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

[iakobski]

The last 60k is a sting in the tail though...

Mr Dulates, you are the master of dead-pan humour.

[Nuncio]

I haven't looked at the revised route but I note from MV's post that it now includes Bendigedig.  That's wonderful.

[Justin(e)]

Thanks to the jersey pictured here - I have for the first time worked out why the national emblem is a dragon.

Some things are too obvious to notice.

[border-rider]

I haven't looked at the revised route but I note from MV's post that it now includes Bendigedig.  That's wonderful.

 

Though do we intend to visit Pontrhydfendigaid on Saturday...

[border-rider]

Thanks to the jersey pictured here - I have for the first time worked out why the national emblem is a dragon.
.

I can't help thinking that a redesign of the Audax Cymru shirts using this marvellous image might be a Good Thing.

[JayP]

Has this altered the total climb figure for the ride an any signifcant way?

The new route sounds .... tougher. I'm not entirely sure I'd have signed up to this! But there's no turning back now Mr Frodo ...

Last night I downloaded the gpx for day 1 and opened it in bikehike. BIke hike allows to to save out as a text file ,in tab delimited layout, which you can then opene as a spreadsheet. The thing that bothers me is that the spreadsheet totted up 9128metres of elevation gain 
I really hope someone can convince that this is blx

[Greenbank]

Has this altered the total climb figure for the ride an any signifcant way?

The new route sounds .... tougher. I'm not entirely sure I'd have signed up to this! But there's no turning back now Mr Frodo ...

Last night I downloaded the gpx for day 1 and opened it in bikehike. BIke hike allows to to save out as a text file ,in tab delimited layout, which you can then opene as a spreadsheet. The thing that bothers me is that the spreadsheet totted up 9128metres of elevation gain 
I really hope someone can convince that this is blx

Are you sure you're not adding in the descending too?

0m to 100m to 0m should only be 100m of climbing.

[Greenbank]

Nope, it's just jittery data. (I just did the same and got the same figure as you in Excel)

Take a look at lines 866 to 868:-

866 52.81203   -3.61643   81.431   392   -20   0
867 52.81223   -3.61678   81.464   421   29   29
868 52.81305   -3.61744   81.565   405   -16   0

Now have a look at:

52.81203,-3.61643 to 52.81305,-3.61744

in google maps and click on the Terrain button.

Does it really drop 20 meters, climb 29 meters then drop 16 meters in that short distance? Nope.

[PloddinPedro]

Nope, it's just jittery data. (I just did the same and got the same figure as you in Excel)

Take a look at lines 866 to 868:-

866 52.81203   -3.61643   81.431   392   -20   0
867 52.81223   -3.61678   81.464   421   29   29
868 52.81305   -3.61744   81.565   405   -16   0

Now have a look at:

52.81203,-3.61643 to 52.81305,-3.61744

in google maps and click on the Terrain button.

Does it really drop 20 meters, climb 29 meters then drop 16 meters in that short distance? Nope.

Thank God - I nearly withdrew my entry on the spot!

[scottlington]

Although you can't zoom in much to that section in Google, it does seem to indicate only an approx 10m height gain overall in that 200m section, so definately dodgy data.

[MattH]

I've been sorting out a jersey as well, which is now designed and will be ready to order soon

Lovely, lovely shirt for what still looks like an amazing ride. Cheque book is armed and ready here!

Being picky, I'd have liked it to have the last line "In the land of Cymru, where the dragons lie.", but I guess that wouldn't fit?

[JayP]

Yep! well thats a relief. I also getting gradients of 1 in 1. Not even in Wales?
thanks

[Greenbank]

That's why smoothing algorithms need to be applied, but it's not an exact science. If you did have a GPX plot of some terrain exactly like that then it would get smoothed down to a much lower figure.

FWIW Bikehike's figure for importing that GPX file is 5812m climbing over 353km.

You can tell that even this is a bit dodgy because it only has 5328m of descent, but the end elevation is only 126m above the start, which doesn't explain all of the 484m difference between climbing/descending figures.

[TOBY]

You can tell that even this is a bit dodgy because it only has 5328m of descent, but the end elevation is only 126m above the start, which doesn't explain all of the 484m difference between climbing/descending figures.

[mattc]

You can tell that even this is a bit dodgy because it only has 5328m of descent, but the end elevation is only 126m above the start, which doesn't explain all of the 484m difference between climbing/descending figures.

http://snag.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/238542495_21bb5b1747.jpg

I am much cheered by these revelations - it seems that the published climbing for this ride is at least twice the real world figure. Hoorah!

Now pass the cake ...

[Greenbank]

Err, that's only day 1.

[Nuncio]

Nebridge/Beulah (or Beulah/Newbridge) three times!  Unnecessary - it only took one passage to bust my knee last time.  No-one has more than two knees do they?

And I've just noticed that that it's not just the gradients we have to be worried about.  The B4300 Fairfach / Carmarthen road features in Dave L's Estuary Welsh 200 (the other way).  It is no worse than gently undulating, it runs along the Towy and there are pleasant views, but everyone I spoke to after last year's EW agreed that for no easily discernible reason it is one of the most spirit-sapping stretches of tarmac in the principality.

[TOBY]

Nebridge/Beulah (or Beulah/Newbridge) three times!  Unnecessary - it only took one passage to bust my knee last time.  No-one has more than two knees do they?

use your Kidneys?

[Tewdric]

So does that mean there is space for few more riders..?

No, I musn't, I really mustn't...

[thing1]

So does that mean there is space for few more riders..?

My guess is that it's already filled by names from the waiting list.

[GrandMaster Flash]

Having had to give up my place for domestic reasons, I can only look on at this thread with increasing disappointment.  It looks like this is going to be a classic event in every way!

[Hummers]

Having had to give up my place for domestic reasons, I can only look on at this thread with increasing disappointment.  It looks like this is going to be a classic event in every way!

 

 

H

[mattc]

Because the first day is now longer, we'll be starting at 06:00 instead of 07:00 to give you more daylight on that first day. The third day is of course shorter to make up for it and I've had to miss out the Gospel Pass but you'll get Mynydd Eppynt instead.

so the 1st day is 350km and 5400m. Can't see me getting to bed much before dawn

I guess us slower riders will have to cane the first day and use any time in the bank to grovel round the rest. Or something ...

[ new split is 350 / 310 / 231 / 100-odd ]

[vorsprung]

Having had to give up my place for domestic reasons, I can only look on at this thread with increasing disappointment.  It looks like this is going to be a classic event in every way!

"What does regret mean?"
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/LwknFJpjl9g&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/LwknFJpjl9g&rel=1</a>

[Nuncio]

Having read the site with a bit more care, I'm a bit disappointed to see that, while our bad drop towel(s) will be awaiting us in Llanwrtyd, the shower facilities remain at Aberystwyth.