Uktimate UK Sportive? Gran Fondo Cymru 2006

[huw williams]

Alright, forget the rest, this is the daddy. Who fancies joining me for this one? Strongly reccomend you check the website for details and profiles before commiting. Huw

Gran Fondo Cymru 2006
---------------------
Sunday 28th May 2006

Registration for this event has just opened (9th Jan 2006)

The Gran Fondo Cymru is a new event in the UK calendar, modelled on the best of the European cyclosportives and in aid of the Dave Rayner Fund and the Ty Gobaith Cymru children's hospice. It starts and finishes at the Glan-llyn Leisure Centre in Bala,
Gwynedd and tours the Snowdonia National Park and Cambrian mountains of Wales. There are three routes, all of which take you through spectacular mountain scenery, mostly on quiet, beautifully surfaced roads.

The Super Challenge is 117 miles and contains over 5000m of climbing. The climbs of Bwylch-y-Groes and Hirnant passes feature!

For more ride details, please click here - http://www.cyclosport.co.uk/cymru.asp

http://www.cyclosport.co.uk

[kieran]

was thinking of doing this as well, either this or te polka dot. I am signed up for the dragon ride but looks like the dragon ride would be a wind down compared to this (especially the super ride) also I have gone hill walking in the area before when it rained day after day, not the weather you'd want to be trying this in! Still trying to decide but realise they might fill up quickly

[Tim H (liquigas)]

I have entered... cant wait to do this one!!! oh the pain

[sylv]

Yes

[sylv]

Might have to change my cassette though, smallest is 39*23 and they recommend 39*28

[Graham O]

Wanted to do one of these, but they are all full. So signed up

Huw. Thanks for letting us know. You could have picked an easier one though ?

I have been up the llanberis pass before. Its really cool up there and some proper down hills to look fowad to.

[sylv]

I've entered

Have checked my supershort cage rear mech's total tooth capacity and I'll be ok with a 10-speed 12-27 rear cassette.

One question for Huw (or anyone else) - as SRAM doesn't do a 10-speed chain, are there other brands that do a quick link for a 10-speed Shimano chain? There is a Connex on Wiggle but at £6 for the one link it's pretty expensive. (I like being able to take a chain off easily to clean or swap cassettes, and I don't like having to re-pin a chain each time).

Thanks

[huw williams]

Silv - you've guessed it - shimano don't do a specific 10 speed quick link. We always reccomend the Wipperman which is probably the one you've seen for £6. Expensive but it's about the best out there.

[siwickm]

Well after last years appalling effort in Wales I have decided to enter this one in order to try and at least save a bit of face after having to climb off and walk up one hill in the Autumn Epic.

I will have to remember to take it easy from the beginning and maybe I should take Tamars advice and get a triple, Nah, I will suffer.

Cheers

Marek...

[sylv]

We're in Marek

http://www.cyberrider.net/i-team/public ... ntries.pdf

If you haven't seen it posted elsewhere on the forum, here's what some of the hills are like:

[img]http://www.bikereader.com/BR%20pics/hillpics/RABS4a.jpg[/img]

[kieran]

emm, that doen't look like north wales! Isn't that some famous road in Australia (or NZ?) meant to be the steepest in the world kinda thing?

[BrendanM]

I,ve looked at the web site and it seems that if you ignore the Sportive route (36 miles) you then have two choices.

Either the Gran Fondo at 108 miles with two 500m climbs and lots of climbing in between which requires going down to sea level.

OR, the Super Chalenge at 123 miles which has two 500m climbs but stays above 240m and so appears to be less strenuous as far as climbing goes.

Have I understood the profile diagrams correctly. I dont want any nasty surprises!

Can I chicken out on the day and do the Sportive route?

[huw williams]

If you trvael that far to do it in the first place, you might as well ride the big one I reckon.

[Alan M]

Well, against my own better judgement have I have signed up for this one (and some others too) and will be looking for guidance from Huw et al. Any thoughts on accommodation?

Alan

[SimonCII]

Ciao Tutte!

I think you should all come and do the Maratona on the 2nd july as well!

Hope alls well, keep it safe out there. Its actually just as/more dangerous on these Italian roads, everyone speeds, cuts across all the time, cant get used to it yet.

Anyways alls well, done a bit of riding with some teams, been hard to keep any decent form.

Missing the fast long straightish decents of surrey, bloody hairpins.

A presto

Simon