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

[scottlington]

There was a Gareth Evans from Australia. With a name like that it might have been a homecoming for him

That sounds more correct. I knew it started with a G.... 

[JohnHamilton]

I rode - briefly - with a chap from Oz. He was wearing various Audax Australia and Audax Victoria tops etc. We bumped into him a few times over the course of day 1 and 2. The last time I saw him was on the climb leaving Pendine. Does anyone know who he is and whether he finished? I could be wrong (probably am) but I think his name was Greg...

Gareth Evans, and no he packed somewhere around Tenby, got a train back to Shrewsbury.

I am now astonished that I failed to calculate that from 8am Sunday I could have had 4 hours rest at LW and still have had 23.5 hours ( AUK times from 0630 start) remaining for the remaining 350k - ample.  Phil Dyson did attempt to explain my options to me but I cut him short which was both rude and stupid. So MC1K is unfinished business for me.  

"ample"? Sounds quite tough to me. For me anyway, especially riding it all alone in probability. Lorra hills, another night on the road ...
I don't know your abilities, but you may have made the right call.

Your ride was what I expected myself - to get back late on Day2 and call it a day. I don't think anyone packed on day 3 - you might have been the latest DNF?

One other rider packed on Sunday morning after a very late return to Llanwrtyd. Everyone who set off on Sunday morning for the last leg made it though. Whilst in terms of overall time, yes you may have had 25 hours left (27 if you weren't bothered with BRM validation) to do the last leg, it's difficult make rational decisions when you've had that little sleep. Strictly speaking, there's also the intermediate control times to consider...

Anyone who thinks AUK limits are tough on getting some sleep in should try long distance walking - under LDWA rules you're not allowed to stop at any control longer than 2 hours or you're disqualified.

[Panoramix]

If you mean Mike (on the Langster), the answer is Yes. He was the only one to finished on fixed.

Didn't we see him riding the wrong way, possibly somewhere nr Brecon?

He started the last leg following the wrong gpx and then realised it was easier to get to the info by following the route backward from llandovery. He was lucky that the routesheet is now advisory!

[Joolz]

I packed just after leaving the control on the second day.  I was not going well at all and I thought (and still do) it was the best thing to do after my serious head injury early in the year.  I cycled back to a BR station and got the train that arrived in LW at 1 am.  Met up with Tony in the Drovers Rest and had Cawl and we headed off to the Neuadd Arms for really good beer and took a sample for the road.  Julie collected me and we had the second meal in the Drovers Rest - Welsh rabbit with poached eggs, apple and G-berry chrumble with custard, cake and tea.

I would like to thank John, Linda and all the helpers for organising the best Audax I have taken part in.  It would be really good if it could be offered at a PERM because as Tony mentioned I have a Jersey I can't wear and I can't stand unfinished thing.  Also, good to see you all again and to next time.  I thought my weight at gone up on Tuesday 52.5 kg (yes it not much), but its gone back to 50 kg now..........................Er..  How do I get to me last years weight of 55 kg?  At the moment I can eat and drink what I like and no weight goes on

Thank for Maverick for mending my flat and for MV for stopping and inspecting the tyre.

Also, thanks fort Maverick, Nuncio et al for their company on the first 350 km.

Joolz

[Joolz]

meant to say 11 am not 1 am ...........oops............

[red marley]

My ride report delivered through the medium of cartography:



You'll need to view the PDF version to read the text.

[phil d]

I am now astonished that I failed to calculate that from 8am Sunday I could have had 4 hours rest at LW and still have had 23.5 hours ( AUK times from 0630 start) remaining for the remaining 350k - ample.  Phil Dyson did attempt to explain my options to me but I cut him short which was both rude and stupid. So MC1K is unfinished business for me.  

I didn't think you rude at all.  One makes generous allowances for tired riders, of which there were plenty!

I don't think anyone packed on day 3 - you might have been the last DNF?

Correct on both counts.  Roy Bishop came in just before John, and also packed at that point.

As helpers rather than riders, Mary and I both thoroughly enjoyed the event.  And add our thanks to John for organising such an outstanding addition to the calendar.  The organisation seemed to me to be spot on - plenty of helpers who all knew what to do, hopefully making things as comfortable as possible for all the riders.

Chapeau to everyone who took part.  Even those that packed had made a mamoth effort - no part of that ride was easy.  Some of the last riders through looked absolutely whacked by Sunday night.  I could have taken some pictures, but that would have been very unfair.

[TOBY]

My ride report delivered through the medium of cartography:
You'll need to view the PDF version to read the text.

Jo this is superb 

[Weirdy Biker]

My ride report delivered through the medium of cartography:

 

Coolest ride report eva!

[Nuncio]

A think of beauty Jo.  And it fits well with John's LOTR theme.

[PloddinPedro]

Truely excellent Jo - does the thickness of the line indicate the speed/gradient? How, technically have you done this? I think I might print and frame it!

[citoyen]

Jo, that's truly wonderful. Please send it in to Arrivee - it would make a magnificent centre spread/pull-out poster.

d.

[mattc]

Truely excellent Jo - does the thickness of the line indicate the speed/gradient? How, technically have you done this? I think I might print and frame it!

Altitude.  (At least I think it is, cos he's done similar for other events.)

Jo: that is superb. The trial maps from last year have finally found a wonderful purpose - the ever winding road 'n all that. Magical

[simonp]

Truely excellent Jo - does the thickness of the line indicate the speed/gradient? How, technically have you done this? I think I might print and frame it!

Altitude.  (At least I think it is, cos he's done similar for other events.)

Yep.  You can tell because the whole Pembrokeshire section looks really easy...

(11h for the first 200k - about the same as I've often done in East Anglia!)

[Hot Flatus]

My ride report delivered through the medium of cartography:

How disappointing.

I read that as choreography, and was expecting a ride report delivered through the medium of dance.

[red marley]

Yes, altitude, or more precisely altitude^1.5. It was created by intersecting the GPS track of the route with the Ordnance Survey Digital Elevation Model (now available for free via OS OpenData). For background and discussion see A new way of mapping route profiles.

If anyone wants a blank map of the MC1k or one with just the controls labelled, I'll put them on the web when I've got a decent internet connection (currently on a very flakey connection in France).

Thanks for the positive responses. I'll see what I can do about getting a tidied up version to Arrivee.

[red marley]

How disappointing.

I read that as choreography, and was expecting a ride report delivered through the medium of dance.

Would you like me to do that special dance again for you, like I did in your Hotel room on Saturday night?

[Hot Flatus]

Well, ok, but I'm not paying £20 for it this time.

[Von Broad]

under LDWA rules you're not allowed to stop at any control longer than 2 hours or you're disqualified.

Been doing a bit of planning for the next run of the MC1K have we John? 

[Von Broad]

My ride report delivered through the medium of cartography:

Wow, that's really cool. Well original.

[JohnHamilton]

My ride report delivered through the medium of cartography:

Wow, that's really cool. Well original.

Brilliant. You've missed out the bit that says "Here Be Dragons" though.

[Hummers]

Anyone who thinks AUK limits are tough on getting some sleep in should try long distance walking - under LDWA rules you're not allowed to stop at any control longer than 2 hours or you're disqualified.

Anyone who thinks Audaxes are tough should try an LDWA 100 miler. This is indeed an expansive area of pain and exhaustion that I have no intention of revisiting.

H

[Hummers]

My ride report delivered through the medium of cartography:

How disappointing.

I read that as choreography, and was expecting a ride report delivered through the medium of dance.

+1

I was looking forward to Matt Haigh, clad only in a green and red mankini, performing a three part interpretation of the ride using rhythm, movement and dance ribbons.

Still, for all we know, it may well be a work in progress.

H   

[Greenbank]

My ride report delivered through the medium of cartography:

Fantastic work Jo! Definitely worth submitting to Arrivee¹.

I was following the ride on here and twitter in between my Maths lectures (OU residential school) and made a welcome break from second order linear inhomogenous differential equations.

I am now officially jealous (or is it envious, can never remember) not being able to do it.

1. Although, very minor, but you need to correct Mel Kirkland's surname in #37.

P.S. Did Tim S (from Manc) finish? I rode the S&C 400 with him (he was on fixed) and he was a little worried...

[JohnHamilton]

P.S. Did Tim S (from Manc) finish? I rode the S&C 400 with him (he was on fixed) and he was a little worried...

No, abandoned at the end of Day 1. Only 1 finisher on fixed.

Full results list is now on the website http://www.mille-cymru.org.uk/results.html