The Merlin Ride

The Merlin Ride is a charity cycle ride intended to raise money for Wales Air Ambulance, MacMillan Cancer Support and Ty Hafan.  The event also supports Tenovus and the Brains Trust.

The Merlin ride is non competitive and is classed as a Sportive.  There are four routes and distances to cater for all abilities: Towy Ride 23 miles, Druid Ride 57 miles, Cothi Ride 70 miles and the Merlin Ride 105 miles.  The three longer routes all cross over the Black Mountain on the A4069.  This is well renown cycle route and has been used by the Tour of Britain on several occasions.  The descent down to Llangadog is probably the best cycle descent in Wales and whilst shorter than Pyrenean descents is every bit as enjoyable.

There are several feeding stations dependant upon your route, however for 2012 these will be sponsored by the COOP food store.  They are located approximately every 20 miles and are at:

• Ffairfach
• Pontamman
• Llangadog Common
• Llansawel
• New Castle Emlyn

For more information on the routes please visit the Route Page.

Merlin Ride HQ

The event is hosted at the magnificent National Botanic Garden of Wales, Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire.  With direct access off the A48 trunk road access could not be easier.  There is a large free car park and changing/ toilet facilities.  The garden also has a Café which will be open at 06.30 on the morning of the event for refreshments.

We feel very privileged to be working with the National Botanic Garden of Wales, it is in an area of outstanding natural beauty and riders will be impressed at the facilities available.  All we ask is that you respect the gardens and what they stand for.

The car park and start area are located at the main entrance for the Gardens, however the finish area is located at the rear, approximately half a mile away from your car park.  We have a designated cycle route to get you back to your vehicle.  This will ensure that we observe the No Cycling rules of the Garden.

Merlin Ride Objectives

The specific aims of the event are:

• Raise money for the three nominated charities
• Promote cycling as a physical exercise intended to enhance a healthy lifestyle, increasing health fitness and wellbeing
• Promote Carmarthenshire and the Gardens as a tourist attraction
• Promote safe and responsible cycling on the highway and raise the profile of cycling as a safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly mode of transport.

Event Time Management

The Merlin Ride has invested in the Trumin time management system.  This system requires riders to attach a time chip onto their shoe (not bike).  The capacity of the system is such that we can manage a mass start for the event.  When you return into the finish area the time chip will be covered and your time is published

live on our web site.  Trumin also manage our financial registration system, this ensures that the whole event management is compatible with essential fail safe backup systems in place.  The Merlin Ride guarantees that your time will be recorded accurately using some of the most sophisticated equipment available.  We also guarantee that it will be published live and that your data will not be lost due to power failure or IT crash.  

Event Marshalling

The event start will be coordinated by Dyfed Powys Police who will ensure that the B4310 is traffic free at time of start.  This will ensure a mass start is possible with riders enjoying a traffic free area to the junction of the unclassified road to Gorslas.  From this point on the event will be marshaled by motor cycle outriders from Carmarthen and District Motor Cycle Club supported by Dyfed Powys Police.  Static marshalls will be located at key junction and this process forms part of the event risk assessment.

There are three separate recovery vehicles to ensure that your are able to re-join the event without delay.

Medical support is provided by St. John Ambulance.

Please remember this is not a race, it is a sportive and a fun cycling day out.  All of the routes represent a significant challenge and you are advised to study the profiles carefully before registering for the ride of your choice.  Be warned the Merlin Ride (105 miles) is intended to be a significant challenge, you should not attempt this unless you have a high level of fitness.  You have been warned!