Adrian Brown Merthyr C.C. Mountain Biker Extraordinaire!

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Transwales 2010

This is an account of my stumble towards trying to fulfil a madly inspired idea that a twenty year old mind made for a forty five year old body.
Rider Introduction
Name: Adrian Brown
Occupation: Outpatient physiotherapist employed for two days by Vale healthcare and running private practice for two days plus administration about fifty hours per week (one of the problems in getting out training)
Previous experience: Little started MTB approx six years ago previous to that I was an athlete training and racing at a reasonable level, this is probably my saving grace twenty years of training on a twice daily basis doesn’t make you ride faster but it instils in you how to squeeze training around work both mine and wife’s, family, house, etc you all know that feeling, all the things that crop up and throw a spanner in the works and spoil your weeks plan or ride that you are just getting ready for.
Started riding to keep fit enjoying the areas around Merthyr (ideal MTB area) no expectations riding with a few mates enjoying the climbs scared on downs no change even today climb preferred every time. But you know how it is competitive spirit etc start racing mates then looking for organised rides Beacons beast, Merida, etc.
After a decent ride at 2009 Beast event with a short five km detour I decide next challenge Transwales seemed a good idea.
Transwales Concept
Seven stages over seven days off road way marked riding as a duo or solo within four of the stages are special stages along with a night time special stage the special stage times added together give overall position.
2010 Stages are:
Stage 1: Builth to Knighton,
Dist: 64 km
Ascending: 1,850m, Descending: 1,843m
Estimated time: 5-6 hrs
Special Stage: 1.1km climb
Stage 2: Knighton- Llanidloes
Dist: 71 km
Ascending: 2,140m Descending: 2,158m
Estimated time: 6 hrs
Special Stage: none

Stage 3: Llanidloes- Machynlleth
Dist: 85 km
Ascending: 2,555m Descending: 2,699m
Estimated time: 6-7 hrs
Special Stage: Within stage Climax trail 6km descending only

Stage 4: Machynlleth- Cymystwyth
Dist: 77 km
Ascending: 2,636m Descending: 2,397m
Estimated time: 6-7 hrs
Special Stage: Within stage Nant y arian 8.5 km

Stage 5: Cymystwyth - Cilycwn
Dist: 75 km
Ascending: 2,362m Descending: 2,406m
Estimated time: 6-7 hrs
Special Stage: After Night Stage at Cwmrhaiadr Forest 7Km


Stage 6: Cilycwn- Brecon
Dist: 77 km
Ascending: 2,056m Descending: 2,048m
Estimated time: 6-7 hrs
Special Stage: None

Stage 7: Brecon- Builth Wells
Dist: 55 km
Ascending: 1,446m Descending: 1,494m
Estimated time: 4-5hrs
Special Stage: 5th Special stage close to finish 1km multiple laps

Preparation and a few little mishaps.
My wife is a nurse the most important question in our house is what are you working this week? And the look shows she’s thinking so you can plan your rides and she’s right yes. The only way is to plan and commit.
Anyway due to the fact that I work until seven or eight four days a week have two children who need taxiing to football matches and training and a wife that works, most training is based around early am light or dark, winter rain, snow or summer sun.(this winter was bitter cold at five am) and if you ride early less hassle from the misses.
Typical winter weeks
Mon: Am five o’clock Gethin trails one and half to two hours straight into car drive to work circuit at lunch hour work until seven home for eight.
Tues: Occasional six O’clock ride for 2 hours.
Wed: Long ride depending on wife’s work either start at five ride beacons for four five hours spend day with her or if working then get kids to school immediately start riding and get back home by three ten when oldest returns.
But and a big but not all works out as planned I shall explain as stated earlier you have to plan training hence the shift question and planning rides well in advance now spanners come from all directions and adjustments have to be made like this example.
The School menu spanner
Saturday “what are you working this week” part of the answer was Wednesday, my thought aah my day off plan formed for Wednesday kids to school straight out stop Talybont late morning coffee and sandwich back for about three o’clock great.
Tuesday night kit ready just going to bed youngest sibling to mum “I don’t like the new school menu I want to come home tomorrow” mum “no problem dads here aren’t you” my face must have told the story as. Gutted, “yes” plan altered still ride over to Tram road drop down toward Talybont left onto the track that comes out by the generator at the Glyn all in all ambitious forty km but manageable in the three hours.
Eight forty five school gates on bike” see you at twelve” I’ had managed to get going early motoring along trail over the top great, drop down turn left onto track to return, exactly half way round turn corner CRUNCH stick in rear mech bits everywhere literally mangled ohhh dear or words to that effect. Time 10.25 one hour thirty five until son cwas due home no phone signal to alert in-laws shit.
Options cry because the wife will kill me, freewheel down to Talybont but still can’t get home or with no drive run push scoot on and make as much progress as possible and hope for a phone signal.
Option taken run, scoot up track few kms onto Glyn freewheel down to tearooms shut no signal, scoot on up past reservoir PonSticli to Red Cow payphone in-laws phoned no answer shit, yellow pages rang school 11.40 spoke to secretary tell them I won’t be in could they find offspring tell son not to come home and give him school dinner that he has told us he did not like. God I’m for the chop.
Anyway continued on scooting freewheeling people looking at me as if to say he’s mad riding it would be easier, halfway down the trail to Cefn inspired idea Wednesday Taff Cycles open until one o’clock stop and ring (now had signal) Barbara agreed to stay open and as luck would have it I had a rear mech that I ordered for my new frame (that’s another story) sitting on the shelf.
Rear mech fitted ride home to Abercanaid only two o’clock look at ride trip average with twenty km scooting, running sixteen km per hour not bad. Youngest came home three thirty didn’t even mention the situation; wife came home still nothing said had I got away with it?
Next day couldn’t walk left groin was agony from scooting bike with one foot on pedal, two days later wife “ I know about Wednesday “did you do that on purpose” me “yes crashed and wrecked rear mech so I could near kill myself scooting like a fool for twenty kms what do you think” end of conversation any conversation for a day or so. Big thank you to Taff cycles for that help.
O yes back to training
Thurs: As mon early few hours long work day with circuit lunch time.
Fri: Occ ride
Sat: Depending on wife’s shift early start four or five hour ride or shorter pm ride
Sun: Early few hours’ three to four then off to football with kids.

Training went well through winter snow cold then spring still going well rode first Chain reaction event (formerly Merida) ok slight chain mech but ok. Increased mileage to peak at a few weeks of 350 kms.
Spanner from the Grim Reaper
Training well feeling fit lost few pounds all happy until end May had trip organised wife’s Christmas present of weekend guided riding in Quantocks couldn’t wait, arrive Friday meet guides, weather fantastic Saturday speak to Taff cycles on phone new frame that was ordered has arrived oh goody. What a great weekend highly recommended with the company Skedaddle.
Arrived home Sunday with a big smile Monday at work had a little neck pain later that evening getting worse, ignore it took painkillers sleep uncomfortable Tuesday pain markedly worse had to take painkiller to get through day. Pain is now in mid back left neck and chest unable to lie down didn’t sleep wife the nurse “I think its chest pain go to a&e” me physio “no its neck or mid back”
Wednesday is normally day off and ride but I had promised Vale health I would cover an occupation health clinic in Caerphilly so had to go AGONY. Finished rang boss spoke to a consultant friend and arranged to have the next day’s clinic cancelled and consultant would check me in work next morning.
Next day after no sleep can only just drive saw consultant and arranged scans at vale had mid back and neck MRI scans radiographer colleague told me that spine ok but a large swelling could be seen over my left lung BOMBSHELL scans immediately needed to be seen by radiologist. She decided that another type of scan was needed to check blood flow in lungs over to Spire then all hell broke loose multiple PULMONARY EMBOLISMS (blood clots) in both lungs requiring immediate admission into Prince Charles Hospital Merthyr where my wife works blood thinning drugs are started via injection and tablets.
Worse than that no cycling or exercise minimum one month, various further investigation undertaken all clear, two weeks later start easily back to work three weeks and 3 days sneak out for short spin on Taff trail have to just look at new frame as awaiting forks and relying on a favour from a friend of a friend (never a good situation). Anyway late June back in the saddle decision to see how initial weeks went then decide on Transwales in my mind no decision to make go for it.
So here we are one week to go nervous, nearly organised having eventually got frame and forks sorted from another source and nearly ready to go.
I must thank Barbara and Gwynne from Taff Vale cycles for all their help, chasing and bike tweaking that they have done they must be fed up with seeing me again many thanks. Also my family wife, children and in-laws who help with child minding to allow rides.
I will keep you post hopefully daily during the ride you can also follow it on the Transwales website that has various links to a facebook, twitter, bikeradar and various sites that will be continually updated.