The Gran Fondo Conwy 2014 was a 139km race on the beautiful Welsh coast. The roads were smooth and free of traffic, but we had to watch out for sheep, cows, and even a few tractors.
The wind was strong at times, but it was nothing we couldn’t handle.
I rode with Alex for most of the ride, and we had some great conversations about our favorite brands and our favorite foods. We also discussed the best way to grow our hair out so that we could have long ponytails like Toby.
We stopped at a pub called The Narrows at the halfway point for a snack break, where I enjoyed some local cider while Alex ate a big plate of cheese and breads. It was good to refuel since we still had several more hours in front of us!
When we finally finished our ride over 6 hours later (with only one puncture!), we were both exhausted but very satisfied with ourselves!
The Gran Fondo Conwy was an incredible experience
I had never ridden in a race like this before, but it was exactly what I needed to get my season off on the right foot.
The course was challenging, with beautiful views and a few tough climbs that made me appreciate the effort that went into planning such a route.
I’m not sure if it was because it was a local event or what, but the crowd support was incredible. The people at the checkpoints were so friendly and welcoming! It really helped me push through when I needed to.
Overall, this was an amazing race and I can’t wait for next year!
Gran Fondo Conwy: The Race to End All Races
I’ve been racing my bike for a long time, and I can honestly say that Gran Fondo Conwy is one of the most challenging and rewarding races I’ve ever done. It’s also one of the most beautiful. The course takes you through some of the most picturesque parts of Wales, from the hills above Abergele to the shores of Llandudno. If you’re not careful, you might find yourself getting distracted by all the scenery and forget to pay attention to your pace!
The first thing that struck me about this race was its size—the field was huge! There were over 300 competitors signing up for that day, so it was a very crowded field. That said, each race has its own personality, and as it turns out, Gran Fondo Conwy is a lot less competitive than other events in this series, which makes it perfect for beginners or people who aren’t looking for super-fast times but want an opportunity to experience what competing feels like. A lot of people came with their families or friends who wanted to experience what it’s like on race day.
The actual course itself is unique because there are multiple loops
It was a new year, and I was ready to get back into the routine of running. I had signed up for a few races before the new year, but somehow ended up signing up for this one without even realizing it—and then I saw the date: January 1st.
I had just gotten back from vacation with my family in Florida, and my legs felt like jelly as we drove through the lush vegetation of North Carolina on our way home. But now that we were back in Virginia, I couldn’t wait to get out there and run!
The Gran Fondo Conwy is a 100-mile ride that begins at 10am and ends at 4pm. The course is extremely hilly, so you’ll want to take your time getting ready for this ride. Make sure you have enough water with you (and don’t forget electrolytes!).
After registering online, we printed out our bibs and headed over to the starting line—a beautiful hotel right on the water. There were hundreds of riders there, all dressed in colorful jerseys and ready to ride. We lined up behind each other on the road so that we could all start together when it came time.
The structure
Gran Fondo Conwy is a 100km cycle ride that takes place in Snowdonia, Wales. The race takes place over two days, with a 25km route on the first day and 75km on the second day.
My partner and I decided to participate in this event because we wanted to try something new and experience the beautiful Welsh countryside. We also wanted to challenge ourselves by doing something physically demanding together.
We arrived at the start line of Gran Fondo Conwy at 4:30am on Friday morning—one hour before it opened to participants. We were encouraged by our friends who had already started their ride, so we made our way over to registration as soon as possible. Unfortunately, there was a long line for registration (around 70 people) and only one person working at a time, so it took us about 45 minutes to get through registration.
Once we were registered, we went back to our hotel room and got ready for our ride. We both wore cycling shorts under our spandex pants, a long-sleeved jersey over top of a base layer (to keep warm), then added some extra layers if needed depending on how cold or windy it was outside during our training rides leading up to this event).