Tour of the Black Mountains 2010

[Phil H]

Well, that was hard. They should've put a warning on the lines of "the 120 mile route is not suitable for fat blokes".

Got to the start well early. Signed in then hung around while the snack wagon sorted out hot water for tea. Got off with the first group along the path through the park where they were setting up for a shire horse show. Clearly communication wasn't 100% because we heard a security guy from the show on his radio saying "There's a load of bloody bikes coming through. We'll have to lock the gate". Don't know how that worked out for later groups.

I decided to stick with Amy instead of my normal strategy of going off too fast and blowing up after 50 miles. The first big ascent meandered through some scenic woodland, gaining height slowly before kicking up at the end to Gospel Pass. Feeling pretty good at this point. A nice roll down to Hay on Wye, taking the unknown roads on the descent fairly cautiously but wondering if my brake pads were going to last the whole ride.

Refuelled at Brecon and a short stretch of A40. Unlike the Dragon, most of the route was small quiet roads, but there were a couple of unwelcome forays onto the main roads. Like at Sennybridge where we went back on the dual carriageway into a nice headwind. About 40 miles in, Toks caught up with us and said hi then disappeared over the horizon. (I can't remember if that was before or after the Rapha Condor boys shot past towing a big bunch of hopefuls.) At about 70 miles, there was a long, hairpinned climb which merits a chevron on the OS map. Very satisfying to get to the top of that one. From the 2nd feed station at 80 miles (where I had to hit the cheese rolls hard), a meander down passing some depleted looking reservoirs with the occasional nasty kick upwards.

A few miles respite, then at 102 miles, the last big ascent came.
[img]http://93.97.161.139/bikingphotos/tobm/abm.jpg[/img]
(More photos [url=http://93.97.161.139/bikingphotos/tobm/]here[/url])

Followed by another smaller ascent. hen a drop and another climb. Then a drop and another. Stuff that looks like a blip on the route profile is actually about the same as Coldharbour Lane. I started to bonk on the final little climb with about 6 miles to go so stuffed down the last gel, jelly babies and the last mouthful of water. The last few miles was all downhill with wet roads and a hairpin to add to the excitement.

Verdict: Really hard, but really good. Would do again but with a bit more training and less weight.

(Note: the photos are living on a web server in the living room that's made out of spare parts and blu-tack so if it doesn't work don't be surprised)

[Andrew G]

[url=http://93.97.161.139/bikingphotos/tobm/24072010104.jpg]pic link[/url]
I like this one, caption: "Sod it we've had enough".

Sounds good. Amy's mentioned TOBM in favourable terms and will probably have a go at it at some point.

[Phil H]

Well, I have little to compare it too., but I'd say it's a fair bit harder than the Dragon and considerably more scenic (and with better food stops). Because the field is much smaller, I suppose, they can use the little roads more. The numbers (120 miles, 4,000m of climbing) put it about the same as l'Etape this year but with colder, wetter weather and more sheep.

As a fat bloke with less than a year of "serious" cycling, I was just pleased to get round.

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

Well done, Phil!! Bit like the Brighton and back but without the sunshine and Embassy special seaford spaghetti half way round!

[Hal]

Phill

I think this is the best sportive route about (ok 2nd best the Fred Whitton is really best) and like you say it is quite a challenge. The last two times I have done it the run in for the last 6 miles looks flat on the profile but can really put the nail in the coffin on tired legs.

Would like to ride this again hopefully next year.

H

[Toks]

[quote="Hal"]Phill

I think this is the best sportive route about (ok 2nd best the Fred Whitton is really best) and like you say it is quite a challenge. The last two times I have done it the run in for the last 6 miles looks flat on the profile but can really put the nail in the coffin on tired legs.

Would like to ride this again hopefully next year.

H

[kieran]

glad I ignored the organisers emails then, maybe Germain Burton should try it

[Amy]

Well, I have to say that, in retrospect, I rather enjoyed the ride - even if after 60 miles I did seriously wonder if I'd make it all the way...

Pretty much as Phil says. The organiser asked me where Huw was while we were in the queue to pick up our packs. Toks overtook us in the small town - think it was Sennybridge - after the Rapha and Pendragon boys passed us in perfect order. I have to say though it was nowhere near anything like the ride to Brighton and back

Although I did the shorter ride last time I rode it, I did know most of the 120 mile route having ridden with Huw round the part of the course furthest from the start/finish. Like I knew about the Devil's Elbow - AND I didn't walk it The photographer shouted that others supposedly stronger and fitter than me had walked it so I was even more determined not to walk it. In fact the only bit I did walk was a fairly short climb, near the top (in the previous event I'd ridden there had been a feed station just after and then we hit the reservoirs) but that was mostly because I looked at someone overtaking me and wobbled into the bank. Oh OK, I was also absolutely knackered.

At least on the final third of the course most of the blokes around me seemed almost as knackered if not more, as they were stopping all over the place or even walking up one or two of the little climbs on the so-called flat bit. One guy complained that he'd been behind Phil and me for about 30 miles and never even got near us

You know, I am so glad that nobody, not even a pro, got a gold medal for the long route. Previously the route climbed up from Llangynidr (excuse spelling - think it's right) and then dropped back down to Crickhowell which meant you missed the final ascent up over Llangattock Mountain. As it was you passed the Crickhowell turning in a little dip and the road then kicked up AGAIN... Sorry, that might have been marvellous descent as I was told while climbing up the other side by another photographer but it wasn't as good as the one into Crickhowell, you had to climb the whole flamin' mountain and the course was even lumpier in the final 15 miles than the old finish...

I did mention this to the organiser - but as he says, you have to try these things once... At least you got a bit of warm-up before starting up the Gospel road even if the ride round the park was a bit weird (glass at the exit too...)

Anyway, dead chuffed I did it - thanks loads, Phil, for waiting for me, as not only were you stronger on the climbs but you had a lot more going for you downhill than I did

And I did more - the next day I walked about 15 miles AND climbed a mountain (ok it was only small but the views from the top were spectacular...). But I'll write about that next time I post

[Toks]

Well done Amy, I'm sure there were people who must have spent in excess of 10 hours out there. When I spoke to you afterwards I could tell you'd given absolutely everything and then some. I think Yanto Barker was the only pro's who managed Gold although clearly a few of them such as Christian House (rapha) were not registered for the event.

[Phil H]

Toks, I think they stopped the timing not that long after we got in. A long time in the saddle (+1 for Sudocrem).

I think Amy can stop with the "I can't climb" now. I think we've busted that myth.

[Amy]

I didn't say I couldn't climb - just that I wasn't climbing very well. Still felt strong in places even towards the end to manage a few, well, couple of the final lumps on the big chain ring, only changing down to the small one nearer the top...

Come on, Toks! What did you do?? And how about Steph?

I think the official photos are up - Phil's seen his, I'll check out mine in a mo...

Phil's photos are good - I even like both ones of me BTW I am not 'cresting' a big climb - I was only part way up it - and it's not near the start - it's the climb at 102 miles - but I'm still smiling and giving a thumb's up

Think I might have lost a little bit off the hips this weekend but a Chinese takeaway tonight probably won't help (I came back by train today).

I still can't quite believe how hard that was. One of my abiding memory is of this Sikh fella in Orange Euskaltel-Euskadi kit and an Orange turban honking it up that monster climb with the hairpins. So cool!!

[quote="Amy"]Come on, Toks! What did you do?? And how about Steph?

[Dombo]

Well done all. Sounds like a great ride. Must try it next year.

[Amy]

[quote="Toks"]I still can't quite believe how hard that was. One of my abiding memory is of this Sikh fella in Orange Euskaltel-Euskadi kit and an Orange turban honking it up that monster climb with the hairpins. So cool!!

[Brian Nolan]

well done to Amy , Phil & Toks for completing a tough ride in the Mountains... I remember it as being pretty tough a few years back when it was very hot. I punctured in the first ten miles which did not help matters..
I agree about the Pendragon feed zones - prob the best I have had on a sportive - think the Autumn Epic runs them close though...
oh and Hal - you should really try the Etape du Dales one day....