wild wales challenge

big dunk
big dunk Posts: 49
edited March 2008 in The bottom bracket
hi everyone,i am a newby with a few 30/40 milers under my belt so far.One of my workmates is trying to get me to do this event that he has been doing for a few years.he says its tough but worth it( sence of achivement and vistas.)Its about 90miles starts and ends at bala.Course changes every year but some hills look daunting(bulky gros).Anyone been ,will it be too demanding for a newby on a double?

Comments

  • popette
    popette Posts: 2,089
    My friends have done it a few times and their stories lead me to believe that it's really quite challenging. I'm entering this year but I will be on a triple as I'm quite heavy and I feel I'm going to need low gears to get up some of those steep hills. I've seen pictures and many were walking up bwlch y groes.
    It's in August so you've got plenty of time to build up miles and get used to hills.
    See you there 8)
    http://www.2010etape.blogspot.com
  • pugwashcp
    pugwashcp Posts: 120
    I've done the Wild Wales for the last two years and absolutely LOVED it.

    It's a hard days riding by anyones standards and I'd recommend a triple or compact with something like a 12-27 cassette at the very least. Even then you'll struggle on some of the hills...but hey, it's not called a challenge ride for nothing.

    If you just get your head around the fact that it's going to be a bit of a slog you'll be fine.

    Get a bunch of hilly miles in over the summer and I'll see you there. :D
    He who dies with the most toys wins!
  • ricadus
    ricadus Posts: 2,379
    It's one of the best cycling challenge ride events. I hesitate to say more for fear that it might help alert yet more people to its charms, making it necessary to enter the thing a ridiculous number of months ahead, like many such rides & sportives nowadays.

    There's no timing component, so it's really an audax style event.

    The best thing is that the route is completely different each year, so over the course of a number of years you gradually discover all that that beautiful part of Wales has to offer in terms of road cycling. Always there is at least one crazy 20-25% climb - one year (I think 2004 IIRC) it was on a lane with a 1" bed of freshly laid chippings, which made things even more stressful.
    Tour de France

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