18/06/2026
Roger's thoughts on the TINAT Audax event last weekend here in Mid Wales
Good morning Mark, James, Steve(?) and co.
I had cause to scribble a few lines to Mr Coomer in Tenby yesterday in regard to the pending End to End ride and found it useful to do a bit of recounting of my experiences on Mike’s rides. My lines to him were prompted by his comment to me of: “You must be a glutton for welsh effort! Though not quite on tinat levels, this end to end is lumpy.” My reply went something like this and I thought that it would also do as a reflection on my TINAT experiences of the last couple of years. So, I thought to share my thoughts with you all, and please do not hesitate to pull any part of it out for inclusion in the feedback bit of the TINAT webpage, should you consider any part of it suitable for such purpose.
The lumpiness of the End to End ride has been noticed and I see that your route has a fair bit in common with TINAT, especially the clamber up the side of the cwm from Pennant to Bwlch-y-Groes. (I notice that because I am in the process of transferring RwGPS route 49083971 into my old reliable 2B pencil scrawl onto the non-electronic OS nav tech that I use as my ultimate safety net.) The TINAT 400 route last year, which I followed all the way round in 41 ½ hours, had us clambering Cwm Hirnant which was substituted this year with the Hellfire. I rode up the slope last year but short-circuited this year’s scramble by returning direct to Llandrindod from Minllyn, by the A470, after the scree slopes of the NCR 82 from Llanegryn to Dolgellau across Cader. That allowed me to be back for the Sunday afternoon part of Mike’s after-party at Highland Moors. Incidentally, both years had us mounting the Devil’s Staircase which I walked last year and rode this – Yarroooo! Thus ended two, consecutive, incomplete, TINAT 400’s for Mr Jarrett; fantastic experiences that I would not have traded in for all the tea in China, India, Thailand, Burma and Ceylon (oops, sorry: Myanmar and Sri Lanka). Truly exceptional 4-day set of rides in memoriam. Mwah-ah-ah-aha! RIP Mr Hall.
We shall just have to see which list End to End ends up on: adding to the 100% record for Tenby based rides or the 0% record for rides in the region of Llyn Efyrnwy. I remain riding with 50/34 drive and 11/34 cassette, but am severely tempted to invest in a 46/30 set up as an alternative drive end for these big and bumpy trips – to give wings to the climbing phases? – not within the next couple of weeks though.
The shape of this season, for me, has ended up with the main feature developing into a DIY trip to Ebbw Vale for the Steelhouse festival and relocation to Land’s End in time for Andy’s LEJOG (totally critical, n’est pas, so that I can claim the B5000 cloth badge! One of those very sensible decisions made in an instant at 0030 on some day or other, last month). From J.O.G. I am left with 6 days to get to Tewkesbury (opportunity to build in a couple of DIY 200’s peut-être?) in time for Mark’s Hafren before catching a train home. Not bad for a 4-week period away from home comforts; carrying my accommodation, clothing and cooking equipment with me (challenging to slim that down as much as possible). That will also boost the total qualifying rides to gain a second year’s R10000 – so many badges, so little time to sew them onto my old hockey shirt.
I would add that:
I find it completely astonishing that TINAT is not joined in with by more cycling nutters. Not only are the rides that are on offer mind-bendingly awesome (in every regard true for those that I have joined in with) but when combined with the standard of welcome, hospitality and accommodation provided by Sue and Jeff and such an honouring reason to gather together, why would anyone stay away? Do we really want to reduce Mike’s character, life and legacy to such a low level? (Not that I ever had the undoubted pleasure of being with him when he was alive, but….. whatever.)
For me, Mike’s outpouring into the article written for The Bugle has been inspirational and his summation in the last paragraph particularly resonates:
“This is why, for now at least, you can keep your nice, your leisurely and your convenience and if it comes to it, you can also keep your professional sports. This is not a tour and no, I do not want to slow down because I really don’t think I could possibly enjoy any more than I do.”
Thank you Mark and co from the heart of my bottom for TINAT; your thoughts, plannings and actions are of huge value.
Roger (M).
