I enjoyed the Devil Ride so much I thought I’d head back to Wales for some more cycling..

The event is almost full with 786 entries from 1000. It will sell out.

More details available from the Autumn Epic site.

My prep for this event was fantastic.

Stage 1: Don’t touch road bike since June.

Stage 2: Get proper pished on Thursday with 4hrs sleep.

Stage 3: Go to Rollapaluza XI Friday night, ride home at 3am, 4hrs sleep before getting 5.5hr train to Builth Wells, Wales.

I met a couple of other riders on the train. One was looking to set a fast time (he’s a London Dynamo Cat 2 so it’s expected) and the other was losing his sportive virginity and just hoping to finish.

At Builth we parted and I headed into town for some food as my B&B was out of town so I didn’t expect there to be a nearby pub (there wasn’t). I found a little cafe that let me keep an eye on my bike and had some veggie lasagne and a milkshake. Tried a Welsh Cake too – thanks Wayno – I should’ve grabbed some more for the B&B. Waited in there for the rain to stop, whilst cursing the fact I only brought jeans and one pair of knicks, I met another rider Kristian and Cat 2 Cameron again. Eventually saw a gap in the rain and rode the 10k north to the B&B.

The B&B I stayed in was Wernhir Farm run by Monica Fairclough. It was sweet. I laid down on the bed and… silence. No rain noise, no wind noise, no cars, no sirens, no shower noise, no toilets flushing. I couldn’t believe how quiet it was! Nice.

Up (too early) I had a fry-up. I don’t usually eat these (certainly not before a ride!) but today was always going to be a bit of fun rather than a speed fest, so.. meh.

It was a bit wet riding to the start. I registered and rolled up to the start line behind a large waiting bunch. Slowly left the start after swiping my wrist band timing chip and rolled along out of Builth Wells.

At the 3.5k mark (no joke) I see a gradient sign saying 16% uphill. Oh crap, these guys aren’t mucking about are they?! Into the wind (yes, even though it was hilly there was a very strong head or cross wind blowing) and drizzle.

At the 10k mark after the 16%’er warm-up, guess what folks? Have some of this 25% hill. Thankfully I’d gone home on Friday and swapped my 23T for a 27T cassette!

At 30k a guy was stopped on the side of the road and I asked him if he was okay. He said his wheel was busted so I stopped and offered to call the organisers to arrange a pickup. I trried both numbers but couldn’t get a signal and told the bloke I’d call from up on the next hill. He seemed to have sorted out the issue and said he’d just go to the food stop (another 16k) and sort it from there. It’s nice to be asked if you need help when you’re on the roadside so I tend to ask people.

This process of wind, rain and an endless supply of hills continued for 50k/30mi until Devil’s Staircase a steep, twisty bugger of a climb that saw most of the people dismounting and walking as I rode past. One guy almost ran into me as he swerved side to side, such was the gradient. At the top was the first food stop. I helped myself to some cake and a ‘nana. As I was taking this easy and “enjoying myself” I had a bit of a stretch and grabbed more cake before carrying on.

There was a turn off here for the Little Devil 100k option. “haha” I laugh in the face of your bail out route! Some other riders had clearly had enough already and were coming back down the road to take the 100k option.

The valleys were fantastic. For one, they gave some respite from the climbing. Secondly, they were great to zoom down and they looked stunning with fast flowing rivers cutting through them (no I didn’t go for a swim this time!).

The Gammallt (“the fearsome Gammallt (25%) follows straight after the Staircase and came to fame when it forced riders onto their feet during the Milk Race.“) was next and to be honest I don’t really remember it, whereas the Devil’s Staircase was quite a distinct climb. Sorry guys 🙂

Huge descent along the valley with a strong tailwind now. It went on for ages and if I actually turned the pedals would’ve easily cracked 80kph. As it was, coasting at 70kph around stupid sheep walking onto the road in front of me was enough to deal with. Killer sheep. Fantastic views over a lake here and then it started to get a bit more covered, more trees lined the road and it was more forest than open fields.

Second feed stop

I’m sure there was about 5k in here of flat road. I remember talking to a guy out for a ride (not doing the Devil) and then moving around a Devil rider and rolling along for a while, only to turn around and find them both gone. It didn’t stay flat and fast for long though as we came across Devil’s Bridge. This climbed up through the trees. A guy sat on my wheel the whole way up until he dropped his chain – karma! 🙂

The last food stop wasn’t really needed by me but I stopped and scoffed some cake anyway – what the hell! When I saw the 20k to go signs I’d decided I’d had enough of pacing myself and let rip. I’m sure I annoyed a few of the riders who were suffering at this point when I flew past not looking like I’d ridden that previous 140k 🙂

Probably went a bit hard a bit early because the hills, although shorter, just kept coming! I saw the sign for Newbridge-on-wye and knew I was close but the organisers were cheeky and instead of a direct route took riders around the much bumpier B roads. Still, kept the pace up and made Builth Wells and the finish line. Woo! Great ride!

Sat around at the finish for a couple of hours recovering and chatting to Kristian who I’d met in the cafe on Saturday. Then 10k back to the B&B for a wash and rest. Job done.

my phone pics

www.cyclosportives.co.uk – devil ride

www.georgeburgessphotography.com – pics

www.sportident.co.uk – results

Devil Ride 2008 Results PDF

What do you do when you get home with 290k (181mi) on your trip distance display?

Say “hi” to your girl, grab a handful of sugary treats and head back outside to ride around until the bastard clock ticks over 300k (180mi) of course!!

Yes, my first ever 300k ride (I consider it one ride if it’s within 24hrs in the one pair of knicks) and it was done fixed on a bike I rarely ride, mostly at night, carrying a full bag!

I was wrecked, with a dangerously sore backside, although I’m feeling quite okay now that I’ve eaten everything in sight.. until I try to stand up that is 🙂

Last night I rode the Soma (with new 45×17, 69.6GI gearing versus last year’s 42×15, 73.6GI) into London Fields for the start of Dunwich Dynamo 16. Meeting the forum bunch we imbibed pre-ride drinks and talked the usual crap. Weather was looking good. Riders seemed to be mostly the same as last year, even with 3000 londonfgss.com members. Soft. Roberto was setting a standard even Cipo would fail to meet.. silver skinsuit with aero helmet and yellow overshoes! Nice one!

We set out later than last year (giving us loads of flashing red lights to chase) and kept the pace easy. Since we’d left later, there wasn’t the massive bunches this time which made sticking together a lot easier. I did the majority of the riding with someone I knew and only now and then went away alone. This helped with pacing, unlike my Polar HRM which seems to be dying on me – for the 2nd year running!

The weather was LOADS nicer this year, it was much lighter with the full moon actually visible and we saw the famous roadside candles left by a leading rider. We got a tiny bit of rain entering Lavenham. Lavenham also happened to be the location of the feed station (last year’s place was getting renovated) and it had stopped by the time we left so, no problemo!

What’s with the roads being SOOOO much nicer east than the goat tracks they have scattered around the Chilterns out west?? I thought richies lived out west? I guess they all own BMW X5’s so they don’t need to worry about dodgy road surfaces. Anyway, without the never-ending rain of last year I noticed the sweet roads out east – pity about all the knobs driving on them. Some of the people leaving pubs were a laugh though. 🙂

Bit of a rest at the feed station, some coffees and a soup and we eventually gathered enough steam to move out.

I spotted a hedgehog crossing the road. I think it’s the first one I’ve seen that wasn’t road kill. Stopped in front of it to stop it being hit while the lads tapped the little blighter until he ran away. Animal Welfare job done.

“Most Agressive Rider” award goes to Stompy and Sam:

Stompy really suffered last year and yet he exhibited top HTFU properties and came back for more, and this year he was really moving along. Top stuff.

Sam, with next to no training, joined me for the ride back to Ipswich. He was on 250k+ when I left him at Liverpool St. Well done mate! Proper ‘ard! 🙂

Thanks everyone for smiling, riding with me, putting up with me and making the whole thing fun for the second year. Nice to meet forumers Jacqui and Moose at various points during the ride. I also look forward to hearing about the stag do that started with DD16.. cough up you guys..

This is before I set off with Sam to add another 80k to the day.. :S

My lame phone pics of Dunwich Dynamo 16 here.

Tommy’s much funkier Dunwich photos.

DanDNA’s Dunwich photoset

Corny’s Dynamo photoset

LondonFGSS.com Dunwich Dynamo thread

Steve’s Dunwich Dynamo 2008 ITV video

Stompy’s Dunwich Dynamo 2008 report can be found here.

RPM’s Dunwich Dynamo 2008 report can be found on Rollapaluza here.

Ed’s pic of the “Fixed gear maniacs” at the start last year.

www.southwarkcyclists.org.uk – faq

www.londonschoolofcycling.co.uk – route

Finally Prav visited and took my cranks. Gone are the evil Campagnolo Athena road cranks. Now the Soma has received more blackness in the form of FSA Vigorelli track cranks. With the new 45T up front I’ve swapped out the 3/32 16T cog with a black Condor 17T one. Now I need a new chain. I think these will need testing before Dunwich but I’m not sure if I have time. I don’t really want to be looking for an ISIS BB tool and wrench at 3am in the middle of nowhere..