Brevet Cymru 2018

[Peat]

Open Water Swimming opportunities at the New Quay control.

I will if you will.

(I won't)

[hippy]

I've been known to take a dip (with bike) into the odd canal so...

[Jorgan]

Well if you can race 180k I'm sure you can ride 400k. Just leave the sleevless at home

Sleeveless in Triathlon is so 10 years ago!

[hippy]

Sleeveless in Triathlon is so 10 years ago!

*cough* Lionel Sanders *cough*

[Jorgan]

*cough* Lionel Sanders *cough*

But he's living in 1983.  It's all about beards now, not 'taches.

Took my bike out this afternoon to make sure all the Audax gubbins stays attached, particularly the heath robinson mount I've had to make to mount both my Garmin (and charge it OTG) and the very expensive Lumicycle light my mate loaned me.  Glad to report everything stayed put.  My 'endurance' bike has a one-piece flat bars/stem, so attaching stuff is a PITA.

I guess now I've admitted my bike has a one-piece bar, I'm going to be stoned? 

[hippy]

I've ridden my time trial bike on a large percentage of the audaxes I've done and no one has ever said anything about it (at least not to my face).

[hippy]

I need to sort my bike for this. I haven't ridden anything long for some time now. Last night I started remembering things like
"it gets cold at night" and "the Garmin won't last >200k" and "where did all my bottle cages go?"

[Jeff E]

The observant will already have noted Mark's deliberate Typo on line 3 of Stage 7 🤣       It should read "LEFT at T, Imm RIGHT" etc.     

[Ajax Bay]

Sunset is about 2046 (at Llandovery) and the (2/3rds) moon rises (Llangattock) at 0147 and stays up till well beyond sunrise at 0458.

[Jorgan]

The wind is looking very benevolent for the weekend. Touches wood.

[Peat]

I wasn't going to be the one to mention it.

Looking suspiciously good at the moment. We'll all pay.... Somehow.

[Jorgan]

I will pay, simply for thinking it would be a good idea to make this my maiden Audax.

But then what did Delboy always tell Rodney

[Hot Flatus]

I will pay, simply for thinking it would be a good idea to make this my maiden Audax.

But then what did Delboy always tell Rodney

I suspect you'll be fine.

Unsolicited advice: strap on an HRM. Stay in zone 2-low 3 as much as you can, don't go in the red. You'll feel fresher on the final stages.

To make up for this, cut your planned stops down. Two sit down feeds max 25 minutes and two Spar shop raids.

[Jorgan]

My concern with sit down stops is waiting for food; any suggestions on places to that aren't likely to involve a long wait?

[hellymedic]

You will absorb food better if you are sitting, not riding. This will power your legs better.

You can optimise time spent at controls by doing something other than queuing, like using the loo or adjusting clothing. You can eat carried food while you wait and buy food for the road ahead.

[Jorgan]

You will absorb food better if you are sitting, not riding. This will power your legs better.

You can optimise time spent at controls by doing something other than queuing, like using the loo or adjusting clothing. You can eat carried food while you wait and buy food for the road ahead.

True, but you have to understand the ingrained mindset from my primary hobby  I've already recce'd various options on the Internet at least.

[Hot Flatus]

My concern with sit down stops is waiting for food; any suggestions on places to that aren't likely to involve a long wait?

The main controls, Llandovery and New Quay are quite efficient, but if it's busy...

Might be worth grazing in convenience stores, coops etc. There are places in Builth Wells, Hay on Wye but I'm struggli g to think of sit down alternatives in Llandovery. There are other places in New Quay

[hellymedic]

Even if there are other places in Llandovery (and I don't know the timings) I doubt any will be faster than the West End. I've had leisurely meals there but that's no use...

[Somnolent]

Yes plenty of other places in New Quay, but even when the Mariners have every table full I've never waited longer than 10 minutes, and the West End in Llandovery is more like 5.

Hay: good little cafe down the ginnel opposite the bus stop.
Builth: Garage with shop on right as you come into town, or Little Chef opposite (or there was, many of those have closed down)
Tregaron: Co-op and park benches opposite

[Ajax Bay]

My concern with sit down stops is waiting for food; any suggestions on places to that aren't likely to involve a long wait?

West End Cafe is the control at Llandovery - at both 147 and 295. The Mariners at New Quay is at 237. The only cause of delay might be if a massive group of bikers get to West End just before you at midday (say). Both places have always seemed pretty swift and the portions generous. In the evening, the BC riders will be the West End's main custom (and they stay open late, specially (so it'd be good to patronise it anyway)).
At New Quay the 'Captain's RV' cafe is another 60m round the corner, if you think the Mariners is too busy (though you need to go into the Mariners anyway). Or before you make the final right down to the promenade:
"R, $ Beach, by Seahorse Inn -
and descend to promenade"
there's a 'Costcutter' store on your left and a pizza place on the right with a few seats.
As I recall nowhere to eat between New Quay and Llandovery.

[Somnolent]

As I recall nowhere to eat between New Quay and Llandovery.

Nowhere for a sit-down but there is a shop (Nisa or Premier ?) open late just to the left at the crossroads in Llanbydder where you cross the A485.

[Jorgan]

I've been known to take a dip (with bike) into the odd canal so...

I still have a scar on my forehead from such an event as a teen; MTB landed on top of me. No helmets in the 80s.  The kids are a chip off the block, both ended up in Minor Injuries last year to have their head cuts glued/stiched 🙄

[hippy]

As I recall nowhere to eat between New Quay and Llandovery.

Nowhere for a sit-down but there is a shop (Nisa or Premier ?) open late just to the left at the crossroads in Llanbydder where you cross the A485.

Londis?
https://goo.gl/maps/7zQhB9x1stn

[Jeff E]

The Cafe by the Toilets on the left after Mark's Control in the Hay Bus Stop, can be very slow service.
I have used The Filling Station Garage in Glasbury  a few miles further on where you turn right onto A438, where there was a good selection of sandwiches, rolls and cakes on the shelves.    There is then a Cafe a few yards down the road also on the right.     Over the bridge and turn left with the route and there are Toilets down on the left.     Glasbury seems to have everything !

[Jorgan]

Thanks Jeff/all. I did locate the Spar around the corner from the first Control. Glasbury also sounds good. Just planning a splash & dash this early.