Saturday 22nd - Alternative ride part 2

All,

I see that there's already 2 other rides being planned for this Saturday, but I have another alternative....

If anyone is interested I'm planning a 100mile+ ride over the bridge on Saturday morning, so probably something like Chepstow, Coleford, Cinderford, Michelden then onto Ross/Hereford before coming back over Symonds Yat and then then along the Wye Valley. Average speed will be around 17-19mph I'd think which will depend a bit on the wind. There's about 2500M of climbing, so it's quite lumpy. I'd go for a cafe stop in Hereford or Ross too after 60-70 miles.

Of course I'm happy to make route changes if anyone has any favourite roads that they'd like to ride.

I'm thinking of leaving Patchway around 0830hrs, so will be at the Bridge around 0850hrs (Bristol side near junction for motorway services) or Chepstow roundabout about 9am.

Let me know if you're interested.

-Gordon

Gordon, isnt it the Gospel pass audax this saturday? http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/14-53/
I think Chris Speedplay and Dave Scaramanger are taking part might be nice for you to join in.

Oh right - thanks Scott.

I didn't know that was on but I see that entries have now closed. I guess I could do the ride anyway....

I've never ridden the Gospel Pass so it would be good to ride it.

hmmm....

-Gordon

schleck_wannabe wrote:

Oh right - thanks Scott.

I didn't know that was on but I see that entries have now closed. I guess I could do the ride anyway....

I've never ridden the Gospel Pass so it would be good to ride it.

hmmm....

-Gordon

Careful on the descent down Hay Bluff - lots of suicidal sheep!

Draft Speedplay they won't notice a little one like you  

I know it's a bit late, so people probably won't see this - but I'm going to be doing the Gospel Pass ride. I'll keep an eye out for the NBCC jerseys!

Have a good day everyone.

-Gordon

Wow...that was a lot harder that I thought it was going to be. I saw the NBCC guys at the stop in Hay though, was good to see some friendly faces. Had I realised that the big climb was literally right after the stop I might have eaten sightly less...

Hope Neil & Dave got on ok...will keep an eye out for their rides on that site that you're not allowed to talk about on here.....


-Gordon

    

Work got in the way, otherwise would have come out for the Audax thingy. Sounds like a good climb.

Not sure I would describe it as a 'good climb'. Today the wind was howling down it, so was lucky to get 10mph at times. The road is so narrow that people driving down force you into the ditch at the side (this happened to me twice). It's probably worth doing once as the views are epic, but there are definitely better climbs out there in my opinion.

And who would have thought that it's a part of a National Cycle Route, lol I've never been over the pass so migh do it one day but as you said it's probably not worth risking life and structural integrity of the bike agree that a lot of the climbs in Brecon Beacons would probably be much more suitable. Dave showed me Llangynidr climb which is in the 100 greatest climbs book rated as 7/10. It was just below 400m elevation and I was swearing a lot near the top and wondering how the hell are you suppose to do the same thing but 4 times as long. It was a slog but very gratifying in the end.