Hill no 90 - 90 Horseshoe Pass

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.

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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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!

Garmin here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159004570

Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629683108113/

Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8Ee8DAeuXI&feature=plcp&context=C465bc5aVDvjVQa1PpcFOyovRYQKIuXlw-tJKvLZBYvVMM3k6ggjk%3D

Hill no 89 - 92 Fford Penllech

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?

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).

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.

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.
Basically it is steep all the way, apart from the bits that are REALLY steep and the bits which are STUPIDLY steep.

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.

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!

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.

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!

Did manage to knock a whole 7 seconds off my time though!

Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629318867050/

Garmin here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159004586 and here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159004576

Youtube here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqnpWnGt-RI&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=4&feature=plcp  and here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awHAv7QpTss&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=3&feature=plcp

Hill no 88 - 91 Bwlch Y Groes

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".

I mean - on the positive side, it is incredibly beautiful round here - the views. Well,  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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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......

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.

An absolute brute of a climb. Yeah, yeah, beautiful. Still a brute.

Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob2czShVMA0&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=5&feature=plcp
Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629680300879/
Garmin here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159004598

Hill no 87 - 89 The Road To Hell

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.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629314223176/
Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPVYz_JQYtg&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=1&feature=plcp

Garmin here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/159004614

Hill no 86 - 12 Salcombe Hill

Salcombe 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.

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.

I soon had to rethink that strategy and chose a far more humble gear as my legs and lungs started to complain vociferously.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629311191670/
Garmin here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/151007130
Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRP35hvA5-U&feature=channel

Hill no 85 - 3 Crowcombe Coombe

On one of the cycling forums I frequent (I know, I know), someone described Crowcombe Coombe as a right @~%^!

The stats don't make it seem too bad at all - 1270m, climb time of around 8.5minutes - how bad can it be?

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.

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.

I like it when a climb ticks all the boxes.

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!

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%!)

Another beautiful climb though and we had a nice walk with Mila and the dog afterwards.

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.

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.

Climb the hill and have a beer.

Garmin here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/151007135
Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umd_DeRf-tk
Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629675829489/

Hill no 84 - 9 Haytor Vale

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).

This was worrying as Haytor Vale was straight back up the way I had come.

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.

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.

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.

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  (which was not needed).

I am typing this the same evening and my legs are feeling pretty sore – a lovely day’s riding though!

Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LaFOvSwxFc&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=2&feature=plcp
Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629508470571/
Garmin here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/139757118

Hill no 83 - 10 Widecombe

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0sHppjSMqg&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=1&feature=plcp
Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629508335097/
Garmin here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/139757128

Hill no 82 - 8 Dartmeet

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!

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.

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!

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.

I was also paying for the amount of food I have been eating – I guess this is payback right now!

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!

Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzA6Y91r1K4&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=3&feature=plcp
Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157629074031159/
Garmin here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/139757131

Hill no 81 - 11 Rundlestone

We came down to Cornwall on the 27^th 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.

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.

Today though (6^th 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.

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).

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.

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!

Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-FI_BiTz7M&list=UU_-Huk3Gbwz9QNbiVD1X_jw&index=4&feature=plcp
Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157628856847495/
Garmin here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/139757143