Incoming!

On Saturday I did the last of my sorting, repacked as I suspected, threw in some extra clothes, I text Rob panicking I'd packed too much, he rang me up and put my mind at ease. He seemed so nice.... little did I know...!

Dad picked me up, I threw a few items of clothes out of my bags... he then drove me to cheltenham where Rob lives, when I got there we transferred all my shit into his van - he said I didn't have much stuff..... I now panicked some more, regretting getting rid of the spare clothes. From Rob's we drove to collect Ryan, Rob's sidekick.

Bearing in mind I was sandwiched between two men I'd never met before in a black rapist van, I was feeling pretty comfortable. It was made easier by the fact that they were fast becoming two of the funniest fuckers I'd met in a long time. The drive down was fairly uneventful, banter was building and the awkwardness was lessening. Rob's Tom Tom was a piece of shit and took us on an ass about face route to get there....luckily Rob had done the event before  "I recognise this now... it's just on the right here....."

20 mins later..... "yeah it's just on the right...."

and so on for another 20 minutes.

Eventually it was just on the right as he said  and we drove up onto the campsite in Builth Wells, there were rows of neatly erected tents,  large inflatable tent, various gazebos and the "Merida bus" - a swanky converted horsebox with an array of Gore Bike Wear products.

It was around 4.30 when we got there, and had an hour and a half before dinner in order to register and find our bearings, and in my case pitch my tent - I'd gone for the pikey "Silver" package which meant I took a tent and put it up, everyone on the Gold package got a pop up tent which was put up and taken to the next campsite for them (they were also designed for midgets)

We went to register, collect our holdalls (which were enormous!! and once more I regretted not bringing more stuff) I put up my tent near where Rob and Ryan's were and we wandered about a bit. They knew Alex from Gore and introduced me, there was a handsome man selling cheap once worn windstopper jackets - I had a browse and decided that I should probably get one, since my shitty lidl one pretty much filled my hydration pack. So I decided to later on get one, after being mildly insulted by the handsome man "You're riding!!? The WHOLE week!? I assumed you were supporting" So OK, I don't come across a fit cycling type, but I had a smart jacket for 30 notes.

We sat down to dinner at 6 and everyone was being really friendly introducing themselves, lots of them were on a return visit to TransWales and the stories of previous years sounded good (except the year everyone got the shits... or the year it rained for the whole week)
Over dinner the guys took the piss out of my tent - that I'd be paying someone to put it up for me by the middle of the week. We were getting more and more comfortable with each other, so the piss taking was pretty much constant, this is fine with me, it's where I am at my best.

After dinner we went to chat with the Gore guys in the Merida Bus and had a beer, and they talked about bike components whilst I sat looking vapid, they were all really lovely guys, it's strange as I've never been in this environment before and the people are so much more down to earth than triathlon types, none of the elitism you get in that at all.

I turned in around 10pm and had a pretty reasonable sleep.

See you on the other side

Well I spent the day doing various errands, woken up by Garth at dickhead o'clock meetings about fetes, eating cake, collecting a tent from Ali (thanks!), visiting my Mummy (she was baking cakes and offered me one to take so I could give it to people in return for friendship!) and cooking dinner for Simon. Oh and I finally packed!

It took fucking ages. I had my list ready, but I also had a mound of stuff piled up on the sofa just where it had been since around Monday.

I'd done the last of my washing last night and there couldn't possibly be anything else I needed! I tried to pack in an organised manner but I'm so haphazard in general, I struggled. My list is categorise to make it simpler to sectionalise it instead of ram it all into my bags only to find, knickers mixed with waterproofs and bike cleaning rags.

First and arguably most important was "cycling hardware"  and "consumables and Spares" - Bike, helmet, sunglasses, clear glasses, HRM, Hand pump, Multi-tool, Camelbak, Bladder, Chain breaker, headlight, Cycle shoes, water bottle, Cable ties, CO2 shots, Spokes, Tires, inner tubes, gear cables, Spare Chain, batteries, speed links, rear mech hanger, spare cycling shoes for when my other ones get soaked, brake pads, puncture repair kit (as if I was going to actually repair them!?)

Most of this I'd be carrying with me on each day of the event.

Other categories were "ride kit" - pair of fresh liners or shorts for each day, clean jersey or top for each day, arm warmers, water proof jacket, several pairs of gloves, sports bra's, buffs, long sleeved tops

Camping kit - tent, sleeping bag, roll mat



Stuff to keep my bike in good nick



Stuff to keep my erm.....bits in good nick!

Big Thanks to TBAS for sponsoring me!



Fuel... and recovery

I spent some time today also checking my bike over, making sure it was clean and grit free, as this is the last time it will be in this condition for a while, I've heard TransWales isn't kind to bikes.... my lovely lovely bike :( 

Just look at my shiny ring!

All ready and waiting to go.....

Some casual/off the bike gear - shorts, trousers, compression tights, jumpers, and I'm trying to decide which of these to take...? ;-)

I had a message from the guy Pete had put me in touch with this afternoon, he's offered to drive me down with him and his mate tomorrow to save my Daddy driving to Wales and also will give me a chance to get to know a couple of people before being thrown into an unknown environment.

So signing off now until after the event, where I'll be going all retro with a pen and paper jotting down daily occurences.... so until then...

C U Next Tuesday :-)
(or the one after)

Itinerary & Stage Info

Here's a bit of insight into what I've got in store for the next week and a bit, I've inlcuded the distance of each stage, total ascent and descent and details of "special stages" - several of the days have timed sections where the competitors race each other to get the quickest times over a set route:

Friday 12th: Pack and get last minute shit together
Saturday 13th: Pack because I'll have undoubtedly gotten bored and not bothered and spend 10 mins, shoving everything and more into carrier bags. Travel to Builth Wells, Registration, Pasta Party (try not to get into an awkward-not-knowing-anyone- drunk state)

Sunday 14th:Stage 1 - Builth to Knighton
Distance 81km.
Ascent: 2300m
Descent: 2240m
Special Stage - 1km technical climb

Monday 15th: Stage 2 - Knighton - clun
Distance: 84km
Ascent:2500m
Descent: 2500m
Special Stage: 5k Loop

Tuedsay 16th:Stage 3 - clun - Llanidloes
Distance: 73km
Ascent: 2000m
Descent: 2100m
No special stage

Wednesday 17th:Stage 4 - Llanidloes - Machynlleth
Distance: 84km
Ascent: 2260m
Descent: 2440m
6km "climax trail" (maybe I should pack some condoms after all)

Thurdsay 18th:Stage 5 - Machynlleth - cymystwyth
Distance: 75km
Ascent: 2350
Descent: 2150m
Special Stage: 8.5km loop

Friday 19th:Stage 6 - cymystwyth - cilycwm
Distance: 75km
Ascent:2200m
Descent: 2300m
Special Stage: 6km Night Stage

Saturday 20th: Stage 7 - cilycwm - Builth Wells
Distance: 62km
Ascent:1650m
Descent: 1540m

After Party!!

Simon's offered to come and pick me and my broken bits up after and drive back on the Sunday and join in the merriment of the aftermath (should I even make it that far!)

It's not til I read through what's entailed that I realise the magnitude of what I'm about to put myself through.....

What doesn't kill yer eh?

T Minus 2 Days

Excited isn't quite the word..... giddy, apprehensive, a bit scared, bouncing up n down on my seat with  ADHD all come to mind.


I signed off at work today, got heaps of stuff to do including 2 loads of washing - I already have a large amount of stuff on my sofa, the floor, the kitchen worktops, the shed...and I still need to get a new tent I have no idea how it is going to get in the bag! The bag of spares alone looks fit to explode! But I've been told to take everything I expect I could possibly need.


I was going to be leaving tomorrow as my Daddy is driving me to Builth Wells for the start and he couldn't do Saturday but I am his princess and he has managed to swap things around and is now taking me on Saturday. I wasn't too worried about going down a day early except for the fact that I'm no way near ready. Mentally I am, logisitically I'm not. I had emailed the organisers when I suspected I may be there early offering some help marshalling a MTB marathon that is going on there on the Sat as I would be at a loose end, and not knowing anyone it might have been a good opportunity to make new friends.


So registration is on Saturday, where we get our holdalls (it's a bit of a pain in the arse having to repack but i guess it would have been more of a pain in the arse for them to send them all out) so long as Daddy doesn't mind waiting.


I've got a check list ready for things I need to make sure I take, unlike most girls summer holidays, this checklist doesn't contain high heels, straighteners or condoms, the only lube I have on the list is GT85 and fork juice!

Sleepless In The Saddle

As mentioned previously, this event was the last piece in my training plan. Sleepless in the Saddle, is exactly what it says on the tin.

It's a 24 hour mountain bike race,  round catton park (also the home of the 24 relay run I'd done in 2009) sponsored by Singletrack magazine and Kenda, it can be done in teams of 4 or 5, solo or pairs. If it wasn't for the big one next week, I'd have been very tempted to do the solo - maybe next year.

Martin was putting a couple of teams in for Kenda, and asked if I'd like to join one of them, and since he'd suggested it as a good pre event event, I snapped up the offer. He was short of a team member so I also asked my friend Ed, who I ride with now and then when we can.

With some jiggery pokery and getting bikes to various places in an attempt to save the planet using fewer vehicles (I'm a bit of a car hating eco warrior you see) we were all set and although not packed I had a pile of shit I'd need for the weekend in a heap on my sofa. The weather has been really changeable this last few weeks, so what it does is anyones guess and means lots of spare kit.

So armed with a gift for martin (see pic) our team captain, my kit and a pair of weary legs, we made our way up to catton park.
















We arrived at camp Kenda and met with he other team members and our bikes awaited us, with brand new super fast Kenda racing tyres.

After some tent erecting and chatting and hanging about, three of us went out to recce the course, we'd been reliably informed that it was dry and quick out there.

The course did not disappoint, it is an 8.4 mile long course with a brilliant mixture of fun twisty, rooty single track, grassy tracks, bomb holes, steep sharp climbs, longer less steep climbs, small amounts of fire road, rooty twisty decents hair pin turns, and as assured, it was really dry and dusty and fast!

I didn't take the recce lap fast  - there was a long 24 hours ahead of us, but I'm glad I did it, to familiarise myself with the course.

Once back at camp, we were given jerseys and race numbers and transponders. The lovely Penny and her lovely son (my future husband) Robbie turned up en route to their holiday destination to say hello and see us off, whilst I was chatting to her, the decision was made that I'd be the one to do the "Le Mans" start!

We only had 4 team members as one of them had pulled out, so it was also decided that I'd be doing 2 laps for our absent member... it pays to not miss the team briefing! The rules stated that each team member had to do 2 laps as a minimum so I'd wear "Bob's" transponder for two laps to make the team legal.

The race was to start at 2pm, with the Le Mans start - an approx half mile run to the bikes which were lined up on the start line. The idea is to spread the field out a little in these big events as it is pretty tight out there on the course.

So my bike was in position and I lined up on the start line with around 600 other bikers, I positioned myself right near the front, this is probably just an old habit from run races of yesteryear.

The countdown was given 3....2....1.... "hooooonk!" went the klaxon., and off went a stampede of cyclists-come-runners all hammering it along in spds and helmets, in the first 10 meters someone was floored, it was pretty aggressive. I ran on , hard, my lungs burning. There had been banter earlier that the run was a mile and a half but I'd seen the race briefing which suggested half a mile, but I was a little prudent with my speed just in case.

Part of me was a bit concerned that I shouldnt get too near the front of the riders anyway as I'm slow and would get in their way. Pah! The whole point of the run is to spread the field, if I end up near the front then I've got there fairly. We stampeded round the run course and rounded some bushes and horse fences and got funelled back towards the startline, I had spotted my bike near the last of the Enduro flags and Martin was there waiting with it.

I put on my helmet and went to get on, Martin said not til after I'd run through the start line. So I pushed it through, mounted and was off.

My heart was pounding and my throat was dry, I immediately necked some water and pedalled hard round the first bend out onto the course where it almost immediately climbs for a few hundred yards, before taking a righthand turn, into a dusty grassy descent, a hairpin turn and then onto a fast flat section.

I pounded the pedals and hit the big ring (the time trialling would come in handy on these sections) I looked at my HRM it was through the roof. I decided it was fine to red line it, I was only doing one lap for now, I'd have time to recover, just get on with it get a good lap in.

The course was busy with riders, I fortunately on the run had got myself in a fairly good position. After the first flat was the first longish steepish climb (its the type which isn't long enough to break you completely but to sap your energy for a while and require you getting in the granny ring and later would be sure to provide misery and bike pushing to many)

Once up this grassy climb, you eventually flatten out - most people I noticed on this section, spun out their legs in the granny ring still getting nowhere, but I was flicking back upto the middle ring and accelerating away. After this you are dropped into the first single track section, it was really dusty due to the hot dry weather of late and it kicked up lots of dust. It was really twisty and required trackstands in places, particularly when it was busy like the first lap.

There were about 4 or 5 sections of singletrack linked with stretches of grass or grass with tracks worn in by frequent riding. Within the sections were a few bomb holes, some steep descents, so sharp ascents, and obviously very narrow.

In one section a girl cut me up on a descent and I found myself impailed on a stake whilst loads of riders streamed past, losing me quite a bit of time. I finally pushed my way back in and kept on. My HR was still high as a kite, but I still pumped the pedals hard. I found my strength to be on the climbs so whenever I found some open space, I put down the hammer and overtook as many people as I could, round hair pins, back into the twisty woods.

After a few linking stages and single track sections there are a couple of sharp ascents, the type that if in the wrong gear or tired will catch you out. Lots of people were stopping to push up but I spun my legs, got over the front of the saddle, narrowed my elbows and powered on up. Rounded the brow, took a right hand turn and into more lovely lovely dry sngletrack. It wound its way through the woods dropping you down onto a grass track, where once more I put the hammer down, up another energy sapping climb, another hair pin and into 3 bombholes which snaked across the field. The hill coming out of the last one was steep and kept catching me out right near the top. (on one occasion, nearly rolling me back down the hill whilst trying to get myself free of the bike)

I was really happy with my riding, I was feeling confident, and completed my first lap in 53 minutes, which was great considering about 3 of them were running/transition and the traffic on the course was very busy!

I passed the baton to Ed who hared off for his first lap. My HR eventually came back down but I realised then I wouldnt be able to do that too many times.

My 2nd lap, was after Richard and Martin had each done one. I sped out the transition area and motored up the first hill. The tires which had been fitted on my bike were really fast, and helping me cover the ground quickly, I felt really confident and was flying round the course, bounding in and out of the trees, powering up the steep sections. This lap I completed in 46 mins, which although I knew I couldnt maintain I was very happy with. Just as I was coming in to finish lap 2 it was starting to rain. Ed was nowhere to be seen. The heavens opened. Ed appeared and set out in the most hideous torrential downpour, whilst the rest of us hid under the gazebo and watched the sheets of rain and hail fall relentlessly down, flooding the camping areas.

Poor Ed. We should have told him to wait 20 mins for it to pass, it wasn't like we were in it to win.

The rain quickly turned the course into a slippery muddy, wet rooted not quite so fun place to ride. Ed reappeared some time later caked in mud, and soaked through. He'd also stacked it on the steepest descent (also here Simon had seen a lady with  a suspiciouslty broken looking leg)

People were coming back from laps with their bikes caked, and the wheels packed out with sticky mud. Faces spattered, some people clearly having fallen off striped with mud. The Hope bikewash suddenly became vey popular.

Richard was off next, then Martin. Whilst they were riding I changed my front tire to a Kenda Blue Groove, to give me more grip on the wet roots.

Reports came back that it was drying out a little in places but some bits in the woods were still really sticky and wet and slippery.

My next two laps were going to be a double, as an Alias "Bob" or Liam Darby as the system told me later. I set off at a steadier pace as I'm not confident on the wet and given I was doing 2 laps it was required to drop the pace a little. Add to this that it was also now pitch black, so donned with a super bright Exposure headlamp and an even brighter Exposure handlebar fitted light, I was illuminating my path. I was tentative though and my confidence wasn't what it was earlier.

The first climb was really slippery so I had to get off and push up. The first few sections of singletrack were horrendous, the roots were treacherous in places and thank god I'd changed the front tire because even with the good grip of that, the rear wheel wanted to slip out from under me. I picked my way carefully through the single track and pushed up the slippery slopes. This first night time wet lap was 1:02 - quite a different story to earlier. But also in mind that I had to do two on the trot I wasn't red lining it and it was nearly midnight!

I went straight back out on the 2nd lap, and within 10 mins my headlamp failed. I didnt twig at first, but when I pointed my head to look at my watch there was no beam so it made sighting where I need to be looking a bit tricky in places the bars weren't yet pointing.

The 2nd lap was a minute or so quicker but I was really struggling on the wet roots, I was putting my foot down often to stop myself falling off or hitting trees. Aside from the wet roots the night laps were extraordinarily fun! It looked great seeing lights shining across fields and through the woods.

I got back and Ed was ready to go off and do his night lap, I had some dinner and a beer then got in my sleeping bag and chatted in the Kenda stand with the other team members. I sat down on the floor then laid down, Ed returned, Richard went out, I set my alarm so I could try and ride about 4am, noone else in our team wanted to do anymore until the next day and a few hours sleep was in order. It was about 1am now, so if I set my alarm for 3.30 I'd get a couple of hours kip. I was out before I knew it, I dozed in and out of conciousness, hearing bits and bobs of conversations. Then woken up by my alarm.

I also wanted to ring my friend to wish him luck on his first Ironman so made a sleepy phonecall and got up. My kit was still damp so I put it in front of the heater for a while to dry off then went to get some porridge and coffee.

I eventually got out around 5am, did another two laps (around 58 mins a piece) and during the 2nd lap got to enjoy the break of dawn, it was such a lovely peaceful time of day, the sun coming up over a hill to my left, the woods, streaked with flashes of sunlight, it was amazing.

I got back to camp to find Martin and some of the "Fast team" wandering about, but the rest of my team still asleep. I went to get more coffee and pondered if I should go and do another lap then.

Martin had hurt his foot so wasn't going to ride anymore so I was asked to wear his transponder for my next lap.

Ed went out for another lap after breakfast then whilst waiting for Richard to get ready asked if he could do a lap on my bike, so he went next, had a storming lap and came back raving about how great my bikes is which I know ;-)

I did a lap as Martin, the course was drying out again now and I was getting a bit of speed back and did 49-50 min lap for "Martin" getting more confident once more now the roots were drying up. My previous two laps I'd really had trouble gettting over the wet roots in the twisty section and was getting frustrated.

My 8th and last lap would be the penultimate one for the team so i decided to put everything I had left into it, I pushed hard from the start, it was windier out there today than yesterday but  I knew this was my last lap, I overtook everyone I came to, and got overtaken my noone, i whizzed up and down the singletrack, nipping in and out of the trees like an imp. I was loving it, I was pushing a big ring for much of it, but still spinning. The flatter straight sections I pushed hard, like I was doing a Time trial. I kept an eye on my watch, I'd really love a 45 min lap but it was getting close.

I pushed and pushed, up and down the last of the bomb holes, quick descent and sprinted hard for the line. My last lap time was 46. I'll take that. Ed put in the final lap, I'm not sure how many we did in total, we didnt come anywhere but had a fantastic time and were well looked after by Martin and the Kenda crew and throughly spoiled to be riding with a group of very talented riders.

I'm really surprised that my legs feel fine now, no soreness at all. I'm pondering a solo attempt next year.........I must be mad.

I've come out of today feeling much more confident now than last week at cwmcarn and cant' wait for next Sunday now! Just a small matter of a large pile of cycling kit to wash now!

Everything but the kitchen sink,.....

I enjoy writing lists, and the lists I've written for kit and stuff to take have been mammoth! I'm bound to still forget something or "need" (want) to buy something when I get there.

First there's Cycle equipment (bike, helmet, cycling shoes - 2 pairs in case... etc), then cycling clothing (for all eventualities), then camping stuff (tent, sleeping bag...) nutrition (gels, recovery shakes...), off the bike stuff (casual clothes, make - up, straightners...just kidding, they provide them right?!) not to mention spares! (spokes, tyres, inner tubes, mech hanger, cleaning equipment) and of course no epic bike trip is complete without a large supply of Sudocream!

The organisers provide you with a big holdall to transport your stuff but you don't get that until your register so it's hard to know if it will all fit!

I spoke to someone I'd been put in touch with who said "pack all your cycling kit" and to make sure I'd tested all my kit and had good shorts to wear. I've since put "all my kit" out to one side, it could fill my bath tub, not knowing exactly what space I have to put my stuff is the tricky thing, and not knowing what the weather will exactly do another factor. I'm sure it'll all be fine.... if not, it'll add to my adventure

Just as well I've gone for the Silver option as I don't know where I'd store alll my food for the week.

Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail

Well I can't really say I've done the best preparation given that it was quite a whimsical idea. But I feel as ready as I could be given I'm not even sure what to expect.

I amended my already pretty hectic training plan to incorporate one off road ride a week, which became a 25 -  35 mile loop of the Ridgeway one night after work either alone and hammering it as fast as I could or with a friend pottering around having a laugh.

My friend Martin was one of the people I'd spoken to with regards to entering TransWales although he reassured me that although it was a "tough and challenging event" that I'm a strong rider and have the mental strength. I think as with all endurance sheer bloody mindedness is a big factor - this I have in abundance.

Something Martin did suggest however was entering some sort of event beforehand, and said "Sleepless in the Saddle" would be a good option, although it was only a week before the start of TransWales it might be a bit close to be doing a 24 hour off road relay race. However, as always, sensibility doesn't come into it so I agreed to join one of Martin's teams riding for Kenda, as well as this I did one of the chain reaction MTB Marathons up in Shropshire - it was more to test if I could cope with the mileage as I'd not ridden that far off road in one go before.

The marathon was great fun, although pretty challenging, lots (and lots) of long climbs, me and Simon got round, pretty steady; I waited for him at the top of the climbs, he waited for me at the bottom of the descents, but there were thoughts going through my head that I'd be doing this sort of tough ride not just once, but 7 days on the trot, no recovery days.....

ah, what doesn't kill you eh?

Except for 2 days wincing when I was going down the stairs. Stop whining Bucks! You're doing t for the challenge, if it was easy there would be no point.

So the MTB Marathon behind me, miles in the bank, a few more rides on the Ridgeway, once more I asked Martin for advice, this time on training. I had thought maybe back to back off road rides would be the answer, but he said to get the miles in on the road and work on technique off road. This suited me better, I ride on the road everyday and my mileage is already pretty high, so not much adjustment was really needed here. The technique however was a totally different kettle of fish!

Last Saturday Martin and I took a drive to cwmcarn trail centre in Wales, I had only ridden it once before, in the wet, on my hardtail, when very new to mountain biking. I recalled the tough climb in the first few miles, but I thought my riding should have come on enough to help me clear it easily!

Man, was I wrong! The first section was fine, then came the steep ascents with big rocks to manoeuvre, gargantuan roots to lift over. I was getting stopped at every lump and bump. Having to push over things because the ascent was too steep to get the pedals turning over and the wheels rolling again.

I was getting really cross, swearing at myself calling myself terrible names. Martin was really patient though, whilst I picked my way up the hill, swearing. By now I was pissed off and hated cwmcarn, I was over thinking everything, the roots, the rocks, the climbs, the big drops down to the sides, my feet being clipped in, worrying I'd not unclip quick enough before I rolled sideways off the mountain.....

Finally we got clear of the ascent and onto a brilliant descent and single track. The rest of the ride was fantastic - what was I whinging about? I think that first half is like childbirth - the sort of unpleasant experience you forget because of the reward the other side. (so I've heard)

So with my confidence partially restored the final piece of training is Sleepless in the Saddle which starts tomorrow.

Other preparation for the event of course is the bike. I'm not known for my high level of skill at maintaining my bikes. After getting a serious bollocking for the state of my bike a few weeks ago, I've made a concerted effort to keep things running smoothly, keep the chain and cassette the colour it should be (not caked in black filth) To be fair to myself I do try to do my own bike maintenance when I can, there's nothing I like more than diagnosing a problem with the bike and fixing it, but it's something which comes with practice and knowledge.

My beloved Giant Trance X2 hadn't yet been in for it's first service, so I booked it into my favourite sports shop - The Big Adventure Store - who had also kindly agreed to sponsor me in TransWales, and generously serviced my bike as part of this for me. It came back running better than ever before, smooth gear changes, no rubbing brakes - I just needed to keep it that way!