It was one of those events, like all the best ones, that you sign up for without really thinking about what was involved.

A hardy group of thistle riders headed for Wales and the
Dave Lloyd Mega Challenge the toughest sportive EVER!

Steve King, who started it all when his mate Graham signed up, Chris McClements, Brian Sproul, Neil Crawford and me Ali Chisholm.
We were joined by Ian Anderson from the Dundee Wheelers.

Dave Lloyd Mega Challenge – a few facts and figures.
140 miles, 4000 metres of climbing.
600 were down to start. Only 400 actually started and
only 171 actually finished the 140 miles.

1 Jeff Jones 600 Chippenham whls 8:12:06 (winning time)

Finishing times for local riders
36 Euan Ritchie 470 ANGUS BIKE CHAIN 9:19:15
56 Brian Sproul 508 Dundee Thistle 9:36:28
64 Ian Anderson 11 Dundee Wheelers 9:46:45
66 Jerry Toy 537Dundee Wheelers 9:46:59
71 Stephen King 302 Dundee Thistle 9:50:24
75 Neil Crawford 130 Dundee Thistle 9:53:42
107 Derek Clark 100 Dundee Wheelers 10:30:23
121 Alasdair Chisholm 99 Dundee Thistle 10:54:49
158 Chris McClements 345 Dundee Thistle 11:45:48

Saturday morning.
Ian and Brian were heading down early in one car. While I was travelling down with Chris and Steve. So having collected the people carrier, which was big enough to easily take all three bikes in the back I headed off to collect the lads. But like all Thistle weekenders nothing is simple. Collected Chris and loaded up with loads of snacks for the journey from Katie so things were looking good. Next stop was Ratho climbing centre just outside Edinburgh to collect Steve whose son was in a competition there.

All together, after a quick coffee, it was time to stick on the satnav and cruise control and head for Wales.

The Chrysler made the journey very comfortable and fast but it got through the £90 of diesel I’d put in that morning. But we arrived at the Castle Hotel, Ruthin, North Wales fairly relaxed.

As my accommodation booking skills are legendary I’ll move on.
Suffice to say the food (pasta) and beer in the hotel was good preparation for the following day.

Sadly breakfast the next morning was non-existent. As we were up before daylight and couldn’t find the light switch breakfast was a packet of cereal and burnt toast! No staff to be seen so not the best start for a day in the saddle.

Sunday - The big day.

Drizzling and no breakfast - good morning Sunday. I guess we were in Wales for a very tough event. Cr parked, signed in so it was time to go. There was no mass start you just dibbed the dibber as you crossed the line and off you went looking for the little yellow signs.

Dave Lloyd was at the start laughing and smiling a lot. I thought then he knows something I don’t.

The weather reports said it would clear during the course of the day, so I wasn't too worried, but I still took the cape.

The coarse was easy to follow thanks to the long string of riders heading for the first climb of the day and probably the hardest of the day. The Bwlch Ben Parras averaged 12% for over 2km and included a 27% bend. As the legs had no chance to warm up it was a real shock. I passed people already struggling, or walking. There was even one guy being sick at the real bad bend. I was passed and left for dead by Brian, Steve and Ian here.

This was a loop that took you out and back to Ruthin. Which after all that effort and on my part a puncture in the pouring rain it was a bit disappointing to pass the start line again.

Still to come was Horseshoe Pass and a great looping descent. I saw one guy all in white overcooked this on the second bend and ended up with a dirty streak of road grim up the entire length of his body as he slid across the road. Now anyone who knows my lack of bike handling skills will know this left me a bit nervous. Then it was up to World's End, which on any other day could have been beautiful but the gradient weather made it a bit dark and damp.

By the second feed zone (100km) there were a lot who went straight back to Ruthin. Something to do with the rain and a headwind.
The next 60km on the aptly named "Road to Hell” was hard work, I passed the odd person who had punctured on the wet gravell roads or were just getting worn down by the conditions. You could tell how tough it was for everyone as little was said between riders. The only guy I got on to talking to was a wee guy with a triple who kept passing me and then me him all day.

The feed zone at Bala, was a life saver as it was indoors, so I hung about too log to warm up with a cup of coffee, several bits of malt loaf, cheese sandwiches and a cuppa soup which all tasted fantastic. I met Graham, Steve’s pal who had started all this, but and a chatted about just how hard it was.

The rain stopped at last and I rode along Lake Bala with Graham, thankful that the wind would soon turn in my favour. We stopped somewhere around there to help I guy with his puncture. It was only after I realize he was already on his way back that I began to hate him.

Bwlch-y-Groes was another steep single-track climb. The scenery and open views were fantastic which was no wonder as I realized having passed a sign I was somewhere Snowdonia national park.

I was catching riders and passing them o the way to the top but I think they all passed me, including graham on the technical descent to Lake Vyrnwy. The next climb - Pen Bryn-y-Fawnog, which was supposed to be the final big one.

The descent off Pen Bryn-y-Fawnog was pretty good and I wondered just how fast Brian would go down here. I think it was at the bottom of this, back on a good tarmac road a group were standing around their mate who’d obviously hit the ground hard. In the distance I could here the siren of an ambulance. I think he ended up with a broken arm.

The last section called the 'stingers' was mental cruelty. Melin-y-Wig, was as steep as the very first climb, but not as long, and the three kids standing at the side of the road cheering me up the hill meant I had to try and not look to knackered. It was somewhere just before the final 8-10 KM that I came across graham again with a bust and twisted chain. I stopped briefly to see if I could help but his chain was done. So I headed on to let the organizers know he was stuck.

I can’t say I found the final 8km downhill to the finish all that easy but was delighted to cross the line having finished the mega challenge.

Graham was eventually given a lift back to the start by a local as the organisers, and later us driving round the course, couldn’t find him. This all meant we ended up driving back up the road very late.

When asked most people either said “they’d never do it again!” or “it was the hardest day EVER in the saddle”.

More recent quotes include –
Steve “Epic event. A real test for all climbers and no sheep were killed or injured just a few sore calves!!”

Chris “Dave Lloyd was brilliant! I still have flashbacks now and again which remind me of some parts of the course, which was pretty stunning.”

Brian “ I’ve signed up for 2009!”