TOB stage 3 recce(well a bit of it)

[Paul on the Pearson]

I was out on the road yesterday doing a section of tommorows stage, The South Molton to Dunster bit as part of what turned out to be a 95 mile loop from Braunton and back and one of the toughest rides I've done this year.It was straight down to the duel carriage way into Barnstaple and then uphill to Lankey, a decent into swimbridge and more uphill into South Molton, or The Gateway to the Moors as it likes to be known, a bit more rolling terrain and a fast, narrow decent through North Molton,even faster if the parked cars are moved for the race and then its a windy,leg sapping drag up onto the moors before decending down a narrow road into the seething metropolis of Wityhypool, a few houses, a pub, a post office and a tea room that does a good double expresso and you need it as the road out of the village for the KOM kicks up at about 25%.The hairpin's got a real nasty camber to it with water streaming across the road surface from the moors,luckily it wasn't as slippery as it looked and I was able to climb out of the saddle, which was handy or I'd probably have ended up back in the villiage for another espresso, although looking at the map I think the Mile Hill KOM is actually the other climb out of Withypool, I just went up the one that looked the steepest. On the map Mile Hill looks as steep but kicks up just round the corner from the one I went up and looks a bit wider, I'll find out tommorow. Its then on to Exford, more rolling roads, suprise suprise with another steep climb out of the village and suprise, suprise again more energy sapping, rolling roads before a fast 35, 40mph decent (yep I'm not quite the lilly liverede decender of old) down into...a bit of tourist board speak here,.."The pretty, medieval market town of Dunster". From here the tour carries on westwards while I headed east. So now for a spot of pre race punditry. Well, its tough with a few technical decents wich could make things tricky for the pack to organise a chase and with a few nasty climbs it might not be one for the sprinters.
I was off onto the A39 and straight into a ferocious headwind heading for Porlock and last years KOM climb up the toll road, which cuts out the 1:4 climb out of the village and is Britains steepest A road apparently. The toll roads a fantastic climb. Its a similar gradient to Box Hill but longer and with better scenery. As you make your way up the cliff face the seas down to your right. The road surface is immaculate and theres no speed bumps to break your rythm. You pay your quid at the toll house, which makes you think your at the top, but your not, your only about half way up. If you dont like hill dont go to Devon or Somerset! There was a white line near the top so there must have been a hill climb up here! Ouch! When you finaly make it to the top its left back towards Porlock and a sharp right onto a narrow road that takes you out across the open moors. The moors are are a fantastic, but desolate and unforgiving place to ride a bike, especially on your jack jones. As fatigue started gnawing away at my legs I started thinking of the exmoor beast, not the sportive ride in november, but the one probably lying in wait somewhere up ahead and getting ready to jump out on a knackered cyclist.
Luckily I made it back to Exford without being eaten. It was then back to Simonsbath, Challacome, the wind swept Blacmore Gate along surprse surprise surprise again more gruelling terain and finally home.
I'll take some pics from the race tommorrow.
See you
Paul

[Marky Mark]

I see you got the hang of the cut n paste thingy