For those of you that haven't come across it before, the TransWales is a seven day stage race covering some of the most dramatic countryside that wales has to offer, featuring a number of timed "special stages" during the daily mileage at Mountain Bike traIl centres. Bearing in mind that the average daily distance is about 40 miles, the majority of which is off road, the event places a lot of demands not only on your body but on your bike as well, so it's important that it's as comfortable and in as good a mechanical shape as possible.

The events in just over four weeks time, so a shake down ride at coed y brenin exposed the limitations of worn out tyres combined with wet welsh slate which resulted in a couple of near misses and a loop over the bars, so it's down to the bike shop i go for a cyclists fav conversation "What tyres for....." Aside from that, the trails at CYB were riding like a dream, if you get the chance to ride there, it's one of the original trail centres, and, in my opinion, still one of the best. A lot of what was construction work when i was last there is now nicely bedded in, and i spent a great day whipping around the flowing trails.

Back home, it's time for some good honest elbow grease to get the bike gleaming and lubed up, ready for the next outing.

Next entry, nutrition.