Loading ...The Gran Fondo is essentially a non-competetive Randonee or an Audax event.The registration was a painless affair. We went down to the Leisure centre on Saturday afternoon expecting a massive queue but was quickly logged in and my timing chip fastened to my wrist.
All ready to go we just needed to ride over the Welsh hills.
The Sunday start was a smooth as well. The stewarts were putting out groups of ten at one minute intervals. I got kitted out with my waterproof on as there was a forceast that rain was coming in from about 10am. After waiting a couple minutes I was off riding out into Bala, then left in to the first climb. The first 25km climbed up over Llancycil c. This was a nice steady start with no wind and great views including Llyn Clyn resevoir.
The first fast descent took us down Ysbyty Ifan with most of the climbing we had done in the back of our minds. The weather continnued to hold up no rain and no sight of the storm that had been bashing southern Wales the day before. A little more tar and climbing brought us into Nebo (or Nemo as the girlfriend called it) and then a mega descent into Llanwerst. This was a quiet, well tarred road. The breaks were opened and the top speed of the day was on the scorecard.
Kicking back on ourselves the route looped round toward Snowdon again. We took a nice steady ride upto Betws-y-Coed, now bustling with weekend tourists and then out up towards Capel Carig. The first feed station came in just before the halfway mark at Plas y Bremin, the National Mountain Centre. A good few cyclists were mingling around now and tales of the first half were being exchanged. Following a short recharge the ride continued to climb past the fabulous llynnau Mymbyr lake an upto the peak. At the summit of the climb the road split heading off towards the Snowdon summit carpark and down towards Beddgelert. The second ascent was over 20kms in total culminating at the top of Dyffryn Mymbyr after starting at Llanrwst, another 200m metres of ascent completed.
The next descent was as fast as the first but was breathtakingly beautiful. With a dashing view of Llyn Gwynant and snowdowia’s peaks to the right is was a great sight. Passing another lake before dropping through Beddgelert the ride looped back heading towards home.
The next section brought some sharp climbs, which the legs protested against. Firstly, the B4410 from Garreg saw us climb 100m over 5kms and another climb out of Maentwrog - 200m over 6km. Argh. At least feed station #2 was at the second summit offering a hot drink and sausage sandwich from the BBQ.
With the century kilometre mark passed and the sheerest climbs completed things looked a little more rosy. Then the drops of rain came and the toughest experience of the ride lay ahead.
The moors of Trawsfynydd C were the toughest part of the Medio ride. The rain was now coming down in sheets and together with a gale as a headwind my mental strength was being drained. A lonely marshal at the peak (well done to whoever you were) provided a mental boost as it signalled the top of the last big climb and that Bala lake was ahead and then the finish.
A wet and wild descent back to A494 and Bala lake was in front of us. We followed the dayglo signs although a road sign point Bala in the other direction, another mental tear . Hoefver, we went around the back of the lake to take the quiet run back to Bala Leisure centre.
A checkpoint at Llanuwchllyn showed where the Medio Fondo and Grand Fondo split. The tough-nuts headed up Cwm Cynllwyd, for a king of the mountains time trial and another 35miles before heading back to Bala.
For me the Medio Fondo Wales was going to be sufficient. I counted down the final 5kms and pulled into Bala Lake to a busy Leisure Centre. Everyone was inside warming themselves up following hours in the rain. I finished with a Bronze Award in the Medio Fondo Cymru 2008, total ride time 7:06:00. A long day through the Welsh valleys.
A great ride overall although the wind and rain on the last ascent was at the time enough for me to swear I would never visit the area again to ride. But as always happen pain seems fun with hindsight - maybe the Grand Fondo Cymru for 2009?!!
Thanks to all the organisers. Great event with efficient organisation and brilliant feed stations. Our accomodation at Llwyn Onn was brilliant. The full welsh breakfasts kept us going all day.
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