End of the trip for me

Zooming along from bristol to rugby now having finished the final leg of my trip from cardiff to bristol yesterday. Nice to sleep in a comfy bed last night! It's been a memorable journey. Stunning scenery, good food, a few beers, great company, friendly people and really good campsites. Seeing somewhere as beautiful as wales by bike has been amazing.

Back across to england

Severn bridge

First sight

Of the old severn bridge. Just poking up between 2 trees. 3 miles to the bridge.

And then there was one

Phil leaves for Bristol

Jules decides...

... On his celebratory pizza. Cardiff castle is just peeking over his shoulder in the background.

Finished

Pontyprydd

The boys arrive at the end of this part me the taff trail. Now where's food at?!

Forest track

To merthyr. Llyn taly bont reservoir in the background.

Last leg.

Over top then down to Cardiff. 50 miles to go

Last camp

As i sit and cook tea, i'm reflecting on one of the wettest days I've seen for some time. Worst of the rain seems to have passed now - fingers crossed - as tomorrow is a long side down to cardiff and the end me the trip.

What's that in the sky?!

It's the sun! Perfect for a quick toastie in brecon.

Brecon

An uncommon

Window of sunshine as craig reaches the highest root of today's ride, just above the brecon village of llanfilo.

Off roading

Good bit of off roading today. Bit slippy and slidey but no incidents.

Friday Morning

Breakfasting in style this morning. Then heading to Brecon. Very overcast! Another wet one.

Lunch

Traditional Welsh Cawl in Rhayader

Now we are 3

Waved Leon off for his train and new we are heading to Builth Wells

New improved blog

Made it to Llanidloes. Too many monutains. Blog is now sorted for
comments. Phil says sorry for wrong settings.

Sent from my iPhone

Made it

Highest point of ride

Slate track

Best bit of cycling for a long time :) very tough climb to the top, but boy what a descent! Happy days.

Hills, hills...

And more hills.

Jules...

Does not like the look of the weather... Gale force winds and horizontal rain.

Breakfast

In a bun

Barmouth

Sunny beach side cycle

A right mess

tin! Leon decide to drop his tin in front of me. Nothing i could. Luckily no damage done!

Note to self

Wear sunblock

Morning sounds

This is the sound of my tent getting battered by the wind and rain!!!

Cycle Day 3

It's 5:18 and I've been awake for a while now with the wind and rain
battering the tent!! Today may not be the best day to cycle 40 mile
over the highest peak on the route!!!

Sent from my iPhone

Yay!

Mawdach trail

Waiting for the others

Drying off in barmouth

Drying out in barmouth

Bridge not quite too far

Near Dolgellau. Very wet day! But all good fun.

Cycle Day 2

The heavens have opened this morning. So wet before we've even started.

Crossing the menai

The long word station thingy

Made it this far. All well.

Welcoming!

Ready for the off

Zen preparation

I would have gone out if I could get to my bike. Sure everything will be fine. The most important thing is you guys are fit and out training and I've got a Trail Gator.

Practice Ride!!

Loaded panniers up with books and headed out. Harder than I thought. Bugger

A serious post!

Out for a 10 mile thrash on the loaded bike to see how it handles and how much it hurts. It's definitely not as nifty as my penny farthing!

And finally....

Not believing our illustrious leader could stoop so low with his below-the-belt comments it is now accurately reported that Phil's training is reaching it's climax as he prepares for the ups and downs of the Welsh countryside.

Phil reckons he can clock up a good 60-70 in a day but believes Craig might adversely affect his performance with his gay(ly) coloured bike and saggy panniers. Here he returns home having notched up another good day's workout in the hills.

In other news...

Some last minute changes see Julian change his normal saddle for something which more resembles what he is used to having under his backside:



And Leon (you can tell it's him from the flip-flops) has been spotted preparing for life without pub food on the road...



And finally, Craig has been putting the finishing touches to his bike after last year complaining that his bike was 'D U double LL dull darling'.

Captured on camera!

So, Team Manager Phil tells us he has bought a 'sexy new road bike'. A bike that features a sleek lightweight aluminium frame, stripped to the barest yet lightest components, oversized wheels, speed is of the essence.



As this photo shows, not quite what we were expecting Race Director Phil.

But while Accommodation Organiser Phil trains around the mountains of Otley Craig has been snapped trialling ways to overcome the problem of how to transport all of this year's gadgets.



[This entry was sponsored by Aldi]

And it is not just Logistics Facilitator Phil who has purchased a new bike, it's rumoured Leon has also splashed the cash.



Leon continues to strongly refute any allegations that his E-Zip Trailz bike boasts a small motor and lead-acid battery pack, which he says is often mistaken for what is a large freezer pack, (to ensure his afternoon Pimms is suitably chilled - we are gentlemen after all).

Cyclone 2009 - early prep

Nearly there

Well my old marin is nearly there now. All new components have been fitted and I've had some bar ends put on. I've put the racks on the back and fitted some clipless pedals. Just got to get some new front racks that actually fit my panniers, change the tyres and possibly fit some mudguards and it'll be expedition ready!

Izzy learns to cycle!