White Rose Classic versus Gran Fondo Cymru

TomF · May 2007

Assuming the weather in Yorkshire isn't quite so horrendous as it was in Wales on Sunday, what's the general view as to how they compare in terms of difficulty?

I know Booboo is pretty certain that the WRC is (probabaly!) the hardest UK sportive, but I'd like to know if the extra 10k distance and 500m of climbing will be significant in its difference....

Tom

oldwelshman · May 2007

The last 18 miles of the CGF (Total 120 miles) was very challenging [:D] with over 2000' of extra climbing on the last 2 climbs but as you say the weather made it much more challenging.
Climbing the Bwlch was no that bad with a tail wind, but the start of Hirnant at 18% into a big headwind was hard !!

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by TomF

Assuming the weather in Yorkshire isn't quite so horrendous as it was in Wales on Sunday, what's the general view as to how they compare in terms of difficulty?

I know Booboo is pretty certain that the WRC is (probabaly!) the hardest UK sportive, but I'd like to know if the extra 10k distance and 500m of climbing will be significant in its difference....

Tom
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Feel free to browse and donate:
http://www.justgiving.com/davidbethanmills
My winter and summer bike pics

http://oldwelshman.myphotoalbum.com

TomF · May 2007

"The last 18 miles of the CGF (Total 120 miles) was very challenging with over 2000' of extra climbing on the last 2 climbs but as you say the weather made it much more challenging.
Climbing the Bwlch was no that bad with a tail wind, but the start of Hirnant at 18% into a big headwind was hard !!"

I did the GF and, after a day's soaking, decided against turning right for the Super.

Just trying to get a feel for how the WRC compares overall. Of course, I could just wait and see....

oldwelshman · May 2007

I am pretty sure the GFC would feel different every time you ride it depending on temperature, weahter and how you feel [:D]
very difficult to compare rides but anything with over 4000m climbing is going to be hard!!

Feel free to browse and donate:
http://www.justgiving.com/davidbethanmills
My winter and summer bike pics

http://oldwelshman.myphotoalbum.com

SteveR_100Milers · May 2007

OK, David, now to the crunch question....your estimated time for the biggie (in terms of scale of event rather than brutality of conditions..) the Dragon. This time there will be no guinness for at least 5 days before, bananas and nuts the night before [;)], now this one IS a race!

Time! Time! It's always too long and there's never enough!

oldwelshman · May 2007

Aha.
It depends on the conditions, so far it has weeed down on my two rides and rode large distances of them myself!!
So if I ride this alone will be under 7 hours if weather ok as it is not as steep as gfc and I am assuming no puncture this time.
You never know I might find a group of more than one rider so I can cuck wheels for a bit this time then who knows what the time would be?
[:D]
I will look at the start and look for some strong but big riders so they wont drop me on hills, and drag me on the flat [8D]
Will probably put smaller rear on for this one though, 12/25 or maybe 12/23.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by SteveR_100Milers

OK, David, now to the crunch question....your estimated time for the biggie (in terms of scale of event rather than brutality of conditions..) the Dragon. This time there will be no guinness for at least 5 days before, bananas and nuts the night before [;)], now this one IS a race!

Time! Time! It's always too long and there's never enough!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">[:D]

Feel free to browse and donate:
http://www.justgiving.com/davidbethanmills
My winter and summer bike pics

http://oldwelshman.myphotoalbum.com

oldwelshman · May 2007

For the 200k of course. Are you doing the 200k also?

Feel free to browse and donate:
http://www.justgiving.com/davidbethanmills
My winter and summer bike pics

http://oldwelshman.myphotoalbum.com

Anonymous · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by TomF

Assuming the weather in Yorkshire isn't quite so horrendous as it was in Wales on Sunday, what's the general view as to how they compare in terms of difficulty?

I know Booboo is pretty certain that the WRC is (probabaly!) the hardest UK sportive, but I'd like to know if the extra 10k distance and 500m of climbing will be significant in its difference....

Tom
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

No....Booboo rates his WRC 2nd to the Fred Whitton..he says thats the hardest he's ever did in the UK.

Had a similar thread about the EdD v's FWC not long ago....all depends on personal suffering...all depends on weather/form etc
All these big sportifs are hard going...but again I say theres nowt like the FWC...having Hardknott followed by Wrynose at 100miles after being up Kirkstone/Honister/Newlands etc is one hell of a challenge....No other sportif has quite a brutal finally!(apart from maybe this years Wild Wales Challenge...which finishes on Bwlch Y Groes then Hirnant)...

Compairing rides is just a personal thing IMO...they are all hard and whilst some people find an event easy going , others will have an awful suffering experience...too many factors to take into consideration...personally I reckon the Ryedale Rumble will be harder than the WRC....I feel the NY Moors are tougher terrain than the Dales..thats just my opinion of course..others will disagree..but hey! thats what it's all about.

TomF · May 2007

Cheers Richyboy - I think I'm likely to agree with you.

I managed the GFC faster than I did the Cheshire Cat, and yet the latter had over twice as much climbing. Weird, huh?

With luck, the WRC will be suitably tough, but not so much that it breaks me!

White Rose Classic versus Gran Fondo Cymru

Comments

Categories