Gran Fondo Cymru - who's going and are you ready?

[Gavin]

There is a travelodge 35 miles from bala at oswestry.

I hope to stay there £56 for a family room (3 adults max).

Waiting on the weather though as Huw says.

Is anyone thinking of changing to the Super challenge.

Cheers

G

[huw williams]

Surely EVERYONE who takes the trouble to drive that far is doing the 'super'

[Dr Frigo]

I don't have to take it easy - got the following week off with no racing

[Graham O]

I might be going up there. I have been off my bike for a few weeks, so I'm not in the best of shape. I will be looking at the weather like the rest of you.

Will probably camp if I decide to go up. Its a bit late for hotels etc...

[higg]

Has anyone seen a real profile for the "super" route. The one on the website looks like it's just the 175km length.

The text for the final loop doesn't make much sense 1500m climb up and down in a 15k loop. Am I reading this wrong ?

There is no 1500m mountain in Wales and much less a road going to the top of it. Even the other option of 2 x 750m climbs with an average gradient of 20% seems unbelieveable.

Maybe they mean the loop has an extra 1500ft of climb not metres.

[kieran]

good point aodan, this has already been raised on the C+ forum. Does seem impossible.

[Dr Frigo]

Shame, the ensuing downhill sounded great fun!

[huw williams]

All you need to know is there's a bloody massive climb at the end of the ride!

Ok, if you really want the gory details:

Its about 3km long, has a height gain of 370 metres and there are a couple of sections on it over 20%, the steepest being one section at 25%

It's called Bwlch-y-groes which translates from Welsh as 'Pass of the Cross', apt really because we'll be crucified after riding up there.

You'll get to see Lake Vyrnwy from the top, easily the most amazing view on the entire ride as a reward for your effort. If you can remeber (and its a clear day, take a look behind you as you ride up the higher slopes, the view back down the valley is astounding

After over a hundred hilly miles expect to ride/walk the climb in about 20-25 minutes then Sylv is right, the descent is WILD!

[Toks]

According to some posters on cycling plus who recce'd the route the climbs aren't horrendously steep - just smooth and long. The initial weather reports also look good. I'm staying in London, I hope you all have a good one!

[huw williams]

Absolutely - there are some excellent road surfaces on the route and most of the climbs don't come too steep - hence the extra length of the ride and the inclusion of 'Bwlch' at the end for riders who think they've had it easy.

No rain forecast at the moment, amazingly. What we don't want though is strong winds. It's very exposed up there.

[Phil L]

[quote]According to some posters on cycling plus who recce'd the route the climbs aren't horrendously steep - just smooth and long.

[Dr Frigo]

They've entered me for the Fondo not the Super

[siwickm]

I think you can decide what you want to do on the day. I hope so as I was hoping to do the Super as well.

Cheers

MArek....

[Maria David]

I rode Bwlch y Groes when I was up there at Easter.
On the whole the profile is not much worse than the 9 mile steady climb you do from Trawsfynydd. It's only about half the length, but as Huw says there are a couple of rather steep ramps near the summit - I'd say the steepest ramps were no more than 20% and probably only one or 2 of those. (If it had been more I wouldn't have managed it on the heavy training bike I was on at the time.)

Caution on the descent. As you begin to pick up speed just after the "16%" road sign, you have to suddenly do a sharp left to get to Lake Vyrnwy. And if you pay even more attention you will notice the cross shaped monument on the left hand side. There then follows a beautiful twisty descent (care on the cattle grids), with a nice reward of the stunning view of the Lake and the surrounding area.

Remember once you've come down, you have to go back up again. So you then get treated to a stiff climb up and over the Hirnant pass before you go back down to Bala.

It all seems pretty straight forward, but doing that when you've got 100 miles in your legs may be a tad more complicated.

Huw, if you think I should do the 123miles since I've made the effort to get up there, I may consider giving it a go - however, as you're giving me a lift back to London afterwards, you could be in for a long wait. Are you sure this is a good suggestion ??

[huw williams]

The way my legs feel after Sunday you'll probably finish before me!

I think as long as we start as early as possible we'll be finished early enough to get back