I did Horseshoe in the Etape Cymru, then World’s End, then about a gazillion others. Tough day but closed roads, sweet!
Worlds end sucks. I hated that. Too steep. But much more than that; not bloody worth it up top. Pothole city limits.
Yes. Yes we are. 




When you’re allowed into Wales pop along to Llangollen & look up The Vivod, Church Hill, Gwernant, Old Shoe & The Grim. There are more, but that should give you a taster.
I know the Horseshoe and Old Shoe. I’ve a mate in Chester that I’ve bikes with a lot down through Wrexham, Llangollen, back through Ruthin.
Also a nice loop from Horseshoe round Corwen and back to Llangollen for another ascent.
Lots to discover, I look forward to finding the others you’ve mentioned.
I’ve mentioned it before
but we’ve also got some tasty wee climbs in the Clwydians. just outside Chester.
Some ride that 
Lovely. More like a 7 hour ride for me.
Good prep for IMWales!
ByG is a legendary - a word devalued by Ironman Journey - climb & I’ve enjoyed some big days out over it.
This was for when I was training for my Club des Cingles attempt.
Nice!
One year, we rented an old cottage just outside Dinas Maddwy (sp?) actually on the ByG climb… bloody amazing. Just far enough from the village that it was silent and pitch black at night, yet close enough to walk in for a pint. We rode the climb a few time, and also over to Vrynwy and Bala. One of the best holidays we ever had. Stunningly beautiful area
Pretty much how I am for my two rolled events.
Vitoria is rebooked BA reward flights that only cost me a few quid plus avios (which I think I’d be able to roll again if everything is still shut), and then accommodation both there and Wales is pay on arrival.
Interesting. It’ll be easier if there’s just a blanket ban, in terms of deferring flights further, and Ironman having (you would hope) no choice but to defer us again.
There’s also the reports of the significant vaccine delays to the EU, so times will probably drag out further too.
Personally I’d be happy with just Wales. The vaccine rollout should have covered a decent chunk of the UK population by then, and I could see Ironman trying to run something like a “domestic athletes only” race. (I could see this happening all over Europe by late summer). That would cut numbers a bit for the 2021 events, and make them a bit more manageable, and also enable them to sell a significant number of new slots for 2022 rather than just everyone be rolled again
The first time I did it from that side I had to get off & walk. I’ve never told anybody that.
I’ve just found a great video of the fella who took the Strava KOM.
Lanza isn’t Ironman, though, is it?
Isn’t it ran under license by Club Le Santa (spelling?)
I’d like (hope!) to agree with you on the domestic only races. Like you say, that shifts a fair wedge of entrants on a year, brings some back a year (by enabling a race!) and let’s them take some entry fees.
Tenby is really small and Wales has been far harsher than England with lockdowns, so I don’t reckon it’ll be on the cards ![]()
The rates in NW and Bolton in particular have been historically high, so I don’t think that’ll be going ahead.
Stafford seem to have few hospital beds and are under some sharing arrangement with Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, so I’m doubtful that’ll be on either ![]()
It’s yours and Sid’s training I’m envious of!
I just can’t muster up the motivation for getting out of breath ![]()
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Fair play for sticking with it ![]()
Likewise they keep pestering me for Stafford, and say this is the final registration link.
Anyone (@Poet) managed to get a proper answer from IM on what will happen if we register our 2020 deferrals for 2021 and then they cancel the events?
Whereas IM NZ have emailed me to offer much better range of deferral options including race credit valid for 3 years to go towards race of my choosing. Much much better policy.
I read something somewhere today that caught my interest and suggested there might be vaccination passports to even bloody exit the country. Given Matt Hancock is going to Cornwall I think they’re telling us…no foreign IMs, even if you could fucking swim 2.4miles without practice, you worms.
On this basis, I’m ordering another box of salt n vinegar discos…
Either IMNZ are a bit more customer friendly or realise their government is taking a very hardline about letting people enter the country so probably feel they have little option, although in theory it’s a similar situation I currently find myself in for Texas, I’m also not allowed in the country. But they seem convinced it will go ahead.
I’ve got to register by Wednesday so currently I’m going to do that and hope they either change their mind later or it gets cancelled.
I can’t really see how they can defer you to the next year and if that doesn’t go ahead you’ve lost your money but not sure what’s in the smallprint of the deferral registration, it does say you give up the usual rights you have about transferring\refund of yourself.
And @Chriswim
Jeff is right here.
Upon deferring, you waive some rights (as usual!) and get to race, but no refunds (subject to the usual policy)
There’s a term/condition which states no refunds in the event of a cancellation which is beyond the organisers control.
This applied in 2019 when we all registered, so really, they could’ve taken our money and not deferred entries at all.
If this years events are cancelled, I can see them not offering deferrals and keeping the cash. Which people will kick off about, but it’s right there in the terms and conditions to which people signed. So…
