Tour Of Pembrokshire - 12th June

pantsani

Anyone doing it or done before ?

Was thinking of signing up to the long route.

jackfeeder

I'm doing it for the first time this year, wanted to do it for a while but too close to the Dragon.
Riding the 118mile route, done a few rides down West Wales and it's going to be tough up and over The Preseli Mtns and round the coast especially if this wind doesn't clear off.
Combined with just picking up a cold that may scupper my planned training rides this weekend I'm expecting a testing day in the saddle.

lucca

Done the long route before. It is a testing route with quite a few short sharp climbs that eat into the legs come the end. I have paid in the past for going out too hard and fast so this year plan to pace myself a bit better this year. Its a good ride though and always well organised. . . . Fingers crossed for good weather ..... Enjoy !

JohnCleland

I`m going, not sure if its the short or medium route for me though.

I have completed a few sportives and this is probably my favourite, its a no brainer for £20.

pantsani

Thanks for the replies. All sounds pretty positive, love the area anyway and a 118 miler would be perfect, so looks like I'm in.

oldwelshman

I did this and the dragon following each other 2 years ago.
This is one of the prettiest routes you will do, but if you have a stiff frame and wheels, will be the hardest ride ever due to surfaces.
I would do it on a steel frame and 32 spoke wheels and forget the carbon deep sections
Many climbs some very short and steep, but as the roads are coastal and hilly and busy you will not build up speed on descents like the dragon as you have to be very carefull as they are very windy ( not wind, windy as in curves lol).
I almost crashed into some surfers who just strolled across road just before freshwater as I was coming down the hill.
It can also be very windy on the later part of the course which is exposed.
That is if they do same route.

jackfeeder

Well I'm not sure I'm going to make this, especially the 118mile route. Can't do any training, still got a cold and headache and coughing up a bit of phlem . Really pissed off as this weekend was supposed to be the last few really hard rides before winding it down a bit.
Anyone else felt like this before a big sportive?
Can't decide if I should go out today to see how I feel or try to rest for another day. Feeling like it's all gone t#ts up.
Any advice?

oldwelshman

Its not a race so if you done the prep before now you will still be ok to fo it.
Just do some steady rides next few days, you have two weeks yet.

pantsani

Right, I'm in and looking forward to this.

@jackfeeder - just try to ride and enjoy it mate , you'll be fine with maybe the last miles being a bit painful but they generally always are tbh, if it gets too much you can always turn for home early, but I bet you don't.

T.C.

Did it last year after having 6 weeks off the bike due to an inury, i took 9 hours plus, i thought it was hard, same as the 3 counties challenge, there was a boring part after the turn off after Narberth to Abergwaun, all in all a lovely ride in gods country,

welshside

Ive done a hard 100 miler with a stinking cold, while not the best its easily do-able.. Research suggests that performance is little effected too...
Pembs tour is a belta too..

jackfeeder

Cheers,
been out a few times and feel ok..............................apart from a 3 week headache which I can't shift.................feels fine on the bike though!
Fingers crossed for the weather then.

jermas

Did the 118 miler last year- same again this year. It's a great ride. Hopefully the weather will be kind as it's a long slog in the wind and rain!

BigGar35

....

jackfeeder

Yup, weather looks dodgy, could be a strong headwind for the last 1/3rd!
Trying to decide what to wear - all the waterproof stuff I've got is really for my autumn/winter commuting.
Anyone recommend lightweight waterproof clothing that isn't going to cook me on the day?

pantsani

Worth bearing in mind weather is always subject to massive changes, 4 days forecasts aren't particularly reliable.

If it does turn out a bit grim, for me personally as a 'sweater' it's hard not to get a bit cooked this time of year with a dedicated waterproof tbh, think I'll pack my montane velo or Gore Xenon depending on how grim it looks.

pantsani

Well weather forecast still looks shite! :shock:

Ah well, this could be interesting

bendertherobot

Gilet

and

Crud Roadracers

Good luck chaps.

jackfeeder

B*gg*r - is it possible to cycle 118miles in a wetsuit? :shock:

Pseudonym

I predict a huge, last minute surge in popularity for the 63 mile option...

jackfeeder

How much wetter can you get from 4hrs to 8hrs? Perhaps avoiding hyperthermia will be the main triumph.

bendertherobot

Last week the Dragon was threatened with this. The heavy rain didn't come to pass. But that was because it ended up further east.

This is a west-east approaching weather system. Little chance of it not arriving I'm afraid. It's a bugger cos this is easily the most picturesque ride around.

BigGar35

....

pantsani

Fingers crossed rain is intermittent, wind anywhere near 30 mph and gusting over that is normally pretty mental on a road bike.

Focussing on the positive , hopefully have a nice tail wind at the start , woop woop !

deal

oldwelshman wrote:

I did this and the dragon following each other 2 years ago.
This is one of the prettiest routes you will do, but if you have a stiff frame and wheels, will be the hardest ride ever due to surfaces.
I would do it on a steel frame and 32 spoke wheels and forget the carbon deep sections
Many climbs some very short and steep, but as the roads are coastal and hilly and busy you will not build up speed on descents like the dragon as you have to be very carefull as they are very windy ( not wind, windy as in curves lol).
I almost crashed into some surfers who just strolled across road just before freshwater as I was coming down the hill.
It can also be very windy on the later part of the course which is exposed.
That is if they do same route.

+1 i did it a few years ago also and the road surface was pretty horrible

BigGar35

....

jackfeeder

Why couldn't it have been today - it's looking pretty shitty for tomorrow. Anyone who intended doing the 118m decided to switch to a shorter route?

BigGar35

....

jackfeeder

It's a lovely night here in Swansea, the weather's taking the piss isn't it.

Smokin Joe

I was working around Goodwick this morning and saw the first riders come through at around 10 o'clock. Good luck to anyone who did the long route, it was bloody vile out there.

That hill after the seafront is a bastard, isn't it?

jermas

Yup you're right it was vile. Was a real killer!!!