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

[Morganite]

Here goes,it was an early start we set off from St Clears at 6AM that was me, Roger, Andrew and Mark, arrived at LLanwrtyd Well at 7AM no one else to be seen. the organisers arrived at 7.30,there was much discussion regarding how many layers to be worn.The plan was to ride together you could see this was going to be a lonely day if you got dropped as there was only about 15 other riders at the start, we spoke to the organisers who now said the route was 100miles and not the file they had sent by e-mail earlier saying 83 miles, also we had to ask for emergency numbers as they did not have any to hand out, did not sound like there was a broom wagon or any back up.

At 8am we set off there was 2 other riders with is, one from Glyn Neath who snapped a spoke after about 2 miles he continued for a while not sure what happened to him, also Alan from Haverfordwest who rode around with us.

All went well first feed station we averaged 17.5 MPH probably some of the best roads we have been on no traffic to be seen tramac was very good, one issue at the feed station no energy drinks,then we came to LLandovery heading to Lampeter, Weather was cold on the down hills, thats all that could be seen was big mountains and we where in the valley floor thinking we have to climb out of here, but some relief for me anyway the roads kept climbing but nothing to worry about and then we skirted Lampeter no major climbing so far, 60 miles in elevation gain 4000 ft then we headed towards Tragaron past LLanddewi-Brefi all going well Tragaron arrived.

We leave Tragaron 70 miles in to the ride, then we find the hills and it all turns to Rat-poo they where terrible, over the next 4 miles we climbed 1000ft the roads where getting worse. Once at the top at this stage i was way behind the decent sign said 25% this was horrible as much to do to hold the brakes on the decent, if it was wet i am not sure you could have rode down it as the back wheel was locking up in the dry, i was thinking how Ian handlebars would have survived this descent,at the bottom i managed to catch everyone up at the feed station 77 miles in plenty of food but again no energy drink, to date we had not seen any other riders

Their was plenty of talk at the feed station from the marshall saying their was 1 more big climb and it was 25%, i thought oh B-ll-ks and he was right after 4 miles i turned left i had been dropped again by this stage and thats all i could see was this road that looked like a wall in front of me, i could the rest of the mountain goats climbing away so here goes got to the first plateau and had to get off i have never been up something so steep. managed to climb back on and start off again, made me feel better i could see Roger pushing his bike, later came to light he had fallen off with his back wheel spinning on the stones and not being able to start off again, there was blood to prove it, later found out ths was the Devil staircase it was 0.5 miles long ans the elevation climb was 345ft at the top 82 miles in no one else to be seen not that i was bothered as i was just pacing myself back, on the descent there was potholes everywhere some had been filled but all the tarmac was loose loose clippings all over the place, i crossed a bridge there was no barriers on the bridge thinking this is real bandit country. then the signs started coming for LLanwrtyd 5 miles i know the end was in sight and it was all flat back. Thank the Lord it was 90 miles and there was the end.

i would like to thank everyone for dragging me around it was a great day would not have liked to do this in the wet.

Here are my states Andrew Roger and Mark finished 8 minutes faster than me this is moving time my overall time was 6hrs 2min 7000ft climbing

Distance: 90.53 mi

Time: 5:50:23

Avg Speed: 15.5 mph

Elevation Gain: 6,960 ft

Calories: 2,834 C

Avg Temperature: 44.9 °F

Details

Timing

Time: 5:50:23

Avg Speed: 15.5 mph

Max Speed: 34.3 mph

SpeedPace

Elevation

Elevation Gain: 6,960 ft

Elevation Loss: 6,960 ft

MinElevation: 152 ft

MaxElevation: 1,584 ft

Heart Rate

Avg HR: 145 bpm

Max HR: 180 bpm

Zones% of Maxbpm

Cadence

Avg Bike Cadence: 68 rpm

Max Bike Cadence: 113 rpm

Temperature

Avg Temperature: 44.9 °F

Min Temperature: 37.4 °F

Max Temperature: 50.0 °F