Forecast Is Lousy for Sundays long ride!

Maybe need to check nearer the time, otherwise may do Saturday morning instead, and possibly Monday if I can get a pass.

I dont believe this! what if it rains on the 27th?

Syd Wiggle are doing a bar mounted brolly! I think you could just about squeeze it on!

You wusses better ride or you will be ridiculed for weeks(Syd more than usual too!)

I was once informed in a wet muddy personal hell in the dark that "if its not really raining its not really training".

Clearly you weren't party to Siabod the other day either ;)

I was rugged enough to carry my waterproof trousers up and down the mountain in my rucksack while it lashed down and filled my boots!

Oh.. hang on, that wasnt so bright was it :S

Bala way says light rain 16C so nowt to worry about there, I would be more concerned if that windspeed went up from 14 tbh.

I have got a fine excuse, I am not even entered for the I-team, so dont care if it rains on the 27th ! Its you lot who've got to get your miles in come rain or shine

If you comfortable with the idea of Justin and I beating you up hills then there is nothing wrong with that at all Dan, I wouldnt beat yourself up over it ;)

Bring it on! That's what I say. Any anyway, I will be sporting a new steed. Went to the Specialized concept store in Chester to try the S Works Roubaix. They didn't have pedals for me so they said to have it for the weekend! Poor buggers don't know I'm doing the time trial tomorrow and 90 wet miles on Sunday. At least I'll really know if it's worth the dosh. Also looked at Pinarello Paris and Cervelo R3 SL in Royles (Wilmslow). Any advice on choice of components etc would be truly welcome. See ya tomorrow for a laugh!

is this an early pressy for your wedding, nice one:)

!!The Bar Keeps Rising!!

You really are going to get a fine fine bike if you go for any of the above (and most others at the price bracket too), no question about it. Its entirely personal choice but you aint going to notice a Gnats Knacker between them performance wise.

Sorry for addng any more options but I think for an all rounder a Litespeed titanium frame has to be worth a look in. Alf Jones' in Wrexham are a dealer (I think they are a Cervelo dealer too, because Gareth the fast Sales guy from there was racing a soloist at the Denbigh RR) and very friendly and good lads to deal with, and always good for a bit of a deal.

Personally it would be the Pinarello every time for me, coz its got a fancy Italian name and will attract more women, plus they make them in loads of sizes and unlike some others that just go from Alan size to oompa loompa Size with perhaps one in between for everyone else.
Actually I thought I had a sexy Italian bike, with a sexy italian name until I went away recently and asked a sexy Italian what Kuota meant, apparently there is no letter K in the italian language therefore it is just a gibberish name no doubt thought up by someone in a Taiwanese sweatshop, blimey !

I know everyone else will have a different opinion so just go for what makes you feel the most warm and fuzzy.
Spec it up with whatever you want, but maybe Shimano Dura Ace even Ultegra would represent a better value option than Campag Record or Chorus which are both hideously sexy but appropriately expensive, remembering that its the replacment bits that hit the pocket hard when you inevitably damage them at some point. Most importantly though get some good light wheels (that will last the distance) they will make 10 times more difference than all your other components put together. Dura ace wheels like Alans seem to represent the best all rounder between performance and durability.
I know everyone else will have a totally conflicting opinion, which is what makes a debate like this good fun, for instance I know Ant thinks that you can only ride a Pinarello (or Colnago) if you are over 60, and Justin says that Campag doesnt work at all period,(mind you he did work in a bike shop so is probably well qualified to say so, but I still like Record so there, again coz its sexy and Italian and birds dig it, I think :) so go for what you want !
I reckon Alan would say the Specialized Roubaix every time,
Syd would say anything irrelevent to this conversation anyway probably about Otters or Martians or something.

So after all this rambling the bottom line for me would be

Pinarello Paris, Dura-ace, maybe some Dura ace wheels for every day riding and perhaps some deep rims for racing, white bar tape, to go with the shoes, and one shitty stick to prod the ladies back with.

God its fun spending other peoples hard earned !

Just my ten pennethsworth.

Not wishing to drag us back into ontopic - however the met office are not sounding like Sundays weather is a wash out. Fingers crossed.

Dan - truth be told - you picked a bike purely on the ability to get matching sunglasses, admit it.

;)

You got me right, damn. Last years matching combo was Bartape to tyres, now its bar tape to shoes

Much appreciated Dan. After coming 7th in the TT this evening with a derisory 27:31 Note to self "Must try harder". The Roubaix was very very comfy but the bars seemed a little high.
Off to London to see the Queen, see you all Sunday.

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/wl/betws-y-coed_forecast_weather.html

Doesn't look to bad to me as a last minute check.

yes yes yes I know I bailed.

I have what is, in more social socials, referred to as a "tummy upset".

Between a spot of dehydration and fears of fudging my shorts... I took a rain check.

So - heroes - how was it?

I think my legs are still in Bala. Thanks to the rest of the group for waiting for me, more than once. Nice cafe stop's, not so nice hills! 95 mile's under my belt, with a sore bum....

As Paul would say pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat ... and so on.