Was going to do the Llanfair PG but am being dragged up to Scotland that weekend. Instead I'm probably going to go out and do it as a Perm the weekend before.
I'll probably do the flat route but both the Halkyn Pass and the Sychnant pass are worth the effort for first timers.
Tips for longer distances:
The main things really are to keep your pace down, keep your food and hydration levels steady and react to things as they occur, if you can, rather than trying to press on a bit further.
Once you get into the night riding, try and get in or near a group. The long corners of the night can be pretty tough on your own if you aren't used to it. This is even more so on an out and back route like this one. Sections that seemed to fly by in daylight hours can seem interminably long in the dark. As your pace will inevitably drop during the night it is when your mind will play tricks on you and it will feel like you're losing a lot more time than you are. Company alleviates this quite a bit.
Out in the remote parts of Wales, food and water can be tricky to come by after 10pm. Make sure you stock up where you can before then and once supplies dip to about half, don't pass up an opportunity to reload. Some scouting of the route online beforehand and noting opportunities that are only a short distance (<1km) off route is worth your time. A 2km diversion can take a lot less time than 15km on the bonk.
Opportunism is also good if you're getting the dozies. Don't get into the cycle of pressing on a bit further and a bit further and worrying about getting slower and slower and thinking you can't stop. Better to find a spot early on, chuck on an extra layer top and bottom and take a 15min nap. Eat and drink a bit before sleeping as well. A nap just as light is breaking can also be pretty useful. Everyone is a bit different so don't try and into the same eating, drinking, sleeping habits as others if you aren't ready for it. It may be that you don't really feel the need to sleep but it's good practice for PBP.
Was going to do the Llanfair PG but am being dragged up to Scotland that weekend. Instead I'm probably going to go out and do it as a Perm the weekend before.
I'll probably do the flat route but both the Halkyn Pass and the Sychnant pass are worth the effort for first timers.
Tips for longer distances:
The main things really are to keep your pace down, keep your food and hydration levels steady and react to things as they occur, if you can, rather than trying to press on a bit further.
Once you get into the night riding, try and get in or near a group. The long corners of the night can be pretty tough on your own if you aren't used to it. This is even more so on an out and back route like this one. Sections that seemed to fly by in daylight hours can seem interminably long in the dark. As your pace will inevitably drop during the night it is when your mind will play tricks on you and it will feel like you're losing a lot more time than you are. Company alleviates this quite a bit.
Out in the remote parts of Wales, food and water can be tricky to come by after 10pm. Make sure you stock up where you can before then and once supplies dip to about half, don't pass up an opportunity to reload. Some scouting of the route online beforehand and noting opportunities that are only a short distance (<1km) off route is worth your time. A 2km diversion can take a lot less time than 15km on the bonk.
Opportunism is also good if you're getting the dozies. Don't get into the cycle of pressing on a bit further and a bit further and worrying about getting slower and slower and thinking you can't stop. Better to find a spot early on, chuck on an extra layer top and bottom and take a 15min nap. Eat and drink a bit before sleeping as well. A nap just as light is breaking can also be pretty useful. Everyone is a bit different so don't try and into the same eating, drinking, sleeping habits as others if you aren't ready for it. It may be that you don't really feel the need to sleep but it's good practice for PBP.