Preparing for the Trans Wales

Suddenly it is Spring. The air has changed. We are not waterlogged. We have forgotten where our waterproof trousers are, and the overshoes are discarded. Flowers are blooming. Trails are drying out. Suddenly, the idea of a summer stage race does not seem so other-worldly.

It is about now that entries start flooding in, explains Mike Wilkens, organiser of the phenomenally successful British mountain biking stage race the GORE BIKE WEAR™ TransWales 2011 powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport. The race, which started in 2006 and apart from a brief vacation to Scotland in 2007, has been running from its HQ in Builth Wells every August since. The race is unusual in terms of international 7 day stage races and unusual in terms of other British mtb events. Here at Cyclist No.1 we will introduce you to this institution of British mountain biking and start you thinking about getting ready to Take It On.

In its 6th year, we will be there. Will you?

The Race

If seven days of flat out racing does not sound like your thing, then the Trans Wales probably is. You can’t legally race on public bridleways and the like in Wales and England, so Mike Wilkens and organising partner John Lloyd came up with an alternative, which has proved popular with riders of all abilities. At the TransWales, riders simply complete the daily way marked route of 50-80km within a time limit and role over the line to a camp site set up with event marquee (complete with permanently ready tea urns) in one of the 6 camps throughout mid Wales that the circular route takes in. The racing takes place in five time trail sections during the linking stage. Race stages vary between uphill, downhill and looped sections of 5-15km. There is something for everyone.

Trans Wales

What else do you need to know? The race costs between £410 and £610 depending on which package you buy. Silver (£510) includes 3 meals a day, but you have to take your own tent and put it up. With Bronze you feed yourself and with Gold your tents are ready for you. All finishes get a nice Gore jersey and big holdall for your gear to be transported between camps. The race starts and finishes in Builth Wells in mid Wales and takes place between 14th and 20th August, although you can race the ‘mini’ versions which are the first 4 or final 3 days. Check out the website for more details (http://www.mtbtransuk.co.uk/wales/event.php). You can race as a pair or solo and prize categories for 2011 are open team, vets (40+) team, mixed team, open solo, vets solo and singlespeed solo (all male and female).

The Route

Every year it’s different but the 2011 delights awaiting us are published in full here and summarised below:

Day 1 Builth – Knighton. Sunday 14th August
81km (about 7 hours) including 1st Special Stage (9km)

Day 2 Knighton – Clun. Monday 15th August
84km (about 7 hours) including 2nd Special Stage (18km)

Day 3 Clun – Llanidloes. Tuesday 16th August
73km (about 6 hours)

Day 4 Llanidloes – Machynlleth. Wednesday 17th August
84km (about 7 hours) including 3rd Special Stage (6km decent)

Day 5 Machynlleth – Cymystwyth. Thursday 18th August
75km (about 6 hours) including 4th Special Stage (18km)

Day 6 Cymystwyth – Cilycwm. Friday 19th August
75km (about 6 hours) then 5th special stage at night (6km)

Day 7 Cilycwm – Builth Wells. Saturday 20th August
62km (about 5 hours) including 6th Special Stage (2km descent).

Total Distance: 534km
Total Ascent/Descent: 15,255m

A holiday on wheels

The 2011 race will be my 6th mountain bike stage race and 5th Trans Wales, so take it from me when I say that it will be a brilliant week’s holiday for any mountain bike nut. You get to ride all day in gorgeous scenery, drifting along perfect, secret singletrack and tackle some of Wales’ most impressive, and unchartered (by your average trail centre aficionado at any rate) terrain. You get to talk bikes to hundreds of other like minded souls. You get to hang out, drink tea and eat pretty damn impressive food (considering its being cooked in a field in the middle of nowhere). You get to go down the pub and share stories of bravery and skill with riders from all over the country and often Europe. And, to scratch that competitive itch we know you all have, you get to thrash at full pelt around, up or down the 5 time trial ‘special stages’ and share in the excitement of the evening podium presentations. Your ‘Real Life’ will disappear from view. The Trans Wales is laundry for the mind.

Trans Wales

The Cyclist No. 1 Stage Race Preparation Guide

Looking at the route, it’s clear that the Trans Wales is no walk in the park, even without the pressure of a 7-hours-a-day race like at the Trans Rockies or Trans Alp. To maximise your enjoyment and not spend the whole week wishing you were on a beach with the rest of the British holiday hoards, preparation is everything. To make your Trans Wales a perfect week away from the stresses and strains of work or family life, here is our Cyclist No. 1 Stage Race Preparation Guide:

Ride every day

Contrary to what you might think, you don’t need to put in 6 hours training a day to get ready for a stage race, but you will need to train. Some longish rides at the weekends of 2-4 hours are a good idea to improve muscular endurance, strengthen joints to prevent injury and improve your cardiovascular fitness. But really, the trick to preparation for a stage race is riding every day. Even if you ride for 1 hour, make sure you ride. You need to prepare your body for the strain of a 35-45 hour week in the saddle, so get it ready gently. Sweet talk it into accepting its long term relationship with your saddle. Get your muscles believing they are in a natural position on the bike. Ride every day and the Trans Wales will be a breeze.

Ride it offroad

As a passionate mountain biker and part time roadie, I am a firm believer in the power of road riding as a fast track to all round cycling fitness. There is a deep muscle fatigue you get from road riding that you never get from mountain biking. Hour after hour of constant, unbroken effort gets bodies fit in no time. However, for a race which has you battering your body over rough terrain for hours each day and for an entire week, you cannot do all your preparation on smooth tarmac. Get used to being rattled around on broken, rocky fire trails and weather-torn singletrack. Beat your body senseless on rutted trails before the race, and your muscles will thank you during it.

Choose your weapon wisely

Pick your bike very carefully for the Trans Wales. Hard tails feel fast, and there is something special about railing a rigid frame through the tight corners of your local singletrack. However, to enjoy all 7 days of the race and still be smiling at the end, I recommend a nice lightweight full susser. I have ridden the race on a Merida Trans Mission, a Giant Anthem, a Turner Flux and a Kona Hei Hei Supreme. I’ll be returning with my Kona; a light weight bike with useful amount of bounce and a geometry which is armchair comfy for long, long, long pedalling days.

Get injury free

You know that niggle you get behind your knee cap when you’ve been on a long ride, or that dodgy glute that comes on when it’s cold? Get them sorted. The Trans Wales takes no prisoners. Book an appointment with your favourite osteopath and deal with all injuries in plenty of time. Do not train on injury in the hope it’ll go away. Nip Injury In The Bud. Always.

Find the perfect kit

You want to be comfortable so you don’t notice what you’re wearing and only notice the stunning scenery or the fact that you’ve just kicked your friends’ butt up that hill. If you can take a new pair of shorts every day then great. If not, make sure you have the most comfortable pairs you can afford and stretch the budget to pick up some good quality riding gear. My daily riding attire will always include Gore’s brilliant Goretex shorts to keep the grit and water out of my bum; an Arcteryx base layer if it’s nippy; a Gore bike wear summer jersey with heaps of pockets for snacks and goodies and my Specialized 2D helmet, complete with peak, of course. Glasses are a must, as are gel padded gloves and arm warmers.

Get your race survival kit sorted

There are a few things which could transform your Trans Wales from being a hard, painful sufferfest into a peaceful, relaxing holiday. I always pack the following:

Pop up tent. You don’t want to be faffing around with poles after 7 hours in the saddle.
A thick comfy thermarest and ear plugs. There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep to set you up for the next day.
Recovery drink. I always swig a For Goodness Shakes! when I get in from the day’s riding.
Wellies. It’s Wales and you’re camping. Pack flipflops by all means, but be realistic, too.
Chamois Cream, sun cream and muscle rub. No explanation required.
Money for massage. Every year the massage team fix me up and put me back on my bike when my quads are screaming with resistance. Take your cheque book. It’s worth it.

Race!

Our final tip is to enter some events between now and August. A great motivator is to go and ride some sportives, Chain Reaction mountain bike marathons or charity bike rides. Go with friends and you’ll be amazed how far you stretch yourself without even noticing it.

Trans Wales

To come... tips to make the difference

We will be reporting back in a few months time with even more advice on what to pack for the GORE BIKE WEAR™ TransWales 2011 powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport, so keep your eyes peeled on Cyclist No.1 for stage race tips on everything from socks to sandwiches. We’ve been there and made the mistakes, so you don’t have to!

For more information about the Trans Wales go to http://www.mtbtransuk.co.uk/wales/stages.php. To enter, go to http://www.mtbtransuk.co.uk/wales/entry.php. Any specific questions, leave a comment below.

Cyclist No.1 - riding bikes too much!

Preparing for the Trans Wales