To those of us who are taking part in next week’s inaugural Merida TransWales, the words “next week” leap off the screen as if to say, “Hadn’t you better sort yourself out?”. We’ve got piles of mostly random kit to assemble and make sure it’ll fit into the allocated luggage space. And having noted the 85km/2,600m of climbing involved in the very first stage, we’re wondering if we can get a spare pair of legs in there…
Registration opens at lunchtime, so we anticipate an amusing afternoon involving the collected competitors looking at all the gear in their cars, looking at the supplied holdall which will be transported between stopovers, looking back at the cars and sucking their teeth. Obviously Team Bikemagic is sufficiently organised to have mocked up the holdall with old bike boxes and parcel tape to make sure everything’ll go in. OK, we haven’t. We thought about it, though.
Mind you, our preparation is looking pretty good compared to that of John and Barbara, our TransWales competition winners and BM representatives in the Mixed category. John took a tumble in the Peak the other day while riding with a bunch of forum regulars (thanks, chaps!) and his knee is currently the size of, reports indicate, Belgium. Fingers crossed that he’ll be OK come the weekend…
The final part of the BM TransWales assault is Kim Hurst and Heather Dawe, racing under the SheCycles.com banner. They’re proper fast, and we’re hoping for great things from them…
If you’re still faffing about getting sorted, it’s probably a good idea to take a look at the requirements list on the event website – there’s a bunch of kit that you have to have, and the organisers will be checking at registration.
Obviously it’s a good idea to know where you’re going. We’ve got an overview of the course, and there are more comprehensive details also on the event website. That’s not just useful information for riders – all are welcome to come and have a look and cheer the riders on either on linking stages or the timed special stages.
Technology permitting, we’ll be bringing you daily updates from the event. We’re hoping that some combination of laptops, data cards, mobile phones, carrier pigeons, flag-waving and smoke signals will get the job done. The organisers will be posting reports and images too.
Finally, some admin details from organiser Michael Wilkens:
The registration of the Merida TransWales will be based in the event village at the White House farm in Builth Wells. Check the website (http://www.whitehousecampsite.co.uk/) and specifically the ‘how to find us’ page (http://www.whitehousecampsite.co.uk/page5.html) for details. For all the GPS users the postcode is LD2 3BP.
The registration will be open from 12 (noon) pm – 8 pm on Saturday (12th August 2006). There is NO registration on Sunday morning. If you are delayed for whatever reason please ring us on 07976 586418. Please keep in mind that the registration process is a little bit more time consuming than at the Merida 100 marathons so we can only suggest to arrive fairly early to avoid long queues.
We will have the official welcome and the briefing just after 8pm so please make sure you stay around for that. The start of the 1st stage on Sunday morning is at 9am from the White House Farm.
If you are interested in getting a feeling for the event (maybe for next years round) or to see the riders off on Sunday morning (start 9am) just join us over the weekend at the White House Farm in Builth.
We are still getting entries, and there are a few places left. You can still send entry forms and payments to us as long as they arrive no later than Thursday post. After that we can only suggest to enter on the day (see registration). If you want to make sure that entries are still available or if you want to check any other details please call 07976 586418 after Thursday lunchtime. Up to then we are still on the usual +44 (0) 117 9046944 number.
We will have the ULTIMA clothing sale next to the registration where you will find lots of great deals you don’t want to miss out on. In particular looking at the fact that you will be out there for a whole week it might not be a bad idea to get a few extra base layers in. Come over, check out the stand and see what extra TransWales offers we have for you.
Right, that looks like everything. Best of luck if you’re taking part – we’ll see you in Builth Wells…
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