Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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Just got home after the "mini" route.
Talk about an eventful 70 miles!
Fell over on the first climb when attempting to overtake someone - caigt the edge, lost momentum, one foot unclipped but other wouldn't play along and down I went! Took a full 3 minutes to re-mount as it was so bloody steep! Lost my riding partner at this point and later found that she has also fallen off at the same point! Muppetry in motion. 
Made slow but steady progress down to Llangollen, and up to World's End, but then the rains came. Received a text from the missus checking I was ok, and stupidly attempted to respond on the move. Looked up, saw a zig zag bend that I was far too late to make. Some super human bike handling skills (pure luck) saw me fly down 20 ft of boulders, rubble and other assorted junk emerging with open mouthed confusion and relief on the right road at the bottom!!  In the process of bumping over terrain that a MTB would struggle with, I accidentally sent my text and held on to the phone throughout! Genius or idiocy - I think I know the answer to that one 
Started to really come down as I climbed over Rhosesmor and all the way over Moel Arthur. The descent down to the second feed station was horrendous - couldn't see a thing through the rain, brakes were completely ineffective, and a ridiculously fast descent through narrow winding roads. It was not fun. And my computer stopped working in the deluge.
Didn't take on any food at the 2nd station thinking I was only 5 miles from home, but a revised route took the mini participants off to Denbigh and then back to Ruthin - 9 hard miles despite the relatively easy roads.
I saw a few people bound for the mega route considering cutting it short and then split off - I don't blame them, hats off to anyone ding the full 140 miles!
I found local knowledge prevented me making any directional mistakes, but I heard a lot of people saying they'd found the small arrows difficult to spot at times. Apart from that, the mini route organisation was really good with excellent start and end point arrangements and friendly helpful marshalling.
Impressed with myself for completing the course after 10 months of cyling, and impressed with my first Sportive.
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bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 1622
Loc: Wickerman land,Scotland
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Well done sly...I hope you're not allowed near sharp objects with that number of mishaps but texting on a bike!!! heard it all now. Glad you're still alive and when you swapping your road bike for something more suitable? 
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VOTE PENGUIN!!!
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hubbub
Reged: 22/10/2007
Posts: 517
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With habits like that you should be in a 4 X 4 
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bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 1622
Loc: Wickerman land,Scotland
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He has one... thats what's worrying me!
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VOTE PENGUIN!!!
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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I did drive the course the day before in my Land Rover, so I guess it just seeped in to my riding!
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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Here's where I cut the corner...
In true fisherman's speak, it looked a lot bigger and more dangerous in person! Sorry about the low quality - it's a crappy camera phone, I'm afraid.
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bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 1622
Loc: Wickerman land,Scotland
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Taking photos while texting and cycling off road all at once!! your talents are wasted! Oh and taking short cuts...tut tut tut!
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VOTE PENGUIN!!!
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CattlegridConspiracy
Reged: 25/04/2008
Posts: 276
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*speechless*
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Only a true cyclist knows the taste of tarmac.
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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I think I learned a few things today...
A few things that I WILL NOT be doing again!
And that doesn't include silly hilly bike rides.
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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Horseshoe descent
Just handheld camera. Didn't dare carry it on round the bends, which will surprise you given my previous tales of stupidity...
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wuverley
Reged: 16/05/2008
Posts: 1495
Loc: Man of Kent
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I don't mean to be rude but you need to find a better way of taking these pictures.... cos the present methods seem a bit.... dangerous.
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Invicta
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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I know. I just wanted a quick vid from my first event. Won't be doing it again, I can tell you! You can be as rude as you like - I deserve it!
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bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 1622
Loc: Wickerman land,Scotland
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So what was your time/speed for the event? Stick to cycling Mr Spielberg!
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VOTE PENGUIN!!!
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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My computer drowned, but the event dibbers clocked me at 5:27 including feed stops, crashes, saddle repairs (oh yeah, forgot to mention that the crash twisted and loosened my saddle).
It's probably 30 mins slower than I wanted, but I've never ridden anything so hilly for so long and it gives me something to aim at next year (or next week, seeing as it's only a short ride away from home!)
The downhills never seem to make up for the ups 
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 730
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I wonder how El_Cid et al got on with the mega route?
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bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 1622
Loc: Wickerman land,Scotland
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Good effort, I now have a target speed to go for on the SUS08, just a few miles more to cover.
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VOTE PENGUIN!!!
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daveno7
Reged: 04/03/2007
Posts: 359
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well done sly...its fun sometimes..
keep smiling
daveno7
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thatwomanagain
Reged: 30/07/2006
Posts: 1959
Loc: Hugh Porter country...
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Quote:
Here's where I cut the corner...
In true fisherman's speak, it looked a lot bigger and more dangerous in person! Sorry about the low quality - it's a crappy camera phone, I'm afraid.
I thought this was a sportive?? So where's everyone else?? Were you off the front or off the back?? 
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wuverley
Reged: 16/05/2008
Posts: 1495
Loc: Man of Kent
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He's down the hill
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Invicta
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wuverley
Reged: 16/05/2008
Posts: 1495
Loc: Man of Kent
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Try a tandem for filming, you'll go even faster downhill but if someone else is steering (thought I'd better spell that out), you'll get even better pictures. 
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Invicta
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