Recent Facebook pictures of a snow-covered Gospel Pass in the Black Mountains of Wales,reminded me that I'd laboured over there in the 120 km (76 miles) Welsh Marches Audax in April 2009.
The route contained 1600 metres of climbing, including some hilly stuff round Herefordshire, before scaling the Gospel Pass and dropping down to Hay on Wye, leaving an easy run in to the finish at Monkland near Leominster.
I’d upped my mileage before the event but was fully aware that my 72 year old legs were in danger of being ripped off over the climbs and that I wouldn't be able to stay with the younger riders much past the first check at about 30 miles, I knew I could average about 14mph, on reasonably flat terrain, but the group I set off with was averaging 16’s after about 5 miles, uncomfortably fast for me, and I was on my own before the ride had really started.
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| I pinched this picture of the Gospel Pass off a website. If I remember correctly I took my own camera on the ride but when I came to take my panoramic views I found the battery had expired. I understand that the pass is the highest road in Wales. On the day I thought it was a bloody sight higher. |
I experienced an intense period of indignant distress at being shelled out so early and contemplated a return to the headquarters. But I rode on for a while, fantasising about the dreadful retribution that a Just God would wreak upon my erstwhile companions, and eventually reasoned that my early humiliation hadn't altered my plan, I just had to ride further on my own than I had originally calculated.
The ride to the first check was actually hillier than I had anticipated, and I had to walk a couple of short steep stretches, although I caught and passed a couple of stragglers, favouring them with a supercilious nod and a grunted greeting to leave them in no doubt of my superior standing in the cycling hierarchy..
When I reached the first control, a cafe, some of my previous companions were still there, lolling about with coffee and cake and other fripperies, but I just got my card signed,and carried on, knowing full well that I would be overtaken again on the way to the second control at Hay on Wye. I was carrying an energy drink and cereal bars, so that I didn’t need a sit-down stop.The others passed me on a long grinding hill, a few miles after the café, and I was on my own again.The pass is about eight miles long, up a very narrow road, with a drop and a widening valley to the right, giving some stunning views. It's a steady climb at first, but becomes a lot steeper as it approaches the summit. The days's previous climbs had done no favours for my geriatric legs, and I adopted my usual climbing style of sitting back, engaging 28 x29, swearing profusely, and hoping for the best Eventually, after plodding for what seemed like half the morning,I came out on to open heath land, with a glorious view over the countryside that I’d just ridden through. A few hundred more yards of steady climbing took me to the summit of the pass where there was a fantastic view towards Hay-on-Wye and across the Wye valley to the west.
I caught up with the others at the café at Hay who, predictably were just leaving as I arrived. prompting a non-cycling customer to question the extent of my popularity. The ride back to Monkland was fortunately flat and I got through the last miles, pretty well knackered but in reasonable order.
I used this ride as preparation for the Beacon RCC 94 mile Cotswold Journey Audax, later that year, which I completed on my own, and without stops, a tactic that got me to the finish within the time limit..Just because you cant keep up with the kids doesn't mean you can't go out to play.
