After what seemed like weeks of hesitation and one postponement as Matinee was swanning round Paris (“You know he’ll sulk if we go without him”) the annual seaside extravaganza took place last Sunday.
So well honed are the majority of the peloton that when the Lantern looked in his mirror at the traffic lights on the way to Dolgellau he had a CRAPI train of cars behind him. So it was that Lantern, Vino, Mark, Big Al, Ron, Chris, Coppi and Matinee all arrived at the appointed meeting place in convoy at 8.45am.
Coppi wheeled out his new steed and well, its very white isn’t it, Lantern ventured. White frame, White wheels and white tyres - if Elvis rode a bike….!!!! The Crapi’s biggest fan turned up to walk his dog and asked whether we’d all done the ride before. Coppi vouchsafed he hadn’t. Upon hearing the route the old man placed a gentle hand on Coppi's arm and said "Gold help you lad". He then turned to the rest of us and muttered “you cruel bastards”. Coppi had to stop his hand as it crept towards the gels in his pocket.
Two minutes to ride time and Patron pitches up in front of the Lantern and says in his own inimitable style - “Where’s that f**king brother of yours”. On cue both their phones go off with the news that messrs Candle and Roger Whittaker will be late again, apparently they needed to drop off Miss Daisy in Barmouth!! To make matters worse they weren’t even ready and proceeded to get changed with all the haste of an arthritic pensioner. Then they pumped their tyres up!!! The Lantern dared not think of the effect all this was having on the Patron’s blood pressure.
Roger turned up with his winter bike after having broken his lovely Trek frame which came a matter of weeks after he broke his mountain bike frame. The good news is that since Sunday the lads have been in touch with Terry Dolan and he’s agreed to make Roger a new frame out of RSJ’s which should last him a bit longer!!!
The peleton left a mere 20 minutes late and headed for Fairbourne at a pace more akin to a fun ride than a full on Crapi ride. Not that the Lantern was complaining. Climbing up from Fairbourne the Lantern found he couldn’t get into his lowest gear (which would come back to haunt him) but apart from that the ride progressed smoothly.
However, shortly after the peleton turned inland from the coast and Mark suffered a puncture. Coppi took advantage to slurp a gel and show off his new shorts (were they white as well?) and his Livestrong top. After this the remainder of the first half passed without much incident and the peleton was soon ensconced in the café at Aberdyfi.
After refreshment the peleton continued to Machynlleth without too many problems before Coppi’s exuberance over his new bike started being replaced by fatigue. The Patron did his best to marshall the peleton to keep Coppi in the fold but, ultimately, it was Coppi’s brother Chris who did for him. Going on the front and pushing the pace to an extent where even the regulars were wondering what was going on, he seemed genuinely surprised when word came that Coppi had gone out the back.
On the road to Dinas Mawddwy the pack started to splinter as Vino, always Vino, led the way with Candle and Roger in attendance. Mark and the Lantern were next on the road and Mark put in a sterling effort to close the gap to about 100 metres. The Lantern used up his remaining energy to bridge the gap only for Mark to say he wouldn’t be going with them on the climb. If looks could kill….
Ronnie and Matinee soon overtook the lantern, who was beginning to slide backwards, and took Mark with them. The Patron was closing in fast and Chris was happily shepherding Coppi home.
Other reports have detailed the race at the front of the peleton up the 20% climb after Dinas Mawddwy. However, I don’t think they mentioned the suffering felt by other riders. The Lantern’s lack of bottom gear came back to haunt him as he struggled to even keep the pedals turning before almost throwing up at the top. The Patron crested the climb before almost being felled by a bout of cramp and Coppi, though buoyed by his new lighter bike, was still too shagged to comment.
Thankfully after the climb most of the ride is downhill and the Candle, Roger, Patron and the Lantern made it back to the cars without too much incident followed by Chris and Coppi.
Coppi white-faced yet still grinning about the fact his new bike weighed four stone less than his old one, his face streaked with sweat and gel, looked like the walking antithesis of his Livestrong top.
As ever it was a lovely ride and, for once, the Lantern rather enjoyed the first half as he had time to enjoy his surrounding rather than just concentrate on chewing his bars. Thanks as ever to you all for making the ride so enjoyable and hopefully we’ll do it all again next weekend.
Still think Coppi’s bike’s a bit white though!!!!
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