A mixed bag of treats

What a great day. 4 hills in perfect weather. No wind and clear skies. It was a fair drive from Seathwaite to Thirsk, and parking proved a little problematic, but I was away by 9.30 am. 10.00 saw me already well past the first hill, Boltby Bank. 

It was a great little climb from a beautiful village up onto the Moors. The first part of the day was through some fantastic scenery, finishing with a blast along the A172 to Carlton-in-Cleveland and the second climb of Carlton Bank. 

This was pretty busy, and it turned out that I’d just missed the local hill-climb. From the top to Helmsley was thrirteen miles, and I spent most of it chasing another cyclist, without success.

Across the A-road, and then a drag past Ampleforth and I ended up at Kilburn, and White Horse Bank. 

The White Horse wasn’t visible from the road, but would be perfect from one of the gliders from the soaring club at the top of the hill.

Back over the A-road, a swift descent back down Boltby Bank and I was back in the car and on the way to Rosedale Chimney.

The guide said start from Rosedale Abbey, but Rosedale Abbey didn’t have an Abbey, and the Chimney Bank didn’t have a chimney at the top. However, the climb was great – tough and unrelenting with a final slope that felt pretty steep. 

Lots of treats today – pheasants, helicopters, biplanes and gliders.

Back into the car- and onto York for an Astronomy course!

58 miles 1972 m of climbing

The man who went up a hill and came down a mountain. 9th September 2012

The first foray into Wales proved successful. Lots of double LL place names and narrow country roads. All didn’t go according to the schedule, as a long first hill and difficult navigation between the hills proved time-consuming.

After dropping Elaine off at her Dad’s I set off for the first hill. (The Road to Hell)

As usual I followed the plan of driving the hill and parking at the top. It was a good move as the hill was of the longest I’ve done and it wasn’t a straightforward route. In fact, I wonder how it was graded by Mr Warren, as there were at least two substantial downhill stretches between Denbigh

 and Llyn Brenig. The parking at the top was quite exposed, but I set off down and within seconds was doing over 45 mph!

A windy descent put me at the foot of Love Lane 

and the start of an hour trip back up the eight mile climb, past some unusual wildlife!

 

A short but navigationally challenging drive soon found me at the top of Moel Arthur. I had to negotiate a narrow road and lots of cyclists to reach the top, only to be welcoming by cow bells, clapping people and waving flags.... the Eureka Sportive was passing this way. 

A quick dive down the hill, followed by a long pull back chasing another group of cyclists and I was done and heading for the last climb of the day.

Penbarra had a great viewpoint at the top, plus an ice-cream van selling whippy 99s with red sauce. A perfect end to a short, sharp climb from the main road.

22 miles 1141 m of climbing

Revenge is sweet. 3rd September

So, last time I was here the Hill ate the tandem. This time I brought the Giant and fresh legs and soon dealt with the challenge of Greenhow Hill!

An early morning start from home saw me at Greenhow at 9.20 ready to go. A quick spin down the hill with photos on the way and at the bottom left me just the climb to do. I’ve been down this beauty before, when we did the Keswick to Konigslutter ride. This time it was solo and up rather than down!

10.00 saw me back at the car, changed and ready to head to Gragreave to pick up the repaired tandem. The guy at JD Tandems was again really helpful and it’s now back on the road, complete with a comfy saddle for the Sexy Stokers behind!

5 miles 290m of climbing

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