[Closed] Ritchey Trailmasters - some feedback and thoughts

Disappointed by the numbers, especially seeing as it was a more 'do-able' version of the old Trans Wales. Maybe it's this year's weather?

i thought about it, but....

200km and 6500m of climbing in a weekend would be quite hard on a road bike.

(the recent rapha/strava challenge to climb 6000m in a week nearly killed 2 of my skinniest, roadiest friends)

I was there; who'd have thought that all that money spent on bikes and the best bit of kit I had all weekend was my wellies.

The organisers did a fantastic job of adapting to the conditions, and I guess that the event can't really be judged on this years course as much of it wasn't as planned.

I thought that it was a shame that the special stages were so short; with all the wet roots, mud and puddles (not to mention other riders) on the stages a good time needed luck as well as skill and fitness. some longer stages were planned but snorkels would have been required.

I'd certainly do it again.

I was there too, Organisers did a great job at adjusting the scheduled rides at the last minute due to the weather. Shame it meant a lot more fire roads then I'd personally ever want to ride but I completely understand that the routes had to be changed due to the weather as they needed to be safe and accessable by all skill levels. Big thanks goes out to those guys.

Having ridden the TransWales in previous years it didn't quite get the same feel as previous years but personally I'd put that a lot down to the weather and "Glastonbury" conditions of the camp site. We just didnt get the chance to sit outside, chill and meet each other in the arena area where we would normally chat and relax. Saw a fair few people go home on the Saturday morning as well after giving up on the weekend after 1 ride! Bloody expensive ride if you ask me.....

Im trying to be constructive but this got my back up a little. Thought the catering was terrible. I know the drop-off bus has been great at other events which is why I can't figure out why it seemed to go so wrong.

Breakfast wasnt great, no other options bar a small cooked breakfast or porridge. Previous years had all sorts of breakfast cereals, fruits, yogurt etc. Porridge needed 3 times the fluided added to make it edible, finally got that right on day 3. Yogurts where only out on day 1, had heard they'd ran out of them after that but I'd only over heard that.

Dinner was ok but no real choice. This or..... well that's it really. I don't want to make it sound like I'm being ungrateful/difficult but 1 option of dinner and 1 veggie option was it. Surely 2 different main dishes, veg, potatoes that we could chose from would've been better? Well warm/hot potatoes would've been nice (Friday nights where stone cold) No deserts after dinner on day 2 either, and the only food offerd after night stage was a "you have to pay £4" burger. Burgers all fine by me but I thought the food was supposed to be included all weekend if you had silver or gold entry?!? Website says so.... Also had to constantly ask for more water to be out out so you could get a drink, ask for more milk to be put out for your tea/coffee and to top it off they ran out of sauces at breakfast time on Sunday. My bacon butty just wasn't the same.... no fruit to eat either and I didn't see any snacks on sale.

I'm sorry for the whin but in comparison to previous years catering which was impeccable this seriously needs to be addressed. All small things I suppose but everything was out or offered and supplied before being needed in the previous trans's which this race weekend is essentially is being billed as the mini trans. Did make me laugh though when a friend asked for seconds at dinner and was told simply "no" by a young lad who then just looked at him. Looked like something out of Oliver with the ages reversed.

Bar this really the ridding was great on day 2 and 3 and I really don't think the organisers could've done anymore to make it run any smoother as the weather really did make it impossible. Timed stages I know where last minute adjustments and personally I thought they where perfect. Loads of techy bits for the not so fit riders (me) and plenty of open climbing for the fitter ones.

Just looking at the Trailmasters website though I have noticed that several things were missing. The coffee van? I may have missed it but can't remember seeing one. Live bands, Hydro pools, pub quiz, film zone weren't anywhere I saw, I know it says TBC but there's no prizes for what might be there. If there booked to be there then put it on the list, if not leave it off. Your only going to get disappointment otherwise. One thing I will also say is why wasn't there any info on the masseurs on the website who actually were there? They were great and a where exceptionally needed after a long muddy day. Also a confirmation email that I'd actually been entered would be nice or an entry list online. Only knew as payment had been taken out of my account.

So will I do it again? Yes of course I will as I have have faith in John Lloyd and his team to get a good ride arranged. Will I bring my own food next time? Quite possibly, certainly will concider bringing my own water, breakfast and snacks.

I was a little disappointed by the event, after really enjoying TransWales last year I felt it came up short in several areas.

For me the big mistake was the move the night stage. It would have made no difference to have it on Friday, everyone got wet and muddy as it was on Saturday. Why change it because of a bit of rain?

Then we could have ridden a longer route on Saturday and the Sunday ride as planned.
The riding on Friday and Saturday was pretty good, John got most of the best bits out of Crychan which meant Sunday was a real disappointment.

Being local I suggested routes and ideas for changes, but I'm not sure how much of a factor land owners had on the late changes. I don't think the Tywi track would have been too deep as it runs off pretty quickly and was very low before hand, but if it was then there is an easy diversion and alternatives in the area.

So while some people may think the changes were good, knowing the area I think what was planned would have been fine and really improved things.

The route changes obviously had a bearing on the Special Stages, especially Sunday which in my opinion was a joke. No idea why it couldn't have been extended? Access to potential start/finishes would have been fine and very few bridleway issues within the forest.

There were a few timing issues as well, although in fairness far less than at most of the "gravity enduro" events that always seem to have major problems.

Can't comment on the food. I thought it was a rip off so didn't pay the extra £50 for what would have been 4 meals. Last year it was far more reasonable and really good.

I hope it continues and improves.

Being a regular at the Transwales events and knowing the welsh weather, I think John and Mike did an excellent job of adapting and adjusting the course, and as always the trails were great, the fire roads long ( but they always are ) and the technical riding was challenging and exhilarating.

My only complaint, and I feel it was being echoed around the tent, was the catering. It has always been brilliant, and infact I have been amazed in the past that the caters can be picked up and moved and still lay on great food, and lots of it. The bus was just out of its depth, I dont think it was capable of catering for that number of people and the portion size, variety, and temperature of the food was just not suitable for an event as demanding as this, especially when you add in the weather.

Fingers crossed that they get extreme catering back, because everything else about the event was great and i'll definitely be back ( but may be bringing plenty of sandwiches )

I was there also and echo the comments about the food. However re the stages I feel it was watered down a little and made a bit safe !!. It is mountain biking after all, and no one said it would be easy. I appreciate where the organisers are coming from but i paid to do the distance over 3 days, and well, got nowhere near it, and the end of the last stage was a joke, fire road up, fire road down, tarmac back to base !. The format not sure on, a 3 day race down to 500metre sprints......

Riding was great 😀

Food was not great 👿

...and as for the dogs pissing inside the dining tent....

Here's my take on it - [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/30973426@N06/sets/72157631173621164/show/ ]a few pics[/url]

Didn't take any pictures of the food though.

Riding great considering the weather
Facilities poor
Catering rubbish
Masseurs brilliant
Timing poor
Special stages, brilliant under the circumstances
For me, not a patch on last years Trans Wales
Podium finish, Happy Days 🙂
Will I return.... Not sure?

Thinking about doing this this year and was wondering if anyone has the routes / route profiles / elevation figures for last year's event to give me a rough idea of what I might be letting myself in for..?

The route will be different this year, based in Builth and not Llanwrtyd Wells.

I would guess around 1000m climbing per day at the most. Most of the elevation figures they give before hand are plotted via software and over estimate the climbing. I can only guess at the route, but I would say a mix of moorland trails and some wooded singletrack.

...6500m of climbing in a weekend would be quite hard on a road bike.

Yup...

the recent rapha/strava challenge to climb 6000m in a week nearly killed 2 of my skinniest, roadiest friends

Wimps - I clocked 12.5k metres of ascent on TW11 over 8 days including the Prologue... (Along with about 520km cycled.)

all clocked up in the evenings after work?

Nope and in which case your comparison doesn't really work - 200km/6500m is over 3 days of just riding and not working...

Ok guys, which is it; 6500m of climbing or c.3000m? - its a big difference for a big chap like me.... SDW was a big ride (for me) in 2-days with nearly 4000m & that's without timed stages, so I'm feeling a bit edgy about going for this if it's the bigger climbing total.