Road ridin'

Well, that's the Polka Dot Gran Fondo over for another year. I remembered it as long climbs followed by scorching descents through some of the best roads in the Peak District and surrounding areas, in blazing sunshine. That was a couple of years ago though. This year it started to rain just after we set out and just about continued for most of the day and my riding partner got a flat. This shouldn't be happening on the first of June? Anyway most looked like they were smiling through the rain and enjoying it - even if some triathletes got their fig rolls a touch damp.

So, even though we only completed the short 72 mile course we've easily clocked up well over 200 miles on the bike this week, hurrah. Just a couple more weeks of increasing time in the saddle and then it's a quick taper for Mountain Mayhem Then we'll probably be obsessing about Hit the North instead. Just off to check out some tyres....

Some pics from the trip up thru the middle of Wales. We started in the Black Mountains, moved into the Brecons, over to the Cambrians and stopped short of the Rhinogs at Barmouth. Disappointed that all the chips shops close so early there and that my right knee isn't tougher...
Well that was the first hill of many out of the way. Stop for a brew outside Abergavenny before the descent into Coal Pit to find that it is actually a pit and no little shop like we were hoping for :o(

This was a great camp spot for the second night. On a ridge off Lord Herefords Knob. Punctuated by the sound of a lone moto crosser in the distance til it got dark and they fell into a hole or went home or something. First night at the campsite in Abergavenny we were treated to a massive electrical storm, no such interestingness tonight, just a fab view.

That'll be the Brecons just before the pull up onto Pen y Fan. No one around but the squaddies and loads of blazing sunshine.

Me with Ma and Pa - the support group in Llandovery. A rest day here was most welcome - loads of good food and a little beer. The cafe in the centre of town provides loads of tasty food, "home" cooked on the premises. There's the remains of a castle too with a big shiny statue outside.


More to come, probably...

Cambrian Way

While walking most of the Cambrian way we found some great looking singletrack bridleway that went on for what seemed like ages... Looking into a bike 2 dayer that would link up a couple of train stations one weekend. Would be great to bivvy out somewhere outside Machynlleth one evening and head straight out the next morning followed by 2 days of full on riding in the wilds.

Must go riding...