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Thanks Phill. The only minor positive I am taking from how badly I've broken it is that I am definitely not doing any more racing in 2024, so no reason to rush my recovery and potentially push myself too soon etc. It'd be a bad choice but the sort of thing I used to do. This is so bad I'm not rushing anything! Fortunately had my meeting with the consultant yesterday and she was very clear that surgery is my best option and she will do it next Friday. It's a scary thing to have looking but the best outcome I believe :)

@@nickbrownbill3413 that’s very positive news Nick. And for sure don’t rush the recovery . I made that mistake with my own accident - the immune system is compromised for longer than I had realised as it deals with the stress of the repair and recovery . Here’s to a smooth operation 🤞❤️‍🩹

@@nickbrownbill3413 that’s a very positive development . And sending good karma for a smooth operation and successful outcome ❤️‍🩹

Cheers Lee, that's what I'm trying to focus on! Bleak in the short term but it will be over before I know it. Glad it's not just me, well done for not breaking your ankle when it happened to you 😂

Thanks Marco! Had my consultation with the senior doc yesterday and she was really clear that surgery is the best option for my long term quality of life, cycling and so on so I'm relieved about that even if surgery is scary! Thankfully I'm basically completely immobile so Rhiannon has no time to get on Zwift she's too busy bringing me stuff!

Thanks Ian!

Good call mate. I'm hoping my mobility should be okay, or only affected in the up/down way but definitely want to give myself plenty of leeway at first.

Yeah that's definitely true, something about all the momentum being downwards not forwards, most cyclists I know who've had bad breaks did them in very slow accidents.

😂 Either that or look at my pictures from lakes entrance looking for the dolphins that were definitely there.

@@nickbrownbill3413 😆

Haha definitely, got to look on the bright side of these things. Thanks!

Thank you mate!

That is very much my experience too! Glad to hear it's not just me. Haha I think for me it's because I normally like the sensation of speed, so the shallower climbs where you can stay seated just feel like flats but slower. The steeper they are you have to ride them so differently, it's the sense of accomplishment every time! But I definitely agree that a 5-10% smooth tarmac flowing descent is endlessly better than a -20% pothole riddled gravelly surface British descent. I am meeting up with Ben assuming all goes well! No bikes will be involved though, Rhiannon wasn't keen on the idea of me leaving her alone for the day, and Ben's got a newborn to focus on so coffee or dinner is much better for both of us.

Congratulations Martin! Not giving up must be a great feeling. That front wheel lift is always terrifying, definitely a sign of how steep it is. Lucky with gradients like this I'm never sat down to notice it. No need to worry about where the strava segment ends, riding up to that point for the view is clearly the main climb. I don't know Waunfawr I don't think, will have to check it out!

@@nickbrownbill3413 Diolch Nick👍The climb from Waunfawr is brutal!Starts near to the village pub.Once you reach the top great views.Small car park.Lovely bendy road towards Rhosgadfan.2 cattle grids if I recall correctly.

Cheers man, I wanted to give it a real chance 😂

Thanks Illi, glad it was a bit informative! I had been told what to expect and was still a bit surprised. It is definitely cow country and they were so liberal with the lack of containment! they all wear bells though so going up the hills does feel disconcertingly like a UK hill climb.

That's what I find Chris. They can be a huge faff to install depending on the wheel/tyre combo but at least it's a faff on my own house rather than the side of the road changing a tube. It's very rare that I've had something that won't seal (unless it's my own fault riding a full worn tyre too long) and if I do, it'd destroy a tube all the same. I definitely think it's a big step up in terms of lower maintenance

That is so cool! Is that the switchback road toward the end? Yeah the mountain biking options particularly around the second climb I did seemed fantastic, much better than the road cycling

They're intimidating in a big group aren't they? I think they don't mean any harm but getting trampled by accident doesn't appeal to me.

​@nickbrownbill3413 it's the side eye looks they give like they are about to kill u 😂

😂 Yeah no storms just a flashing light to hope cars could see me through the miserable weather!

Haha I suspect I wouldn't even have to steal it, he probably wants rid of the thing at this point! Unfortunately its not availability of bikes that is stopping me ride, I've been given a fairly strict (and understandable) instruction that I am not to make this holiday about bikes. I am hoping to meet up with Ben though!

Glad to hear it's not just me being negative! I generally enjoy them but since I don't want to race seems like more hassle than it's worth to spend my Thursday evening with one whopper riding everyone off his wheel and everyone else complaining about each other but not taking it up with him. In hillclimbs the only annoyance I have to deal with is myself 😂 thank you mate!

Cheers Marco! Probably 6.3w/kg at my current (estimated) weight, so definitely a good legs day! Haha and most importantly... Stop running the 800g of camera equipment? 😂

Its been a few years since I did Winnats but I definitely think this is harder! I remember Winnats being a much more consistent grind, but this one because of the flat/descent in the middle means the start and finish gradients are just crazy, in a great way. If I ever figure out a way to get the video to actually give a good perception of gradients I'll be all over it 😂

Cheers Stu!

Thanks Phil!

What a nice comment. I don't think any of my usual viewers would describe me that way 😂

Fortunately since they were children it was mostly incoherent stuff that they thought was clever rather than anything too hurtful 😂 thanks Tom!

Thanks Lee!

Thank you mate!

Cheers Stu. Yeah they're absolutely great, I'd highly recommend them. Nothing like this locally I don't think :( to be fair Bhima puts in A LOT of work, I can see why others don't but running something like this in the Clywds/Halkyns would be incredible.

​@nickbrownbill3413 wouldn't it just

Thanks Marco! Yeah it is definitely my favourite too. Give yourself no choice but to go really hard. If I set out at 95% I still feel knackered at the end and can't give more, just the same as if if given 100% from the off 😂

Thanks Chris :) a good bridge view is always worth a few nettle stings! It was also a steep sided valley though, didn't want to roll my ankle immediately before the race like a plonker 😂

Thanks Peter!

Cheers Scott! I need to get myself doing that stupid shocked CZcams face looking at a power graph and a big silver medal in the thumbnail don't I? 😂 😲🥈📈

@@nickbrownbill3413 "World record power, but *THIS* cost me 1st place 😲😲😲" + something on the power graph circled in red 😂

You need to be my social media manager Phil, 1mil subs incoming 😂

At least 300mph mate, to go with my 700W NP

Cheers mate, got to give the fans what they want!

Nick needs to do a miniseries on his testicles

@@stewartwaywlc6913 depending which testicle it's about it may not be mini

Thanks Phil! They are really great, if you do get over to any and I get there to I'll be sure to nod at you 😂

Haha it was one Phill would be proud of! Thanks Marco, much appreciated :) Yeah that is true. For the most part it is pretty fast though there's just enough sweeping bends to be interesting/technical, but the very bottom part back in to Macc is where you'd excel I think, fast and bendy with uncharacteristically nice tarmac for the UK and every corner being different needing it's own assessment

😂

So people know where to jump straight to for all the good bits?

@@nickbrownbill3413 of course! ⚽⚾🥎🏀🏐

@@tdh1990 Testes Talk is now duly time stamped.

It has been really quiet every time I've been over that way in the evenings to be fair, nothing like Snake or Woodhead which are the other peaks passes I'd compare it to.

Thanks Stu!

Cheers Peter! To be fair he might have been older than ten and he's clearly very talented, maybe he'll be the next Pidcock and then it'd just be an honour to be so close to him.

Cheers Marco! That's a brilliant effort as well, a steep finish on an effort like that really forces you to empty every last drop doesn't it? 600W for 20s to finish is definitely a sign of good pacing. Riding them at my weight only makes the pain last a bit less long 😂

Thank you Chris! Sparkle and fade is a great name for it, definitely using that in future 😅

Hahaha 😂 I think the poor people who lived in the farmhouse down the road might have been concerned a spot of dogging was taking place...

Thanks Stu! It's unremarkable compared to the top hitters but I was proud :)