Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Audax => Topic started by: Delph Cyclist on 11 February, 2019, 03:23:17 pm
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I've just had a tot-up and I seem to have taken 62 entries already for this ride from Poynton (near Stockport) to Holyhead and back. I will close entries at 90, so a timely response might secure you a place.
The title of the ride is a bit gratuitous because, although we go through that place twice, there isn't a control, and I could just as easily have called it the Rhyl 400.
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Is there a typo somewhere? Searching for "Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch" on the audax.uk site doesn't give me any results, either on the front page search bar, or the calendar page...
J
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It has extra spaces, presumably to not break the page layout:
http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/19-66/
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Presumably the brevet cards for this event are more expensive to cover the extra ink involved :D
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Presumably the brevet cards for this event are more expensive to cover the extra ink involved :D
And printed on A3 paper? :p
J
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It's a lovely ride, flatter than you'd think for Wales, although still with the option of a lovely 900-footer straight up from Flint to Halkyn, as well as more scenic ascent from Conwy up the Sychnant Pass. I've ridden the western end several times as a 200km perm, but I also rode the full Llanfair P.G. calendar event in 2013: https://www.16inchwheels.uk/2013/05/25/llanfairpg-2013/ (https://www.16inchwheels.uk/2013/05/25/llanfairpg-2013/).
A remarkably UNchallenging 400 for Wales, yet still with incredible views of the Clwydians, Snowdonia National Park, the Great Orme, and the hills either side. In places it's like riding through Skegness, with all the static caravans, at others it's more like the Cambrians. Oh, and Cheshire, of course :thumbsup:
It's a lovely ride and I would definitely ride it again. I would consider for as my PBP 400 qualifier, but that weekend I'm off into mid-Wales on the mountain bike.
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I and a fellow rider who are doing a Pyrenees 8 day group event later in the year have just signed up and really looking forwards to it, and glad to read it's such a lovely ride Wilkyboy :)
Just wondering Delph Cyclist, about how many places are left as hopefully might be able to tempt a few others from the Challenge group to take part ?
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I've ridden this twice - and both times it's been a headwind out along the sea front.
This year might be the time I head to the turn point via the hills ...
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I rode it in 2015 as a qualifier. Looking back, I see the wisdom in not trying to qualify this year.
https://youtu.be/kwTSO8OMaAk
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I and a fellow rider who are doing a Pyrenees 8 day group event later in the year have just signed up and really looking forwards to it, and glad to read it's such a lovely ride Wilkyboy :)
Just wondering Delph Cyclist, about how many places are left as hopefully might be able to tempt a few others from the Challenge group to take part ?
It was 28 places when I started this topic, but it's only 17 now.
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Love the north coast of Wales, but I'll have to pass on this one, as I'm doing Brevet Cymru...
Why a 9 AM start if there are no overnight sleeping facilities?
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Why a 9 AM start if there are no overnight sleeping facilities?
I look for events which start long enough after a train arrives at a nearby station. On a 400 I'm not going to be getting any sleep that night anyway - 9am is a nice start time.
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Why a 9 AM start if there are no overnight sleeping facilities?
I look for events which start long enough after a train arrives at a nearby station. On a 400 I'm not going to be getting any sleep that night anyway - 9am is a nice start time.
good point
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It has extra spaces, presumably to not break the page layout:
http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/19-66/
Which the title of this thread hasn’t got, which explains why the ‘while you were away ‘ page keeps going wonky on me!
;D
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Love the north coast of Wales, but I'll have to pass on this one, as I'm doing Brevet Cymru...
Why a 9 AM start if there are no overnight sleeping facilities?
It's a fair question. I more logical start would have been midday but that doesn't work for this ride. Riders will need to reach the café control on Anglesey before it closes, even though they are staying open late for us. The return from Holyhead along the North Wales coast cries out to be an overnight section as the navigation is easy, the roads quiet, and with street lights for some of it. Riders need to be through Queensferry before traffic becomes too busy.
Actually, there are sleep facilities for this ride, but they are at the finish. I have a church hall booked from midnight for early finishers and I dare say there will be some air beds available. We have to be out by 9am - it's a church hall after all and it's Sunday.
For anyone planning on riding PBP, where riding through the first night without sleep could be a useful tactic, a 400 without sleep could be good experience.
But that's how I've set the ride up, and for those that it doesn't suit, other 400s are available.
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It has extra spaces, presumably to not break the page layout:
http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/19-66/
Which the title of this thread hasn’t got, which explains why the ‘while you were away ‘ page keeps going wonky on me!
;D
The full title (no spaces) has the odd quirk of having four consecutive "L"s
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Actually, there are sleep facilities for this ride, but they are at the finish. I have a church hall booked from midnight for early finishers and I dare say there will be some air beds available. We have to be out by 9am - it's a church hall after all and it's Sunday.
How does that work for full value riders? A 0900 start on a 400km BRM should mean a 1200 finish the next day?
J
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Actually, there are sleep facilities for this ride, but they are at the finish. I have a church hall booked from midnight for early finishers and I dare say there will be some air beds available. We have to be out by 9am - it's a church hall after all and it's Sunday.
How does that work for full value riders? A 0900 start on a 400km BRM should mean a 1200 finish the next day?
J
By 9am the cafe is open. That's where we ended up last time.
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Actually, there are sleep facilities for this ride, but they are at the finish. I have a church hall booked from midnight for early finishers and I dare say there will be some air beds available. We have to be out by 9am - it's a church hall after all and it's Sunday.
How does that work for full value riders? A 0900 start on a 400km BRM should mean a 1200 finish the next day?
J
By 9am the cafe is open. That's where we ended up last time.
Indeed, that is the plan. We think of everyone.
There are a number of factors to be balanced to produce a successful event, and you just hope that the resulting compromise satisfies enough riders to make it worth while. I generally end up with a ride that I would like to participate in, although ironically I'm not free to do so on the day of course. That's why there isn't a huge AAA points total, I leave those events for other Organisers.
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Indeed, that is the plan. We think of everyone.
Gotcha. I'm getting used to the Arrivé on rides, esp 300's moving as the bar/cafe it is supposed to be in closes. On one 300, I was over 19 hours total time, when I got to what I thought was the moved Arrive, had to spend about 10mins cycling round trying to find it before eventually calling. Turned out I was 2 streets out. That was a tough ride, hadn't expected the plague of frogs...
There are a number of factors to be balanced to produce a successful event, and you just hope that the resulting compromise satisfies enough riders to make it worth while. I generally end up with a ride that I would like to participate in, although ironically I'm not free to do so on the day of course. That's why there isn't a huge AAA points total, I leave those events for other Organisers.
Yeah, planning a ride, is hard, I'm in awe of anyone who can pull it off. Am watching with interest the many threads about organising. I'm hoping to assist one of the Dutch organisers with an event in 2020.
J
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Actually, there are sleep facilities for this ride, but they are at the finish. I have a church hall booked from midnight for early finishers and I dare say there will be some air beds available. We have to be out by 9am - it's a church hall after all and it's Sunday.
How does that work for full value riders? A 0900 start on a 400km BRM should mean a 1200 finish the next day?
J
There is a Travelodge not far down the road if you are full value and need a post ride sleep. Early checkin is usually around 12:00. Otherwise it is not too far to a railway station and sleep / doze on the train home.
During the ride a doze on the long bench seats at Abegele services often does the trick.
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I'm in B & B booked, only train to sort now. First 400, longest ride on fixed :D
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It has extra spaces, presumably to not break the page layout:
http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/19-66/
Which the title of this thread hasn’t got, which explains why the ‘while you were away ‘ page keeps going wonky on me!
;D
The full title (no spaces) has the odd quirk of having four consecutive "L"s
Which are actually two letters of the Welsh alphabet next to each other — LL is a "letter" in the Welsh "orthography" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_orthography), forming an odd sound by blowing air around the sides of the tongue, while the tip's pressed against the roof of the mouth. I recalled this from my Welsh lessons when I was very young, but I still had to look it up (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_orthography) to make sure I hadn't misremembered.
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I'm in B & B booked, only train to sort now. First 400, longest ride on fixed :D
You'll be fine. But you might have to walk up to Halkyn. It's worth it, though :thumbsup:
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Thanks Wilkyboy, sort of looking forward to it. What gearing do you suggest currently running 63" , more on the premis of what I did back in the sixties.
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Although I've not done this ride on fixed, I've done this ride and a lot of miles on fixed. You might well find 63" very spinny indeed. Something in the high 70s would be my suggestion.
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I'm in B & B booked, only train to sort now. First 400, longest ride on fixed :D
You'll be fine. But you might have to walk up to Halkyn. It's worth it, though :thumbsup:
There are flat alternatives for the 2 climbs over Halkyn and Sychnant, but these climbs are only short and not particularly steep and are very much recommended. I can't comment on whether you'd get up them on fixed because I always use gears. The steepest climb on the Llanfair PG 400 is probably on the dedicated Sustrans path between Pensarn and Colwyn Bay, and you'll need to have a good run at that (dog walkers permitting). There is also a nice bit of zigzagging up from PenMaenmawr promenade for those avoiding the Sychnant climb.
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Although I've not done this ride on fixed, I've done this ride and a lot of miles on fixed. You might well find 63" very spinny indeed. Something in the high 70s would be my suggestion.
As I've NEVER ridden high 70s for very long, but have ridden standard medium 72-inches for 600s and the like, it will come down to your preference.
If you think of it as gently rolling then you'll need something you can honk up short climbs and spin down the other side, leaving you plenty of legs for the flat stuff — if that's high-70s for you then you've better legs than me ;)
Having 60-inches on the other side would help lift you up to the scenery, twice — well worth it.
The steepest climb on the Llanfair PG 400 is probably on the dedicated Sustrans path between Pensarn and Colwyn Bay, and you'll need to have a good run at that (dog walkers permitting).
That ramp on the Sustrans coastal path always makes me smile — it's short and VERY sharp. If you start in the wrong gear (non-fixies) then you'll be walking by the top. Not wide enough to tack. It's only about 10m up, though :)
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Wilkyboy is correct - it is very much a preference thing. I stand in awe of those who can really spin it and have never ridden less than 77". I'd rather walk a couple of sections and have the benefit on the flat/downhill. Just out of interest, my first 400 without gears was 'The Lincoln' which I can recommend for fixed riders. I later did Mike's 'Pair of Kirtons' on fixed, which I can recommend as a first 600, if you should ever want to step up to that distance.
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Entry list now full.
The ride is still available as a Perm but not to be ridden on 4th May 2019. The Perm doesn't qualify for PBP obviously.
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Wilkyboy is correct - it is very much a preference thing. I stand in awe of those who can really spin it and have never ridden less than 77". I'd rather walk a couple of sections and have the benefit on the flat/downhill. Just out of interest, my first 400 without gears was 'The Lincoln' which I can recommend for fixed riders. I later did Mike's 'Pair of Kirtons' on fixed, which I can recommend as a first 600, if you should ever want to step up to that distance.
Hi Revellinho, looked at the Kirtons, however, I was accepted into W-C-W on the 1st. Pretty sure I wouldn't have the legs for the two in one month. Plans are for an SR on Fixed in my Seventieth year. So a 600 is definitely on the cards.
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If anyone is doing Llanfair 400 on Saturday, and would be kind enough to accommodate my small bag in their car for the duration, I would be very grateful? Change of travel plans means I am coming by train and can't avoid bringing a small bag.
Ta
Greg
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77 riders out there which, if they all finish, will be a record for this event. It's a bit breezier that they would probably like, and it will be chilly at night, but we've had colder in the past.
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Thanks again Mike & happy helpers. :) :thumbsup:
Always a headwind each year! But extra cold in early hours 0°C!
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Thank you, Mike and happy band of helpers. A very enjoyable ride, a tad cold overnight.
However as my first 400 and on fixed excellent...
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That was an absolutely fantastic ride - thanks Mike and everyone else.
We had a couple of hours more spare time at the end than we've ever had on an audax on the Pino before, which is a big relief after squeaking in just before the close on the Capitals of East Anglia last week. The highlight for me has to be the waves at high tide crashing into the rocks close to the path on the way back. The coast cycle paths are generally very lovely, though some care is needed on the heavily cambered sandy bits...
See you in a month for a Pair of Kirtons.