Ritchey Trail Masters

Concept

Requirements

Details

Ritchey Trail Masters Course details / stage breakdown

Course details / stage breakdown: John has been working hard over the last few weeks to put the stages for the three Ritchey TrailMasters days together. There is simply so much to choose from that adding the best bits together is a challenge most course designers would like to be confronted with. So expect some demanding riding over his home region which will show off the most beautiful and rewarding trails the area has to offer.

Stage breakdown and time table: (might change nearer the time of the event) Here you will find an indication of what the three days have in store for the riders.

Day 1: Friday 24th May 2013
To allow riders to make their way to the event on Friday morning and to give it a generally more relaxed start we will kick off the weekend at 12 o’clock (noon) with the start of the 1st ride.

Friday’s stage will be heading east towards Hundred House, after a short stretch on the road the route heads up onto Aberedw Hill using a good mix of dual and single tracks to cross open hill, then a tricky descent down the ‘Hill climb’ into the Wye Valley. Another short stretch on the road and then up again, this time onto Llanbedr Hill where the 1st special stage of the 2013 Ritchey TrailMasters awaits, at about 32Km. The first special stage of the event is a mostly single track 5km test, half undulating and half descending. So be prepared to be tested! After a short recovery descent you then will be sent back up onto Aberedw Hill for another stint of single-track sheep paths before a proper technical test along ‘the fence line’ taking you home for a feed and a rest before the 2nd special stage.

Once riders have had time to chill out in the event village; got some food down their necks and darkness is setting in – it is time for the night special stage. The EXPOSURE LIGHTS Night Special Stage will take place right on the edge of the event venue. Expect an exciting mix of natural and ‘urban style’ trails in and around the Royal Welsh Showground right in the heart of the event.

For all the supporters and the riders who decide to sit this one out the event bar will obviously be open! Make sure to check the course map for the most spectacular view points of this compact course.

Riding stats – 1st day – linking stage
Route Distance: approx. 50km (55km including 1st special stage)
Climbing: approx. 1500m
Time given to complete the course: 4 ½ hours

Riding stats – 1st day – 1st special stage
1st special stage: approx. 5km (within the linking stage)
Start location: approx. 32km from the start
Start order: no pre-set order – riders can start as soon as they arrive at start of special stage. Pairs have to start together but don’t have to ride/finish together (average time of pairs count towards over all time)

Riding stats – 1st day – 2nd special stage
2nd special stage: approx. 2.5km – run at night / appropriate lights are required
Start location: event village / Royal Wales Showground
Start order: pre-set order – fastest rider go first – based on 1st special stage and linking stage penalties. Pairs have to start together but don’t have to ride/finish together (average time of pairs count towards over all time).

Day 2: Saturday 25th May 2013
Day 2 starts off with a gentle 13km cruise on the road which is an ideal way to reenergise the body, prepare your legs and head for one of the toughest 100kms you will ever complete. As you eat into the kilometres on the road you are gradually gaining height and by the time you get to the first off road section you will have climbed 290m. In terms of great riding and spectacular scenery you are in for a treat straight off the bat and this only gets better as you hit the fire roads of Bwlchcilliau forest. Following a few minutes of fire road climbs the fun begins as you start to bash the motorbike trails that criss-cross the fire roads. Here a mixture of fast flowing descents and technical natural climbs are ideal to get the juices flowing before the first of the day’s two special stages. Lots of time can be gained or lost on this stage as the rough, rutted and high speed sections will test even the very best rider’s skills.

Following the special stage it is time to settle back down, try to let the heart rate land again and get ready for a little bit of climbing: 300m in 5km, all off road over mountain bogs, long grass, ruts and finally the “dead horse” pass. Upon cresting the pass you will be on one of the highest peaks in mid-Wales, here you’ll be able to enjoy some spectacular views of the Eppynt range and the Brecon Beacons to the south and the rest of the Cambrian Mountains to the north. As you take in the scenery it’s time to pick your way across this vast peaty wilderness before tackling the high speed descent towards the Caban Coch reservoir in the Elan valley. Having already taken on natural forestry single tracks, mountain peat bogs and long sustained climbs, it’s time to test a different skillset; the watery road leading up towards the Claerwen reservoir is rock strewn and slippery where good line choice will be essential to save as much energy as possible. The ford at the end of the track is a subtle glimpse of what lies on the trail ahead and before you towers the mighty Claerwen Dam wall.

The 13km of dirt road around the Claerwen reservoir provides a picturesque opportunity to eat some miles up, don’t let this lull you into a false sense of security, as from past experience, stepping up the work rate and going into the red will come back and bite you hard later on in the ride. Finally, as the vast reservoir becomes little more than a large mountain stream, the bridge at the end of track is the start gate for the fast flowing descent down rocky valley trails towards the ancient abbey of Strata Florida which is around about the halfway point.

As you hit Strata Florida with a smile on your face following the excellent routes you have already ridden, it’s time to gather your climbing legs together for another brutal climb on a rocky 4x4 track, gaining 300m in 4km. The good news is you will probably be concentrating too hard on the many line choices to hear your legs screaming!!! You finally reach the summit and it’s time to get your game face on for the second and last of the days special stages. The famous “splashes” are the scene for this timed challenge. You cross the river Towy near its source for the first time after just a short distance, thereafter you’ll lose count of the crossings as you desperately try to marry grip with momentum and you pray for lady luck to shine upon you for a clean run, fortune most definitely will favour the brave on this special stage. A smooth pedalling action and quick decision making will definitely help gain time here. Once you have conquered the splashes and are not too wet and cold you will have a few more kilometres of 4x4 tracks to tear up before you reach the foot of the dreaded Devil’s staircase. This 25%, 2km tarmac climb leads you to a welcome spin along the fire road above one of the most photographed mountain scenes in Wales, the spectacular Irfon valley lies below you as you start to catch the first few glimpses of the Wye valley and the day’s end ahead.

A welcome spin along the valley floor on smooth black minor roads soon has you dreaming of hot showers and a well earned beer. These thoughts are soon stamped out when faced with the last challenge of the day known locally as “chapel climb”. Only a famed handful of skilled and lucky riders have ever cleaned this ascent but after the day you’ve had there’s no shame in walking! The summit arrives sharply after the last slippery rock slab and after some more descending on natural forest trails the spruce turn into oak, the rock into moss and you soon find yourself speeding towards Builth Wells with the familiar views of earlier in the day and a euphoria like only someone who has conquered this true Welsh epic could understand.

Riding stats – 2nd day – linking stage
Route Distance: 110km
Climbing: approx. 3000m
Time given to complete the course: 8 hours

Riding stats – 2nd day – 1st special stage
1st special stage: approx. 4km (section of linking stage) ; 170m climbing / 200m descending
Start location: approx. 15km from the start
Start order: no pre-set order – riders can start as early as they arrive at start of special stage. Pairs have to start together but don’t have to ride/finish together (average time of pairs count towards over all time)

Riding stats – 2nd day – 2nd special stage
2nd special stage: approx. 8.5km (section of linking stage – mostly technical descending- with 14 river crossings!) 240m descending
Start location: approx. 63km from the start
Start order: no pre-set order – riders can start as early as they arrive at start of special stage. Pairs have to start together but don’t have to ride/finish together (average time of pairs count towards over all time)

Day 3: Sunday 25th May 2013
The final day of the Ritchey TrailMasters weekend is a ‘proper’ ride but we are aware that riders need to make their way home so the over all distance is around 50km. We will have two more special stages during the day which will hopefully keep the over all standing wide open till the very end.

Sundays linking stage starts with a few miles of tarmac climbing, up onto Pant y Llyn hill, where we start our first special stage, a 5km loop of 100% single track with little climbing. From her we continue across Gwenddwr hill to Brechieniog Forest, to the start of the 2nd stage, with a mix of technical single tracks and forest road climbs. The route then returns across the hill, past Pant y Llyn Pool and descending to Builth where riders will cross the finish line of the Ritchey TrailMasters to receive their well deserved finisher jersey.

Riding stats – 3rd day – linking stage
Route Distance: approx. 46km
Climbing: approx. 1300m
Time given to complete the course: 4hours

Riding stats – 3rd day – 1st special stage
1st special stage: approx. 5km (loop run within the linking stage)
Start location: approx. 10km from the start
Start order: no pre-set order – riders can start as early as they arrive at start of special stage. Pairs have to start together but don’t have to ride/finish together (average time of pairs count towards over all time)

Riding stats – 3rd day – 2nd special stage
2nd special stage: approx. 4km (section of linking stage)
Start location: approx. 24km from the start
Start order: no pre-set order – riders can start as early as they arrive at start of special stage. Pairs have to start together but don’t have to ride/finish together (average time of pairs count towards over all time)

Once riders make their way back to the event village where refreshments are waiting for them it should not take long to get the final prize presentation on the go and bring the official part of the Ritchey TrailMasters to an end.