Welcome to Wales....its wet!

Well the longest ride I have ever done as a training ride was a success. Lengendary in fact. I set off on Thursday morning for Capel Curig from Birmingham along the A458 and onto the A5. The biggest hils are not in Wales! they're in Shropshire around Much Wenlock and Bridgnorth. Wales was a doddle in comparison.

I had been doing around 18mph average upto about 50 miles when the battery went in my Timex GPS receiver. I had been rained on a little but the gilet did its job and I didnt need the full wet proof jacket. As soon as I passed the Welcome to Wales sign I was into a downpour so a quickstop at the McDonalds for a sweet chili chicken sandwich meal with coffee and an apple pie was in order for lunch - 70 miles down, 41 to go.

The next section from the Halton r'about was easy. Rolling hills with plenty of rest on the descents but more rain! I was soaked. I played cat and mouse with a tractor for about 20miles, never managing to get more than 200metres ahead before he would catch me at traffic lights then i'd nail it again. I was feeling great though and knowing that the last leg should only take just over 2hrs was encouraging. After a long drag up hill and into wind the tractor caught me so I sat in for a draft for about 5miles before he pulled in with 12 to go.

I stopped in Betws y Coed for a cup of tea and some rasberry and coconut cake to wait for the guys in the wagons with my change of clothes. I spoke to a few local cyclists who were interested in my ride and the RAAM. They were doing a 50miler but nearly choked when I said i'd come from Birmingham. Total ride time to Betwsy was 5hrs:35min. The next bit to the training center was mostly up hill but easy considering i'd done most of the work and only took 10 mins.

so to summarise

0 punctures

1 man

1 Boardman road bike(without tribars)

1 mission

1 Mcdonalds meal with coffee and apple pie

1 rasberry/cocnut slice

2 cups of tea

2 countries

2 bottles of Be-well Fuel

5hrs 45 mins

19.3 mph average

111.2 miles

Feeling good for the RAAM now!! :-)

Today (Sunday) I met with Paul Breeze to do a 40 mile ride around Snowdon. Great ride in glorious sunshine! Starting in Llanberis I rode to meet Paul coming from Capel Curig. We went to Bedgellert then up the mountain towards Capel before leaving Paul to head up to Pen Y Pass and down to Llanberis again. Wales didnt get better weather than today!

Epic ride starts in a few hours after a few hours sleep!

Just finished packing to go to Wales with the students tomorrow but I have to be up early to vote before I go. The bike is prepped with flashing lights etc to make me more visible to the blind car drivers that race up behind you beeping their horns when they spot you at the last minute. I had to swap the front wheel at Halfords today after the original was not holding its true and spokes were loosening up. Good to their word though and without any hassle they swapped the wheel for a brand new one with a new Conti tyre to boot.
So the ride is 111.2 miles to Capel Curig from my address in Brum. Setting off about 0830 to 0900 and hope to make it there for about 1600 riding steady with the odd rest stop. Will up date on Sunday night to the journey experiences. Gonna take the A458 then the A5 all the way through. Gulp!

Did my fastest 10TT for the last 5years tonight in the Warwickshire RC courses K37/10. Last weeks was 23:11....this week was 22:32. It did feel a faster night with favourable southerly wind. My legs were also a little tired from a 78 mile ride yesterday.
I also tried out my new wheels. A Padova disc and a Prolite 90 deep rim both with tubs. fantastic!