An amazing weekend! Somewhere between 40 and 50 cyclists made it to Llanberis and back in weather that was considerably better than the forecast and infinitely better than the Acopalypse of two years ago. So we had a tailwind on the way out and nothing much to worry us on the way back other than a bit of sleet at the top of Pen y Pass. I did 183 miles, and cycled for 11 hours 30 minutes at an average speed of 15.9 mph, aided I should say throughout by my personal domestique, who let me sit close on his wheel the whole way – hats off to the rest of you who didn’t have the same protection! The worst bit: probably the ride back from Chester through the Forest, by which time anything more than a 5% gradient meant I had to resort to ticking uphill in my very easy granny gear (30×27). The best bits: riding up to the forest before Ruthin on the way back, and being passed by four groups (it’s always nice to say hello to other riders) then finally by a large group of ten or so – we somehow managed to find the energy to attach ourselves onto the back of this group with whom we then stormed over the summit and pelted down the long (7 mile?) descent into Ruthin, hoovering up 3 or the 4 groups on the way – descending that fast in a group was incredibly exhilarating (and a bit scary, especially when we encountered a stretch of road full of hedge cuttings). Anyway I don’t know about everyone else but my legs are now 100% dead. Many thanks to Graham for a great weekend, excellent organisation, and for forgoing his own riding to the greater good of the club, to drive the van for us. Also thanks to Steve Thomas, Alan Silver and everyone who helped with the driving.
Eleanor.
Llanberis 2010
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Nice report Eleanor, you were descending like a demon on the run in to Ruthin! On the ride back from Loggerheads it all got a bit quick with usual suspects putting on the pressure. We regrouped a few miles before the cement works, just in time for it to split to shreads again. Thanks to Glen and Bruce who did most of the work in the group I was in from here.
I'd also like to say thanks to Graham for his usual slick organising and all of the others who drove and helped. Another excellent WVCC event.
Agree with Eleanor and Nick's comments.
For me it was a question of putting the miles in and realising that I have got a lot of work to do to get fit again. I managed to stay with a fast group on the A5 from Betwsy to the turn off for the forest, but I didn't have much left after that and was quickly dropped once the gradient got steeper. Thanks to Nick for the encouragement though and to Kev for the Boost bar, which worked on Saturday.
The organisation by Graham and Ann was superb. Les and I even got our bags dropped off at an impromtu stop at Stamford Bridge and we were very well looked after throughout, so a big thank you Graham.
Thanks also to Steve Thomas and Alan Silver for driving the vans. Steve did a great job in drafting a few of us back to the group after a natural break and Alan very kindly changed my wheel at the hotel when I had a slow puncture, which was well beyond the call of duty but very gratefully received.