Map: http://www.widerworld.co.uk/bala-audax.jpg
All very beautiful indeed, despite the cold and wind at the tops of the
passes. I was ahead of everyone for the first three stages and rode the last
leg, up and over the (Brenig?) Moors, with a French-German couple from
Bradford on a tandem (they'd spent the whole ride just behind me and we kept
catching up at the controls). I completely bonked at about 190km and they
went off ahead while I freewheeled into Bala practically a dead man. Fish
and chips in the final cafe control seemed to revive me though! Finished in
about 9 hrs in second place. Damn, those tandems go downhill so fast. ;-)
Bwlch-y-Groes at the top of the easy side (
http://www.salite.ch/groes2.htm ):
http://www.widerworld.co.uk/bwlch-y-groes-easy.jpg
This is Bwlch-y-Groes looking down the nasty side. 16% for 1km, then 14% for
1km and 7 for the final km going down ( http://www.salite.ch/groes1.htm ). I
had to stop as I felt I was going to go out of control otherwise!
http://www.widerworld.co.uk/bwlch-y-groes-hard.jpg
Milltir Cerrig -- easy side ( http://www.salite.ch/milltir1.htm ). I started
to cramp in the middle of the nasty bit at the start, but stopped, refuelled
and recharged for a minute and continued without a problem. I even had a
supporter at the top who gave me a cheery "Well Done!". Thanks! Whoever you
are.
http://www.widerworld.co.uk/milltir-cerrig-easy.jpg
I'm considering the Wild Wales too, with my brother (MTB'er so should be up
to it). But, having seen the nasty side of Bwlch-y-Groes...
--
Simon