The 2002 Iron lemming was a by far the hardest Lemming challenge yet – but
then we did say it was the hardest challenge in the UK:
130 miles of off road riding along some of the toughest trails in Wales.

We knew this was going to be a difficult one but some last-minute changes to the route (due to a trail closure and the vast amount of rain that had soaked into the ground) made the 2002 Lemming a ride of real epic proportions.

The ride kicked off with a mass start at 8.00am in Talybont On Usk. 100 riders moved onto the trail and up the Talybont valley. Mile one started and only another 78 to go!

Just how hard the day was going to be became clear when the first riders took three hours
to reach check-point 2, having only completed the loop through the Beacons. Sarn Helen came next and with it the hope of some faster riding. Well, the hard rocks that cover most of the trail were faster but the vast amount of water
sitting on the trail meant that riders were often riding with water up to
their waists! The massive puddles and constant water crossings managed to
hold the riders back, sap strength, and drain the energy even more.

Check-point 4 was at the start of the Black Mountain. This remote and
massive lump of mountain range, is rarely visited and is always a hard
challenge. The route marking on this remote track always takes hours but
with a positive trail laid for the riders, we were hoping for the best.

The trail over the Black Mountain only exists because it was the route
villagers used to carry their dead to the church on the other side. Anyone
that has covered this route will wonder at the dedication involved (or did a
few not find their way to the other side?).
Well for many a rider this weekend the Black mountain did prove to be the last nail in
the coffin. The soft ground and difficult trail made slow going for tired
legs. Big respect here for the rider that checked in with the lead group,
asked how the football was going and then dashed off to watch the rest of
the game in the local pub – he later returned and finished the ride! now
that’s a football fan.

The next section cannot be described as easily, but we were starting to get some firmer tracks and a few faster sections.
With the light fading we were wondering just how many riders were going to
make it to the security of the overnight rest at Llanwrtyd Wells.
In the end the first riders, a group of four that had been together most of
the day, arrived just after 7.00pm, a full 11 hours 11 minutes after leaving
Talybont on Usk that morning.
More and more riders came in – all looking tired and very glad to
finally get off the bikes. Dinner was served and most riders headed to bed
as soon as they had filled up enough.
66 riders had completed the full ride with a large percentage of the others
only missing out on the final 1 or 2 check points.

Sunday was going to be the tester – Having completed such a big ride, how
many were going to get up for the 7.45am start? Breakfast was on the way at
6.00am with all the Team Trail Break guides and staff in full action yet
again. The team had been on the go since marking the whole route two days
earlier, so the stress was beginning to show on them as well. Thankfully the
riders started to pour in and it looked like most of the day one finishers
were going to give it their best for day 2.

The route wasn’t going to be as bad as day one but a full 51 miles around
the mid Wales mountains wasn’t going to be a picnic and the weather just
wasn’t going to get any better either – the low cloud and heavy mist was
threatening to throw another dampener on the day.

The start of the ride was on road, so sore legs were given a chance to warm
up before the first hard climb over a remote track to the Claerwen Reservoir. Around the reservoir the track improved but the water didn’t, it was pouring
off the hills in every direction and one track with the name “the Splashes”
was promising some really deep baths.

Lunch was taken onto the trail by Team Trail Break, and with only a couple
of hours riding left, most riders started to believe that the end might just
be in sight.

One last forestry climb and then a very fast descent back into Llanwertyd
Wells finally did bring the finish into sight.
The first riders crossed the line 6 hours and 13 minutes after setting out.
Giving them a total of 17 hours 24 minutes for the 130 mile challenge.

Tea, cakes, and lots more SIS drinks were passed out to tired riders and
every finisher was presented with a bottle of Trail Breaks very own “Trail
Ale”. A few were drunk pretty much on the spot, it’s strong stuff and maybe not the best
recovery drink, but certainly a good celebration one.

A total of 43 riders managed to complete both days riding with another 40%
only missing out on 1 or 2 check points. Given the conditions this was
better than hoped.

Soon the buses and lorries were packed and the riders were whisked back to
their cars at what must have seemed a very distant Talybont on Usk.

Trail Break want to give a big thanks to all the riders that gave it their
all and took up this year’s gauntlet. Thanks also to Team Trail Break and all the Trail Break staff, SiS (for providing
free energy drinks to all the riders along the complete course), Brecon and
Builth Wells cycles for their support and help, and particularly to John from Builth Wells for staying up late and returning so early repairing all the
bikes.

We are already looking at the Iron Lemming route for 2003 – we won’t make it
any harder (I don’t think we could!) but we will be looking for some new
routes and a new challenge.

Cheers.

(with a nice bottle of Trail Ale I have just opened)

Phil