tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41817600129606314892024-03-13T23:28:53.793-07:00100 hills for GeorgeA cycling challenge - Simon Warren's 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs to be completed in one year for The George Oliver Foundation - www.georgesfoundation.orgmrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-71763988455765997142012-03-31T14:13:00.001-07:002012-04-01T14:58:03.211-07:00Hill no 100 - 26 Mott StreetSo. On the final day of my "year" - running 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012, I had just one more climb to do. Only one more climb after having ridden up hill after hill after hill after hill after (I'm sure you get the idea).<br />
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All things being equal, it should have been one of the epic climbs - a 10/10 monster that strained legs and mind. One that when conquered gave sweeping vistas and endless views, a climb that led up a mountain with the beauty to inspire poets and songwriters.<br />
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But my hill was called Mott Street. In Essex.<br />
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To be fair, this hill is in High Beaches - Epping Forest and it is not bad considering it is just inside the M25. Of course, it is not the steepest hill out there, nor the longest, nor (apologies to the good citizens of Loughton) the prettiest. But it is a hill in the book and my last hill.<br />
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So for one last time, I bundle the daughter, the dog and the wife into the car. I hoist my bike up onto the car roof (actually - when up there this time round it joined 2 other bikes and a tandem as we were heading back to Swain's Lane for a celebratory climb) and head off in the car.<br />
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Of course, we hit London traffic straight away and take 35 minutes to get to the North Circular. Once there however, things start moving quicker and a trawl up the M1 and across the M25 and back down and suddenly I realise why my clubmates are talking about how easy it is to get out of London when you ride out "North".<br />
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Headed off on the climb and the first thing I noticed was that the road had been resurfaced - it wasn't the smoothest in the world, but it wasn't too bad.<br />
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I don't think that it was the hardest climb in the world - didn't seem to get above 13% or so - in fact, I reckon Terrace Hill was probably harder, and I must admit that it kind of passed me by a little bit - my mind was replaying all the places we had seen and been and thinking of George too, how much we love and miss him.<br />
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This was quite a lot to think about in a relatively short period of time and before I knew it, I was at the top of the hill with the climb "done". Wow. All done.<br />
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100 climbs in exactly 1 year. Took advantage of it being a leap year I guess, but still wow. A JOGLE may be harder, but doing hill climbs has dominated the past year of not only my life, but that of my family (and probably my friends) too. Holidays have been based on the location of steep hills and now, well, perhaps a week in the Norfolk broads beckons!<br />
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Thank you for sticking with this blog and the climbs - much appreciated and I hope you enjoyed them.<br />
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Garmin here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/163415455">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/163415455</a><br />
Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629711348199/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629711348199/</a><br />
Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sdV8zQOyE8&feature=g-upl&context=G2e6dcc4AUAAAAAAAAAA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sdV8zQOyE8&feature=g-upl&context=G2e6dcc4AUAAAAAAAAAA</a>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-20267129537280157622012-03-29T12:40:00.002-07:002012-03-30T14:04:16.979-07:00Hill no 99 - 29 Terrace HillA surprising short hop away from Lincoln was Terrace Hill - very near Belvoir Castle.<br />
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It was an incredibly beautiful sunny day - it was just a shame that it was the last day of our holidays and that we were spending most of it in the car heading back to London!<br />
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Terrace Hill rates a measly 1/10 in Simon's book and he has obviously been asked WHY it is in there at all - it isn't terribly steep (although it does hit at least 13%), or terribly long. Well, I am informed that it is the first "proper" hill that Simon ever did AND he won his first race up it.<br />
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I have previously ridden Terrace Hill, although unlike Simon, I came third racing up it, not first. I therefore knew the hill and the surrounds. I had ridden it on a 100mile ride back last year, but had stupidly forgot to reset my Garmin for it/take any photos/wear a video camera, so I had to do it again.<br />
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And I was glad to do it again. Aside from the beautiful Leicestershire countryside all around - Terrace Hill is at the end of an arrow straight road. You then ride up through woodland curving to the right and then back round to the left.<br />
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I was determined to do the entire climb using the hardest gear possible (in a masochistic way), so did it a lot slower than I hoped, but I did really enjoy it - it is a pretty climb and I enjoyed it a lot.<br />
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Even more so when I was at the top and realised that I was 99 climbs down - and only one more to go!!!<br />
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Oh and Simon - if you are reading this, you should be happy to know that I saw more cyclists today around Terrace Hill than I have done anywhere else in the Country doing any of these climbs. So Terrace Hill may not be the hardest climbs, but it is certainly enjoyed a LOT.<br />
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Cheers.<br />
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Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629702140391/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629702140391/</a><br />
Garmin here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/161587665">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/161587665</a><br />
Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahW4nyBRuhE">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahW4nyBRuhE</a>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-74646912471161024652012-03-29T12:34:00.001-07:002012-03-30T14:04:53.953-07:00Hill no 98 - 28 MichalegateHa - this was the one where it all nearly went wrong!!!!<br />
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I had dragged my Dad up to Scunthorpe (where our family were originally from) the previous day and we'd had a really good day meeting up with old family members and friends. We were kind of remembering my Grandma - she was a really lovely lady who used to keep in contact with all our friends and family for us and we didn't really appreciate her until it was too late.<br />
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As I type this, I can look over my shoulder and there is a photo of her on our bookshelves and I know that if such a thing exists, she would have been with us all day and particularly enjoyed the good old chin wag at Eric and Frieda's.<br />
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Leaving Scunthorpe, we then "overnighted" at a Travelodge in Lincoln (or just outside) - top tip, for a £20 supplement, your dog can stay in the room with you - and the staff there were brilliant. What was slightly less brilliant was trying to find an open pub at 10.30 within walking distance of the A46 Travelodge. We failed.<br />
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So the next morning, we passed the test of remembering the clocks went forward an hour and Em and I left Mila with my Dad, grabbed Hobbs and headed into the centre of Lincoln to find Michaelgate. The one problem was the traffic was HORRENDOUS. Completely stationary, gridlock everywhere.<br />
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We abandoned the car and Em walked, whilst I freewheeled to the start of Michaelgate. Here, horror of horrors, there was a big sign at the bottom saying "Road Closed". Now, I want to make it clear, I am a very law abiding cyclist. I stop at red lights - all red lights. I have so many lights on my bike I look like a Christmas tree, but there was no way that I was coming back to Lincoln before the 31st March to do Michaelgate another time.<br />
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So I hopped on the bike, rode past the barriers and squeezed past further barriers up the road. As I cycled up (cobbled road, actually not that steep), I noticed more and more people on the street. Eventually they were all in front of me and conscious of the fact that I wasn't supposed to be on the road, instead of politely asking them to move, I just crept up behind them.<br />
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It transpired that we had picked the morning of the Lincoln 10k to do Michaelgate and the start was just at the top of the road that I needed to cycle up!<br />
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Anyway - I got there, it wasn't the most impressive time (due to pedestrians on the road), but I did it.<br />
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Phew!<br />
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BTW - Lincoln (old city centre) is gorgeous - totally picturesque. Em wanted to stay and take photos, but we also wanted to get back and save Mila from her Grandad (before he had her reading the Telegraph, in a Man U kit...)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rr70dnVazSI/T3StplX-eHI/AAAAAAAAApU/qzEIMsn7hgM/s1600/IMG_9754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rr70dnVazSI/T3StplX-eHI/AAAAAAAAApU/qzEIMsn7hgM/s320/IMG_9754.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629337531992/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629337531992/</a><br />
Garmin here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/161587671">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/161587671</a><br />
Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q--TMOFjv0Y&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=2&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q--TMOFjv0Y&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=2&feature=plcp</a>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-45661007984862579392012-03-23T07:30:00.002-07:002012-03-30T14:05:18.055-07:00Hill no 97 - 55 Rosedale ChimneyWell, we had no option but to drive down this one before getting back up it on the bike - if only because there was a big warning sign at the top of the climb warning all cyclists to dismount before going down the hill. I thought that this was probably a bit of overkill, but looking at the views as we went down the hill, I was pretty apprehensive about coming back up the hill.<br />
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To put it into perspective, Simon Warren had talked about snapping his chain not once, but twice on this hill trying to conquer it. To me that says two things. Mr Warren should replace his chain more often(!) and also that the power required to get you up the blinking thing was probably pretty large!<br />
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The "usual" warning signs are ramped up here - 1 in 3 slope, avoid in coaches, heavy goods vehicles, anything bigger than a white van, do not ride in winter, or unless the sun is shining!<br />
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The hill starts innocuously enough - a nice gentle slope at about 10% initially, rising to about 15% as you pass a pub on the left. Advice has been to get off at this point and have a drink before continuing up the hill - but that would be "cheating" and my Garmin wouldn't allow for it! I was already out of the saddle at this point.<br />
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The signs advising me to "engage a low gear" were not needed as I was already in my lowest gear - I was going to have to grind this one out.<br />
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You then head over a cattle grid and things change for the worse. For about 600m, life gets very, very tricky indeed. Basically the hill is massively steep, with hairpin turns where the gradient is whatever adjective comes after "massively". Probably massively +1.<br />
I had an incredibly nasty shock when it felt as though someone had dragged my back wheel away - I think that I put it on top of a stone and when the stone spat away, my wheel span as well. That was the last thing I needed to do as I had front wheel lift and my legs were aching already!<br />
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The gradient here on these slopes apparently gets up to 33% - I have no idea of course because my eyes were firmly set on the slope in front of me, worried that if I looked down then I too would topple over! It is hard with the gradients, because the temptation is to run "wide" on these, using the width of the road to make the climb easier.<br />
The road was so steep that at one point I sat down for a "rest". The gradient at that point was 26%! Watching the video back, I appear to be going agonisingly slowly. I think that is probably a good reflection of things.<br />
Thankfully once that bit was over and done with, the hill got "better" at only about 15% and I did my best to spin up it with my legs still in a bit of shock at what they had to do. Got a couple of quizzical looks from the sheep as well who obviously thought I was some sort of lunatic as I was grunting and groaning up the hill.<br />
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A mis-timed sprint finish meant I had to grit my teeth and go for a little bit longer - but it was a real feeling of "phew" when I did finally get to the top!<br />
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Nice at the top as well, a couple out for a walk gave me a bit of a cheer - thank you very much - appreciate it!<br />
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Garmin here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/160118746">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/160118746</a><br />
Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629324059176/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629324059176/</a><br />
Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=350IpXfLYi8&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=5&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=350IpXfLYi8&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=5&feature=plcp</a>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-58570290010790801922012-03-20T10:31:00.003-07:002012-03-30T14:05:41.334-07:00Hill no 96 - 58 Carlton Bank<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My final hill of today (and my third 7/10 hill in a row, with only the nerve inducing 10/10 Rosedale Chimney to go) and I actually was pleasantly surprised at how I was feeling - we had stopped and had a lovely lunch in a nice tearooms (which was also very reasonably priced), the dog had had a good run, the daughter was asleep and as I was map reading, we had managed to find the hills prettily easily (although I'm sure Em would point out that we missed the turn to Carlton Bank and had to go the "scenic route" - which to be fair was pretty scenic!)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6aspxyQqNig/T2i6yos2TYI/AAAAAAAAAnk/AvCMrBX-aiA/s1600/IMG_9523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6aspxyQqNig/T2i6yos2TYI/AAAAAAAAAnk/AvCMrBX-aiA/s320/IMG_9523.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I started the climb at Busby Hall - again, a little bit early, but it made for a good photo opportunity! There were however some pretty large stones in the road that had come out of the drive - and the condition of the road itself was pretty "iffy" - with some big gouges/pot holes in the road.</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another factor which was unexpected was the wind - the other two climbs had been in beautiful conditions - sunny, crisp, dry and still. It was a bit odd to suddenly have the wind whistling around my ears! Not that it was going to prove to be too challenging - but it shows that weather conditions can change pretty quickly.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eSmQuG-agUM/T2i759htHAI/AAAAAAAAAns/tLUBG8Ergdk/s1600/IMG_9526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eSmQuG-agUM/T2i759htHAI/AAAAAAAAAns/tLUBG8Ergdk/s320/IMG_9526.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I started the climb proper, the gradient was jumping up over 10% - but under 15% which was just sapping the energy nicely. I had the usual moment of concentration riding over a cattle grid - a car came the other way and I did have a panic for a moment that we would meet on the grid as the driver didn't look like stopping!</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had to pick my way through the rough road surface a little bit and then it got steep - heading around to the left, I was hopping in and out of the saddle to try and get my legs spinning up the steeper slopes to get it over and done with. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HjZDgpWFiJc/T2i8goxtxoI/AAAAAAAAAn0/8B4HtH1TRJo/s1600/IMG_9547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HjZDgpWFiJc/T2i8goxtxoI/AAAAAAAAAn0/8B4HtH1TRJo/s320/IMG_9547.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The hill rose up to the right hand side to a really high peak, but on the left hand side, it just feel away, a bit like the shelf with incredible views over to Middlesbrough (I think).</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The climb was getting tricky by throwing in some steep ramps of over 20%, but kindly allowing you a short break in between and dropping the gradient to around 10% briefly.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-81xyW8W3lR8/T2i-FXsa47I/AAAAAAAAAn8/bF3_lIseQpA/s1600/IMG_9552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-81xyW8W3lR8/T2i-FXsa47I/AAAAAAAAAn8/bF3_lIseQpA/s320/IMG_9552.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A MTBer came past halfway down the hill and he was shifting it big style - which gave me an idea of how steep it was coming down. I kept on wanting to crane my head left to get the view in, but also needed to concentrate on getting up the blinking hill!</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I kept on thinking that I had got to the brow of the hill, but in fact, it seemed to be just one corner away for a while! Thankfully I go there in the end, dismounted, bunged the bike back on the car and enjoyed the thought that I only had one more "hard" hill to do in my challenge...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lFdA-IQUnUc/T2i-jm6LH5I/AAAAAAAAAoE/UX2rJTjawwA/s1600/IMG_9557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lFdA-IQUnUc/T2i-jm6LH5I/AAAAAAAAAoE/UX2rJTjawwA/s320/IMG_9557.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Garmin here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159798069">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159798069</a></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MklKGrumXRc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MklKGrumXRc</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629324598160/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629324598160/</a></span></div>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-61689866080812623952012-03-20T10:11:00.003-07:002012-03-30T14:06:04.279-07:00Hill no 95 - 54 Boltby Bank<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Probably didn't start this climb from the right place as it was too tempting to start it down by the (thankfully) relatively dry ford. That allowed me to turn my legs over and get some speed up which was about the only time that I did get some speed up.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MBuodgVGEwE/T2i2hitv3HI/AAAAAAAAAnE/YeiH-PyAKkE/s1600/IMG_9478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MBuodgVGEwE/T2i2hitv3HI/AAAAAAAAAnE/YeiH-PyAKkE/s320/IMG_9478.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is a nice bit at the start where you can see the road just ramping up and snaking ahead of you a little bit - the climb isn't too steep at this point, but it is still enough to get the legs working hard and to get you blowing a little bit, in fact, I think this is probably shown by the fact that I got a rather sympathetic "hello" from a couple of walkers!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jOGacSKzusU/T2i3Mz-PKPI/AAAAAAAAAnM/LqtYRKZZJVE/s1600/IMG_9481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jOGacSKzusU/T2i3Mz-PKPI/AAAAAAAAAnM/LqtYRKZZJVE/s320/IMG_9481.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The slope doesn't look too hard on the video - but actually it was a lot harder than it appears - I was continuously surprised to look down at my Garmin and find out that the slope was pretty steep - my head was lolling from side to side and I was really struggling up at points.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Basically, I think once it gets above 15% then it starts to really challenge the legs - this climb did that regularly and didn't seem to give you those little flat bits that allow you to take a rest. In fact, whilst Boltby Bank does not have the warning signs of White Horse Bank, I'm pretty sure that it is at least as steep - with 25% gradients and long periods of over 20%.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7fI3N_v1Cks/T2i38Zs5sPI/AAAAAAAAAnU/dXHYkGEi2dc/s1600/IMG_9490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7fI3N_v1Cks/T2i38Zs5sPI/AAAAAAAAAnU/dXHYkGEi2dc/s320/IMG_9490.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also, as a climb, it really kicks you in the teeth, it starts of gentle and then gets tougher and tougher, only really giving you a break right at the very top.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KGBCEHNlnXw/T2i5OUoOrxI/AAAAAAAAAnc/aKyeLmkwhzM/s1600/IMG_9501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KGBCEHNlnXw/T2i5OUoOrxI/AAAAAAAAAnc/aKyeLmkwhzM/s320/IMG_9501.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Simon ranked this at the same rating as White Horse Bank - again a 7/10 climb, but I thought that this was a lot harder than White Horse Bank - I'd give it maybe at least an 8/10 and if it went on for any longer it would be right up there with some of the toughest climbs in the book. Maybe Simon was having a very strong day when he did this one!</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Garmin here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159798073">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159798073</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-tFdH1RIg8">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-tFdH1RIg8</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629690001691/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629690001691/</a></span></div>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-75932905669032100412012-03-20T09:52:00.002-07:002012-03-30T14:06:26.577-07:00Hill no 94 - 56 White Horse Bank<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A beautiful day in the North York Moors. In an effort to allow the family some holiday that does not involve following me around whilst I ride my bike up steep hills, we decided that I would make a concerted effort to knock three hills off today, leaving one only in North Yorkshire.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5zh2fZ3X8So/T2ixbWd_S2I/AAAAAAAAAmc/5P2VlJTWAh8/s1600/IMG_9418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5zh2fZ3X8So/T2ixbWd_S2I/AAAAAAAAAmc/5P2VlJTWAh8/s320/IMG_9418.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are staying near a really lovely little village called Hutton Le Hole and the valley in which we are staying at has a steep slope going from both sides - basically if I want to ride my bike out of the house, I have to go up a big hill at over 20% straight away!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I turned and looked up at the hill at the start of the climb, you can see a chalk outline of the white horse that must give its name to the bank through the tree line - a pretty sight (more of that later).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bd4L8aVdybI/T2iyPzo8AtI/AAAAAAAAAmk/RJLBqil5q9A/s1600/IMG_9437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bd4L8aVdybI/T2iyPzo8AtI/AAAAAAAAAmk/RJLBqil5q9A/s320/IMG_9437.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The climb starts out pretty gently and you can keep the legs just turning over and powering through - it isn't too bad here, but then it really ramps up - and starts to justify the plentiful 25% warning signs that you see both on the way up and the way down!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My drive train hasn't been changing that slickly and I have been incredibly lazy and not sorted it out properly - I almost paid the price for that when I missed a gear badly and almost came to a complete stop! It would have served me right if I had stitched myself up by being lazy.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FanZL_PYH6Y/T2i0FAR-6oI/AAAAAAAAAms/aA2bN9dRqyo/s1600/IMG_9454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FanZL_PYH6Y/T2i0FAR-6oI/AAAAAAAAAms/aA2bN9dRqyo/s320/IMG_9454.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">About halfway up the hill, things aren't too bad in relation to gradient - and then, as you look up, you see the amazing sight of the white horse carved into the hillside looming over you - an incredible view. It just seems massive and I have checked the video and it comes out really clearly (which is fantastic).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can imagine that this climb would be very different in the summer as the trees are all bare at the moment - it was still pretty beautiful climbing up though and I guess I was getting the benefit of not being in the height of summer as there were very few people about. That helped as Em was able to coast up behind me and get some great photos.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pejszOZ611U/T2i0hlG4-AI/AAAAAAAAAm0/_C4fDoPIdUM/s1600/IMG_9420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pejszOZ611U/T2i0hlG4-AI/AAAAAAAAAm0/_C4fDoPIdUM/s320/IMG_9420.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was a great bit about two thirds of the way up the hill where there were two pheasants in the road having a scrap. They were really pecking at each other and almost oblivious to me huffing and puffing my way slowly towards them. They only got out of the way when I was literally almost upon them and I could hear them carrying on the scrap as I wheezed past.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Simon gave this a 7/10 rating and whilst there were some pretty horrible ramps on these climbs - you did get a break every now and then from the climbing - which was definitely appreciated!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6rlIEeLtJMU/T2i1HyAtVvI/AAAAAAAAAm8/Y4osz1Whh2I/s1600/IMG_9453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6rlIEeLtJMU/T2i1HyAtVvI/AAAAAAAAAm8/Y4osz1Whh2I/s320/IMG_9453.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Really nice finish to the hill though as you head up over the brow you get a great view of the airfield which is home to the Yorkshire Gliding Club. There were a load of planes and gliders lined up ready to go out and it was a lovely end to the climb - White Horse Bank is a great place to launch gliders!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Garmin here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159798076">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159798076</a></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629690045469/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629690045469/</a></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajue4Z0iJcA&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=4&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajue4Z0iJcA&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=4&feature=plcp</a></span>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-30472088574073750362012-03-20T09:31:00.002-07:002012-03-30T14:06:57.827-07:00Hill no 93 - 88 Penbarra<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My last hill in Wales. This felt like a bit of an achievement to be honest - Wales was back where we started last year, our dog was still a puppy, Mila was just a bump, my legs were a lot fresher and unaware of the challenges that lay ahead.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XXSWy4OZMoc/T2iuP2TsDFI/AAAAAAAAAl8/dsBVETth3zg/s1600/IMG_9351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XXSWy4OZMoc/T2iuP2TsDFI/AAAAAAAAAl8/dsBVETth3zg/s320/IMG_9351.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The climb starts innocuously enough through the village, past houses and up a steepish slope - nothing too brutal though, but still healthy enough to get me breathing hard.</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The road calming measures that Simon mentioned were just paint/rough lines on the road - they gave you a bit of a judder as you went over them, but weren't too bad.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2rcqt8F5n5I/T2iu05q4tkI/AAAAAAAAAmE/MIHFZtOKGJo/s1600/IMG_9358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2rcqt8F5n5I/T2iu05q4tkI/AAAAAAAAAmE/MIHFZtOKGJo/s320/IMG_9358.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I remembered to turn left at the junction (I hate it when you have to do turns on a climb as the paranoia that you have gone wrong is massive) and enjoyed a flattish section, before it got hard again and you can hear me clicking through the gears to find one that I could climb up.</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The road ramped up to 19% and rose straight ahead of me for a bit - I had the classic front wheel lifting when I was in the saddle so again, I was in and out just to keep the legs working hard. The road was pretty narrow, but when a car came the other way, he very kindly pulled over and let me go through.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-77iUwDzECHo/T2ivqM6VQaI/AAAAAAAAAmM/8vCCC10d-yI/s1600/IMG_9370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-77iUwDzECHo/T2ivqM6VQaI/AAAAAAAAAmM/8vCCC10d-yI/s320/IMG_9370.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just before the cattle grid, you can hear my phone ringing. Entirely reasonably, I ignored it as I remembered that after the cattle grid there was going to be a steep left hand turn and the gradient would ramp up. It was at 20% approaching the corner and going round it, the gradient bit in and caused my legs some pain (apologies for the bellowing as I went round!)</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The cloud hadn't lifted unfortunately, so we were unable to get really good views going down - but it was pretty special even with the cloud present. Took my mind off the painful climb anyway! A little flat stretch then preceded the final effort to the top - which you could see clearly stretching in front of you.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wMeZ4Ea8KxQ/T2iwnd_qmrI/AAAAAAAAAmU/xsIZsAXj3dM/s1600/IMG_9367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wMeZ4Ea8KxQ/T2iwnd_qmrI/AAAAAAAAAmU/xsIZsAXj3dM/s320/IMG_9367.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A nice, tough climb and a good way to round off the Wales hills.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Garmin here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159004548">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159004548</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629687413751/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629687413751/</a></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-1n2Xl9vEs&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=1&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-1n2Xl9vEs&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=1&feature=plcp</a></span>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-87936195878073833972012-03-20T09:17:00.002-07:002012-03-30T14:08:29.686-07:00Hill no 92 - 87 Moel Arthur<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Having "done" all the rides a distance away from our cycling base in Ruthin (and I should put a strong word in for where we stayed - with Tony and Helen at Hengoed Farm - <a href="http://www.hengoedfarmholidays.co.uk/">http://www.hengoedfarmholidays.co.uk/</a> this really was probably the best holiday cottage that we have EVER stayed in - truly exceptional, beautiful, spacious and really well done), today was the day that we would "finish" Wales, pick up the final 2 climbs which were more "local" and hopefully spend some time chilling out!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T2-vA6p45uM/T2irCcCfBbI/AAAAAAAAAlc/pS5F_vVGUEo/s1600/IMG_9312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T2-vA6p45uM/T2irCcCfBbI/AAAAAAAAAlc/pS5F_vVGUEo/s320/IMG_9312.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The day was a bit greyer than it had been previously - we have been blessed with amazing weather again in Wales and to be honest, any day that I am climbing hills that isn't raining or blowing a gale, I'm happy with!</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Em and I had a "discussion" about which hill we were going to do first - the hill closer or further away (by about 10min). The far away hill won as the hope was that Mila would stay asleep for longer and that I might get up the hill before she woke up. This also meant that I did the "easier" hill first - either as a warm up or as a legbreaker!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CojmpDH4cYM/T2irryCWzJI/AAAAAAAAAlk/2g4v1r4b8CA/s1600/IMG_9315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CojmpDH4cYM/T2irryCWzJI/AAAAAAAAAlk/2g4v1r4b8CA/s320/IMG_9315.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The hill itself was beautiful - really lovely country riding - up steep slopes with rough road surfaces, high hedges and stunning views - when you got a chance to look over your shoulder at them - that is one of the hard bits about these climbs, generally, the only view you get is when you get off the bike and look back at what you've just done!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EeA5cTFhjsY/T2itM1DOCmI/AAAAAAAAAl0/WCVczmq_0q4/s1600/IMG_9325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EeA5cTFhjsY/T2itM1DOCmI/AAAAAAAAAl0/WCVczmq_0q4/s320/IMG_9325.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Again - a "classic" finish over a cattle grid and some lovely walking for the dog when we got to the top - he's started hating getting back in the car when its time to move onto the next climb - think he thinks we're mad!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wcS9EeZzNy0/T2isjat71WI/AAAAAAAAAls/CeBI92o8Iwg/s1600/IMG_9327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wcS9EeZzNy0/T2isjat71WI/AAAAAAAAAls/CeBI92o8Iwg/s320/IMG_9327.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Garmin here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159004555">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159004555</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Youtube here:</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629322868480/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629322868480/</a></span>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-12001776976508778922012-03-20T08:57:00.002-07:002012-03-30T14:08:53.083-07:00Hill no 91 - 86 The Shelf<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Incredible weather as we headed back from a lunchtime in Llangollen, so we decided to pick up one of the 3 climbs in Ruthin on our way back to make life easier for ourselves. After a little bit of "discussion" over where exactly the climb started (life would be SO much easier with little 100 climbs start and finish signs) - we worked out where we thought it would start and Em headed off on the car to find the top.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tFGHvWXc8RQ/T2im7WtyXZI/AAAAAAAAAk8/sciWJbsDsnQ/s1600/IMG_9278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tFGHvWXc8RQ/T2im7WtyXZI/AAAAAAAAAk8/sciWJbsDsnQ/s320/IMG_9278.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I got myself together and rather than basking in the sun headed off.</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The initial part of the climb was pretty friendly - managed to get a decent speed up in places, despite the potholes that had been filled with press tarmac and chips and had spread across the road (and my tyres).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_fKvJLZhbjk/T2inj9uoe8I/AAAAAAAAAlE/D-8jQjsZH2o/s1600/IMG_9280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_fKvJLZhbjk/T2inj9uoe8I/AAAAAAAAAlE/D-8jQjsZH2o/s320/IMG_9280.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Apart from the road surface, I was able to bomb along the road, trying to cover as much as I could at a decent speed, whilst appreciating the remote nature of the road and the pretty houses alongside me!</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A little bit confusing when I got to a choice of roads where a few houses were gathered, but the one that headed up left (and was the steeper of the 2) said no through road - so I headed up along the one that I thought I was right.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pG5OoSnEBNk/T2ioAtznwRI/AAAAAAAAAlM/d41efAiqfJM/s1600/IMG_9283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pG5OoSnEBNk/T2ioAtznwRI/AAAAAAAAAlM/d41efAiqfJM/s320/IMG_9283.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The road had water trickling down it (and mud and cow/sheep pats on it), so I tried to dodge them as much as possible. Still here the road was at a friendly 6-8% slope so it wasn't too bad at all and I only had my muddy backside to worry about!</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The sides of the road were steeply hedged so I didn't get the full benefit of the sun, but it was making for an incredibly pleasant ride anyway! As I went along a bit, the hill dropped away to the right - and I understood why the climb was called "The Shelf" - it was just stuck onto the side of the hill!</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I climbed, I could see the sheep in the fields, rabbits legging it around, bumble bees coming out to gather pollen - all the sights and smells of nature. It was fantastic! Again though, the climb went on and on a bit - although you can't complain about that when you are chasing your shadow up the hill.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1d_7hpr9KA/T2ioitTSYZI/AAAAAAAAAlU/zMUtbTKV27o/s1600/IMG_9299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1d_7hpr9KA/T2ioitTSYZI/AAAAAAAAAlU/zMUtbTKV27o/s320/IMG_9299.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Again - the slope wasn't too fearful - it was more stamina sapping than leg-defying (or maybe i was just spoilt by yesterday's hills. It did ramp up in places, but was never anything that was too threatening. Having said that, I was a lot slower than Simon's "recommended" pace - so maybe it just isn't "my" sort of hill. Having said that, the view from the top (and on the way up) defo made it "my" sort of climb.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY1JaY6wLvM">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY1JaY6wLvM</a></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629322077290/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629322077290/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Garmin here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159004563">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159004563</a></span></div><br />
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</div>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-50525720140802434772012-03-20T08:47:00.001-07:002012-03-30T14:09:43.502-07:00Hill no 90 - 90 Horseshoe Pass<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We had driven up Horseshoe Pass on the way to our cottage near Ruthin at the start of our holiday, so I kind of knew what to expect - a long climb, that never seemed TOO backbreaking, but was, well, long with one massive hairpin in it and some incredible views.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wvoDznAI_g4/T2ikDVm9z5I/AAAAAAAAAkM/j6yc7-bmUi8/s1600/IMG_9233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wvoDznAI_g4/T2ikDVm9z5I/AAAAAAAAAkM/j6yc7-bmUi8/s320/IMG_9233.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Getting onto the bike, I was a bit gutted that the sun wasn't quite out to the extent that it had been when we met Ruthin - but when you have absolutely still, mild days with no rain, you cannot complain at all!</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As Simon says - there are 3 miles to the summit and its all uphill - but to be totally honest, it is more the length than the steepness that hurts you here - there is a sign saying 20%, but I don't think that I noticed it getting up to more than 12 or 13% at any time - most of the climb is at 7% or around there and it is a fairly constant hill that allows you to get in a bit of a rhythm.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N77XKY_auyU/T2ikfL_gmlI/AAAAAAAAAkU/gtjKb8QSrt8/s1600/IMG_9235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N77XKY_auyU/T2ikfL_gmlI/AAAAAAAAAkU/gtjKb8QSrt8/s320/IMG_9235.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Basically, it is a lot easier on these climbs if you can find a cadence (speed of revolving the cranks) that you are happy with and that you can keep going without thinking too much about it. It all becomes a bit mindless, you just let your body take over and you can concentrate on the important tasks of breathing and not falling off!</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After you have been going for a while, you can see the climb on the other side of the horseshoe bend round and that it is a good target to aim for - although it all seems a very long way away! The view down into the valley is pretty good - I think it was a ruined abbey down there, although I apologise if it has been in fact lovingly restored - my vision was a little bit blurred!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ovipwZk7SSA/T2ilANkeCoI/AAAAAAAAAkc/sTertSZJpzs/s1600/IMG_9250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ovipwZk7SSA/T2ilANkeCoI/AAAAAAAAAkc/sTertSZJpzs/s320/IMG_9250.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The climbing around the bend of the horseshoe is probably the steepest bit of the climb, but that passes pretty quickly as you bend round, checking out what is ahead of you and also taking cheeky peaks back down the valley to see the road that you have ridden up.</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As you exit the end of the bend of the horseshoe, there is quite nicely, a little bit of a downhill that allows you to catch your breath and get ready for the final leg. Trying not to veer into the middle of the road as you crane your neck to look back down the valley and see the lovely sight of the places you've just ridden past.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--T7IZ8qNvLY/T2ilcuD7rSI/AAAAAAAAAkk/CWWWy5buPZE/s1600/IMG_9256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--T7IZ8qNvLY/T2ilcuD7rSI/AAAAAAAAAkk/CWWWy5buPZE/s320/IMG_9256.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the peak, there is a little car park just after the road sign saying how high the pass is and a cafe on the other side. It is a little disappointing that you're not right at the top of the hill, but actually - that was enough climbing for me thank you very much!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pPHHMjMr6Vk/T2imaMyt7kI/AAAAAAAAAk0/4VI9xE5hd70/s1600/IMG_9260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pPHHMjMr6Vk/T2imaMyt7kI/AAAAAAAAAk0/4VI9xE5hd70/s320/IMG_9260.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Garmin here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159004570">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159004570</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629683108113/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629683108113/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8Ee8DAeuXI&feature=plcp&context=C465bc5aVDvjVQa1PpcFOyovRYQKIuXlw-tJKvLZBYvVMM3k6ggjk%3D">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8Ee8DAeuXI&feature=plcp&context=C465bc5aVDvjVQa1PpcFOyovRYQKIuXlw-tJKvLZBYvVMM3k6ggjk%3D</a></span></div>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-34489246080048953062012-03-20T08:32:00.002-07:002012-03-30T14:10:16.855-07:00Hill no 89 - 92 Fford Penllech<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Right - where do I start? Do I start with the amazing drive over the hills from Ruthin to Harlech. Through sun, cloud, mist, beautiful sweeping vistas, rock formations, towering hills, sheltered vales and with jinking turn after turn? </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ESu3WIrog3s/T2ifLtmNEFI/AAAAAAAAAjc/hiHVFI0GQZk/s1600/IMG_9097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ESu3WIrog3s/T2ifLtmNEFI/AAAAAAAAAjc/hiHVFI0GQZk/s320/IMG_9097.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Or should I just jump to Harlech - the castle perched on an outcrop overlooking the sea, the windy road through the town and the "out of season" feel with shops closed down and buildings being renovated (presumably for the upcoming season).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nah - really I should just get straight to the hill. Or the "you're joking, I'm not cycling up that" hill. We had a look at the hill from the top, in fact we walked down it. Basically, Simon was making me break the law as it is the wrong way up a one way street. He was also making me break the laws of gravity as the slope was not just vicious, but it was actually outrageous.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-juX7rYC13tk/T2ifucF7yAI/AAAAAAAAAjk/5W0snegFSrI/s1600/IMG_9068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-juX7rYC13tk/T2ifucF7yAI/AAAAAAAAAjk/5W0snegFSrI/s320/IMG_9068.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How do I describe it? Well, you start walking down it and you are leaning backwards with your knees aching from the start. It is a single track road with houses around it (living there and driving in and out must be a blinking nightmare). There is a "busy" crossroads at the top, you head down past a 40% gradient sign (I kid you not - a 40% gradient sign!!!!) and the road twists and turns all the way down. Then, right at the bottom, there is a horrendous turn with the surface all rucked up which must be the 40% sign.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Basically it is steep all the way, apart from the bits that are REALLY steep and the bits which are STUPIDLY steep.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4leZmc86gE0/T2igcKNi4wI/AAAAAAAAAjs/zFRbD0NLolg/s1600/IMG_9069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4leZmc86gE0/T2igcKNi4wI/AAAAAAAAAjs/zFRbD0NLolg/s320/IMG_9069.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was getting a bit nervous about it - Mila was wanting to be fed, the dog wanted to stretch his legs and the wife thought it would be a good idea to do this before I tried to climb up the hill. I seriously thought about not having lunch as it would be unnecessary extra weight to carry up! I also took the precautions to warm up my legs a little bit before I started - there was no way I was going to try and climb up there with cold legs. Although after yesterday's overheat fest, I was somewhat ill advisedly just wearing shorts and a cycling shirt. Not the best idea.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jRUbkGQrOJ8/T2iiTgrBuaI/AAAAAAAAAj8/P5pWc-t-B9M/s1600/IMG_9108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jRUbkGQrOJ8/T2iiTgrBuaI/AAAAAAAAAj8/P5pWc-t-B9M/s320/IMG_9108.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway, thankfully the climb was "relatively" short - Simon said it should take around 3minutes, but to be honest, if I was to take 3 minutes over that climb, I would have toppled over sideways because of not moving! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first time (oh yes!) up, I got past the first scary turn and then tried to get up to the top as quickly as I could before the lactic acid built up to unsustainable levels in my legs. I wasn't helped in this mission by the nice old chap reading the sun in the middle of the road on the way done and the track stand I had to do half way up to let the 4x4 past.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Seeing as I was going up the road the wrong way, I wasn't in a position to criticise though! Having successfully completed the hill once, I stupidly decided to ride down to try again. This proved to be impossible though - riding down was just too hazardous, so I got off and pushed my bike DOWNHILL. Ridiculous. I then headed up the slope again and whilst I had a free run this time, I reached a very nasty pain/lactic acid/tiredness threshold halfway up!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aj1ettrgrLY/T2ii0i6GkYI/AAAAAAAAAkE/aAEmG0v1crY/s1600/IMG_9125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aj1ettrgrLY/T2ii0i6GkYI/AAAAAAAAAkE/aAEmG0v1crY/s320/IMG_9125.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Did manage to knock a whole 7 seconds off my time though!</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629318867050/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629318867050/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Garmin here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159004586">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159004586</a> and here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159004576">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159004576</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Youtube here:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqnpWnGt-RI&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=4&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqnpWnGt-RI&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=4&feature=plcp</a> </span>and here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awHAv7QpTss&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=3&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awHAv7QpTss&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=3&feature=plcp</a></span></div>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-61169445498007059062012-03-20T08:13:00.002-07:002012-03-30T14:10:56.445-07:00Hill no 88 - 91 Bwlch Y Groes<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Right you lot out there. You had made me feel properly nervous about this one. Basically with your banging on about it being a complete swine of a climb and really hard all the way up. And you Mr Warren. With your 10/10 and your "really hard from here" and your "hardest section of relentlessly steep tarmac in Britain".</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ea30WLgeG3Q/T2ibkT4z3lI/AAAAAAAAAis/zAlMr1Zrl8E/s1600/IMG_8977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ea30WLgeG3Q/T2ibkT4z3lI/AAAAAAAAAis/zAlMr1Zrl8E/s320/IMG_8977.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I mean - on the positive side, it is incredibly beautiful round here - the views. Well,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>they are PROPER views. The road - well, there was a road, yes, so tick in that box. Its lambing season so they were being all fluffy and cute (probably in the hills) and, well, that's about it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Basically, right at the start of the climb, you glide into a little right hander which has a nasty sharp climb up it and then after it for about 1km, it is 9/10%. That's the good part. After that, I had to watch the video to find out what was going on because i had stars flashing through my eyes and my body appeared to decide that the wholly inadequate supply of oxygen that my lungs were providing to my body should just go to my legs and heart and not be wasted on trifling peripherals such as vision.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jK0eJk4JTIA/T2ib_oFtY3I/AAAAAAAAAi0/-INh-ch8GsM/s1600/IMG_8982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jK0eJk4JTIA/T2ib_oFtY3I/AAAAAAAAAi0/-INh-ch8GsM/s320/IMG_8982.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the saddle, out of the saddle. Both hurt. If I sat on my saddle, my bum hurt. If I stood up, all rather than most, of my legs hurt. So I took turns in standing and sitting just to vary the pain - just to try and trick my brain a little bit. It didn't work.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mKruXHA7i-E/T2icf1i3muI/AAAAAAAAAi8/3DfXvjDxiDc/s1600/IMG_8990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mKruXHA7i-E/T2icf1i3muI/AAAAAAAAAi8/3DfXvjDxiDc/s320/IMG_8990.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I'm just watching the video back now and there is a bit where I say - "I know its going to get steeper, so I'm not pushing it to save my legs". I was lying. If you listen to me puffing and panting, the reason I'm not pushing it more was that I was already pushing it.</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everytime I looked down at my Garmin, the gradient seemed to trickle up and up. I had come out wearing a long sleeve undershirt and long legs and my spring gloves, because it is, after all March. Apparently though this was ridiculously over cautious as by a mile in I had rivulets of sweat gushing out of every pore on my body.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4bWnT7c3cc8/T2idFYL4xWI/AAAAAAAAAjE/OKwY9GzotuQ/s1600/IMG_8999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4bWnT7c3cc8/T2idFYL4xWI/AAAAAAAAAjE/OKwY9GzotuQ/s320/IMG_8999.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At one point I was seriously thinking about ditching my helmet, gloves, water bottle, everything that I could practically remove from my body and bike to try and make the climbing easy. As Simon says, there is nowhere to recover, when normal hills would go "ah right then. that was a bit nasty. here, have a nice bit of 10% to catch your breath", this hill just goes up and up and up.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I of course, stop talking at one stage, just because it is impossible to. I wanted to yell in pain, but I could not as I didn't have the breath. Near the end there is a road that curves away down the right, but that's not the end, oh no, there is more to go, its just a cruel illusion.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0VoN-nmbr24/T2iedxOioDI/AAAAAAAAAjU/Lk3grz85XAE/s1600/IMG_9007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0VoN-nmbr24/T2iedxOioDI/AAAAAAAAAjU/Lk3grz85XAE/s320/IMG_9007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My heart was thudding in my chest, I was trying to breath as long and deep as I can. On the video, it sounds as though I am suffering from asthma terribly. I'm not, my lungs were just not big enough to cope. At one point I have to cough and that in itself almost made me fall off the bike as it was half a second of air that I wasn't getting into my lungs. It just goes on and on and on and on and on......</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If I lived here, I would climb Bwlch Y Groes every day, from any one of the three sides until I cracked it and could glide up it. I would then find a pro bike team that rode mountain races and show off. But I don't. So I won't. But my legs will remember this climb if there is such a thing as muscle memory and probably go on strike if I ever try and climb it again.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">An absolute brute of a climb. Yeah, yeah, beautiful. Still a brute.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob2czShVMA0&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=5&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob2czShVMA0&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=5&feature=plcp</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629680300879/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629680300879/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Garmin here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159004598">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159004598</a></span></div>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-13219268381752007432012-03-20T07:58:00.002-07:002012-03-30T14:11:30.290-07:00Hill no 87 - 89 The Road To Hell<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So my first Welsh climb, for quite a long time. The South Wales climbs had been tough enough - I'm sure a little bit of the Devil's Staircase is left in my legs strapping my strength, but these are the "Daddy" climbs - longer, harder and steeper. At least according to Simon.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0krWyryagds/T2iYMf_hXfI/AAAAAAAAAh8/YsRaSFjjfbA/s1600/IMG_8878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0krWyryagds/T2iYMf_hXfI/AAAAAAAAAh8/YsRaSFjjfbA/s320/IMG_8878.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The South Wales climbs had been a good indicator that these would be a tough test of my legs and left me in a little doubt that I would definitely be able to match the challenge. Now, I am pretty confident that anything under an 8/10, I will get up - and probably have some in reserve, but over 8/10 and I am going to be blowing like Old Faithful.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ALDPYXeTII/T2iY3et5o3I/AAAAAAAAAiE/pOcIWIgF9Jo/s1600/IMG_8885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ALDPYXeTII/T2iY3et5o3I/AAAAAAAAAiE/pOcIWIgF9Jo/s320/IMG_8885.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And so it was with the Road to Hell - oh yes, it starts innocuously enough, a little uphill section - and then as I started in the wrong place, a lovely downhill section with a lot of speed, but also a lot of jolting - the roads aren't perfect just here. Then, after that somewhat misleading start, the climb starts "proper".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All that lovely speed you had tails off, you hit a sharp left hand turn and you flick down through the gears trying to find one that your legs don't find too uncomfortable and grin at the irony of all the "ARAF" words painted on the road (meaning "slow" in Welsh). Thankfully the road tails out a little bit - and you even get the benefit of some downhill again.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vCWByWadjJ8/T2iZbIqDk3I/AAAAAAAAAiM/XULnEe8NRm8/s1600/IMG_8887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vCWByWadjJ8/T2iZbIqDk3I/AAAAAAAAAiM/XULnEe8NRm8/s320/IMG_8887.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The weather conditions weren't too bad - it was a bit cloudy, but over the high hedgerows, I could see hills ramping up in the distance ahead of me. Nothing like seeing your target ahead of you - although this was a long, long climb - over 11k. There was nothing on the road though - it was perfect conditions for riding, even if the road surfaces were jolting me around a bit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The initial part of the climb seemed to work on a steepish section, followed by a shorter downhill section followed by a steepish section etc etc. This was just draining the legs nicely without ever making you feel as though you were hitting the top. Again - proper "countryside" riding though - past farms, road hedges and lots and lots of sheep in the fields.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MGEWlq_VHW0/T2iZ3HmYnzI/AAAAAAAAAiU/jvuPdUT97xQ/s1600/IMG_8906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MGEWlq_VHW0/T2iZ3HmYnzI/AAAAAAAAAiU/jvuPdUT97xQ/s320/IMG_8906.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Around 11 min in I hit the first consolidated stretch of 17% gradient which caught me a bit by surprise and I dragged myself through it with no real finesse. You can see my head lolling from side to side on the video - I try not to do this, but it is always a tell of when I am having to work hard. This stretch last probably 4 minutes or so and it takes it out of you all the way up. A real relief when it flattens out a bit and it goes back to the rolling hills. Again, I got caught out a bit on a slope just after a farm that ramped up nastily and had me right over my bars forcing my way up.</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The obligatory cattle grid (which was a bit of a beast) was a prelude to something incredible. As I rode up with Lake Brenig on my left, the cloud dispersed and a huge sweeping downhill left hander and a climb up to the right unveiled itself in all its glory. I didn't know whether to enjoy the view, the fantastic road, the weather or prepare myself for the last climb, which I thought unnecessarily hard given the amazing surroundings.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rjnq12dLIvE/T2ibCL-MhQI/AAAAAAAAAik/oDm20SAB_FY/s1600/IMG_8901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rjnq12dLIvE/T2ibCL-MhQI/AAAAAAAAAik/oDm20SAB_FY/s320/IMG_8901.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I dragged myself over the last lump and then headed to find the dog - I knew he would be going mental at the thought of having a run in this scenery!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629314223176/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629314223176/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPVYz_JQYtg&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=1&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPVYz_JQYtg&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=1&feature=plcp</a></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">G</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">armin here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159004614">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159004614</a></span></div>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-18761653337411498212012-03-20T07:43:00.001-07:002012-03-30T14:11:58.289-07:00Hill no 86 - 12 Salcombe HillSalcombe rises out of the seaside town of Sidmouth - I do like the English coast out of season, there is kind of a faded dignity about them, the quiet before the storm of high season, empty cafes and the sense of a breather before the hurly burly of trying to make a year's money in a short period of time.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mh47GlcWRT8/T2iV75nTzeI/AAAAAAAAAhc/ewMb7_Mrb8A/s1600/IMG_8652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mh47GlcWRT8/T2iV75nTzeI/AAAAAAAAAhc/ewMb7_Mrb8A/s320/IMG_8652.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Salcombe Hill itself was even quieter than the seafront on a chilly February Sunday. Only ranked a 5/10 by Simon, I had kind of convinced myself that this was going to be a breeze (especially compared with Crowcombe the day before and I set off in a "cocky" gear thinking I would fly up.<br />
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I soon had to rethink that strategy and chose a far more humble gear as my legs and lungs started to complain vociferously.<br />
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You start off heading nicely out of Sidmouth and it is all very tranquil. Road is a bit patchy and it is a damn site tougher than it looks.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gPclBSZp0nU/T2iWguOfHNI/AAAAAAAAAhk/8aXsAJ8obW4/s1600/IMG_8655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gPclBSZp0nU/T2iWguOfHNI/AAAAAAAAAhk/8aXsAJ8obW4/s320/IMG_8655.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
The climb itself turns into a bit of a cracker - kind of through open fields and then you go through an enclosed woodland area which is pretty even in the middle of winter. The climbs is a good steep one too, not as unrelenting and steep as yesterday, but a real challenge all the same.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oeAp5QyVuOY/T2iXCd435FI/AAAAAAAAAhs/D51Z9qKkb88/s1600/IMG_8660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oeAp5QyVuOY/T2iXCd435FI/AAAAAAAAAhs/D51Z9qKkb88/s320/IMG_8660.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
The climb ends by an observatory at the top which is a nice touch (prompting any number of bad gags about seeing stars from the climb itself) and there is also a little car park on the right hand side.<br />
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We went along the path from the car park and there is a viewing point with a fantastic view over Sidmouth and the coast. A real cracker - make sure you have a wander along if you do this hill.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p9aEZ5zN7N0/T2iXdu-M6mI/AAAAAAAAAh0/CK1ePb1ATn4/s1600/IMG_8670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p9aEZ5zN7N0/T2iXdu-M6mI/AAAAAAAAAh0/CK1ePb1ATn4/s320/IMG_8670.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629311191670/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629311191670/</a><br />
Garmin here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/151007130">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/151007130</a><br />
Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRP35hvA5-U&feature=channel">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRP35hvA5-U&feature=channel</a>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-28621896745746889832012-03-20T07:33:00.002-07:002012-03-30T14:12:42.514-07:00Hill no 85 - 3 Crowcombe CoombeOn one of the cycling forums I frequent (I know, I know), someone described Crowcombe Coombe as a right @~%^!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KQWAx4ndrKA/T2iPfYb5u1I/AAAAAAAAAg0/9fLltd1Wtls/s1600/IMG_8599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KQWAx4ndrKA/T2iPfYb5u1I/AAAAAAAAAg0/9fLltd1Wtls/s320/IMG_8599.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>The stats don't make it seem too bad at all - 1270m, climb time of around 8.5minutes - how bad can it be?<br />
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The answer is very much in the detail - as you head towards Crowcombe, you just see this massive hill to your right looming out of the distance. Then, as you get into Crowcombe, at the start of the climb, you just see this hill heading up steeply ahead of you.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jVCLekqRbfA/T2iQBp8gcJI/AAAAAAAAAg8/8wJaeU71pkw/s1600/IMG_8603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jVCLekqRbfA/T2iQBp8gcJI/AAAAAAAAAg8/8wJaeU71pkw/s320/IMG_8603.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
It is always ominous to do a hill that has a run-off section for runaway vehicles. Not only that, but this climb had the obligatory cattle grid, the 1 in 4 signposts and never really let up at any stage on the climb.<br />
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I like it when a climb ticks all the boxes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A9RQ2KF-TyQ/T2iQaFVgwjI/AAAAAAAAAhE/F3IQ41iXHqc/s1600/IMG_8608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A9RQ2KF-TyQ/T2iQaFVgwjI/AAAAAAAAAhE/F3IQ41iXHqc/s320/IMG_8608.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Made even more challenging by the fact I have been struggling with a cold and was full of snot, a pounding chest and sore lungs even before I started!<br />
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The road itself is smooth and a pleasure to ride up - a big difference from some, however it is all at 20 - 25% it seems (you know that it is a hard, hard climb when the road "levels out" to 15%!)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bZsGxzi9n9Y/T2iQxTpQB5I/AAAAAAAAAhM/824F-gIHjs0/s1600/IMG_8612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bZsGxzi9n9Y/T2iQxTpQB5I/AAAAAAAAAhM/824F-gIHjs0/s320/IMG_8612.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Another beautiful climb though and we had a nice walk with Mila and the dog afterwards.<br />
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I must put an ad in here for the Carew Arms - the pub at the bottom of the hill in Crowcombe. It is a "proper" pub. We went in with the dog for a quick drink and so Mila could have a feed and we ended up staying for a couple of hours. Dead friendly clientele, great bar staff, good beer (well, I had to treat myself) and Hobbs himself was treated like dog royalty, fed biscuits and given a lot of affection by everyone in there (and Latch(?) the spaniel who was v well behaved). It was a lady's birthday in there and she was good naturedly drinking the cocktails that were being passed her way and it was a real wrench to drag ourselves away - could happily have spent many an hour in there.<br />
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Pub seemed thriving and a BIG thank you to Fraser Comry who very kindly made a donation to us. Much appreciated and thank you very much indeed. <br />
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Climb the hill and have a beer.<br />
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Garmin here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/151007135">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/151007135</a><br />
Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umd_DeRf-tk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umd_DeRf-tk</a><br />
Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629675829489/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629675829489/</a>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-42253949685837797182012-03-04T10:36:00.000-08:002012-03-04T10:36:00.416-08:00Hill no 84 - 9 Haytor Vale<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So to get to the start of Haytor Vale, I rode from the top of Widecombe and was slightly perturbed to find out that I covered the 6 miles in around 12 minutes – that was an average speed of 30 miles per hour and for me to keep that up, I must have been going downhill with the wind behind me for most of the way (on a normal ride, I would expect to keep a pace of around 20mph on the flat).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MNPhnKSolD4/T1O1TF-HGvI/AAAAAAAAAgM/xq-1ZsXgrjA/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MNPhnKSolD4/T1O1TF-HGvI/AAAAAAAAAgM/xq-1ZsXgrjA/s320/a.jpg" width="177" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was worrying as Haytor Vale was straight back up the way I had come.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TpkRRcArm7c/T1O1XkD5AtI/AAAAAAAAAgU/AoA_lrDIJpk/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TpkRRcArm7c/T1O1XkD5AtI/AAAAAAAAAgU/AoA_lrDIJpk/s320/b.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was right to be worried – whilst the initial slopes (and indeed the climb) never really ramped up to the steep gradients of Dartmeet or Widecombe, it was long, unforgiving and into the face of the wind.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fC_lUglqkp4/T1O1h5l9O-I/AAAAAAAAAgc/5ZTZ9ANWRtQ/s1600/c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fC_lUglqkp4/T1O1h5l9O-I/AAAAAAAAAgc/5ZTZ9ANWRtQ/s320/c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Basically, I think it would be incredible training for someone hoping to do an etape or something similar as the gradient seems to vary from about 5% up to about 12% and it just a long, continuous climb, occasionally getting tougher and then letting you have a bit of a break and then getting tougher again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rar_fwsyvb0/T1O1mz0DY6I/AAAAAAAAAgk/qz03Y_84pFk/s1600/d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rar_fwsyvb0/T1O1mz0DY6I/AAAAAAAAAgk/qz03Y_84pFk/s320/d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The wind was proving to be a factor as well as I was struggling a bit with fatigue in my legs – I think a short, sharp climb would have been better for me as I just had it in my head that I was going to suffer for a long time rather than knowing that I could just blast away safe in the knowledge that it was all over quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u-e7Hyjh3i0/T1O13zPxSAI/AAAAAAAAAgs/DW5YXaS0gSs/s1600/e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u-e7Hyjh3i0/T1O13zPxSAI/AAAAAAAAAgs/DW5YXaS0gSs/s320/e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I finally got to the top (or what I thought was the top – Emily was parked up in a car park feeding Mila), but I wasn’t absolutely sure as although the road dipped a little – it went back up again, so I did carry on for an extra couple of minutes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(which was not needed).<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am typing this the same evening and my legs are feeling pretty sore – a lovely day’s riding though!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LaFOvSwxFc&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=2&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LaFOvSwxFc&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=2&feature=plcp</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629508470571/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629508470571/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Garmin here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/139757118">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/139757118</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-28197500670624797682012-03-04T10:30:00.000-08:002012-03-04T10:30:10.899-08:00Hill no 83 - 10 Widecombe<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Widecombe is a lovely village – if slightly confusing as there don’t appear to be any real houses here! There is a Church, there are teashops coming out of your ears, there is a National Trust property, there was a gift shop – and that was about it!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FRrb01wjEqI/T1O0R5qPFYI/AAAAAAAAAfs/mByZNLZkbdw/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FRrb01wjEqI/T1O0R5qPFYI/AAAAAAAAAfs/mByZNLZkbdw/s320/1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The daughter needed some entertainment, so we strolled around the village for a little bit – I had a sausage roll and a cup of coffee outside by the shop in the car park and hoped that would provide enough sustenance to complete the remaining two climbs that I had to do today. I also used the public facilities – very handy!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KMHb_dwkRR4/T1O0V9lgllI/AAAAAAAAAf0/IM_juU40yMU/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KMHb_dwkRR4/T1O0V9lgllI/AAAAAAAAAf0/IM_juU40yMU/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The climb itself was pretty easy to find - there aren’t that many roads leading out of Widecombe on the Moor and only one that goes clearly straight up. You get a fantastic view of the road from the village – and as Simon says, you can see the summit as a target virtually the whole way up.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yd51kSpmetM/T1O0k4VozII/AAAAAAAAAf8/lDcFQGFqTSA/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yd51kSpmetM/T1O0k4VozII/AAAAAAAAAf8/lDcFQGFqTSA/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Again – like Dartmeet, this is a short, sharp climb – you get out of the saddle to try and push yourself up faster and then you get back in the saddle and try and rest before doing it again! It is rather depressing to think of Chris Boardman setting a record up here going twice as fast as you can do it – I genuinely think I would have struggled to match his time on my vespa!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-On15ocpZsh0/T1O0pQHOUhI/AAAAAAAAAgE/lnX8GiRvDjg/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-On15ocpZsh0/T1O0pQHOUhI/AAAAAAAAAgE/lnX8GiRvDjg/s320/4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Easy to find the end – the car park wasn’t signed, but it was pretty obvious which one it was – nice to hit the top of it for my third one down.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0sHppjSMqg&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=1&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0sHppjSMqg&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=1&feature=plcp</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629508335097/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629508335097/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Garmin here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/139757128">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/139757128</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-51742105182009087642012-01-31T16:31:00.000-08:002012-01-31T16:31:12.488-08:00Hill no 82 - 8 Dartmeet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RRV_q1o72oM/TyiHX2y5U3I/AAAAAAAAAfM/iYNyq-3dR-I/s1600/6776129327_5700f9d7bd_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RRV_q1o72oM/TyiHX2y5U3I/AAAAAAAAAfM/iYNyq-3dR-I/s320/6776129327_5700f9d7bd_z.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dartmeet was on the same road as Rundlestone and I pinned my ears back and enjoyed being back on the bike for the first time in a while. The road was the definition of rolling – at one point you’d be hammering down a hill at 40mph (obeying the speed limit through Dartmoor – obviously!) and then you’d be trying to get up the other side of the hill, desperately trying to hold on to your momentum and not change gear!</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was thinking as I rolled along how fantastic a bike race would be through Dartmoor – then I realised that one of the reasons it was so enjoyable was that because the wind was behind me – so I was getting a nice helping hand! Also, even though it was a Saturday, it was early January and therefore not that many people were out – so not much traffic. All though I did see a fair few cyclists.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oCOH1N6xZAE/TyiHuRufBOI/AAAAAAAAAfk/eQy9UyYq-gU/s1600/6776124965_4f9b34347c_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oCOH1N6xZAE/TyiHuRufBOI/AAAAAAAAAfk/eQy9UyYq-gU/s320/6776124965_4f9b34347c_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I reckon if you ride around Dartmoor, you’d end up a pretty strong rider pretty quickly – there isn’t much that it is flat round there – that’s for sure!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dartmeet is a short and very sharp climb – staring (presumably?) on the river Dart at Badger’s Holt (where some crazy people were in kayaks), you start climbing up a steep hill straight away and keep going for 9 minutes and then get off your bike quite tired! I was regretting bombing along the road previously (should have saved some energy) right from the get go.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P4oaXFRzYgw/TyiHmLVa_3I/AAAAAAAAAfc/53c0lGMIYJs/s1600/6776109173_1c48fc98ed_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P4oaXFRzYgw/TyiHmLVa_3I/AAAAAAAAAfc/53c0lGMIYJs/s320/6776109173_1c48fc98ed_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was also paying for the amount of food I have been eating – I guess this is payback right now!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The climb was beautiful though – even I could look across the moor as I suffered and respect the beauty and wildness of it all – a really lovely landscape. It was incredibly windy when I got to the top of this climb – for the first time today I felt cold – although the dog had a lovely play chasing sticks I was throwing down the hill – easiest way to exercise him!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JLnPce9YJF4/TyiHevIksWI/AAAAAAAAAfU/LVy5PbcQ_70/s1600/6776080409_9c92662980_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JLnPce9YJF4/TyiHevIksWI/AAAAAAAAAfU/LVy5PbcQ_70/s320/6776080409_9c92662980_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzA6Y91r1K4&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=3&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzA6Y91r1K4&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=3&feature=plcp</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629074031159/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629074031159/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Garmin here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/139757131">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/139757131</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-55497262427053164102012-01-17T16:47:00.000-08:002012-02-22T14:35:15.862-08:00Hill no 81 - 11 Rundlestone<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We came down to Cornwall on the 27<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> December for a holiday – the aim being that I would do a bit of riding and lots of lovely family time. I would then get over to Dartmoor and pick up the 4 Dartmoor climbs that I need to just live Sidmouth and Crowcombe as the outstanding South West climbs.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pvXn0S7Wz3Y/TxYWQrRK4lI/AAAAAAAAAes/nYQizXHKgqM/s1600/6691553209_c15b8da704_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pvXn0S7Wz3Y/TxYWQrRK4lI/AAAAAAAAAes/nYQizXHKgqM/s320/6691553209_c15b8da704_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unfortunately that plan had been scuppered by the weather. Last year it was snowy and bitterly cold. This of course you can legislate against – take it easy on the roads, wear lots of clothing. This year it was unseasonably mild (a good thing), but it was hammering it down with rain virtually all the time and the wind was something else. I don’t mind getting wet when I cycle, but there is something particularly depressing about fighting a constant wind in your face – and the wind was too strong really to cycle in as there was so much road debris about. On the narrow Cornish country lanes, it was a touch too dangerous and to be honest, I didn’t need any further invitation to sit at home, eat Quality Street and play with Mila and Hobbs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today though (6<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> Jan) was our second last day down here and I thought that I had better get these climbs done, so I had to get out there. I could consider myself either “well rested” or “completely under-done”, but I wouldn’t know until I did the first hill.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_k5HiwV4Ax8/TxYWXwZIgmI/AAAAAAAAAe0/V28dRfuoCKI/s1600/6691528509_b113251a96_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_k5HiwV4Ax8/TxYWXwZIgmI/AAAAAAAAAe0/V28dRfuoCKI/s320/6691528509_b113251a96_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We drove out to Rundlestone on Mila’s morning sleep – just outside of Tavistock, I initially went wrong (my fault) failing to follow Simon’s clear instructions and headed up Violet Lane, rather than past it. A quick U-turn (well 3 or 4 U-turns as I circled whilst Em checked the book) and I headed back down the lane and up the correct road (the B3357).</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZR0TzDS1IuU/TxYWeZzL5bI/AAAAAAAAAe8/MXYPwaVmzEI/s1600/6691563649_6001118c7b_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZR0TzDS1IuU/TxYWeZzL5bI/AAAAAAAAAe8/MXYPwaVmzEI/s320/6691563649_6001118c7b_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Alternately steep and then slackening off to allow you a bit of a rest, this was a long climb, but the legs didn’t feel too bad. There were some steep sections, but nothing too offensive and after a good bit of climbing, it slackened off and allowed you to gather your thoughts and energy for the next section.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4d84cukfYd8/TxYWj5CykeI/AAAAAAAAAfE/LZxzV4WewVk/s1600/6691601427_262a424f1f_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4d84cukfYd8/TxYWj5CykeI/AAAAAAAAAfE/LZxzV4WewVk/s320/6691601427_262a424f1f_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lovely climb though – up through beautiful Dartmoor, with the obligatory ponies, sheep and cattle grids to keep you interested. Wasn’t feeling too bad and headed straight on for the next climb!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-FI_BiTz7M&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=4&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-FI_BiTz7M&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=4&feature=plcp</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157628856847495/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157628856847495/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Garmin here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/139757143">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/139757143</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-47695419441809543022012-01-13T08:37:00.001-08:002012-02-22T14:35:36.052-08:00Hill no 80 - 24 Streatley Hill<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Streatley vies with Whiteleaf for being my local hill – although I must admit I have never been up it on a bike. I tend to head off into the Chilterns and up round Brill way rather than following the course of the Thames and was looking forward to riding this hill. My friend James often climbs this – I think it is part of GS Henley training rides which is the club he belongs too.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fspu0fVzx1I/TxBcTPiqGPI/AAAAAAAAAdc/6ImPgalvMz8/s1600/6660974939_12736e5532_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fspu0fVzx1I/TxBcTPiqGPI/AAAAAAAAAdc/6ImPgalvMz8/s320/6660974939_12736e5532_z.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I was doing this on 27<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> December, I was wife, daughter and dog in tow – we needed to get this one ticked off, head back home, back up and head down to Cornwall to “start” our Christmas break. We therefore (shockingly) drove to Goring, parked up and I unloaded the bike, got the camera on and headed off. Only to stop straight away at the red lights that mark the junction that starts Streatley Hill.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Streatley and Goring themselves looked like pretty Thames-side towns/villages, a bit like miniature Henleys, but thoughts of the picturesque village were soon cleaned from my mind as the climbing started. Simon warned that it was a climb that got harder the further you went up – and he is right, but this is not to say that the climb is easy at any point!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pyDcCnE_JnY/TxBcZyAPeII/AAAAAAAAAdk/F6x-NoFOUd4/s1600/6660962893_28dfba86e1_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pyDcCnE_JnY/TxBcZyAPeII/AAAAAAAAAdk/F6x-NoFOUd4/s320/6660962893_28dfba86e1_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is only a short climb, but all at above 10% and it is a real grind. Especially when you are carrying around the excesses of Christmas Day and the follow up of Boxing Day. The climb will be much different in the beauty of the summer – it is flanked by banked woodland, but even in the winter, with the leaves off of the trees and everything brown and muddy it was still lovely.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N3IHX5r0i7c/TxBcekG_seI/AAAAAAAAAds/fuKsjF136qo/s1600/6660932519_3d88e7dca6_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N3IHX5r0i7c/TxBcekG_seI/AAAAAAAAAds/fuKsjF136qo/s320/6660932519_3d88e7dca6_z.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I didn’t come across any other cyclists whilst climbing – but did see a group come up in dribs and drabs when I walked the dog afterwards – it was obvious the hill shattered the group and it was gratifying to see that everyone was blowing hard when they got up!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0CFYF_LIqzo/TxBcovZK2UI/AAAAAAAAAd0/famGzj5DdNk/s1600/6661011753_2fa07a253a_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0CFYF_LIqzo/TxBcovZK2UI/AAAAAAAAAd0/famGzj5DdNk/s320/6661011753_2fa07a253a_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Cracking views from the top too - really lovely.<br />
Garmin Data here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/138861534">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/138861534</a><br />
Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157628779863745/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157628779863745/</a><br />
Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_oBweQQ1cs&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=1&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_oBweQQ1cs&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=1&feature=plcp</a>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-28179060323138910062012-01-13T08:37:00.000-08:002012-01-13T08:37:05.650-08:00Hill no 79 - 23 Whiteleaf<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been up Whiteleaf more times than I can remember – my Grandad lives just down the road in Princes Risborough and if I am feeling particularly leggy, I have a nice ride that involves Aston Hill, Chinnor Hill and Whiteleaf before heading back to my Mum’s.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have also ridden the Chiltern 100 which goes up these hills – that is the only sportive I have done that made me feel as though I was still going up and down when I went to sleep that night! I’m sure it is nothing compared to the Fred Whitton which takes in the hardest Lakes climbs, but it was certainly hard enough for me!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b5Vin8EhkMs/TxBdDafNJcI/AAAAAAAAAd8/tqzTEJyjE84/s1600/6660623219_316035cf9a_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b5Vin8EhkMs/TxBdDafNJcI/AAAAAAAAAd8/tqzTEJyjE84/s320/6660623219_316035cf9a_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I “knew” Whiteleaf then and it is a nice little climb – you come off a main road and start climbing immediately – it is fairly gradual at the start and you go through the outskirts of the village as you head up, but this is all a warm up for the main event. The road seems to narrow and then seems to shoot up – banked woodland on the side makes it seem even steeper than it is.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xdGUstnrHRw/TxBdLuW9kxI/AAAAAAAAAeE/-9aE713WTvk/s1600/6660710469_64fef91da9_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xdGUstnrHRw/TxBdLuW9kxI/AAAAAAAAAeE/-9aE713WTvk/s320/6660710469_64fef91da9_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JHfwBtXgdI4/TxBdj3LwJpI/AAAAAAAAAec/Zs4sZ2AXC9U/s1600/6660592391_35602bf669_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JHfwBtXgdI4/TxBdj3LwJpI/AAAAAAAAAec/Zs4sZ2AXC9U/s320/6660592391_35602bf669_z.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was soon blowing hard and really ruing having had 2 roast dinners yesterday (although it WAS Christmas!) There was a cyclist up ahead of me, but I didn’t make any headway on him – my justification is that it is the winter and these are meant to be training rides where I keep my heart rate down!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the great bits about Whiteleaf is that once you have reached the top – if you turn right (where the hill ends), there is a lovely, smooth fast descent down into Princes Risborough - sometimes the descents are more awkward than the ascents for me, but this one is a real treat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KlZRt6On5ZY/TxBdotf_OcI/AAAAAAAAAek/Qej_PZi1cHE/s1600/6660640827_7d41b41004_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KlZRt6On5ZY/TxBdotf_OcI/AAAAAAAAAek/Qej_PZi1cHE/s320/6660640827_7d41b41004_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Again - fantastic views too...<br />
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Garmin Data here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/138861511">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/138861511</a><br />
Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157628779033603/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157628779033603/</a><br />
Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9LwOgxqdOw&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=1&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9LwOgxqdOw&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=1&feature=plcp</a>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-45105762588613225572012-01-13T00:48:00.000-08:002012-01-13T00:48:05.597-08:00Hill no 78 - 21 Steyning BostalOnce getting into Brighton, we went to Simon and Emma's house (and Amelia's and Eliana's house too of course!). Emma has done a half marathon for us and Simon has ridden the South Downs Way (well most of it) for us too - so it was going to be really nice to go for a ride with Simon and pick up Steyning Bostal.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Loq92k8KDNU/Twnai63yLkI/AAAAAAAAAc8/TMVPVYVjpA0/s1600/Adur-20111218-00128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Loq92k8KDNU/Twnai63yLkI/AAAAAAAAAc8/TMVPVYVjpA0/s320/Adur-20111218-00128.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Simon plotted a route for us out there (apparently the route I had set up was ridiculous and took us through some not so nice roads, although I thought it would be a lovely "coastal" ride!) The road he took us on was lovely - up out of Brighton, round some really nice back country lanes - with some mean slopes on the way and to the foot of the climb.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ahhIcMkn9Jc/TwnavE--BlI/AAAAAAAAAdE/HVG61jvMDnM/s1600/Horsham-20111218-00119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ahhIcMkn9Jc/TwnavE--BlI/AAAAAAAAAdE/HVG61jvMDnM/s320/Horsham-20111218-00119.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Simon is probably more of a MTBer than a Roadie and he was telling me that the difference very much was that on a MTB - you chuck it in the granny ring and spin up the hills having a nice chat whilst you do so, whilst on a Road Bike - well, its not so convivial!<br />
Anyway, the start of Steyning Bostal was easy to find and the climb itself was a really decent one - in fact, I probably preferred it to its more famous neighbour in Ditchling!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0DGe94n2GGk/TwndcSPuGpI/AAAAAAAAAdM/fGy2tUBdlYE/s1600/Horsham-20111218-00135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0DGe94n2GGk/TwndcSPuGpI/AAAAAAAAAdM/fGy2tUBdlYE/s320/Horsham-20111218-00135.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
It felt more of a challenge - maybe a bit steeper and maybe a bit prettier with more character (to the extent that hills can have a character!)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WKMghYpGQlY/Twndi8U-ZeI/AAAAAAAAAdU/wdnFOGqNiR4/s1600/Horsham-20111218-00137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WKMghYpGQlY/Twndi8U-ZeI/AAAAAAAAAdU/wdnFOGqNiR4/s320/Horsham-20111218-00137.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Maybe it was the ride out there, maybe it was the company, but I had a really nice ride this afternoon over to Steyning - it made the trip down to Brighton more than worth while and I enjoyed it a lot. Thumbs up - and thank you Simon.<br />
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Garmin Data here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/138861563">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/138861563</a><br />
Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157628775910789/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157628775910789/</a><br />
Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjCT_Y0ht_k&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=1&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjCT_Y0ht_k&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=1&feature=plcp</a>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-90047222023624245752012-01-13T00:47:00.000-08:002012-01-13T00:47:07.028-08:00Hill no 77 - 22 Ditchling Beacon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1LAj6fyX4nE/TwmYN30v0aI/AAAAAAAAAc0/9rdl3rCUFew/s1600/6655591963_cef020d4cd_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1LAj6fyX4nE/TwmYN30v0aI/AAAAAAAAAc0/9rdl3rCUFew/s320/6655591963_cef020d4cd_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Ditchling was an odd climb. It is famed throughout the land (well the South east of England anyway) as a real killer on the London to Brighton charity ride. Apparently it has forced more cyclists off their bikes than any other hill in the country as it is the final sting in the tale of that climb. I have heard that a lot of cyclists have to get off because of the number of cyclists on the road though!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rEz9F2lOX_8/TwmXiAI2T8I/AAAAAAAAAcc/7Y9dyzltBaM/s1600/6655641663_4a801b4ffa_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rEz9F2lOX_8/TwmXiAI2T8I/AAAAAAAAAcc/7Y9dyzltBaM/s320/6655641663_4a801b4ffa_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Funny, because I had heard so much about this climb, in my head I always pictured it as a wide straight road heading up, uncovered and unprotected over a large duney type lump into Brighton. Funnily enough, I was wrong and this wasn't how the climb was at all!<br />
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Rather you start on the outskirts of Ditchling and seem to skirt along the outside of a hill, banking left and climbing up, initially with a lot of trees covering the climb and then, over the level of tree cover, still skirting around the hill - climbing it with stealth rather than an all out attack.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5TLl9KIzfPU/TwmXvHQcDTI/AAAAAAAAAck/vhHC-X2O4ZM/s1600/6655651165_4d5beddbe6_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5TLl9KIzfPU/TwmXvHQcDTI/AAAAAAAAAck/vhHC-X2O4ZM/s320/6655651165_4d5beddbe6_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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You then get a view to the East, but you turn back into the hill and finish off the climb with a little bit more steepness and through more trees.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-120B81-4TGo/TwmX59ZDxkI/AAAAAAAAAcs/dx8wv046U2A/s1600/6655556761_07721a53db_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-120B81-4TGo/TwmX59ZDxkI/AAAAAAAAAcs/dx8wv046U2A/s320/6655556761_07721a53db_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Again - lovely views from the top, even if my ideal of climbing Ditchling on a blazing hot summers day, followed by a downhill wheel and a jump into the sea never came about!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1LAj6fyX4nE/TwmYN30v0aI/AAAAAAAAAc0/9rdl3rCUFew/s1600/6655591963_cef020d4cd_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1LAj6fyX4nE/TwmYN30v0aI/AAAAAAAAAc0/9rdl3rCUFew/s320/6655591963_cef020d4cd_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
One more hill to do and that was all the "out of the way" South East climbs done.<br />
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Garmin Data here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/138861579">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/138861579</a><br />
Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157628767627747/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157628767627747/</a><br />
Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBAWO4YCvWs&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=1&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBAWO4YCvWs&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=1&feature=plcp</a>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181760012960631489.post-50583258742723268912012-01-13T00:45:00.002-08:002012-01-13T00:45:53.602-08:00Hill no 76 - 19 The WallBy this time I was running VERY VERY late for "xmas" dinner at my Dad's and I was slightly fearful of a very frosty reception by the time I got there!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IU6UwBUo9YA/TwjRdU5YQXI/AAAAAAAAAbc/lKufplmvA44/s1600/Wealden-20111217-00108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IU6UwBUo9YA/TwjRdU5YQXI/AAAAAAAAAbc/lKufplmvA44/s320/Wealden-20111217-00108.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This fear outweight the fear of the dreaded "Wall" - but I was somewhat concerned as I descended down Kidds Hill to get to "the Wall" as I knew I was going to have to get back up it once I had completed the climb.<br />
At the bottom of the climb there was a bridge and a ford and I stopped briefly to set off the video, take a couple of photos and prepare myself. A couple of forestry guys pulled over in a truck and I was glad to see that I wasn't the only one out here working!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f9OysqmOmks/TwjRtR1xLuI/AAAAAAAAAbk/c6XQmz7kuAU/s1600/Mid+Sussex-20111217-00116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f9OysqmOmks/TwjRtR1xLuI/AAAAAAAAAbk/c6XQmz7kuAU/s320/Mid+Sussex-20111217-00116.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
The start of the climb was pretty easy and consistent, but the best bit about it was when the road straightened and rose in a steep dead straight line ahead of me, with the trees growing over it to make a tunnel. It looked fantastic and the photo doesn't really do it justice.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fweuFOFWtgw/TwjR5wf965I/AAAAAAAAAbs/OhSgVHfPHso/s1600/Mid+Sussex-20111217-00117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fweuFOFWtgw/TwjR5wf965I/AAAAAAAAAbs/OhSgVHfPHso/s320/Mid+Sussex-20111217-00117.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>A decent long steep gradient where you could see the top all the way through, but going to get shot out of the top (or hobble over it) - really nice and "different".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-caU3pCTECBA/TwjSFEwYkJI/AAAAAAAAAb0/x4cn0xXrovQ/s1600/Mid+Sussex-20111217-00112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-caU3pCTECBA/TwjSFEwYkJI/AAAAAAAAAb0/x4cn0xXrovQ/s320/Mid+Sussex-20111217-00112.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
There is a climb like it pretty close to where I'm from going up from Tetsworth to Postcombe in Oxfordshire (although that is the A40 it is a pretty quiet road) and I really enjoyed it (even forgetting temporarily about how much trouble I was in!)<br />
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Garmin Data here: <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/134994617">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/134994617</a><br />
Flickr here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157628748464639/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157628748464639/</a><br />
Youtube here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_aWQn41odQ&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=1&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_aWQn41odQ&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=1&feature=plcp</a>mrolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02344774286100204656noreply@blogger.com0