Wild Wales Challenge 2012

RallyBiker

Just bought a Cube Agree Pro 2012 to start doing the odd sportive. I've bunged an entry in for this. Has anybody on the forum done it last year? What should I expect, compared to doing mountain bike enduros (obviously cleaner! 8) )

Le Commentateur

A MTB cassette would be useful!

Expect at least one climb with a 20-25% pitch in it.

I did some of the old WWCs between 2002 and 2007 – a great low key event, largely because the route was utterly different each year and a great way to discover the fabulous scenery in that part of Wales.

RallyBiker

Le Commentateur wrote:

A MTB cassette would be useful!

Expect at least one climb with a 20-25% pitch in it.

I did some of the old WWCs between 2002 and 2007 – a great low key event, largely because the route was utterly different each year and a great way to discover the fabulous scenery in that part of Wales.

Thanks, cassette now sorted!!

dylanfernley

this years route looks like a gruelleur, the last big climb being bwlch y groes from dinas mawddy , ten miles with a 1in 4 finish, at least there is a nice drop down to bala, weather will be scorchio this year !!

Velonutter

Did a test ride up the Bwlch last Sunday and failed at the Armco. It's hard and didn't appear to be 10 miles of climbing, I would guess at most 1.5 - 2 miles at probably 10-15%, there's a small sting at the beginning that some claim is 25% but me thinks it is less than that, the main bit is an unrelenting drag, hard unless you are good at climbing, when you hit the Armco you probably have about 300 yards at 25%+, sorry but I couldn't make it, once you hit the end of the Armco it levels off to probably less than 10%.

We only did about 35 miles at the weekend due to the weather, but on the WWC you will have done about 65-70 miles before hitting the Bwlch, so with tired legs and loads of people walking in front of you don't worry about it, I certainly ain't, it's the first hill I have walked for a long while and to be truthful I didn't give a monkeys, I'm not competing so why let it worry you, enjoy the event.

dylanfernley

wont be worried, will be walkin the last bit for medical reasons!-- they have eased off on the distance this year, which is good, origimally it was always around 70 miles but a trend crept in and it increased every year until it was nudging the century, this seemed to change the event to a more sportive type of thing which as you know it is not--- anyway bon route !

Velonutter

dylanfernley its still 84 miles this year!

dylanfernley

84 miles is less than the last few i rode, but i not to bothered about that, its the spirit of the thing that is important,hopefully the sportive types have plenty of alternatives next weekend, WWC being going for a long time now, a yearly institution for many!

Velonutter

Duly done, was a bit of a hard one :shock:

Photo's are up at the following link: -

http://georgeburgessphotography.thirdli ... mid=328403

T.C.

I did this, not an excuse as i would have found it hard anyway, but i wasn't feeling 100% and boy did i not like it (the suffering) but too be honest a great route, except for the loose chippings section after Llanerfyl. Due to being quite local Porthmadog i really enjoyed seeing parts of the country i didn't know about. The Bwlch: i managed it in June with only 14 miles in my legs but not with 74 - great route and a very very hard ride.

Velonutter

T.C. I managed everything apart from the Bwlych, my first WWC, not sure if I want to do another, but would definitely not do it in the wet as it would be dangerous.

I nearly got up the Bwlych a couple of weeks ago when only had 30 miles in my legs, but this time I was a failure.

Apart from that it was a great ride with my mates, long day though, probably the hardest ride I have ever done!

T.C.

i fancy doing it reverse sometime - give me a shout if you're round this way

Slacey

It was a cracking ride, and a great event. My review is here for those interested - http://www.cyclosport.org/28-Aug-2012/n ... eview.html

dylanfernley

Really gutted, have had a bad neck for the last week or so, unable to ride, really glad you all had a memorable ride, the WWC is always a good un, the only constant is the start and finish in Bala, the weather was kind this year and the route not too long, some years i've found the combo of the merciless climbs and distance just a bit much, you always complete, but the enjoyment cane wane !

this year i was really looking forward to it i felt it was the right amount of a challenge, as i am local i know the roads, but its the social thing that is the best,...always next August bank holiday!

deadhead1971

What a great event it was!
I wrote a little blog account of it, and there's a video too (GoPro mounted on the handlebar footage)

http://www.scarletfire.co.uk/2012/08/wi ... the-movie/

T.C.

Alan, that was superb -the music fitted the video! i'm a mature student at Bangor studying the media in the Welsh language - that was great editing something i'm not good at !

Padgie

Slacey wrote:

It was a cracking ride, and a great event. My review is here for those interested - http://www.cyclosport.org/28-Aug-2012/n ... eview.html

Nice write up and pics there Slacey!! Wish I'd have done it now.. always next year!

Slacey

Thanks!

deadhead1971

T.C. wrote:

Alan, that was superb -the music fitted the video! i'm a mature student at Bangor studying the media in the Welsh language - that was great editing something i'm not good at !

haha, many thanks. Editing takes time, but try to make the cuts happen in time with the music and it all falls into place.
Pob lwc!