Me leading a group home on the 3rd day
This year, the club headed to Betws y Coed for it’s annual training weekend. Initially I’d planned on driving part way up and cycling the remaining distance to the bunk house whilst somebody else drove our bags up. However I was soon talked into riding from the front door up to Betws y Coed.
This first day turned out to be a good 85 miles in the end and took a fair bit of effort into headwinds but it was nice to get some miles in the legs.
Day 2 was the main ride-out and took in Pen-y-Pass, Caernarfon, Lanberis Pass, Criccieth and the Gwynant Pass. The latter of which hurt a bit but I managed to catch and drop a Wyre Valley CC rider as we summited so that gave me a big boost with a few miles to go.
Day 3 was the return ride home. We took a different route which took in the Crimea Pass, Trawsfynydd straights and then the standard Dolgellau, Coris route home. I stated well but by the end of the Coris descent I was flagging. I held on until the Ceredigion border when I was finally dropped as the group pace picked up within sniffing distance of home (well 15 miles). I soloed my way back home (into a headwind again) and took a well deserved rest.
All in all, a great weekend. 227 miles, 4346 Metres ascent, 48MPH max speed (new record for me), 17MPH average, 182 Max HR, 151 average. 7962 calories burned.