Re: Mid Wales Challenge Two Day Sportive Begins on March 31st 2012

[butcherboy]

Great days cycling. Roger,Huw,Mark and i met at the Little chef in St clears at 6am. Got to Llanwtyd a little early. There was no one around at all. Reminded me of last years merlin ride Ian! But after only half an hours wait we were registerd and ready to go at 8.

It was a very quiet start with only 2 others setting off with us. And within the first mile one of them broke a spoke. He carried on but after another mile or so another spoke went and his day had finished. The other young cyclist who we got chatting to comes from Haverfordwest and rides for the velos. He hung onto us all the way around and told us at the end that was the furthest he had rode. Well done Callum.

The first 70 miles was some of the best roads and scenery we have ever ridden. It was amazing. Apart from the odd climb and sharp hill it wasn`t too bad and we made good progress.

Then it all changed. I foolishly said to Roger just before that i can`t help feeling this route had a sting in its tail. And boy what a sting! For the next 6 miles we hit hill after hill and most of them must have been 15 to 20%.

We had a feed station in the valley at 77 miles and it was much needed. Talking to the volunteer he told us that the worst was still to come! He wasn`t joking.

For the next 4 miles we were still doing alot of climbing. And then we saw it. A 25% hill going straight up as far as the eye could see. You must have heard the cursing in Narberth, it was brutal. It was the devils staircase. Roger, Mark and i had climbed this last year in the Llandovery sportive. But this was climbing it from the other way and with 80 miles in your legs it somehow felt harder. I had to offload a couple of lambs i had picked up earlier from my saddle bag to lighten the load just to get up!

But we all managed to get to the top on our bikes and i don`t think anyone got off half way up and walked!! Or did they????

After that the last 5 miles to the finish was flat and fast and apart from Huw who was just a couple of minutes behind we all came in together.

It was one of the best sportives i have done. Great route, well sign posted and wonderful views. Just a shame it wasn`t well attended. There was only 30 riders out of 100 who entered taking part. They missed a great ride.