Hir oes i'r Elenydd! (Sat 14th April 2012)

[vorsprung]

How do you manage with gps batteries lasting for a 300, or are you all speed merchants???

I use a route sheet.  It doesn't require batteries except at night, then I turn the head torch on and off as needed
If i get lost I have a phone with google maps and I've loaded the gps route into that

[marcusjb]

I use the same thing as eeymsmo from my little bar bag.

Edge 800 tends to last about 10 hours - so I need to charge it on a 300.  Reckon I can charge it at least 3 times on the battery pack - so it'll do a 600, though I then tend to run my E-Werk to give me battery charging during the day.

Looking forward to the weekend very much.  Plotted my GPS routes, thinking about what to pack.  Looks like an interesting weather weekend - pretty chilly and possibly wet.

Anyone else staying at Travelodge Bayston Hill?

I am trying to work out how to get from the Travelodge to Upton Magna - the A5 doesn't look like the kind of road I want to cycle down! (might bottle it and drive over....)

Aiming to finish by midnight as well.

[Martin]

I opened the gpx on Mapsource and managed to create a route for my eTrex with just 28 waypoints for the whole thing; not a great load of alternative roads for a lot of it

[JohnHamilton]

Anyone else staying at Travelodge Bayston Hill?

I am trying to work out how to get from the Travelodge to Upton Magna - the A5 doesn't look like the kind of road I want to cycle down! (might bottle it and drive over....)

It's not particularly, although should be pretty quiet at that time of morning. I'd take the old Shrewsbury bypass (B4380) myself http://g.co/maps/bmqg4

[Philip Whiteman]

I have a jynx every time it comes to one of U.N.Dulate's events.  Yet again, I am suffering some form of virus and may be a DNS.  I just hope this clears by tomorrow.

I blame AudaxUK.

[marcusjb]

Anyone else staying at Travelodge Bayston Hill?

I am trying to work out how to get from the Travelodge to Upton Magna - the A5 doesn't look like the kind of road I want to cycle down! (might bottle it and drive over....)

It's not particularly, although should be pretty quiet at that time of morning. I'd take the old Shrewsbury bypass (B4380) myself http://g.co/maps/bmqg4

Brilliant - thanks - I had thought that looked like an option from the map without adding on too many miles.  I would prefer to ride - so that's probably the route I will take.

[Revellinho]

Oh I see - you all got nice shiny toys - Vorsprung, I'm with you with the headtorch and map/routesheet!  The only bit I'm concerned about is navigating my way near to the finish, but if I get a move on I will be able to keep up with a few others and do some sneaky wheelsucking 

[sbseven]

How do you manage with gps batteries lasting for a 300, or are you all speed merchants???

I use a 705 connected to a battery in a tri-bag. If I did more rides >=300 km than I currently do, I'd be sensible and get an eTrex.

[ian_oli]

How do you manage with gps batteries lasting for a 300, or are you all speed merchants???

I use a 705 connected to a battery in a tri-bag. If I did more rides >=300 km than I currently do, I'd be sensible and get an eTrex.

I have recently replaced my knackered eTrex HCx with an eTrex 30 which I got so I could use its HRM facility. I have not tried to test its battery life yet, but I reckon on early impressions it will be at least as good as the older model's - I got around PBP in 89 hours with one change of lithiums and careful use with the old one.

[bikey-mikey]

OK - so I am on my way up to Upton Magna having left Bristol at 06:30

The forecast said 6 degrees at 7:00 am and 10 degrees at 10:00 am so I wore sparse clothing and a nice pair of wind n waterproof Sealskinz.

I get 30 mins on the road and the Garmin says it is MINUS 2.3 degrees.......   WTF !!! 

I must be completely mad.....

Could not feels fingers or toes....

So I'm camped in Costas at Severn View services with a large skinny latte waiting for the sun to burn off the freezing fog....

Mutter mutter mutter......

[Lordy]

enjoy the ride and the coffee!

[vorsprung]

Generally, tomorrows predicted weather for the Elenydd looks to be some showers but not raining all the time, something like a tail wind out but decaying later so there is no or reduced headwind back.

It's giving quite low temperatures some places for early morning or late night, so be sure to have that extra jumper to hand

Glad I just got some new overshoes 

[Euan Uzami]

I get 30 mins on the road and the Garmin says it is MINUS 2.3 degrees.......   WTF !!! 

has your garmin got a thermometer then? mine hasn't

[marcusjb]

Generally, tomorrows predicted weather for the Elenydd looks to be some showers but not raining all the time, something like a tail wind out but decaying later so there is no or reduced headwind back.

It's giving quite low temperatures some places for early morning or late night, so be sure to have that extra jumper to hand

Glad I just got some new overshoes 

So I won't need the suncream like last time is what you're saying?

It does look like it will be quite chilly particularly into the night for fuller value riders like myself.

[sbseven]

Generally, tomorrows predicted weather for the Elenydd looks to be some showers but not raining all the time, something like a tail wind out but decaying later so there is no or reduced headwind back.

It's giving quite low temperatures some places for early morning or late night, so be sure to have that extra jumper to hand

Glad I just got some new overshoes 

So I won't need the suncream like last time is what you're saying?

It does look like it will be quite chilly particularly into the night for fuller value riders like myself.

I got bad sunburn on an Elenith a number of years back. Not a warm day by any means, around 15C max, but very sunny all day. I never even got out of long sleeves and kneewarmers so the only exposed bit was the back of my calves. The sunburn lines in that area were still visible at the end of the summer...

[vorsprung]

Sunshine on the Elenith is pretty rare.   Although ISTR the last two have been good this is not normal

I think I participated in the old Elenith from Kidderminster 5 times.   Twice it was "nice", dry roads, bit of sun, some blue skies and not too breezy.

The other three times there was substantial rain, hail and strong winds

[Mike Conway]

Lovely sunshine at the moment in Telford. Anyone else staying over in Telford tonight? There's a half decent looking carvery/pub next door to the Travel lodge for a bit of pre Elenydd pig out...

[simonp]

The first Elenith I did had decent weather but some drizzle and snow late on.

The other two have had lovely weather.

[bikey-mikey]

I get 30 mins on the road and the Garmin says it is MINUS 2.3 degrees.......   WTF !!! 

has your garmin got a thermometer then? mine hasn't

Yep the 800 tells you how cold it is!!

Takes about ten mins to adjust from Costa temp (20 degrees) to outside...

[bikey-mikey]

Now in Ludlow Costas - need to waste some time as the hall isn't open till 8.

At least my leg and arm warmers are off !!

[JohnHamilton]

Now in Ludlow Costas - need to waste some time as the hall isn't open till 8.

That's what the pub in Upton Magna's for

[bikey-mikey]

Now in Ludlow Costas - need to waste some time as the hall isn't open till 8.

That's what the pub in Upton Magna's for

I'm about to.enter the Corbet Arms, and Friday night is PIE night. 

[Von Broad]

Weather wise it doesn't look too bad, cold in the morning and at night, but reasonably dry during the day.

But sadly not for me, I've had to pull out due to injury.
First Ellenydd missed in five years
Still, hope all goes well for John & the team, and all those riding the new version.
Long may it continue.

[hellymedic]

I am just north of Llandovery.
It is grey and wet here.
Hope weather's better for riders!

[marcusjb]

Been a pretty grim first 110km. Fairly hard rain into shobden, cold, and raining again now in Builth wells. Next 100 will be hard!