DAVE LLOYD MEGA CHALLENGE 2009..
Article Published : 16/09/08
More Pictures:
- MOEL ARTHUR..
- THE ROAD TO HELL...
- PUSHING TEMPO ALONG BALA LAKE..
- THE BWLCH Y GROES
- START OF THE BWLCH CLIMB
THE RECCE OF THE DAVE LLOYD MEGA CHALLENGE 2009 HAS FINALLY BEEN DONE... WHAT A DAY, WHAT A COURSE ! WHAT A FANTASTIC SPORTIVE THIS IS GOING TO MAKE !!
We finally got ourselves together and a small but happy band got the Dave Lloyd Mega Challenge done and dusted last Sunday... MARK HARDING, (Mr Cyclosport.org), myself and four of Mark's Forum guys, WILL, CLIVE, STEVE and JULIAN rode the 145 miles and 5,000 metres of climbing and are here to tell the tail. We were supported by the fantasic DEREK BOOCOCK, who not only took some unbelievable pics, but also acted as sag wagon, food store and morale booster throughout the whole ride.. He was THE MAN on the day.. Just superb Derek... Many thanks from all the guys... Check out the pics from the recce on the website below, and see 6 of the pics on this page by clicking forward on each pic... Great shots from Derek.. (He takes the pics at many Sportives now, and I would recommend him to any Sportive organiser without question !!.. JUST GREAT!!)
This has simply got to be the longest , hardest, hilliest and most exciting Sportive of all time. We had dry weather for the recce and not too much wind and the scenery was just out of this world. I am SO pleased we decided to take it the "right" way over the Bwlch-y-Groes, and finish it up the Bwlch pen Barass. Having said that, it was VERY hard passing the car park after 143 miles knowing we had the last climb still to do !! OOOUUCCCHHH !!!
BUT, we got round and the sense of achievement on the guys faces at the top of the pen Barass was something to see!!
I did have a nagging doubt that this was maybe TOO hard, but having slept on it, it's NOT.. It's the biggest challenge out there for any Sportiver and there are two alternatives. But after Sunday, anyone who wants to finish the "big one" is going to have to be in FANTASTIC condition...
I CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT JUNE... IT'S GOING TO BE ABSOLUTELY THE EVENT OF 2009 AND THERE WAS NEVER A MORE APTLY NAMED "MEGA" CHALLENGE....SO GET READY TO ENTER ON OCTOBER 1ST OR BE DISAPPPOINTED !!
www.davelloydmegachallenge.com