There are a lot of road races seem dead cert on going ahead from June, July onwards … admittedly smaller fields. All sold out too
Just booked myself a night in an air b&b at the end of July for a recce. Would have preferred a later August date but it’s not working out family wise.
Depending on what time I get there on the Saturday I might be able to squeeze two rides in. A run and a dip
Is LCW not happening this year?
I can’t remember if you’ve done Wales before. (I thought you had) but:
Be careful that time of year on your ride recce, some of the roads out and back into Tenby are bloody fast and the cars whizz by.
If you get as far as Freshwater West, the descent can get very slippery with sand. I would avoid Narberth on a Saturday, it’s pretty congested around there and I would assume the same for Saundersfoot but if you can get to them early, should be ok.
A run loop recce should be fine but I can’t remember if there is pavement all the way up to the top turnaround? (It’s a pretty major road)
Cheers @FatPom i think LCW got binned off quite a while ago.
Did Wales in 2017 but that feels like ages ago now. Plus it was a get your head down and get on with it day
Depending on what time I get there I was thinking a short ride Saturday evening, maybe around Saundersfoot. Perhaps a swim would be better then. Get up at the crack of dawn Sunday, ride the big and little loop then a run off.
Not too fussed about the actual run route. Like you say that main road will be shite and the left hand dog leg is just a small residential road from memory? Will probably just stick to running in Tenby itself
Yeah the dog leg to pick up lap bands was a residential road. (I think there is a shop or village hall there) but that little rise that it goes up started to hurt, don’t forget that bit.
I’d probably look at doing Saundersfoot in reverse, ie head out from Tenby, turn right (where bike special needs was) and drop down into S/foot,then climb the other side and maybe go out to Wisemans and drop down for an ice cream and then climb out and back up St Bride’s Hill and back to Tenby.
A nice run could be along the beack to the back of Kiln Park and loop back round, or turn left/right out of Kiln Park and head up the lanes where the marathon from LCW went.
Personally, I’d loop back into town from Kiln Park and head to the pasty shop.
Sounds like a plan
For those that have done it before, what’s the gradients like with respect to suggested gearing?
Unlike a 70.3, I’d rather avoid mashing a big gear too much seeing as I’ll be trying to keep my powder dry on the bike. Having seen some clips of Wiseman’s and the 16% drag, I’m contemplating looking to switch from my 36-28 smallest gear on my TT.
As I have a 6870-ss di2 rear mech, I think the max sprocket on that is 28T, whereas the R8050-SS (on my road bike) accepts 30T. That’s worth a reasonable amount of rpm at 10kph (+4), but is trying to get an R8050-GS and sticking a 32 or even 34 on the back worthwhile? It would be something to have in the toolbox for any future big climbing event, but is not exactly a cheap new part!
I’m only aiming for about 180w average, and normally try and cap things at 230-240w, so not putting out big numbers
If it helps, I’m not a strong rider these days. Did Wales at ~ 80kgs and have ridden that course 5 times on a TT bike with 36/28 as my easiest gear. Twice in the wet.
Wasn’t crying for an easier gear but wouldn’t want it harder!
Wisemans in the wet can be a bit rear wheel spinny but ok.
Wiseman’s Bridge is only about 3 minutes of work, so 6 minutes in total. I think over the day you’ll be faster/more economical on your TT.
Nothing to add to this. I love mashing a gear.
I’ll be running an 11-28 on the back though
I’m not debating the bike. Definitely TT. It’s swapping the rear mech I’m contemplating / getting a bigger capacity one
I’d swap then, unlike The Peacock I love to spinny spin the hills.
Cool, I’ve used that gearing on big climbs before (Mallorca, Nice, etc), but they tend to be a consistent 8-10%, rather than 16+
I reckon you’ll be alright with a 28 cassette and 36 up front. Saying that though I’m sure @Mungo2 and @Poet have fitted dinner plate 30s for Bolton
Like @Doonhamer has said the climbs are steep but fairly short. Narberth, Wisemans and Saundersfoot are the big ones I remember. Maybe a punchy little climb out of Angle too
@Doka road the course over the weekend - also a dip at north beach today too!
Yeah Wisemans and Saundersfoot get all the attention but Narberth can be nasty. Also, what’s that climb on the wide main road that you twice (a couple of miles before Narberth? That bastard drags a bit!
I honestly can’t remember. Head was down for most of it.
I’m still on for an end of July recce.
I saw this picture posted on Facebook the other day. Didn’t bloody look like that in 2017
It was a job to see where the sea ended and the road started in 2017!
Apparently the locals get to know next week if the race is go or not. The Council doesn’t want it to.
Oh well, guess they’ll have to go back to being a chav ridden hen and bucks party town!
doesn’t look like they have the road closures yet