Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 25 total)
  • It's official, I am the worst of the best…………almost
  • lazlo53
    Free Member

    well children, I know that I'm not a frequent poster, but I said I'd write an account of the Transwales, and here it is. And it was, from the very start, the single most challenging event that I have ever undertaken. It was obvious from the beginning that the nearest I'd ever get to the nightly podium was a mud encrusted trudge past on the way to yet another late shower. I missed the cut off time on the first day by a country mile, was 1 minute inside on the second day and hopelessly lost in yet another dismal rain swept forest on the third. But it wasn't all good, there were days when I felt like weeping with the pain off yet one more endless lung and leg burning climb. On and on and on because I knew there was no other way. The days just got harder and harder, ride when you can, grab a gear when you're able and push when you have to, but don't stop. There are (there must be) those who enjoyed each day, I am not one of that elite few. But I never expected to be one. What I did expect, and what I did get, was the immeasurable feeling of fulfilment that came with each nights crossing of the finishing line. And there were times that I took short cuts, and once or twice felt bad about that, but aged flesh can only push so far. Yet every night I rode across that winners line.
    Though as the days grew harder, the camp site camaraderie grew stronger, faces that had been strangers turned out to be close friends, we shared a common hardship, a great respect developed. I felt privileged to be in such company, we happy band of brothers, and sisters, we happy few.
    And of those few, the ones to me who stood out. Mark, I met you on the first day, both of us uncertain, we shared many weary miles, you were a stronger man than me, well done. Rob, Matt, Matt, Stephan, Josh, thanks for all the help, that dreadful Dyfi valley, rain swept and treacherous, one wrong turn disaster, we all of us got home safely. Annie, you cheered me up when I was down, encouraged me when things were bad. But please remember that time is a hard master, don't leave painful decisions till it's too late. And Bill, Henry, Jeremy (your three stooges Annie?) Bloody good fun to meet you all, I hope we'll meet again another day. Brian, far better than me, yet never once talked me down, thanks. Julie, you were a wonderful woman, I'm going to tell me mam all about you. So many others, Raf, Claire, Johan, all of you stronger yet all of you good.
    The staff. Bob, a stalwart, there when he was needed, never a drama from a crisis. Carl, my heartfelt thanks, you kept my bike going so many times when 27 gears had been reduced to one. Terry, an eye for quality (although my merino vest has now been washed). Colin, when all was lost I'm glad that I saw you. Liz, a lunchtime superstar. Ever cheerful John.
    And Singletrack's Nathan? A pleasure to have met you Nathan, There with brother Bill. You with a mere 200k? of training and Bill who'd been conned into that stupidity by your smooth talking Irish banter. Yet there you were, day after day, till injury forced a stop. You both deserved the final jersey.
    And me? yes I received that coveted top, one of perhaps 250 people in the whole wide world who are entitled to wear the TransWales 2010 finishers jersey. And I've given it to our daughter, because it looks nice on her. And in any case, you're only as good as your last tee-shirt.

    Oh, and the title? i wasn't quite last, but I was a bloody sight closer to last than I was to first. I'll check the final results when I'm feeling a little bit stronger.

    TheSwede
    Free Member

    I got two lines in. Any one do better.

    mtbmaff
    Free Member

    Well done fella 🙂

    Respect.

    allthepies
    Free Member

    Stream of conciousness styleee 😯

    TimS
    Free Member

    tl;dr 😀

    lazlo53
    Free Member

    TheSwede….? mtbmaff, thanks very much indeed, I appreciate your comment greatly. allthepies, I don't really understand your reply. Was it appreciative of the narrative flow or alluding to an almost hippy like stream of unreality? And did I tell you that I went straight from the Transwales to 'the Green Man Festival" at Crickhowell and watched Billy Bragg before spending the night in a Volksvagen micro bus? I keep faith.

    lazlo53
    Free Member

    and TimS, I'm 57 years old, what does tl;dr mean?

    tree-magnet
    Free Member

    Other than that, well done, sounds good.

    lazlo53
    Free Member

    I haven't a clue what any of that means tree-magnet, I think it's time for a milky drink and bed

    BigDummy
    Free Member

    I read all of that, and I'm glad you shared it. Good stuff. 🙂

    Wookster
    Full Member

    very cool mate. Like the post nice one cant wait to do my own next year!!!!

    Riofer
    Free Member

    Congratulations. I've always fancied doing something like the Transwales and you make it sound like something a non-racer can take on and sort of enjoy 😀

    lazlo53
    Free Member

    Thanks BD, it's people like you who keep me on this forum. Good night God bless…… (and btw I'm not a believer but am respectful of belief)

    ART
    Full Member

    Absolutely brilliant, very, very well done. Sleep well. 😀

    lazlo53
    Free Member

    thanks Wooster, I hope you get to do one, it feels pretty good once the pain stops. Riofer, that's a bang on description, I've not done much in the way of cycle racing but it's very much a mental strength that's needed for the TW (and at least I got to see the real racers in the breakfast tent each morning) Thank you very much indeed Art, yours is a lovely comment. And I did sleep well, aided by far too much whiskey. No fool like an old fool! Anyway, hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go.

    vdubber67
    Free Member

    lazlo53 – I've worked out who you are from the Green Man festival bit (I had a massage at the same time as you when you were telling the massage team about it!)

    Well done mate – I know you worked damn hard to get round, and you always had a smile on your face and time for a chat with people. The camaraderie on TW is amazing isn't it?

    Rich

    🙂

    MaryHinge
    Free Member

    I liked the writing style and the content.

    Well done fella. Spurring me on to my first offroad Duathlon in October.

    Maybe I'll be fit enough for the TW when I'm your age 😉

    Diane
    Free Member

    Fantastic! Well done 🙂

    BigJohn
    Full Member

    Swede did well.

    SteveBbrain
    Free Member

    Well done lazlo53 – from steve(53) !
    53 was a good year my friend, and i fear you may have sparked the next (big) challenge for me – I'm doing Kielder 100 in a couple of weeks but that is a minor challenge compared to your effort! Life needs challenges don't you think 😛
    Roll on Transwales 2011 (maybe)

    muddydwarf
    Free Member

    Well done fella – far fitter & stronger (physically & mentally) than i can hope to be!

    lazlo53
    Free Member

    vdubber67, nice to hear from you, and thanks. You're right, the camaraderie just grew stronger and stronger as time passed. I guess we all knew that at whatever level, we were all suffering. well I was (and if you see my results you'll agree) Mary, Dianne, what can I say, I'm a hero, harumph. Big John? I didn't understand swedes original comment, can you elaborate please? SteveBbrain. Your'e dead right, life was always meant to be hard work, sit on your a**e all day and you might as well give up. Doh, that's just what I've been doing. Oh, and 53's my year of birth, is that what you mean? Muddydwarf, don't sell yourself short, I don't believe that I would have managed without the help and support of other riders. Even as a solo rider you do feel very much part of a team event. And there are many highlights along the way, for me, I think it was the climax downhill on a hardtail. I'd never done anything like that before and even though I was well of the pace Matt (the lad from Exposure) tannoyed me across the line as if I was the winner. I thought I was for a minute but then I remembered that I'd stopped to let 4 faster riders get past.

    lotus777
    Free Member

    nice write up and well done .
    i can only hope i'm still riding at 57 let alone fit enough to do something like that !

    SteveBbrain
    Free Member

    Aye lazlo, another 57 year old here, trying to fight off decrepitude 😆

    Alcopop
    Free Member

    Well done fella your an inspiration,im hitting 46 this year so it's about time i got of my arse and did a big event
    loved the post thanks for sharing it

Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 25 total)

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