Tour of Wales Feb 2008
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Warning: If Easily Offended by Sarcasm , look away now.
Week-end away;
Stage 1a
Where do I start ?
There were 14 riders leaving ‘Hankey Towers’ and remarkably we were on time, this was probably due to pre-rides excitement/nerves plus it being on my door step. Everyone deserves a mention - Darrell, Steve H, Gordon, Bob, Warren, Sicknote, Darren, Simon, Dave W, Chris, Nick, Martyn, Mike and Rob Bagot.
The route was planned down to the most minute detail, maps were printed, alternatives discussed in the preceeding week, so the most obvious thing to do next was knock it all on the head and just make it up as we went along. On this basis we decided at about 9.10am that we'd go to Chirk. This meant out on the A49, through Beeston, Malpas, Overton, then a slight detour to Ellesmere, then to Chirk. The slight detour mean everyone had between 60 and 70 miles on the clock before lunch. Did I mention the head wind all the way ? Still, at least it wasn't raining yet and the afternoon was bound to be a lot easier, spirits were still high going into lunch.
Stage 1b
With careful precision, following an assessment of everyone's state of fitness it was decided to then take a route along the valley, over a climb that no one knows the name of but we've done before on route to Corwen. It’s got a sign at the bottom saying warning 1 in 6, but no sign saying 25 mph block headwind for the next mile up-hill. Despite this everyone made it up without walking or being overtaken by a jogger, mainly due to the fact that there were no joggers stupid enough to out there, rather than anything to do with the speed we ascended.
Everyone re-grouped at the top and it was about now that people stated eyeing up the front passenger seat in Directeur Sportif Atkinson's following vehicle.
Onwards to the Milti Kerrig (spelt incorrectly no doubt), via a near miss on a brick wall to a bridge courtesy of Rob Bagot. We decided to re-group before the start of the climb and whilst we waited for the last man to appear we noticed the seat next to John was now occupied by a certain fast course tester, who'll remain nameless for now.
We pushed onto the climb without Darrell, and it split after all of about 4 or 5 yards due to the wind/gradient.
Yours truly and Chris Southern got to the top first, couldn't shake the young whipper-snapper off, they've got no respect these kids.
Below are some photos taken from the mobile cameraman who un-selfishly put our egos first and missed out on the chance to ride a 3 mile climb into the same block head wind just to bring you these images, a big thank-you goes out to Darrell for that. The speed we were moving he could have probably done an oil painting of us.
Darren Simon, Mike, Nick (smiling) Bob
Chris + Steve Simon, Mike, Nick (still smiling)
Martyn ‘Big Dave’ Dave
Rob and Gordon (with sign to prove we were in Wales) Chris with race face grimace Darrell
Now with somewhere between 80 and 90 miles on the clock it was time for the first rain of the day just in time for the descent into Bala. Re-grouping in Bala after stocking up on Mars bars it was just the simple task of the last run into Betws y Coed, nothing more than 20 miles ish it was alleged.
About 200 yards outside Bala Mr Bagot snapped his chain allegedly due to the tremendous power being applied to it through the cranks and definately not due to the fact it was oiled for the first time this year about 6 hours earlier.
To his credit Rob did mend his chain himself whilst half the group scouted ahead. The second half waited for Rob to finish mending his chain himself and then set off in hot pursuit. 5 minutes later Rob realised he hadn't fed his chain through the jockey wheels correctly (did I mention he mended it himself ?), so Darrell (thinking there was only 15 downhill miles to go) offered him his co-drivers seat thinking he could cash in on his now fresh legs for the last sign of the day.
Then it went dark and then we got completely lost, or was it the other way around ? Either way there were 14 knackered cyclists stood at the top of a Welsh hill (after just going up a 1 in 4), in the piss pouring rain and wind at 6.00pm in February. It was a close call between organising a mass suicide or drawing straws to see who we were going to eat first. On the basis there were 14 to feed, Mike Jones and Simon seemed safe but Darrell and Sicknote didn’t seem quite so comfortable.
Instead of a bit of DIY cannibalism we decided to send the lead car ahead to check where we were and they returned with news that it was only "2 miles to the A5". So off we went down the hills, and up another in the pitch dark, what seems suspiciously much more than 2 miles later we stumbled on the A5.
Then it was just 8 miles to Betws Y Coed along an unlit main road in the dark with about 3 front lights and half a dozen rear lights between us. Oh, it was still pissing down, windy and even darker but at least it was mostly downhill.
I've never seen such excitement to see a street light as we entered the metropolis that is Betws Y Coed. Just 2 miles uphill left in the dark but by now no one cared.
As it was 7.30 pm when we arrived (with about 120 miles on the clock for some and over 130 for Darren) we had missed our 6.30pm tea-time but luckily they had agreed to serve us at 9.15pm so we had time for a shower and pint.
Julian was there waiting (and laughing) and Mr Baggot had long since had his shower following his automobile tour of Wales. At least Darrell had the honour of arriving on his bike.
In times of such desperation there was only one thing to do and so Warren's immediate attention turned to looking for any available ladies but sadly we were in the middle of Wales on a wet and cold night in February and ultimately it was not to be. The 'old magic' has at last deserted him, seemingly along with his climbing legs.
A great night's sleep was had by everyone, except those sharing a room with Dave "I don’t snore" Edmonds.
Stage 2
Riders Carbo loading at breakfast, full of the joys of spring.
Rain, not much tailwind (but at least what there was was behind us) and cool. Perfect conditions for the 5 mile climb out of Betws Y Coed. Julian’s fresh legs kept a steady pace and no one got dropped for the first time in years. Straight down the A5 to Corwen then past Tynn Rhos to the Trout farm just after Llandegla. Martyn went straight home without stopping (down the 'deglas') and Warren/Sicknote carried on as well. Almost 37 miles on the clock and time for a cuppa and lunch for everyone else. Then back into the drizzle and off through Rossett, Holt, etc.. and towards Cotebrook, Delamere, Acton Bridge.
With 80 odd miles on the clock, and another broken chain later (guess who!), we approached the sign on the A49. The winter w****r award went to Darren for starting the sprint but the gold medal was snatched from him by Nick who came round him, I was obviously just leading him out. Finshed with 85 miles back to my house so I’m guessing 95-100 for Darren.
All this mega mileage and climbing 1 in 5's should be perfect training for the M+D 10 next week !
MDTTA 10 - J2/3 – Saturday 1st March
Bit windy, but to be honest it was cross-head rather than really hard in either direction.
Times (off the top of my head) were;
Steve Hankey – 23.13
Dave Wright – 24.36
Steve Hargreaves – 24.39
Chris Southern – 26.??
Only other race I know of was Alf on Sunday. Seems he came 4th in something called The Circuit of Pendle, some sort of glorified leisure ride, held mainly downhill, all sheltered from the wind. Sorry Alf, great ride really.
Sorry for the delay in the week-end report, I started writing it the day after but didn’t finish it till Saturday. It’s taken this long for the mental scars to heal.
Steve
