Velothon Wales - June 2015

wandsworth
wandsworth Posts: 354
edited June 2015 in Sportives/audaxes/training rides
So, I just completed pre-registration for Velothon Wales and got a place. Anybody else here going?

120km, starting and finishing in Cardiff, including the notorious Tumble, which featured in this year's Tour of Britain.
Shut up, knees!

Various Boardmans, a Focus, a Cannondale and an ancient Trek.
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Comments

  • peteb0
    peteb0 Posts: 58
    Yup, signed up and looking forward to it!
  • tonybied
    tonybied Posts: 48
    I've signed up too. Should be fun!
  • Wardster00
    Wardster00 Posts: 143
    I'm doing it, after seeing the Tumble at this year's ToB I'm really looking forward to it.

    I'm not sure what level the race will be in the afternoon but should be fun to watch with a few beers after the ride has finished.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Yep, I'm in too.
    Cardiff's great. Really looking forward to it.
  • gethinceri
    gethinceri Posts: 1,515
    Yes, don't forget to leave energy in the legs for Caerfilthy mountain!
  • jpf51
    jpf51 Posts: 35
    Signed up....should keep me motivated through the winter.
    nearly there.
  • peat
    peat Posts: 1,242
    Pre-registered, Entered, put in the diary, realised I would be in France that weekend, Withdrew. What a berk.

    You can withdraw within 2 weeks and get your money back btw.
  • ManOfKent
    ManOfKent Posts: 392
    Yes, I have friends in Cardiff and am always glad of a reason to spend time there. I might make a long weekend of it. And it prevents me from talking myself into entering Les Trois Ballons the same weekend.
  • DHA987S
    DHA987S Posts: 284
    What I did like with registration is that you can input a "team name" for groups of less than 5 and it implies they will give you the same start time/wave. Will be good if that is the case.
  • Schleck's Chain
    Schleck's Chain Posts: 31
    I'm in. Looks fantastic - can't wait.

    Any tips on "bike friendly" hotels in the city centre to stay at the previous night?
  • northpole
    northpole Posts: 1,499
    I've entered. Been off the bike for the last 2 or 3 weeks with illness and its things like this that give me a bit of a poke to get back on it again! Closed roads should be great - about a week after the Dragon ride too!!

    Peter
  • sub55
    sub55 Posts: 1,025
    :roll:
    fortunately i live just far enough away to take my self off to the hills for the day with out you lot spoiling it .
    constantly reavalueating the situation and altering the perceived parameters accordingly
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    sub55 wrote:
    :roll:
    fortunately i live just far enough away to take my self off to the hills for the day with out you lot spoiling it .

    Guessing you do not work for the Welsh Tourist Board then?

    Whist we are on the subject, can you please stay the fcuk away from Cheltenham if you are at all interested in horse racing :wink:
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Schleck's Chain wrote:
    I'm in. Looks fantastic - can't wait.

    Any tips on "bike friendly" hotels in the city centre to stay at the previous night?

    Premier Inn are fantastic in Stratford for RideLondon, but they are fully booked in Cardiff.

    Any hotel that has upped its prices because of a cycling event should be bike friendly really lol.

    Usually stay at the Novatel for running events but they were full to. Wife booked me into Best Western Plus Maldron.
    Hope they do breakfast early enough to actually eat there before setting off.

    Does anyone know what time the start is likely to be from?
  • gethinceri
    gethinceri Posts: 1,515
    Start times will need to accommodate ~10,000 riders, so likely to be v early.
  • norvernrob
    norvernrob Posts: 1,447
    I've booked today, if anyone is still looking for a hotel (lots are booked up) the Ibis Cardiff Gate is 5 miles from the centre and cheap as chips, I've booked a twin room for Sat+Sun night for £71.
  • khisanth
    khisanth Posts: 41
    Yep signed up and paid up.
  • BreastCancerCare
    BreastCancerCare Posts: 11
    Hi Everyone,

    I hope your training is going well and that the winter weather isn't' stopping you from getting out on your bikes!

    I wanted to let you know that places are still available for Velothon Wales 2015 with Breast Cancer Care. We are a Velothon Wales silver charity and the only UK-wide charity providing specialist support and tailored information for anyone affected by breast cancer. Our clinical expertise and emotional support network help thousands of people find a way to live with, through and beyond breast cancer.

    To register for a place with us visit http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/velothonwales, choose your distance (120km or 50km) and complete the one-off £33 registration fee payment. As a charity we ask that you pledge to raise £350 in sponsorship - don't worry we are here to support you every step of the way with fundraising and training advice.

    We also welcome participants who have already secured a place and who would like to join the team and raise money for Breast Cancer Care.

    For more information visit http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk, email sporting@breastcancercare.org.uk or call us on 0345 092 0804.

    Thank you and good luck!

    The Breast Cancer Care Sporting Team
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Not sure I want to do this now I have seen the three options for the medal :shock:
    The goody bag had better be a bloody good'y bag! :lol:

    Did any of them actually look at a chainring (or 'speed cassette') before trying to draw one?
    Maybe the finished article will be a bit more polished.
  • redrabbit
    redrabbit Posts: 93
    My and friend are booked into travelodge in city centre. Staying Sunday night too so we can relax and go out drinking.

    But anxious about it as I've only ever managed a 50 mile sportive before this.

    Planning on starting a proper training programme on March 1st with some other sportives in between so I can build up to the distance.
  • IanREmery
    IanREmery Posts: 148
    the official route is out:

    http://www.velothon-wales.co.uk/en/rout ... route-map/

    Length has been extended by 20K, so is now 87 miles in old money, and you hit Caerphilly Mountain (up to 15%) with 78 miles in your legs.

    This is gonna hurt! The route looks great though.
  • dai_t75
    dai_t75 Posts: 189
    Was slightly worried we might not get done in time (usually average 12mph over a hilly route), but looks like the first 50m is pretty flat so should be able to get our average up before we hit the tumble.
    Looking forward to it!
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Anyone else going to nip across the border and check out The Tumble?

    Nice having the route finalised.
    I wonder what the 'factors beyond their control' were that an extra 20k had to be added lol.

    Hill training starts in earnest tomorrow!!
  • IanREmery
    IanREmery Posts: 148
    Carbonator wrote:
    I wonder what the 'factors beyond their control' were that an extra 20k had to be added lol.

    A colleague asked exactly the same question earlier, so I compared the interative map against a route on Strava that someone made last September. Looks like it's the Newport to Carleon section that has been extended, around the LLanwern area. Perhaps couldn't get road closures or the roads weren't safe enough.
  • norvernrob
    norvernrob Posts: 1,447
    I've only just seen that registration closes at 7pm on the Saturday, I don't finish work until around 2pm and have to pack and drive down from Sheffield!
  • jazgill
    jazgill Posts: 98
    NorvernRob wrote:
    I've only just seen that registration closes at 7pm on the Saturday, I don't finish work until around 2pm and have to pack and drive down from Sheffield!

    Have sent you a PM.
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    Carbonator wrote:
    Anyone else going to nip across the border and check out The Tumble?

    Nice having the route finalised.
    I wonder what the 'factors beyond their control' were that an extra 20k had to be added lol.

    Hill training starts in earnest tomorrow!!

    Do take some of the advice re the hills etc on the site/route with more than a dash of salt, the tumble isn't that long or that steep as quoted, as for Caerphilly being Wales's 3rd steepest hill, iconic and steep it may be, but 3rd steepest? not even remotely so, this said the hyperbole is probably no worse than other sportives!
  • dandrew
    dandrew Posts: 175
    The only reason event like this get you to register before the big day is so that they can tell the local council etc that there will be a financial benefit to the local economy by getting x numbers of cyclist into the area on 2 occasions.
    When was the last time you heard an audax insisting that you register the day before!
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    roger merriman wrote:
    Carbonator wrote:
    Anyone else going to nip across the border and check out The Tumble?

    Nice having the route finalised.
    I wonder what the 'factors beyond their control' were that an extra 20k had to be added lol.

    Hill training starts in earnest tomorrow!!

    Do take some of the advice re the hills etc on the site/route with more than a dash of salt, the tumble isn't that long or that steep as quoted, as for Caerphilly being Wales's 3rd steepest hill, iconic and steep it may be, but 3rd steepest? not even remotely so, this said the hyperbole is probably no worse than other sportives!

    Thanks for the local knowledge rm :wink:
    I suspected it could not be too bad on this type of event, although had hoped it would be a fair bit more hardcore re hills than RideLondon.

    I have not told my wife of my suspicions though as want a day trip cycling in Wales :P
    It will be nice to know whats ahead on the day too. Especially with tired legs.
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    Carbonator wrote:
    roger merriman wrote:
    Carbonator wrote:
    Anyone else going to nip across the border and check out The Tumble?

    Nice having the route finalised.
    I wonder what the 'factors beyond their control' were that an extra 20k had to be added lol.

    Hill training starts in earnest tomorrow!!

    Do take some of the advice re the hills etc on the site/route with more than a dash of salt, the tumble isn't that long or that steep as quoted, as for Caerphilly being Wales's 3rd steepest hill, iconic and steep it may be, but 3rd steepest? not even remotely so, this said the hyperbole is probably no worse than other sportives!

    Thanks for the local knowledge rm :wink:
    I suspected it could not be too bad on this type of event, although had hoped it would be a fair bit more hardcore re hills than RideLondon.

    I have not told my wife of my suspicions though as want a day trip cycling in Wales :P
    It will be nice to know whats ahead on the day too. Especially with tired legs.

    The Climb up the Blorange, (tumble) is a long mini alp ish climb, and on a nice weekend has a icecream van at the top, where there will be feed station at Keepers Pond.

    got two equal longish climbs nr as well climbing up llangynidr mountain one from llangynidr and other from Llangattock.

    Caerphilly Mountain is steep and quite close to the end so it's wise to give it some measure of respect.

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