Trans Cambrian Challenge

...and here's one for September, too: the Trans Cambrian Challenge

Team One-Ninety.....the next challenge.....

After the success of our recent Dragon adventure we need something to focus on. So here it is.....

Starting at the Gite this route follows most of the end of Stage 15 of the Tour and the start of Stage 16 but, in a compromise to fitness levels and given that we are (not yet!) pro-elite riders, does miss out the HC climb of the Port des Bales.

Just under 80 miles in total.

We would probably be best doing this on the Thursday when the tour finishes at the top of the Tourmalet but climbs it from the opposite direction from which we would be approaching. This means the roads would be open and would give us more flexibility with time.

Some stats probably worth considering:

The climb of Bwlch 2 is approximately 1300 feet

Col des Ares - 800 feet

Col de Peyresourde - 2800 feet

Col d'Aspin - 2400 feet

Col du Tourmalet - 4100 feet

Bit of a challenge! But what would Lance and Brad do.......?

Team One-Ninety.....

....just don't mention 'gelgate'........

not forgetting Phil....

who very very sensibly did the 130km route in


Phil Kruszewski
Race No: 1321
Time
06:50:47
Split 130km Elapsed
03:11:02

Excellent work Mr K.

F

and the results were

Race No Firstname Lastname 190 km Time Split 190km
1999 Sean Gerrard 08:51:53 02:57:40
2086 Rhidian Jones 09:03:41 02:57:41
1510 Jonathan Wright 08:56:07 02:57:41

Suffice to say we are all chuffed to bits and now have a benchmark for next year. Which is approximatley how long it will take me to recover......

Photos (official or otherwise) to follow.

What a fantastic experience and despite us all having to dig deep at times, it was worth the effort and also the training since October last year.

A personal huge thank you to Cal, Amy and the kids for coming along to support us, which for me kept me going (in particular at Crai, but also knowing they would be there at the end). Also another massive thank you to everyone who sponsored me. I targeted myself to raise £1000 and it has just gone to over £1200 which is brilliant.

I intend going nowhere near a bike for at least a week (which a selection of parts of my body will be very grateful for).

I will allow LTB and Tempo to openly debate "Gelgate" that ensued much controversy on the last Bwlch climb as well as overall times etc (I was sure I went over the split time mat first....) I, for one, am grateful to have a) finished and b) survived.

Farmer.

MASSIVE THANK YOU

TO ALL WHOLE SPONSORED FARMER.

THE TARGET HAS BEEN HIT......

I HOPE TO DO LLOYD AND YOU ALL PROUD.

RHID

Into the breach.....

here she is. ready for action. After some major fettling yesterday a crisis of the highest order started to emerge and it was quickly diagnosed that the precious ones rear hub was badly damaged and simply "would not do" for an event of the order of the Dragon. Thankfully one of Britains emerging talents of cycling came to the rescue and a set of race wheels were very kindly provided to see if Farmer could get up em hills a bit quicker. The rear hub is now being repaired for the pre-Tour de France expedition......

Tempo also partoke of some fettling and it seems the Scott no longer makes the sounds of a motorbike. Shame really, we will have to pack the clothes pegs and playing cards....

LTB meanwhile was indulging in some excellent preparation at the Wales Open on a "corporate"..... reports coming in last night suggest he was taking lots of carbs in the from of white wine and the evening menu at the Hardwick...... Nuff said.

Hopefully a little stretch for us all this afternoon, interspersed with major pasta in take and generally being sensible....

See you on the other side.

F

Well, here it is then. 4 days to go and the last few weeks of preparation have set me up wonderfully. Camping for three nights led to late nights, minimal sleep, lots of fish and chips and a few drinkies to wash it all down. Excellent elite athlete preparation.

Hopefully all of the winter training will kick in on Sunday and it wont matter a jot, but still a bit annoyed with myself. Oh well, bring it on Dragon.

Out tonight for a decent ride and I know LTB and tempo were out yesterday. Some mechanical tinkering to do on the precious one (which is always a bit dangerous just before you need it to work reliably!!!) and also need to stock up on Eddie Izzard quantities of energy gels etc. Lets hope there is a Mr Whippy on the route.

Blog later.

Farmer.

(number 2086)