
    • Didcot Audaxes
[1st test of my google photos folder:]


& attempt 2:


& a plain link:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/TSpOE3zEgnIGdAmj1
Has never ridden RAAM
---------
No.11  Because of the great host of those who dislike the least appearance of "swank " when they travel the roads and lanes. - From Kuklos' 39 Articles