Chains,Pains and too many meals!
Day One. Bangor to Welshpool, 90 miles
We set off from the rather plush surroundings of Travelodge Bangor (Stalag 17) at around 9 on Friday morning. After some trouble finding the Menai Bridge (big stoney/wirey thing which goes over the water) we did our pictures etc and set of for Snowdonia. Following the A5 in between the massive craggy peaks was stunning. Snowdonia is beautiful and even more so travelling along at 15/16 miles an hour where you can take it all in. Using the A5 as a guide we plodded on for mile after mile through Capel Curig and Betws Y Coed, in the process clocking up 30 miles and a couple of relatively easy climbs. The landscape changed a little as we left the protection of the mountains as we cut across to Lake Bala. The first real climb of the day was a snaking 1000ft climb on the Berwyn mountains before descending to Llangynog. We stopped for lunch ,having done a monstrous 67 miles and thinking we’d done most of the hard work.
Only 23 miles left to go today I thought …. What could go wrong? Well ….hills. And lots of them. With lots of ramps of 20% on them. Add that to fatigue and one of the group really starting to struggle with a bad fluid on the knee problem and it was a real battle to get to Welshpool. We made it and following Tims ‘London Courier’ attitude to rush hour in Welshpool (yes there is one), we made it to the bunkhouse and shortly departed back into town for a meal at the Corn Store and a few pints of energy drink at the Angel, owned by supporter Rhian Humphreys who had contributed enormously with raising money for Erin and the school.
The bunkhouse was really good accommodation and chef Steve Powell set to work in the morning by cooking bacon, trying to set fire to the oven and then gassing everyone in the house. Despite his best efforts, the bacon sarnies were fine and no-one got injured.
Day Two – Welshpool to Brecon – 65 miles.
Day Twos and Day threes first hour had a very similar feeling, in as much we were all in a line, the roads were flat and unusually for all of us we were very quiet. All going through our own particular aches/pains/demons and possibly indigestion…….
The first really big climb came out of Newtown up to Llanbadarn. This road and climbs was one of the finest on the whole ride. A gentle gradient all the way up, switchbacks and we all stayed in a peloton apart from some idiot at the back who was yo-yoing back and for whilst messing around with clips and cameras. Me. The cold rain and weather then engulfed us and we hammered the remaining distance to cross keys as we escaped the weather and again watched certain members of the group order monstrous meals at the café.
And then began the descent into Builth and the ascent of Cwm Owen, a Tour of Britain climb and the final climb of the day. This was tough and most of the group made it without getting off , however a few of us succumbed to the mountain. A relatively easy time from Upper Chapel descending into Brecon and negotiating more traffic saw us arrive at the campsite with our tents already set up by Aled at Expedition Wales. A hot shower and a bit of a lounge saw us then go around to La Casa del Hawkins where Graham our ‘Little Chef’ ably assisted by his wife and Steve Ellis wife treated us to a wonderful bbq, drinks and the dreaded ‘No punctures yet?’ question, of which he was suitably chastised.
A few of us then went into Brecon to meet my cousin Sal who managed to acquire some cups for us for the morning, enabling us to have hot tea and coffee.
Day Three – Brecon to Chepstow– 47 miles.
Once again Steve P treated us to Bacon sarnies off his cooking stove and stuffed with bacon and bread we set off. Again mostly in a neat line we pedalled away through Crickhowell and onto Abergavenny where we had to endure the horrific dual carriageway and the Curse of Graham Hawkins struck and Steve Ellis got a puncture. A quick change of wheel and after picking Steve Ps son Ben up so he could do the last 20,we got going onto and upwards (a lot) to Devauden. The views again were spectacular and knowing we only had 12 miles to do was a terrific feeling.
The descent was breath-taking and I gave out a yelp as I saw the estuary for the first time. After Steve and Mark took an alternative route we met back up on the outskirts and negotiated some nasty junctions and this time found the Bridge without getting lost. The team kindly let me lead them out to the middle of the bridge where we stopped, congratulated each other and had some photos done.
We then head back up to St Arvans where our families and friends were waiting for us at the Piercefield pub. Again the team let me lead them out and I must say I was very proud to do so. A genuine ‘lump-in-the-throat’ moment when I saw my son Jack on the corner and he was shouting ‘Its them! Its them’ and then spotted Deb and Erin.
It was a privilege to ride with the chaps, everyone put in an enormous amount of effort to achieve what was the final distance of 205 miles. Everyone had their own aches and pains which they got through to ensure they all finished. I’m extremely proud of you all. Thanks to everyone who helped us, specifically John in the back up van who did a great job and enduring much abuse from a specific rider. (Me!)
Next planned ride is in two years’ time….who knows where from and where too though……..
We set off from the rather plush surroundings of Travelodge Bangor (Stalag 17) at around 9 on Friday morning. After some trouble finding the Menai Bridge (big stoney/wirey thing which goes over the water) we did our pictures etc and set of for Snowdonia. Following the A5 in between the massive craggy peaks was stunning. Snowdonia is beautiful and even more so travelling along at 15/16 miles an hour where you can take it all in. Using the A5 as a guide we plodded on for mile after mile through Capel Curig and Betws Y Coed, in the process clocking up 30 miles and a couple of relatively easy climbs. The landscape changed a little as we left the protection of the mountains as we cut across to Lake Bala. The first real climb of the day was a snaking 1000ft climb on the Berwyn mountains before descending to Llangynog. We stopped for lunch ,having done a monstrous 67 miles and thinking we’d done most of the hard work.
Only 23 miles left to go today I thought …. What could go wrong? Well ….hills. And lots of them. With lots of ramps of 20% on them. Add that to fatigue and one of the group really starting to struggle with a bad fluid on the knee problem and it was a real battle to get to Welshpool. We made it and following Tims ‘London Courier’ attitude to rush hour in Welshpool (yes there is one), we made it to the bunkhouse and shortly departed back into town for a meal at the Corn Store and a few pints of energy drink at the Angel, owned by supporter Rhian Humphreys who had contributed enormously with raising money for Erin and the school.
The bunkhouse was really good accommodation and chef Steve Powell set to work in the morning by cooking bacon, trying to set fire to the oven and then gassing everyone in the house. Despite his best efforts, the bacon sarnies were fine and no-one got injured.
Day Two – Welshpool to Brecon – 65 miles.
Day Twos and Day threes first hour had a very similar feeling, in as much we were all in a line, the roads were flat and unusually for all of us we were very quiet. All going through our own particular aches/pains/demons and possibly indigestion…….
The first really big climb came out of Newtown up to Llanbadarn. This road and climbs was one of the finest on the whole ride. A gentle gradient all the way up, switchbacks and we all stayed in a peloton apart from some idiot at the back who was yo-yoing back and for whilst messing around with clips and cameras. Me. The cold rain and weather then engulfed us and we hammered the remaining distance to cross keys as we escaped the weather and again watched certain members of the group order monstrous meals at the café.
And then began the descent into Builth and the ascent of Cwm Owen, a Tour of Britain climb and the final climb of the day. This was tough and most of the group made it without getting off , however a few of us succumbed to the mountain. A relatively easy time from Upper Chapel descending into Brecon and negotiating more traffic saw us arrive at the campsite with our tents already set up by Aled at Expedition Wales. A hot shower and a bit of a lounge saw us then go around to La Casa del Hawkins where Graham our ‘Little Chef’ ably assisted by his wife and Steve Ellis wife treated us to a wonderful bbq, drinks and the dreaded ‘No punctures yet?’ question, of which he was suitably chastised.
A few of us then went into Brecon to meet my cousin Sal who managed to acquire some cups for us for the morning, enabling us to have hot tea and coffee.
Day Three – Brecon to Chepstow– 47 miles.
Once again Steve P treated us to Bacon sarnies off his cooking stove and stuffed with bacon and bread we set off. Again mostly in a neat line we pedalled away through Crickhowell and onto Abergavenny where we had to endure the horrific dual carriageway and the Curse of Graham Hawkins struck and Steve Ellis got a puncture. A quick change of wheel and after picking Steve Ps son Ben up so he could do the last 20,we got going onto and upwards (a lot) to Devauden. The views again were spectacular and knowing we only had 12 miles to do was a terrific feeling.
The descent was breath-taking and I gave out a yelp as I saw the estuary for the first time. After Steve and Mark took an alternative route we met back up on the outskirts and negotiated some nasty junctions and this time found the Bridge without getting lost. The team kindly let me lead them out to the middle of the bridge where we stopped, congratulated each other and had some photos done.
We then head back up to St Arvans where our families and friends were waiting for us at the Piercefield pub. Again the team let me lead them out and I must say I was very proud to do so. A genuine ‘lump-in-the-throat’ moment when I saw my son Jack on the corner and he was shouting ‘Its them! Its them’ and then spotted Deb and Erin.
It was a privilege to ride with the chaps, everyone put in an enormous amount of effort to achieve what was the final distance of 205 miles. Everyone had their own aches and pains which they got through to ensure they all finished. I’m extremely proud of you all. Thanks to everyone who helped us, specifically John in the back up van who did a great job and enduring much abuse from a specific rider. (Me!)
Next planned ride is in two years’ time….who knows where from and where too though……..