Snowdonia (400km)

Saturday, 15 August 2015

Epic ride. Absolutely stunning 400km solo ride. 4 punctures... couldn't do anything, ended up swapping front and back tyres around. 

Total distance = 406.8 km
Total ascent = 4,856m
Ride time = 15 hrs 30 mins
Average speed = 26.2 km/h
Max speed = 68.8 km/h

A last minute ride to the beach and back... prompted by PT Will recent ride to Lake District and new highest mileage.  

Bolton to Bala

When planning an epic ride, I like to store the route in my head. I’ll make a few notes on phone just in case. But majority of directions are kept upstairs as this makes for a quicker ride with fewer stops. And so it was, I had spent the previous night studying no less than 7 Ordanance Survey maps. I had it all worked out...

The plan was to head through Trafford Park and pick up the A556. I would then follow A49 bypass Tarporley, take the A534 to Wrexham and pick up the Bala road. 

was to Wrexham by 9am. Puncture #1 at 0905. MTB centre. Road to Bala. Puncture #2. Bala. Reserves. Photo opportunity with Alice. Climb and descend to Barmouth.

Barmouth Beach

Road to Harlech. Childhood memories. Reserves and track pump. Puncture #3. Climb out of Harlech. Big climb. Puncture #4. Last chance. Swap wheels. BC and sheep. Most stunning views across lake.

Men of Harlech

Top tip: Always pack a foil blanket

Snowdonia National Park

Descend to main road. Foil blanket. Pub refreshments. Ribena, coke. Crisps and 4 twixes. Grind home via Buckley.

Last orders in Frodsham

Lights out approaching Chester. 21.00 hrs Chester. A56 road home. Jelly babies, middle of road. 11pm Frodsham last orders. Smile on face. Warrington, Ironman course. 12SR.

Autopilot home

Warrington

HPOD

Ironman route

The recovery at home

It’s hard to explain what your body goes through once you’ve ridden 250 miles. You are obviously tired and aching. But you are also overjoyed and overwhelmed. The adrenaline in your body is still pumping. But your body also starts to shut down - quickly. I always reckon you’ve got half an hour to shower, change, eat and drink, before you’re body really shuts down. It happens before you know it. You need to be rested up when this happens.