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Laddo booked on for rnd 2 and 3, we've not been before and just wondered what sort of length the "lap" is. Obviously it advises a practice lap of the stages before but if it's a big distance (say 10 mile) he's then going to be struggling come race time. Cheers
Which venues & do you mean Wes or wges?
Both probably be 10miles+
Maybe just practice 2 stages- 1st & last
Simple things like being well rested few days before, with good sleep & hydrating day b4 & morning of race
Looking at Strava, the Dyfi WES round was about 14km last year, so probably similar this year. I expect the Llandegla round will be roughly whatever a lap of the Red/Black route is.
I’ve never ridden Dyfi, and won’t now having crocked myself at the last round, but my non venue specific advice would be.
Get there early if you can to get an early race time or you will have a v long day. Also if you do whatever practice you do early you’ll have more recovery time.
Personally I wouldn’t worry too much about practising every corner on every stage - for me it is usually about getting warmed up and up to speed. Also it’s practice so perfectly acceptable to take your time. Also plenty of people will be happy to give you advice about tricky bits etc if you miss a stage in practice.
Take spare and warm clothes in case it rains and you get soaking wet and freezing cold before you even start racing!
Take plenty of food drinks and snacks - the butty van is good but sausage and egg sarnies don’t always sit well with pedalling your butt off!
Most of all have fun and enjoy it!
Oh, and do try not to fall off on the last corner of the last stage...😉
Not just the distance then dyfi hills are steep!
Yes its the wes at dyfi then llandegella, As I thought then, we may as advised just do a last stage practice, he's only just 14 and they're his first races with steel city sandwiched in so I don't want to put him off. 28k would be too much for him to actually enjoy the race, I think I'll also chaperone (goad) him as well which I can do for free.
Cheers ws
Dyfi’s a tough round in terms of technicality for a first race, especially if racing stages blind. The complete opposite of Llandegla.
He rides all the reds at bpw with ease so hopefully he's switched on enough. As I say I'm definitely going to chaperone him, that way if he's struggling we can bail and call it a day. I very much doubt that will happen though...
Spoke to the organiser after a torrid, but enjoyable ride at Foel Gasnach and he said Dyfi is less demanding technically, but Foel G was six downhill races with a peda in betweenl!! The tracks there are black graded DH at least.
Dyfi looks a little bit less demanding from the videos of past races, but they're natural rooty trails and apparently the transitions are tougher.