I rode halfway home from our annual holiday in Borth. The route was amazing. The climb out of Machynlleth is probably the highest altitude gain in Wales - you go from pretty much sealevel in Mach to over 500 metres by the top and the last sections of the climb are insane. The road back down to Llanidloes is hard - it should be downhill all the way you think but there are some steep sections up and down. Then the last bit to Rhayader was err eventful. I came across some triathletes and shot straight past them going uphill in the big ring (!) only for my chain to snap on the following descent - what was that about? I wasnt even peddling. I had a link extractor, but managed to break it whilst fixing the chain. The tri-guys shot past (thanks!) and then I had to soft pedal the last 8 miles, worried that the chain was going to snap again.
Sunday, 2 January 2011
Saturday, 1 January 2011
Amazing Ride Part 1
I decided to ride half the way to Borth for our holiday. I had thought about going all the way, but the ride from Cardiff to Rhayader is uninteresting - but it gets interesting from there so jumped out of the car there. I had always wanted to go across the back road via devils bridge to Aberystwyth - it looks interesting on a map and I wasnt disappointed. The climb out of Rhayader was hard (it would be) but then the next couple of miles were amazing scenery across the common and then diving down into a steeply sided valley before climbing back up and down to Devils Bridge and onto the main road to Aber.
Holiday Rides
Borth is a strange place. It is no Croyde, it has similarities with Westward Ho! but is more likeable. But it must be a great place to live if you are a cyclist - the training landscape is great - flat rides and hilly rides that are not too busy. Unfortunately, there's nothing else and its miles from anyway else, but nevermind. If I lived there, then this would be one of my staple training rides. Im not sure Id finish every ride by going up the mega steep 1:4 hill out of Borth, but it was an experience.
And if I was a tester, then Id do this ride a fair bit too. Boringly flat in places, but fast:
And if I was a tester, then Id do this ride a fair bit too. Boringly flat in places, but fast:
Friday, 14 August 2009
Under the hour
This was my last ride for a while as Ill be off with work. I did this Evan on our usual route up to Caerphilly and back: 20kms in under the hour: not bad going. I dont normally like to time myself over the same rides because there are so many other things that can affect your time, like how many people are in the way on the taff trail and things like that.
When I lived in Swansea I used to time myself over a set course. I used to go out in the evening and time myself on the course below. Only trouble was that I used to just blast from the gun, then blow up on the first climb up to upper Killay, about 2 miles into the ride. It usually took about 45 mins, but there was a really dodgy descent and in my keenness to beat my record I used to take some risks. The last time I did it, my gear cable snapped and I was stuck in top.
When I lived in Swansea I used to time myself over a set course. I used to go out in the evening and time myself on the course below. Only trouble was that I used to just blast from the gun, then blow up on the first climb up to upper Killay, about 2 miles into the ride. It usually took about 45 mins, but there was a really dodgy descent and in my keenness to beat my record I used to take some risks. The last time I did it, my gear cable snapped and I was stuck in top.
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