Preseli Angel

[Narberth Dynamos]

This is a thread to discuss the Preseli Angel ride on 1 May 2011. Who is doing this, how are you getting there etc.

[Morganite]

All

Next weekend is the Preseli Angel,there is a short route 47 miles which is called loop 1 see link http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/13748988, for Roger and Andrews benefit there is only 1 ford on loop 1, loop 2 at present they are showing 2 routes this is one it is 35 miles,see link http://www.velo-teifi.org.uk/docs/PreseliAngel/2009/route.pdf for everybody’s benefit there is also a ford on this route, also showing is this route which is 37 miles http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/13749472 Total for both routes is around 84 miles

It would be good to get some photos as a group on the way around to post on the website.

Who is planning to give this ago and also which route the short or long one.

Huw

[MatG]

I am planning to do the long ride

Lift wanted will give money/ energy bars in exchange

Has anyone got space in their car for me & my bike (07915 604203)

Alternatively does anyone want to ride up & do the small route & ride back?

[ValleyMan]

Kim and I are doing loop 1. Suggest we meet up at about 8.30 at the boat club and ride the first loop together. We agreed on Wednesday that Roger will be the official photographer for the day on the basis that he is likely to get to the top of the hills first!

[Morganite]

See you there, don’t forget to wear the club shirts

[Roger]

Andrew would have been the better honary cameraman as we was by far the strongest up those bloody hills….I’m pretty knackered ..that ranks up with the hardest runs I can remember.

[ValleyMan]

OK, here we go again…

This was truly a game of two halves, however, as I only played for the first half, I will leave it for others to provide a commentary to the final whistle.

The cream of the Dynamos (well the fatty stuff that floats to the surface) assembled at Newport Sailing Club to take on the Angel; Andrew, Roger, Mark, Huw, Mat, Kim and I. We lined up for a couple of pre event photos (see gallery) with Andrew insisting we got his van in for ‘publicity’, however, as this might have incurred the wroth of the Cycling Time Trial Association, Andrew had to make do with advertising his finest ham by leaving a bit hanging from the corner of his mouth. Hopefully we will have got away with that.

I clearly misunderstood the plan that we would ride the first loop together with the fast boys taking photos at various vantage points. In fact, it appears that the plan was we stay together for the first mile! Kim and I put this down to a surge of adrenalin, however, during a post match natter with a couple of the Aces, they considered it more likely to be testosterone. 😆

Mark and Mat headed off at a more considered pace and we occasionally caught up with them (principally when they stopped for a slash)and we did catch sight of Huw leaving the feed station just as we were arriving.

We kept station with a couple of guys wearing Velo Teifi Cycling Club jerseys actually getting the better of them up several of the hills. It was only when we got back to Newport and started chatting that they confirmed they were in fact from London which explains why even I beat them up the hills (they were fast on the flat mind you!).

The roads were terrible and it seemed like the wind was in our faces the whole way around, but nevertheless it was a very scenic route and (apart from the wind) the weather was good.

We got round in around 3.5 hours and settled down at the Sailing Club for a well earned plate of pasta and a pint of Felinfoel glancing occasionally up at the Angel thinking what a fun time those on Loop 2 must have been having. Perhaps next year.

Roll on the Carten next week.

For a review of Loop 2, Roger appears to have summed it up very succinctly in the previous post. Does anyone to add any more?

[butcherboy]

It was a shame we lost each other so soon. I didnt think we were going particuly quick on the first loop. Roger, Huw, Sean from the aces and i rode a nice pace for most of the loop. Roger and i nearly made the same mistake as last year by taking a left turn at the crossroads about 3 miles from the end of loop 1. We were both looking back for Huw`s guidence/directions. luckily some other riders pointed us in the right direction. We would of never lived it down if we had of gone the wrong way again!

As for loop 2, it was 40 miles of hard riding. My philosophy is always to try and get up the hills as quickly as possible and then recover. But the hills just kept coming and the few miles we had a bit of flat road the wind was in your face which for me was worse than the hills.

Still looking back on it now when all the pain has gone i`m glad i rode it. next weeks carten will be a dodle compared to that.

[Morganite]

Loop 2 seemed like it was all uphill, when the flat bits came the wind was blowing in your face.

They say they dont come any harder than this, or so they say, we will see 😆

[swancvs]

Glad to hear I wasn’t the only one suffering yesterday! I have been pleased with my hill climbing this year, but I lost the section from climing Carn Ingli until I got to Crymych, had empty lead legs.

Found myself after Crymych and had a good final session.

I totally misjudged this ride, for some reason I thought that the first loop was a good season opener for the Sportive season and that the second loop was a rolling section punctuated by 4 mean climbs. Instead it seemed to be an excercise in how many times can we go up and down the valley sides?

That said, what a stunning place to ride! Beautiful, good company, I really enjoyed myself. Have to say the pasta was a welcome treat at the end as well.

Look forward to catching up with you guys on the Wales Sportive if not on a ride before.

Dai Swan

[clundurban]

It was a hard earned 86miles. I decided to hang back and ride with Mat and not shoot off with Andrew and Roger.The last we saw of them was the 1st ford crossing. Mat and I did however bump into the VALLEY CREW (when we were stopping for pee, and 1st feed station, then another pee stop). Met Huw at the 2nd feed station.

Were going well despite the headwind, Mat got a puncture just after passing through Crymch (just as well as my backside needed a break from the saddle).

There was a part of loop 2 that we missed on our pre recce ride that yet again gave us more climbs & another ford crossing.

Enjoyed the final decent into Newport. Tired legs, but great day. Felt better after the Preseli than at the Daffodil.

[ValleyMan]

All my sniping is just jealousy! Something to aim for next year….

PS I didn’t look at either pee stop but can’t vouch for Kim mind you 😉

[Morganite]

The official times have now been posted follow the link

http://www.velo-teifi.org.uk/docs/PreseliAngel/2011/results.html

[Anonymous]

Hi, really enjoyed the long route although the 2nd loop was very hard.

Just wondering if any of you are doing The Tour Of Pembrokeshire in June and how the 118mile ride compares to this,

thanks,

[butcherboy]

I`m planning to do the long route. I think you will find the first 40 odd miles up to Goodwick is tough. After that its ok, certainly no worse than the angel.

[Author]

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