Well I suppose I must, so here is a bit of a photo blog.
There was a sense of foreboding on social media in the days before, given the weather forecast as the weekend approached.
I popped up to Hatchmere for a quick roll call of the early leavers there, and was greeted by a bunch of friendly, happy faces. Oh how those faces would change as the day progressed.
What an oddly happy bunch. Did they not see the weather forecast? Did they not care?
All seemed ready and suitably suited and booted for the day, and off they went.
I next nipped back to HQ to see how things were, seeing the Warrington guys on he way, and riders were being sent off in their respective groups.
..a few ready to set off..
WAGs were there of course, looking forward to either accompanying from the comfort of a car, a quiet non-bike weekend at home, or off to the Trafford Centre to shop…
Fashionably last..
The last group to get off were obviously the fastest guys. The last of whom to turn up was our very own Ian, who now has a reputation for this kind of behaviour.. 🙂
Thus, the day started for the fast group, then stopped after 100 metres…
Correspondent Wood took up the story with live commentary on Facebook..
Cloudy but dry conditions. Everyone has now left for Llanberis. Unfortunately for Iain, it wasn’t long before neutral service was called into action….yes that is 20m before the club gates!
Ian punctures almost immediately after setting off…
The incident has delayed the race convoy. Commissaires have decided not to neutralise.
The convoy… waiting for replacement air..
..And we were away, off up through our usual and well pedalled landed through Delamere, and on through Ashton, through Tarvin and down to Waverton, by which time groups were forming.
Still all happy as they trundled along to Chester, there were still smiles and high spirits despite. Decent headwind.
By Treuddyn, things had changed. As the groups climbed, the rain swept in with a vengeance. Gusts were already sweeping along the tops, and the fine drizzled water made hands clench the bars and faces grimace. There were still a few determined smiles, especially from Jo Blakeley (more used to beating up other women in elite races such as our own Cheshire Classic) who seemed cheery and happy with the challenge, waving as she passed.
Some smiles started to disappear, although Steve managed a wave.
..as did Jo.. beaming into a hideous headwind…
Grimace
Pain
Nervously happy
Hardened Audaxer. All in a days work (ride).
Finally over the moor and right at Llandegla lights, the groups reached Nant Y Garth, where the usual speed-fest was tempered significantly by the wind and rain. Nevertheless, all made it to the welcome of the Seven Oaks Garden Centre cafe, where some fantastic hot soup, tea, coffee, pasta and cakes was waiting to re-fuel the wet, dirty and cold riders!
The first group arrived and began re-fuelling.
Huddles of riders formed to discuss the weather and what was yet to come..
Some already looked like they’d ridden Paris-Roubaix.
Seven Oaks Garden Centre kindly wheeled out a heater, and some managed to get the feeling back in their hands and feet.
Emily decided to show us her matching Weaver Valley CC nails
Chris, Benn and Glen look on eagerly as hot soup was served by Caroline.
Graham. Bemused.
Why am I doing this? Jim mused.
After the drama of the previous week, the staff at Seven Oaks were nothing short of fantastic, giving us our own little sheltered area for not just riders, but bikes also. This is one cafe we’ll definitely be back to!
They looked after us, by sheltering from the storm outside, giving us dry bike parking shelter, and plenty of great food to give us the energy for the rest of the day.
Good things don’t last though, and soon enough, everyone caped up and got back on the road towards Denbigh. The ride up Vale Street to the top at the High Street served to slow everyone down as it always does, before the short descent and the main event.
To say it was windy only goes so far in describing how hard it was blowing. In between gusts, there was a constant hard headwind that had riders pedalling squares trying to battle against the hills up towards the Sportsman pub.
This hurts. Mimed Nick.
Son and father batter on through the howling gale.
Ian, far too fit for his own good, seems to be amused, and Kris follows on just waiting for another opportunity to attack..
Deep sea fisherman Lee, resplendant and fresh from the trawler, says he nearly caught it, and it was this big.
Maisie, chief time trial timekeeper, seems largely unimpressed, but keep an eye on the riders for any race infrigements.
This wind was joined by sporadic squalls of rain, blown horizontally into the faces of the riders, many of whom were now lone figures, battling in their own personal hells.
The mist, the murk, the rain, the win, the gritted teeth.
There were no smiles here. Actually, that’s not true, as happy rider Blakeley beamed and waved over the top!
There she is. Waving and smiling again. Wrong. Just wrong.
Dropping down to the A5 providing a brief respite – but didn’t offer the usual high speed descent due to the wind – before the run in to Betwys Y Coed. Here, the rain continued to bucket, but most were at least glad to see he town before the last ‘long’ climb of the day out to Capel Curig.
The climb up to Capel Curig.
Here, in previous years, many have stopped for a brew at the Pinnacle Cafe. Not this year. Not now. Most were cold and wanting to continue so chose to waive the idea of getting win in a cafe only to get cold again shortly after. No. On to Pen Y Pass, after a stop where I had to assist some riders who’s hands had stopped working to the extent that they couldn’t reach for Jelly Babies from their back pocket! (Other soft, chewy, sugary sweets for replenishing blood-sugar levels are available!).
The road along to Pen Y Pass is always, always windy. Today was no exception. Many riders struggled to make 5 mph along the road. Tired legs, cold hands and feet, and very, very wet.
One photo sums it all up, and that is of one of the groups just about to turn up onto Pen Y Pass. This was a hard day on the bike.
Ooh lashing rain. Just what I needed, blown in diagonally off the mountain by a 40+ mph wind. Mmmm.
Finally, finally, after w blowy descent down to pass through Nant Peris, the riders started to arrive at the hotel. The rain stayed, but everyone was finally safe and could begin to warm and dry after the war of attrition on the roads! What a challenge!
That’s rain that is. But I’m in a nice warm room, so don’t care.
The day’s review, and a pint.
..another review. Another pint. There, that’s better.
The WRC boys, with Glen Longland, who still thinks he is on his bike with such a stance. Perhaps he is stuck like that?
A great evening meal was had, the Royal Victoria Hotel doing a great job again. Comfortable surroundings, good food and a relaxed atmosphere gave the group the rest that they would need for the ride home tomorrow.
Tomorrow did come. Contrary to popular thought. Windy, but this time in the right direction. A tail wind. All had hoped for it, and this would make the day a far easier one for all.
Ready.
..and away.
There were more smiles today. After the tough climb (made easier by the push of the wind) up to the top of Pen Y Pass, there was a fast descent as per usual to Betws Y Coed. Groups formed, and out they climbed, back towards the hills and throught he forest to Ruthin.
Some slightly blurred shots follow. Although the riders had a nice tailwind, the drizzle was blown in the direction of my camera lens, which may have interfered with focus and slightly softened the images!!
Smiles
Happy.
Hardened Audaxer. All in a day’s work (ride).
Emily re-fuels on the go with her own stock of millionaire’s shortbread.
Fuelled again at Ruthin, it was all over bar the shouting. Only one major climb to go before the flat-ish ride home.
Climbing out of Ruthin
Climbing out of Ruthin still..
Grim Rimmer in the broom wagon brings up the rear. Â Doesn’t look very grim to me, smiling happily at his task…
..and one last rest..
..and the riders set off for home.
Down though Loggerheads and off towards Mold the riders sped, back down tp Kinnerton, Chester, and back through the forest. This was the culmination of an epic Llanberis weekend. All riders safely returned, and I think that most will return again next year.
WVCC poster girl Emily rides in after around 180 miles. Some did more, some did less, but all rose to the challenge..
Thanks must got to Jim for organsing this year. No mean feat. Alan for organising on the road, transporting the bags and making sure everyone was okay. Syd for sweeping up any shattered riders, and Caroline, Elaine and Ann for their moral support and spending the weekend leap-frogging groups of riders to keep an eye on them to make sure everyone was okay.
All of the images are now in the gallery at Llanberis 2016 gallery.
Well done to all the riders who completed this. March 18th 2017 is the next installment… put it in your diaries…
🙂