Starting in the UK’s smallest city of St David’s the Tour Of Pembrokeshire is a spring sportive along the Welsh coastline, there can be few rides that are quite as scenic as this from the start in St David’s to some of the stunning coastal bays en route.  The biblical weather and the severity of the course meant that I didn’t really pay any attention to any of this, and certainly wasn’t going to take any photos. My group, which included, my wife Libby, the local vicar (on a Trek Madone) and an assortment of friends, had opted for the truncated 79 mile (127km) route, which featured 7515ft (2,290m) of climbing.

The first few flat  miles under the spring sun were glorious, and the only easy miles of the day, once hit the hills everything changed, the rain was relentless, the hills were sapping and the wind was terrifying. It quickly became clear that staying on the bike would be today’s real challenge. The first real climb was a short 25% gradient, this was probably the least challenging section of the ride, it was here that we came across the Mavic support team, yellow car, yellow bikes,  loads of wheels the real deal. They cheered us on and and pushed me up the gentlest section of the climb. The summit plateau’ed out to an exposed plain with crosswinds threatening to blow you clean off the road. These same winds made the following descent torturously treacherous.

Then started the steady, leg-sapping, soul-destroying 8km 400m high climb to overlook Newport bay. Mind bogglingly there were groups of spectators through the route many ringing cow bells, to create a real grand tour feel. At the summit the view across the bay was breathtaking, so was the wind. The descent which followed was sheer hell, the gale force winds were determined to blow us off or bikes, I have never been more determined to stay on the bike, more people walked down the descent than up the ascent. Thankfully we all made it to the feed station. Which was by far the best feed station I have ever seen, the range and quantity of foods was staggering, faggots and welsh cakes. Despite the rain and hail we stayed a little too long at this stop and felt it on the next climb a rain drenched 20% to the summit of Tom’s Bend (907ft/276m). This was the closest I came to cracking and only Jens Voigts famous phrase “shut up legs, you’ll do what I tell you” got me through.  Finally the first sheltered, but still sodden, descent of the day. The next feed station was  at The Jubilee Inn in Letterston, the feed station was in a pub, awesome. Of course I enjoyed more welsh cakes and a Guinness (only a half there was still 19 miles to go). The last section was wonderful, fuelled by Guinness I was able to take advantage of the drop in wind and lack of hills for a fast finish. The final half mile ran past the stunning cathedral, Before finishing on a savage little climb. This hurt, it really hurt, but Libby and I finished together. The roast pork rolls, with crackling, stuffing and apple sauce, gradually eased the pain.

This was undoubtably the toughest bike event I have ever done, the course was challenging enough, but the weather, especially the wind, made this event utterly formidable. This is one of the few occasions when the climbs were more enjoyable than the descents. Well done to everyone who completed this gruelling event. Will I do it again next year, I’ll think about it…

Mike Armer has joined Viceroys from Serpentine after moving to the Walton area from Wapping.  After some promising early teen years as an 800m runner, he discovered beer and other distractions at 17 and, after a couple of years playing rugby, got bigger and bigger each year enjoying the social scene in London!  He started running again 2 yrs ago, bought a bike and decided to give triathlon a go.

‘My girlfriend told me about a guy opposite her who was always in his garage on a bike. I popped over to check out his bike one Sunday morning and it turned out it was Mr Yeoman.  After some googling I decided I should do a bit of what he was doing!”    Highlights thus far of my new triathlon life have been competing in the Laguna Phuket Triathlon (definitely a location triathlon worth considering) and getting into the GB age groupers for the ETU & ITU sprint duathlons.  I am looking forward to a few Shepperton Lake sessions and the Sunday ride with the Viceroys, as well as pulling on some pink kit for this year’s races!’

Welcome to Viceroys Mike – look forward to seeing you in a bit of pink…

Viceroys are tough, Viceroys are crazy and new Viceroys certainly fits the mould, as after not running for 2 years after an accident which had doctors saying she would never run again, proved everyone wrong this weekend by not only just ‘running’, but running a challenging 20k, completing a Tough Mudder – respect and congratulations to personal trainer Lilly Mazzoni. Unbelieveably, Lilly has only just managed to start running again on the past month, after some amazing treatments from Steve Hobson (another new Viceroy!).

Lilly (originally from Brazil), tells us about her race: ‘It was very hard, mainly because of the weather as it was quite cold, but the team work was the main thing for me, as a few times I struggled a lot as I was scared of some obstacles, but they made me do it! It was a huge mental challenge because when you think you are nearly there someone say to it that’s it’s only half way… You think, what the hell? But you carry on because that’s why you are there, to get to the end no matter what.

The last 2 miles was the hardest, as any race really, but the feeling of crossing the finishing line after been electrocuted is priceless! I enjoyed a lot and can’t wait to do it again – it was a amazing experience and I recommend it.’

The amazing Lilly has been into sports since the age of 6, doing a lot of swimming and playing handball around the country representing her school. She moved to England in 2005 and loved it!

‘My aim now is to do an Ironman, which is happening in Brazil next May. I’m really looking forward to achieve this massive goal and I’m very inspired by some of our Viceroys athletes and I know they will give me more strength and help my training to make me an ironwoman.

Looking forward to meet you all guys!’

Can’t wait to meet you Lilly – we’re certainly in awe of you already.

New Viceroy Suzy Blandford has just started doing triathlons after a background  in running:  ‘I have completed 4 marathons and decided after injury at last year’s London marathon to have a break from the long distance for a while. My boyfriend had got into triathlons from a swimming background, so my first hurdle of being able to swim a few lengths was solved by his swimming lessons! I moved up from Devon to Surrey in December to be with my boyfriend (now fiance!) and as he was already a member of the pink club I decided to join too. I am hoping to get to know the local area a lot better on long bike rides, get use to riding in packs and learn to swim well enough so that I don’t have such a big gap to catch up my fiancé up on the run! As I am fairly new to Surrey and I am also looking forward to meeting lots of people.’

You’ve come to the right club Suzy – we’re a very friendly bunch! And huge congratulations on your engagement to Viceroy Matt Storr.

Julian Marsh is another extreme endurance triathlete, who joined Viceroys, ‘as I have registered for the UK Ironman in 2014 and wanted to have some training partners and meet like-minded individuals. I have always done a lot of swimming and a fair bit of running, but was missing the cycling part until I did the London- Brighton a few years ago. I then registered for the Olympic Distance London triathlon in 2012 and then again in 2013 and decided to take it up a level this year.

I am 36 and would consider myself an intermediate level (I will not be qualifying for Kona), but enjoy the challenge of pushing my body. I have always enjoyed team sports and joining the club will hopefully make an individual sport feel that way. I look forward to meeting everyone and getting to know them better.’

Good luck with your training Julian and welcome to Viceroys.

Husband and wife team Alastair and Jane Bloore  used to do ‘quite a bit of racing’ and have achieved the accolade of getting into the GB age group team and racing in the European Championships in Lisbon and the Worlds in Australia: ‘That was certainly the most expensive race we’ve done. Since then we switched to some long course races and for the last two years have just been enjoying our favourite sports which for Jane is open water swimming and for myself, marathon running where I’m still trying to nibble time of the PB before advancing years start to slow me down. Originally from Birmingham, we now live out in Ashtead and Jane works over in Walton on Thames which is how we have got to know about the Viceroys. Your pink hats are also quite evident at Shepperton lake which we use quite a lot. There is a nice friendly and relaxed feel there.
Although I used to do lots of cycling as I grew up, my regular exercise stopped in my early 20s when someone stole my bike and I replaced it with a moped! 20 years of motorcycling followed until as I turned 40 my belly started to expand and I realised I better get active again. Having picked up a few injuries through running I turned to triathlon which at least spreads the stress on your body across the three disciplines. I love swimming outdoors although regardless of effort or training my pace remains decidedly ‘steady’. Running is perhaps my best sport and I am happy cycling all day long.’

Jane Bloore has always been a keen swimmer but took a break from swimming over my teenage years and rekindled my love of the sport in my mid twenties and completed a fair few swimathons. ‘When I stopped getting faster doing that I decided I would try running and entered the ballot for the London Marathon getting a place first time! This lead to a number of marathons and then onto triathlons where Alastair and I have competed in all distances from sprint to Ironman. Now I am slowing down at running and cycling things have gone full circle and this year I am focusing on swimming. This year’s main aim is the 14km Bridge to Bridge swim from Henley to Marlow in August so you will probably see me most at the weekends in Shepperton lake.’

Welcome to Viceroys  Jane and Alastair.