Day 7: Mike Tate's TransWales Blog

A nice and easy final day with the shortest distance, least climbing and the easiest special stage is how it was sold to us. The Welsh eco-system had other ideas and served up some cold sloppy conditions. Find out how Mike's final day at the TransWales played out.

After seven straight days of varied Welsh riding, many thousands of feet of slogging uphill and almost thirty hours in the saddle this was it – the final day of the 2011 Trans Wales. For many of us the realisation that we were nearly there probably hit at the end of the previous evenings special stage. Talk after the stage over a cold one had very much been about how short the stage was and that it would be an “easy” way to finish the week. How wrong we all were to be!

The previous weeks riding had been blessed with some of the best weather the TransWales has ever had. Normally riders prepare themselves for wet, windy riding all week. We had, with the exception of one day, been able to ride in short sleeved jerseys and enjoy relatively dry trails. The final day was to redress the balance. We set off in full wet weather kit, the temperature cool and Welsh default rain soaking us quickly. As per usual the first part of the day was a road climb which seemed to go on forever but because of the weather banter was in short supply and average speeds were dropping. From the road climb we hike-a-biked up a short track before hitting a forest road. This seemed like the steepest and longest of the week and people were just putting their heads down and losing themselves in their own dark thoughts as they plugged away (or was that just me?). We didn’t even have the usual amazing views to distract from the pain so we just had to keep going. The first aid station offered little respite, people were cold, wet and just wanted the day over.

But it was amazing how soon this was to change – certainly for me. Again hooking up with familiar riding buddies from the week, as a group we started to push on quicker and with this we started to warm up and before we knew it we were enjoying some tricky, technical and extremely greasy descents. The route was now in forests which gave us a little shelter from the elements and we followed singletrack that had been cut between the trees. We knew from the course profile that this forest section ended at lunch and that after this much of the return to the event village at Builth was on road. The volunteers again went out of their way to welcome the bedraggled riders and to offer tea, sandwiches and most importantly an insight into what lay ahead. The magic words “one more off road climb” got us going pretty quickly and within a mile we were warming ourselves as we struggled up the final hike a bike. From the top a twisting descent lead to the road which we were to follow for the final 15k or so.

The rain was clearing as we chain-ganged towards Builth. The road climbed but we powered on knowing that the end was near. Each rise we scanned the horizon for a glimpse of anything resembling a settlement but each time we were met with another stretch of undulating road.

We soon saw signs for Builth and with this the speed picked up to a sprint as we hurtled towards the finish. This had been an amazingly tough day, probably nowhere near as tough as other days but as one rider said, “in our minds we were already at home with our feet up!”. The TransWales kept us on our toes to the final few kilometres and it was only here that I allowed myself a broad grin and the realisation of what I had completed. I came across the stage finish line with fellow Tredz rider Nigel Thomas, immediately stripped off wet layers and headed straight out for the last special stage.

Having ridden this stage I knew what was coming and seeing Andy from For Goodness Shakes not far in front gave me something to aim for. I spun furiously up the hill climb knowing that after this was a short, sinewy section in the trees before the last plummet back to the finish line. Keeping Andy in my sights I pushed on feeling the lactic acid grow in my tired thighs. I nearly stacked on the steep step back onto the last section and then let the speed go as I threw the bike down the two fields to the finish. I even managed an out of the saddle sprint across the finish line.

Mike Tate TransWales Day 7

And that was it! I was presented with the fantastic finishers jersey that at the start of the week had seemed a long way off, and glugged a cold beer from the bucket. As the beer disappeared I reflected on the week. I had ridden eight continuous days over almost 600km with 40000ft of climbing and 35 hours in the saddle. I had visited some amazing parts of Wales and ridden all types of trail. I had met some great people and forged friendships. But above all I had experienced an incredible event, well organised, constantly pushing me to my limits and something that I will never forget. There are loads of people I need to thank from the organisers of the events, the volunteers that made it run so smooth, everyone at Cyclist No.1 for allowing me to do this, and Tara for supporting me throughout.

I’m going to take a few days to digest the event and allow all that I have experienced to start to sink in. Until then I hope everyone has enjoyed my random ramblings and it has hopefully given you some insight into the race.