From the sea to the sky and back. 21st August

Finally, the Grandaddy of them all makes its appearance. How do you do justice to the Bealach na Ba given its rating as the hardest in the book?

 More later..... But first Cairngorm. Having spent an unsettled night at the Well of Lecht I finally set off at 7.30 for Aviemore. (The thing that has struck me as I’ve driven around the Cairngorms is that there is a really hilly long ride circumnavigating the Cairngorms to be done at some stage. Could be a weekend boys trip!)

After a stop for petrol I arrived at Glenmore, got out the car and was immediately besieged by the wee bastards that are midges. I remember now why I don’t want to live here!. Even cycling uphill they still managed to keep us with me. Anyway, I MTFU and reached the top, 

with some spectacular views back to Aviemore. 

A quick blast downhill, and I was on my way to Applecross, and my first sight of the Bealach.

After a substantial drive I arrived at Tornapress and parked up by the bridge. I really was going to cycle from the sea to the sky! It’s not the highest road in the UK, but with a climb of 620+ m it’s certainly one of the greatest climbs.

What struck me was how busy it was, with lots of traffic both ways. It was fairly easy initially, but as I climbed into the corrie it became more ominous and the gradient increased.  The final few hairpins were alpine and the only comparison I can make is to the top bit of the Galibier! 

As I crested the summit the heaven opened and the first 2 mile sof the decent towards Applecross were wet and greasy. I had decided that I was going to climb over to Applecross and then come back up, so was mightily relieved that the weather improved and gave some great views into the valley below.

A quick photo opportunity at Applecross,

 and then I was back climbing the pass. This brought back some great memories as I had climbed the Bealach this was before with Ems when she was 11! This side is steadier, with a pretty constant gradient in the first part with a steeper narrower finish.

Then, joy of joys, the greatest, longest descent ever, starting with some epic hairpins and then becoming a long, fast swooping ribbon of tarmac that finally dropped me back at the car.

And how to finish the ride, well just round the corner is the Kishorn Seafood Bar and look what was waiting!

All that was left was a final climb “Rest and be thankful” Again, a long drive ensued, via Fort Willaim and then the Connel Bridge, bringing back many memories of the JOGLE last summer with the boys!

I was chased by a storm along Loch Awe, and the heavens opened as I reached the car park at the top. 

After a patient wait, I was rewarded with clear skies and a swift descent down the pass. Turning round, the climb back passed quickly and it was a classic Scottish valley, all wet vegetation, slabby rock strewn streams and narrow tarmac with passing places. I reached the top about 9pm, and then set off for home, arriving just after midnight.

Here endeth two long days. Six hills completed and over 700 miles driven!

35 miles 1788m

Same pain, different location. 20th August

OK, so finally the Scottish adventure starts. 

After an early morning swim in Derwentwater with the Sexy Stoker and the Mountain Goat I headed north. Scotland beckoned and some big hills with lots of driving in between. Today saw over 350 miles covered plus three hills.

Cairn O’Mount was first and probably the easiest, although it gets 7 in the book. A swift descent from the car park at the top, photos at the bottom and then the climb back up. Job done.

Onto the first of the triple ski area ticks.

The Cairnwell climbs from the Spittal of Glenshee up to the ski area. The book said 26 mins. I took 35!

It was a long, but steady climb. However, I think a better choice would have been to include the hill up to the Spittal as well as this was a fantastic, undulating approach.

The drive from Glenshee to the Lecht was brilliant. Long flowing roads through gorgeous scenery and a sunset to boot. I arrived at the top of the Lecht with just enough daylight for the tick.

It’s a pretty tough climb, steep to start (with several deer crossing in front of me) and then unrelenting in it’s remainder with the road straight up the hillside. It gets a 10 in the book, but it’s no Hardknott!

I had planned to try and get a bunkhouse in Aviemore, but it was now late so a great picnic spot at the Well of Lecht provided the campspot for the night, though I opted for the car due to the dreaded midges!

18 miles  881m of ascent

19th August. Here Wiggo!!

There have been a few guests who’ve joined in my hill-ticking. Chief cycle chum so far has been the Descender. However, today he chose to abandon me. So, who best to replace him on a trip with the Mountain Goat? Step up Mr Bradley Wiggins, Olympic Gold medallist and Tour de France winner. I’d like to think he chose to come out with me, but sadly the story is altogether different.

In the absence of Deano, Ian and I signed up for the Ride with Brad sportive, supporting the Bradley Wiggins Foundation.

7.00 am found us registered, kitted up and ready to start (although I’ll admit to a hangover from the beer we consumed in a racous pub the night before. Ian had been given a pass and was determined to enjoy it!)

Finally, the great man arrived and rang a bell to set us off. It was a little disappointing as he then disappeared! However, off we went at a great lick, despite my rear wheel shedding a spoke after 5 miles.

The first big climb of the day was the Cross of Greet.

 

After the Cross of Greet, we arrived at the first feed station. We’d just dismounted when Brad arrived, obviously doing the route as well. All disappointment at the start soon evaporated as I found myself filling a waterbottle next to cycling royalty!

Ian and I set off quickly, planning to jump onto Brad’s group as he went past.

He soon caught us up and we managed to get on the back of his group. 

What an experience, sharing the same peleton with Mr Wiggins. He was obviously cruising, but I was in the red and after about 5 miles the elastic broke and I was out the back door! Fantastic, in what other sport can you mix it with the best in the world?

Today wasn’t a hill ticking day, as I’ve already done all the ones in this area, but we did Cross of Greet in full, Jubilee Tower minus the first 200m and Nick O’Pendle and the trough of Bowland from the other side.

The ride was really tough with a hard series of inclines to finish. If this is Brad’s training ride, there’s no wonder he’s the best in the world!

103 miles 3051m of ascent

13th August 2012 The Sexy Stoker comes out to play.....

Finally, after all the support she’s given so far, the Sexy Stoker has made an appearance on one of the hills. Two days away on a romantic retreat and Elaine thinks “nice hotel, candlelit dinners” whereas I thought “Tandem, and the hills of Yorkshire” A compromise was struck, and we headed off to Harrogate. The hills for today were supposed to be 53 and 52, but circumstance intervened.

After a slow and noisy start, accompanied by much complaining from the back as we headed uphill and lots of whimpering as we touched 35 mph on the downhill, we found ourselves on the reservoir viaduct at the foot of Norwood Edge.

Half an hour later, and we had made it to the top and had some cracking views north towards Pateley Bridge. Our next objective was the golfballs at Menwith Hill, 

and then into Pateley Bridge for a much needed cup of tea and lunch.

Whether it was the extra weight from lunch, or too much power from the back, disaster struck as we attempted Greenhow Hill. A loud crack, and the rear axle snapped in two, and in the process it broke the frame.

Abandoning the Stoker and the bike, I set off on foot for the car. A short bus ride, a quick hitch and a fast ride with a builder to the start and we had soon reunited bike, car and riders.

So, a disappointing finish to what was a great ride. Sadly, the Tandem had to go to JD Tandems at Gargreave for some TLC, but this might turn out to have a silver lining as the Stoker was seriously seduced by the awesome tandems on sale. We may return!

As for the rest of the trip – well, the romantic hotel and candlelit dinner won!

22 miles 764 m of ascent

The Mountain Goat leads it out 4th August

It’s been a while since the last hill-ticking venture. A lot has happened in the past few weeks. We sadly lost Laine’s Mum June to cancer, spent 10 days in France on a school trip and had a boy’s outing to the Tour de Isle of Man. Add to that Brad winning the Tour, visiting Claire to go see the Road Race and you can see why the hills have taken a back seat.

However, we’re back with a bang! The Descender and new boy The Mountain Goat joined me for a day of fun and climbing in Yorkshire.

We set off from Garsdale Head on the Coal Road, which brought back many memories of previous Etape du Dales trips. After a slog up, 

and then great views

 we descended towards Dent with a few nasty hairpins to be negotiated. The climb out past the viaduct was great, especially as it dropped us at the top of a long fast descent into Hawes.

The climb up Fleet Moss followed, with great views up and then back towards Hawes. 

This brought back memories of 1991 and the ride to Konigslutter when we climbed this hill with a group of Sixthformers on the way to Germany.

By this stage the pattern for the day had been established. The Goat would dash off ahead, I’d cruise up in front of the Descender and stop for photos, and then the Descender would hammer us on the trip down. Pause and repeat!

After a fantastic ride down Upper Wharfedale we hit Park Rash, and the climb out of Leyburn. 

This was probably the toughest of the day, with a number of really steep bends to be negotiated. You can see from the photo what the boys thought at the top!

Hunger pangs were setting in now, especially as the Descender had made a schoolboy error and not brought any food. A recommendation from an old lady in Airton pointed us towards a great lunch spot with fantastic mushroom soup, and a much relieved Deano. (Only spoilt by the £1 charge to fill waterbottles with squash!)

The climb out of Malham followed, with fantastic views into the Cove. 

The Descender was now starting to struggle, and he took the wise move to push on for Hawes rather than tackle the last hill of Langcliffe Scar. This baby was really steep to start, with the usual warning signs

and was then fairly sustained through a series of switchbacks back up to the Stainforth road.

A long pull up through Horton and past the Ribblehead Viaduct and over to Hawes followed where we finally rejoined the Descender for the last stretch back to Garsdale railway station and the car.

What a great day. Good company, fantastic scenery, lots of miles and great food. What more could a cyclist want?
92 miles 3061m climbed