REVIEW: Tour of Pembrokeshire 2016

Date: Saturday 23rd April 2016
Distances: 50, 75, and 100 miles
Participants: c.1500
Cost: sliding scale up to £40 (on the day)
Start: Crug Glas Hotel, Nr. St. Davids, Pembrokeshire, SA62 6XX 
Feedstops: up to four – depending on route
Timing: timing chip attached to helmet with cable ties
Signs: black and yellow arrows
Roads: quiet, scenic, country roads.
Photos: Huwfaircloughphotography.co.uk 
Goody bag: commemorative coaster, drink. Voucher for High5 Gel & free post ride food.

Crug Glas

Life frequently does not go according to plan. So it turned out, at fairly short notice, that I would be doing this Tour of Pembrokeshire weekend on my own. Luckily I’d booked Friday off a while ago, so I had the whole day to get myself sorted, and get myself down to Pembrokeshire.  

Registration

So after extra sleeping, and faffing, and packing, on Friday afternoon I spent three and a half hours driving through wind and rain down various motorways, heading as far West as you can go.  Not nice. Still eventually I arrived at Crug Glas, the Tour of Pembrokeshire‘s new HQ and also my home for the weekend, early eveningish, and discovered my friend Peter, previous MD of the Tour, and ( I think) still owner of Pembrokeshire Bikes, helping out near the entrance. 

Inside the Cow Shed

I parked up near what would be the Bike Park the following day, and went and said hi, before checking in, and relocating my car to the hotel car park, which put it closer to my room, well out of the way of sportive chaos, and actually visible from my hotel room.

Peroni and pills!

I left my bike there to sleep in peace though – my room was far too luxury to have my bike parked up in it!  As it turns out, it was the same room I stayed in for the 2013 event…very lovely, and complete with an amazing bath which there and then I resolved to actually use this time around at some point! 

Rider Pack

Time to go register, in the little marquee set up next to the newly renovated outbuilding next door to the hotel – the large and very swish Cow Shed. Which wasn’t as easy for me as everyone else was finding it. I went to my desk, but they had no record of me…  It turns out that, thanks to my guest status, my name was on a specific list. Which wasn’t currently around. Nowt for it than to go and install myself in the bar and make myself comfortable until everything worked itself out. Which, while chatting to Peter again, over a pint of pre-ride hydrating Perroni, it did.  

Cow Shed Menu

A nice lady called Elizabeth found me, and I was presented with my route card, bike number, helmet number, cable ties, free High5 gel voucher, and post ride food voucher, all without having to leave my seat. Bonus! I did have to leave to go and cash in my gel voucher though, and have a look at the few stands and tempting bikes on display though :) 

Gathering pre-ride

After a while spent chatting to various people back at the bar, it was time to eat. Food was on offer at £10 for a main course & salad & bread roll…or £8 if you’d booked beforehand. Which I had. So I had a massive bowl of gluten-free pasta carbonara which was really nice. I passed on dessert though even if it would only have cost me £3. Best not to overdo it right? Job done then; time to head back to my room, faff a little more, check the weather forecast even more, and get an earlyish night.

Start line scanning

I slept well – probably thanks to very comfy four poster bed…*grin*.  Which didn’t make the 5:50 alarm call any nicer.  Once up, I checked the weather forecast again – cold, dry, sunny, northerly winds. I looked out of the window to see what the actual weather actually looked like. Sunshine…!  Hm…  

Heading out

Time to make coffee, from a little bag.  Which was a new one to me – but a huge improvement on the usual powdered option.  So breakfast was good coffee, a hobnobs flapjack, and a banana.  I could have had breakfast over in the Cow Shed, at £1 per item, with porridge, bacon, etc. all on offer, but I’m lazy, and prefer to stick to what I know.  

The beach before Fishguard

As for getting dressed in kit – well, layers of course, right?  But how many and which ones?  I looked out of the window again.  At the continuing sunshine.  At the riders parking up in the field beyond, walking over to register, in an assortment of outfits, but many of them being in shorts.  It’s that awkward time of year when sunny can actually be really warm…  But, having opened the window to check, it wasn’t warm yet, even if it was going to be.  And I’ve done the ToP many times and never been warm, and most of my recent rides have been cold, and the forecast wasn't suggesting really warm... 

Up hills

I opted for essentially winter kit but with a short sleeve base layer and a lighter weight mid layer. And nothing in my saddle bag, kit wise, so as to give me room to try and stash anything I chose to remove en route.  Thus attired I headed downstairs to wake the bike up and add the finishing touches to both it and me – bottles, gadgets, food, gels, the usual.  

Views

The tannoy was announcing the countdown to the 100 mile route leaving slot – 7:00-7:30am – and I reckoned I’d be there in time enough. It took me a while to attach the somewhat flimsy number to the bike, and even longer to get the helmet bike chip cable tied on. It doesn’t help when you manage to get it around the helmet straps first time around and have to start over…!  

Moor climbing ahead!

It’s a good thing that I carry both scissors and spare cable ties with me.  Not my favourite variety of timing chip it has to be said, and according to the instructions if you didn’t return it for some reason you’d be liable for a £10 fine too!

Riders passing me by 

So, all done, it was chilly but not that bad, and the sun was shining…and I was half tempted to run back inside and change…but I didn’t, though I was worried I'd regret it later... Finally sorted, I walked over to HQ.  There was a queue for the portable toilets outside, so I nipped inside, where there wasn’t.  

Ready for the descent to Newport

Time to get to the start line then.  The first groups had already gone, so there were just a few of us doing the same. With no ceremony at all, someone scanned my chip, and I was sent on my way…just like that. Considering the comprehensive pre-ride rider briefing pdf, I guess they figured an actual rider briefing was superfluous…  Which was fine by me, I didn’t want to hang around getting cold anyway.  7:15 and I was off.  

Llys Meddg Feed Stop

Blue skies, bright sunshine, long low shadows hiding the road, way before the locals were hitting the road…  It all felt a bit unreal, or surreal, or something.  The routes have changed a bit this year, and not just because of the change of start venue.  I thought I might notice more, but I can’t decide if it was all new, or just that I’ve forgotten large chunks of my previous Tours, which is quite likely considering how long it usually takes me and how much hard work I always find it! I tried not to think too much early on.

Food stop staff

It was cold, but sunny.  The scenery was as ever, gorgeous.  I was feeling ok.  I recognised bits.  It seemed easier than previous years somehow.  But maybe that’s because the route was different…  So hard to tell.  But I was feeling ok…in fact at some points I was feeling like maybe it was going to get too warm and I’d have to find a way to dump layers somewhere, cos I was getting warm and I don’t ride well overheated. 

World wide views

My head spent the first hour or so trying to figure out whether to do the 75 mile route or the 100 route, which passed the time until I'd warmed up properly.  The first few bits of up came and went ok.  Even those nasty little kicks up that come after swoopy dips down to the coast – all good.  Even good enough to smile for the inevitable official photographers lurking on them.  Well I did know those bits were there, so was prepared, and and in the right gear etc…unlike quite a few…  

Going up in the world again

The downs called for a little more caution than usual, thanks to the shadows hiding the road surface under all the trees, and pothole paranoia looming large. But all in all, along the quiet country roads, in the sunshine, looking at the sea, I was a fairly happy bunny.  Hey, life is always better at the beach…so I really enjoyed the bit from Goodwick to Fishguard  

Riders behind

The first route split – for the 50 mile route – came about 16 miles in at Llanychaer. That wasn't for me – time to turn left, go over the little bridge, and straight up the 25% climb instead.  Well, not straight up, it’s definitely more hair pin-y…and steep…and it was hard work! Still, I got up the darn thing, and settled down again, however my arguments for doing the 75 mile route got stronger...  But I carried on, and things carried on being mostly ok.  At some point I even took the over gloves and winter neck thing off…  All good.  

Second Food Stop Map

I’ve done this ride a lot of times…and the weather has never ever been this good!  However it didn’t get warmer…  And as we got higher from time to time and hit the northerly winds, it frequently got chillier…  And then warmer going up.  And then chillier again…  Or maybe it was just me?  Plenty of people still seemed to be surviving in shorts and short sleeves…madmen all of them.  And that’s not sexist, there weren’t many women out there, and I didn’t see any of them in shorts! 

Sheltered valley

The first food stop was at Llys Meddyg in Newport, where this year’s Prologue ride ran from, about 25 miles in.  There were volunteer cadet/guides around, offering to hold your bike for you while you sorted yourself out.  Which was nice in theory, but felt a bit weird...so I declined politely and no doubt awkwardly, and parked my bike up by a fence instead.  

More views

Food of all varieties was disappearing as soon as it appeared – pasties, bananas, boiled potatoes, jam sandwiches…all being topped up as I watched.  I nipped off to the hotel’s outdoor toilets, returned, and opted for the root vegetable option. Variety right?  Nice too!  

From where I was standing I could see the route split.  And I kinda wanted to do the long route.  I’ve always tried to.  And I was currently feeling like it might be possible.  But I was also still pretty cold.  Bearing in mind my current average speed, I could be adding an extra three hours on to my ride.  On my own and out in the cold. But I was feeling ok.  And I hate bailing…  But I bailed, if you can call it that on this ride.  

Riders ahead

To be fair, I know 100 mile rides that are easier than 75 miles of this one!  I think if I’d had company, it might have been a different call…  But I didn’t, and it wasn’t, and I had decided I should play it safe, not least because I have a sportive every weekend for the next 4 weekends after this one.  Besides I’ve never done the 75 mile route…that’s a legitimate reason to do so, from a reviewing standpoint, right? 

Views to the sea

OK then.  So long Moylegrove. Farewell my favourite coast bit.  Auf wiedersehn Poppit Sands. Goodbye extra hills…  To be fair I’d already had some climbing. Some coast. The lovely descent to Newport. That would have to do me.  

Further North and further up was distinctly colder.  The few winter bits of kit that had come off went back on again.  And came off again with more ups.  And on again after…and btw, zips are great things…   There was quite a lot of climbing ahead as it happens.  Lots of lovely long slow ups, to wide open moor lands, where the whole world stretched out under blue skies.  Which was cool.  I was going up fine.  Not fast, not as fast as the steam trains occasionally going past me.  But happily enough for me.  My legs and my lungs and my form was feeling pretty good, and I was doing my best to enjoy myself.  Beautiful climbs and matching views were definitely helping.

Third food stop

The next food stop came around 37 miles.  I didn't really need to stop, having had a break a little while earlier to take photos.  But I wasn't feeling so great now, having gotten too cold for me, so I stopped anyway.  Well, I had to get my chip scanned anyway, right?  Once more I dodged the ‘staff’, I ate potatoes, and then I spent a spell sitting on a picnic bench warming up in the sun.  Hey, my time was going to be rubbish anyway so what did a few more minutes elapsed time matter? 

Right, time to get going again.  It was about 37 miles in, so that was half way, and that always helps mentally.  Having had a good look at the map on the display I knew there were only a couple more climbs ahead, and even another food stop.  

Flatter on the way back

That had to be doable, especially now I was a bit warmer.  And it did get easier eventually.  Shortly afterwards there was a lovely long stretch along a sheltered valley, all green trees, blue skies, yellow flowers and most importantly, none of that bitter wind!  Bliss…I started to feel a bit warmer.  And on the flat I was going pretty well.  I liked that too.  Inevitably there was a long climb out of the valley at the end, but even that was ok.  I’d rather be a bit warm than too cold, and I can do hills!  I may even quite like them ;)  

There was another food stop, about 25 miles from the end, where I stopped because I thought I should, again not because I needed to, but with that long a gap before the end, I thought I should make sure I was topped up with drink.  And potatoes ;)  There was clearly going to be musical entertainment here too shortly, but having started early and taken the shorter route (clearly not the only one to do so!) that wasn’t quite up and running yet. 

Colourful!

And now I had 25 miles more to do, which turned out was both familiar and fairly flat.  It also turned out that I could still fly along on that, as my slowly increasing average speed demonstrated.  There was, as there had been all day, plenty of support en route.   Cowbells, people clapping, small children waving, one with a sign saying “Be determined, you can get around this course”, which made me smile.  The legs were still working, the sun was still shining, and I’d even rolled my sleeves up a little.  Go me!  

However there was a nasty climb at Whitchurch which sort of stopped play for a while.  Having joined up with a lot of the 50 milers by now there were a fair few walking riders for me to overtake though.  I went past a walking girl, and said hi…because today most riders were friendlier than usual.  Most of those who’d gone past me all day had found time to say “hi”, “morning” or whatever, or at least “on your right” and I had been doing the same in my turn.  She heard me, turned, and said on seeing me, “oh wow you’re doing so well”…  

The road home

Now admittedly she may not have been referring to the fact that I was still pedalling up the hill while she was walking.  She may have thought I was on the 100 mile route and must have been going some to be going past her already, which clearly I wasn’t.  But it did boost my ego enough to make sure I pedalled all the way to the top *grin*. 

The final big hill being done, the last few ups on the way back, some of which I remembered from previous rides,  didn’t even really register with me this time around.  I was on my way home, and there was to be no stopping me.  

The route after this has definitely changed – it now goes back in straight through the countryside to come in through St Davids (past the old Oriel y Parc venue) and back to Crug Glas HQ in a far more sensible way.  It’s flattish too.  At times I could see the sea stretching out far beyond, tankers lining up out there along the coast, islands, blue water, blue skies…very lovely :)  

After St Davids, heading back sort of NE, the last few miles back into the headwind might not have been a lot of fun, but I was nearly there, so it was ok. Put my head down, get on with it. I had picked up a couple of riders at the traffic lights just before St Davids, and we played tag for a bit before I dropped them for a while…and then there were two of us again for the final stretch, counting down the last few miles.  

Waiting to be scanned at the finish line

Then it was back down the drive, past various supporters to the Finish line, to have my head scanned (well people have been known to say I need my head read!).  My timing number was removed, and I was given my commemorative coaster and some sort of fruit drink.  Job done. I walked slowly down the road towards HQ, and had a brief chat to Elizabeth who I’d met the day before and who had ridden the 50 with Peter for charity.  

There were happy riders everywhere posing for photos, sitting outside on the grass in the sun, eating, drinking, with music blaring – and there was a really nice atmosphere.  Which sort of passed me by.  I bumped into Peter himself and we agreed to meet for a beer shortly, so I walked my way to my car to tuck the bike back into bed, before joining him in the bar. Hey, this time the Perroni was re-hydration! ;)

Commemorative coaster

Although food wasn’t a problem today, I figured it wouldn’t do any harm to eat, and it would be a shame to miss out on my free pig roast roll (beef was also on offer) from Gwaun Valley Meats. The marquee outside was now housing them and the massage team, and I’m glad I queued for that which I was entitled as it was lovely.  

For those that wanted something else, the same £10 meal option was still available in the Cowshed, along with cake, tea, coffee etc.  Having recovered, eventually I took myself off with another beer, to take refuge in that massive bath as I’d promised myself I would. Tour of Pembrokeshire done. 

The fabulous bath

It was, and is, a great event, with the best weather I’ve ever seen for it.  You should definitely do it. Hopefully I’ll be back again next year, and I will nail the long route!

PS: – apparently the timing system that actually turned up wasn’t what was ordered…so a little leeway should be granted for that…