Merlin Ride 2010

bendertherobot

Anyone doing this Sunday?

Grifteruk

I'm doin it not sure if gonna do 70 or 104 yet weather may not be too hot so that may decide it for me

Grifteruk

I'm doin it not sure if gonna do 70 or 104 yet weather may not be too hot so that may decide it for me

bendertherobot

BBC Wales said showers. I can live with that. But I agree lets see where we are at 70 before deciding!

andydad

Yeah I'm doin the 70 (hopefully!). Don't mind a bit of rain, just hope the wind keeps within reasonable limits.

mozwyn69

Plan on doing the long route depending on the weather, just wish there was a map on the site to see where it acctually goes

bendertherobot

The route is part of the excitment with this one!

JohnCleland

70 mile
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=116244469649643827981.00046db6b3135282727fe&ll=51.90912,-4.00383&spn=0.224508,0.727158&z=11

50 mile
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=116244469649643827981.00046db4d765330869936&ll=51.869284,-3.994904&spn=0.235305,0.727158&z=11

ynyswen24

6 0r 7 of us doing the 70 (probably, rather than the long one). All under assumed names...

It's been pretty well signposted in the past with marshalls on the points where you might take a wrong turn (unless you're my friend Paul who carried on to Llandovery and ended up asking a load of hells angels if they knew where he was supposed to be) so there shouldn't be any problems.

And the promise of some free food afterwards. Top.

bendertherobot

Weather outlook seems to be improving as well.

ynyswen24

Two years ago it was blowing a gale the night before and still ridiculously windy on the day. Last year it was a bit chilly and cloudy. This years going to be great. As long as you can get down the Black Mountain without having to pedal as hard as you did to get up then it'll be an improvement.

JohnCleland

This mornings forecast has said that it will be raining.

redjeepǃ

I did it last year and enjoyed it, but it was much longer than the advertised distance which combined with the lack of signs meant I was sure I was lost for most of it.

bendertherobot

Redjeep! wrote:

I did it last year and enjoyed it, but it was much longer than the advertised distance which combined with the lack of signs meant I was sure I was lost for most of it.

Are you sure you weren't ACTUALLY lost. I've read that somone did 122 miles. But only because they took some wrong turns?

JohnCleland

Well, the signs are already up - hope the locals don`t mess with them!!!!

redjeepǃ

I don't think I was actually lost. Quite a few people commented on the actual distance being longer and I think the organiser mentioned that it was a bit of an underestimate.

I still enjoyed it and it was a good event. Enjoy it tomorrow.

bendertherobot

I'm still wet.

starlet_gt

I did the 57 and my bro did the 70, bloody weather was incredibly shit, and the cycle home was a nightmare as the weather got worse again lol.

mozwyn69

Did the 102 mile, wet and windy doesn't describe it. Stopped raining as soon as I got back.

jonsi

I did the 57 and got soaked - the sun started shining as soon as I got home and its been a glorious afternoon!!!!

Bathory

57 mile's for me. Anyone see Colin Charvis after the start. Looks like he went right to the back so nobody could pass him. Great ride up the Black Mountains but no fun coming back down. Then got lost in the gardens trying to find my car.

RoadMeridaBen

I did the 70 mile, i was the guy in the pink lampre shorts (brave), enjoyed the climbing but the descent down from the black mountains was scary as hell i nearly went off on the first corner when i realised my brakes were doing sod all having to avoid crashing into the back of someone. the weather was crap but i enjoyed the ride

sconnellan

Yeah tell me about it, great run up the mountain, lovely tail wind, but couldn't believe the side winds coming down, checked the weather and it was gusting between 40 and 50mph at the top of the beacons. Stuck to the 57, soaked through twice, and lovely head wind all the way back. Was glad to get home for some bangers and mash. Enjoyed the day though

ynyswen24

I'm wet on the inside...

bendertherobot

Coming down the Black Mountain just near the bottom I passed a farmers gate and the sidewind coming through almost blew me clean off the bike. Never had a sidewind like it. Top day though and I'll be back to do the 102 next year. Sounds like they have the correct mileage on that one now!

road_runner12

Never experienced anything like that on the Black Mountain. Incredible weather left me absolutely drenched, and I loved every minute of it!