Cheers all. Congrats to everyone who completed it. I made it just fine in the end
The travel and camping was a bit of a challenge but the ride itself wasn't as brutal as I was expecting. I did the full route in 10:06 which is roughly what I was aiming for though unfortunately I was 6 minutes outside of
bronze for my age
The route was ace, if a little dangerous. Saw one guy go down on a cattle grid on the first climb, and a couple of bloody legs throughout the day. Relentless hills are just how I like it. The descents were absoultely terrifying though (the weather, my vertigo and the fact I'm running an 80mm stem didn't help!). Wet, gravelly, and full of sheep.
I really concentrated on pacing myself and resisting the urge to attack the hills too hard. Possibly too much! Barring a couple of hours around the 2nd and 3rd feedstop when I was really suffering (close to bonking - though I didn't realise it until I got some food down me) I felt pretty good.
I loved the first couple of climbs, and that one that goes on forever parallel to the valley floor was immense, as was the rollercoaster descent down the other side. Gorgeous senery all round and the massive changes in weather made it feel even more epic.
It turned into a mini solo cycle tour for me. A painful one, as you can imagine, being on a road bike with camping and cycling gear in a rucksack
I did 20 miles to get the Ruthin on Saturday, 16 miles to a campsite on Sunday (after the mega challenge) and then 25 miles on monday morning to get back to the train station. My back is not impressed. In a bid to travel light I bought a tiny single skinned tent which innevitibly leaked, and not enough clothes so I was freezing both nights
Oh well, it's all character building!
Organisation was up there with the best. The only problems I had were that I had trouble telling the direction of the arrows until I got quite close to the signs. Maybe I should get my eyes tested? I would have liked a vegetarian pasta option at that second feedstop too but all in all it was fantastic. Nice to get a t shirt at the end
I've never spent 10 hours in the saddle and I was suprised at how well it went. Didn't feel much longer than a 6 hour solo ride and my new Assos shorts were well worth the dosh!
I definitely think that, knowing the route now, with a bit more training (and the new bike I'm soon to get!), and some dryer weather, I could do a lot better.
I'll most probably be in for it again next year, and so should you
