Mel Wasley

What was your reason for wanting to ride the Trafalgar Way?

I like to have a goal each year, something that would challenge and test my cycling ability. RTTW definitely fitted the bill and I also liked the unique nature of the event and also the size of the event. I’m not a fan of mass participation events and this felt like the perfect fit.

How would you sum up your ride of the Trafalgar Way to a friend?

An epic ride of many parts! The route was brilliant it was a pleasure riding through such beautiful country lanes. I rode with my friend Jasmijn and it was great to share the experience with someone else, the views along the Jurassic coast were stunning and we made sure we took the time to enjoy the views along the way.

What was your most memorable part of the ride?

I have lots of great memories from the ride. From the beautiful scenery to funny moments like stopping for food at Mani’s kebab shop in Salisbury just as the pubs kicked out and lots drunk people joined us, to the strange sensation of riding through the night. It was all very memorable.

What are your top 3 tips for anyone thinking of riding the Trafalgar Way?

1. Lots of training on hilly terrains, the first 2/3 of the route are pretty relentless!

2. Practice eating on long rides. The longer you ride for the harder it gets to eat so you need to know what will work for you.

3. Test everything you’ll be using before the ride, you need to feel completely comfortable with all your kit and you don’t want any surprises. Also, be prepared for all eventualities.

What are your top bits of equipment or kit you wouldn’t want to ride the Trafalgar Way without?

Good lights and warm layers for the night. I also rode with Aero Bars on my bike which gave both my hands and my bum a welcome break by being able to change position.

What bike (make and model) and chainset / cassette set up did you ride the Trafalgar Way with (if available)?

I rode an Orro Terra C, with Ultegra Di2 and aero bars.