Manchester - Llandudno: Saturday May 13

[rich p]

The terrible sacrifices you have to make, eh, Rich?

Bon chance, Andrew, and get a battery for that Garmin thingy...

 

[DiddlyDodds]

Especially if the weather is nice, when I was down there the other week it was totally full of people, had to slow right down. There are sections between Rhyl and Rhos where it is also quite narrow and there are often groups of people walking their dogs there too, so caution is advised pretty much from Prestatyn to Rhos.

For the last two years we have been going down the sea front around Tea time , so most of the afternoon walkers are in their caravans watching telly and feeding their faces so its not been to bad.

 

[ColinJ]

**** WARNING - PRE-RIDE NERD CONTENT! ****

I reckon a 52/19 will be quite tough on the hilly route, the main climb is 7.3km at an average of around 4%, with around 2km at about 7%. Not particularly tough, but I'd be leery about a 73" gear.

Funnily enough, I was just working out the average gradient and segment gradients for that climb! My figures are slightly different to yours, but similar.

I've been out on my singlespeed bike this afternoon and done a few hills to see what I can and can't cope with. I actually got up all the hills that I tried today but was on my limit on a couple of shorts stretches at about 13%.

Main climb today was the Cragg Vale climb which is actually similar to the main climb on the Llandudno hillier route, though generally a more steady climb with just one mid-climb ramp.

Here's an elevation profile of the main climb on the hillier version of this year's route:

Here are the numbers for the points marked, which I chose to work out averages on various segments and a couple of worrying steeper little ramps. (Elevation, distance into climb.):

A: 20 m, 0.84 km
B: 31 m, 0.92 km
C: 34 m, 1.40 km
D: 82 m, 2.15 km
E: 132 m, 3.19 km
F: 119 m, 4.69 km
G: 152 m, 5.09 km
H: 180 m, 5.80 km
I: 206 m, 6.08 km
J: 206 m, 6.39 km
K: 260 m, 7.81 km

From A to K the climb averages 3.4% for about 7 km, which is remarkably similar to Cragg Vale.

From C to E the climb averages 5.5% for about 1.8 km. From F to K it averages 4.5% for about 3.1 km.

I can't see a 7% section 2km long - fortunately!

There are a couple of nasty little blips though - A to B is nearly 14% but only for about 80 m. It should be possible to hit the foot of that pretty fast and get some way up it before grinding up the last bit.

It will be harder than Cragg Vale because of the ramps, but it is interesting to compare the two. I have overlaid a transparent Cragg Vale profile over the Lllandudno one:

If I am feeling ok I think I might manage to get up the Welsh climb. If I am not, and/or there is a troublesome wind, I will have to trot up the little ramps.

 

[I like Skol]

I've just looked at the BBC weather forecast for Saturday in Chester and Rhyl. You lucky buggers!

 

[nickyboy]

**** WARNING - PRE-RIDE NERD CONTENT! ****


Funnily enough, I was just working out the average gradient and segment gradients for that climb! My figures are slightly different to yours, but similar.

I've been out on my singlespeed bike this afternoon and done a few hills to see what I can and can't cope with. I actually got up all the hills that I tried today but was on my limit on a couple of shorts stretches at about 13%.

Main climb today was the Cragg Vale climb which is actually similar to the main climb on the Llandudno hillier route, though generally a more steady climb with just one mid-climb ramp.

Here's an elevation profile of the main climb on the hillier version of this year's route:

View attachment 351653

Here are the numbers for the points marked, which I chose to work out averages on various segments and a couple of worrying steeper little ramps. (Elevation, distance into climb.):

A: 20 m, 0.84 km
B: 31 m, 0.92 km
C: 34 m, 1.40 km
D: 82 m, 2.15 km
E: 132 m, 3.19 km
F: 119 m, 4.69 km
G: 152 m, 5.09 km
H: 180 m, 5.80 km
I: 206 m, 6.08 km
J: 206 m, 6.39 km
K: 260 m, 7.81 km

From A to K the climb averages 3.4% for about 7 km, which is remarkably similar to Cragg Vale.

From C to E the climb averages 5.5% for about 1.8 km. From F to K it averages 4.5% for about 3.1 km.

I can't see a 7% section 2km long - fortunately!

There are a couple of nasty little blips though - A to B is nearly 14% but only for about 80 m. It should be possible to hit the foot of that pretty fast and get some way up it before grinding up the last bit.

It will be harder than Cragg Vale because of the ramps, but it is interesting to compare the two. I have overlaid a transparent Cragg Vale profile over the Lllandudno one:

View attachment 351682

If I am feeling ok I think I might manage to get up the Welsh climb. If I am not, and/or there is a troublesome wind, I will have to trot up the little ramps.

Has it ever been suggested you perhaps overthink things Colin?????

Anyhoo....as you're particularly interested, that climb and Cragg Vale are completely different, having done both. The Llandudno climb has flat and downhill sections interspersed with ramps. But don't worry about it. The view at the very top (which is actually a fair bit beyond the village of Pentre Halkyn) is fabulous. All the gorse was in flower and you could look over the Dee estuary to Wirral.

Anyone in my group on the day, we climb this at our own pace, then regroup at the top

 

[Crackle]

How did you find it compare to last years climb, Nicky. I only really recall Kelsterton lane and then it just being a drag. I do recall looking down that climb from somewhere around Pentre Halkyn and suppresing the urge to fly down it back onto the coast road.

Depending on who we meet up with in Eureka, my son and I are intending to do the hilly route, definitely at our own pace and unlike Kelsterton lane, I intend to be in the right gear at the start of the climb this time!

 

[nickyboy]

I've just looked at the BBC weather forecast for Saturday in Chester and Rhyl. You lucky buggers!

To be fair we have been spectacularly unlucky in previous years. Last year we started the ride with Easterlies and it veered round to strong SW for the exposed bit from Rhyl onwards. 2015 there was a long spell of Easterlies that broke the day before and the weather was really terrible on the final stretch

ATM it looks dry, warm, reasonably sunny. BBC says a headwind (although nothing like last year), Norwegian site says almost no wind. I'm sure if we'd been offered this forecast a few weeks ago everyone would have been very happy with it. Let's hope it doesn't change for the worse in the next few days

 

[nickyboy]

How did you find it compare to last years climb, Nicky. I only really recall Kelsterton lane and then it just being a drag. I do recall looking down that climb from somewhere around Pentre Halkyn and suppresing the urge to fly down it back onto the coast road.

Depending on who we meet up with in Eureka, my son and I are intending to do the hilly route, definitely at our own pace and unlike Kelsterton lane, I intend to be in the right gear at the start of the climb this time!

If you can remember the climbing last year, there was a tough ramp up Kelsterston Lane....then it eased off. Followed by a flat bit, then another completely separate climb up a tiny lane (with the cattle grid at the top) that I found hard

This climb never goes over 10%. There is a 9-10% section near the bottom, then it eases off to 3-4% and is very pleasant. There is another 9-10% section getting into the village of Pentre Halkyn which is hard work. After than it eases off again.

So really just two short harder sections, the rest is pretty comfortable for a fit young fella like you

 

[Crackle]

the rest is pretty comfortable for a fit young fella like you

I'm still not buying you a pint.

 

[nickyboy]

I'm still not buying you a pint.

Sorry, a typo...."fit young fella like your son". A knackered old fart like you will struggle

 

[Freds Dad]

Do you have a link to the Norwegian weather site you have mentioned?

 

[si_c]

Do you have a link to the Norwegian weather site you have mentioned?

Yr.no

 

[nickyboy]

Do you have a link to the Norwegian weather site you have mentioned?

https://www.yr.no/place/United_Kingdom/Wales/Rhyl/long.html

This includes the Rhyl Saturday forecast. The Norwegian site tends to be as accurate as any

 

[nickyboy]

For those interested in such things, I've created a Strava segment for the climb out of Flint all the way to the top: "To Pentre Halkyn.....and beyond"

https://www.strava.com/segments/14835966

 

[ColinJ]

Has it ever been suggested you perhaps overthink things Colin?????

Anyhoo....as you're particularly interested, that climb and Cragg Vale are completely different, having done both. The Llandudno climb has flat and downhill sections interspersed with ramps. But don't worry about it. The view at the very top (which is actually a fair bit beyond the village of Pentre Halkyn) is fabulous. All the gorse was in flower and you could look over the Dee estuary to Wirral.
.
Anyone in my group on the day, we climb this at our own pace, then regroup at the top

Well, it beats 'getting a life'!

I can see the 2 main ramps and the flat and downhill parts on the profile. I was more concerned with what the long steady sections would be like, but they do seem to resemble the Cragg Vale climb. The Welsh ramps look similar to the mid-climb ramp above Cragg Vale.

I am looking forward to the climb now. The only catch is that I wouldn't have a lot of oomph in reserve if we get much of a headwind going up there.