Wales in pictures.

Just back from a weekend in Wales.

Incredibly it didn't rain.

The 24hr race that didn't go according to plan.

Sleepless in the Saddle, well that was the plan.

I felt rubbish from the start, no excuses really, just not firing on all cylinders. Except the power of explosive multiple bowel movements.

I managed to last for about 10 hours and 10 laps, before my body said no more.

A proper rest for a while should hopefully do the trick, before heading up to the dales for some 3 Peaks training.

Delamere

Had a great ride out tonight in Delamere with the usual crowd. A steady ride with some gloop undertyre, but no rain. Great to see Andy for the first time in a long time there. Less training more riding with your mates please eh?

I hammered my knees yesterday, so I came with the "easy" bike, the Commencal.

I took the Commencal out for the first time since the Mega Avalanche. I hadn't changed it's setup, ie heavy tyres, bash, big disks.

Ooh I was so slow.

The muddy Selkirk Merida

The overnight rain didn't bode well. Sure enough the morning arrived, and there were puddles everywhere in the field.

Off at 10am, along the road for the first few miles, before the route headed upwards off road. I'd set off middlish in the field so plenty of bottlenecks, but at the end of the day the event was not a race, more a mountain bike audax.

Once the field spread out a bit the Scandal made light work of the conditions underfoot. Surefooted even on the proper slippery bits.
There were 4 main climbs, which though not particularly steep, left few opportunities for rest on the way up. Thankfully the descents were not to steep either, so I could spin down with out too much braking.

A good event, with the most amusing bit being me and Terrahawk on his SS trying to, and catching up with some guys on the black descent at Innerleithen whilst managing to drop a guy on his Heckler. He'd been ribbing us about the disadvantage of not having gears and suspension.

6:45, 88 KM, 2900 metres of climbing, a tough ride on the fixie.