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| Welsh hills - plenty of them! |
sorry for the delay folks but I've been in Audax recovery mode, busy work and family mode and then getting ready for the Bryan Chapman mode so it will have to be a short summary!
The most important information is that I made it round in good time so that's my 400 qualifier done! The weather Gods were kind to us for the majority of the ride with only a short rain shower 30 minutes from the end...i couldn't expect a trip to Wales without getting a bit wet at some point! Even in audaxing terms 400k is a long bikeride ...it's the watershed distance ....200 & 300's can been see as long day rides ...for a 400 then most of us mere mortals can expect to ride through the night and see the sun come up before we finish. The ride out from Chepstow was pretty fast and hot ...and some of the looong Welsh climbs left us feeling very hot ....the lumpy bits lived upto their names but not as bad as I remember from 2009 ..I must be getting fitter! It was a busy ride ....over 100 in the field (it's a PBP year!) and we soon found our slot and spent the remaining 24hours playing leapfrog with those riding at a similar pace! A seaside destination is always a good thing ona ride in my book and little Newquay didn't disappoint with a sparkling harbour, bucket and spade shops (no kiss me quick hats though) and a fine cafe overlooking the sea. The locals and tourists were suitably bemused as to why the place had become cycling central for the day and couldn't quite believe where we had come from and that we were heading back there overnight! It's a long long climb out of Newquay ...goes on bit by bit for seven miles ...but eventually we topped out for a spectacular view of the sunset. Night riding always goes in a bit of a blur ...back via Llandovery (cafe stop there at 10pm) and then on via Brecon to the little village of Bwlch for a proper audaxer's b&b ...i.e 1 hours kip on a wooden village hall floor with apple pie and custard for brekky! It's only 50k from there to Chepstow ...we left in the dark but were soon serranaded by the dawn chorus as the birds announced the arrival of a new day ....eventually we cl,imbed and descended the last hill for second breakfast in Chepstow at 7am. 400k ...it's a long way!
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| Breakfast in Haye-on-Wye |
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| Faccombe 4 on the wheel |
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| yours truley in Newquay |
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