The going gets tough(er) - Tour of the Black Mountains 28/7

[huw williams]

All read the reports from the Dragon ride? Champing at the bit to get out there and do something momentous?

Well it doesn't get any more momentous than this...

On Sunday some people in a group I was riding with noticed I was staring fixedly at the hills on the side of the road going over the Crai reservoir climb. "What's up?" one of them asked, "Black Mountains tour in July", I replied, "half way round we're going to go over there." His face went white, "You're f***ing sh***ing me" he said... I wasn't.

The truth is, the Dragon Ride course is seriously compromised by the number of riders on route and the fact that the organiser is of a mind not to take them off the major roads. Hence the hold ups with traffic lights and traffic in towns.

The Tour of The Black Mountains is organised by Nick Bourne - the man who brought you three days of torture in the Tour of Wessex. This is a man who can't spell compramize (sic). Simply, he's found the best roads in the same area as the Dragon Ride, and he's used them to spectacular effect.

When he announced it last year I looked at the map and thought he was joking. The route is almost as long as the Dragon ride but features some of the most techically challenging climbs and descents I have ever seen. There is no compromise to rider safety or numbers here - he's just laid out the best course and said "here it is - ride it if you dare."

I was so stunned by his proposal that I had to get a look at the course so went down there just after the reliability trials finished in March. I did half the course on bikes on day one and drove the second half the next day due to snow. It's staggering.

It begins in Llanvihangel (which is Welsh for 'You're f***ed if you do this!') near Abergavenny and goes straight up the Gospel pass. 17 miles of climbing along a valley which at times is so narrow you could stand in the middle with your arms outstretched and touch the dry stone walls on both sides of the road. A variety of gradients, it eventually opens out to a mountain climb near the top and a furious descent into the gorgeous town of Hay-On Wye on the english border.

You don't want to be on your own there because you then face a nightmare flat slog of 20 miles or so around Brecon and join the Dragon ride route near Defynog. Instead of bearing left to Crai you continue and climb to the reservoir via a long forest-tree lined route which opens into one of the remotest mountain wildernesses you've ever seen. The descent is astounding - about the width of a small car, twisting but great views ahead so its full whack if your brave enough. And it's LONG!!!

Past Crai you turn right over a gentle climb to a descent which resembles the nose-on-the-front tyre descent off Wrynose in the Fred Whitton. This leads to the savage nameless climb from the original Dragon ride two years ago. A brief flat respite leads to another soaring steady climb from Penderyn to another nose on the tyre descent into the Merthyr Valley. Shortly you turn left into the jewell in the crown of UK sportive rides.

This is the Tal-y-bont reservoir valley and its staggering.
A series of nasty steep climbs (think Friday Street on the Hilly 50 route) get you in there before the valley opens out into 12 miles of sweeping hairpin bends winding past the three massive reservoirs. High mountains on both sides and breathaking panoramic views like you've never seen. It's a tourist road which only serves the numerous picnic areas in the valley - but the surface is excellent and its a real blast.

At the end of that you've done 90 miles and your in big trouble because your about to climb the worst hill in the area up to the Llangynidr (Welsh for 'now your totally f***ed') moor. I've only ever ridden down this on the Bike Wales event for the last two years and both times I've thought I hope I never EVER have to ride up it. Well guess what? It's steep in parts but its sooooo long, and after 90 odd miles its going to be hell. After that you'll be beyond caring for the last 15 miles or so through the picturesque Crickhowell and the backroiads into Llanvihangel.

Now the good bit - its on a saturday so you get sunday to drive back and recover - and Llanvihangel has one of the oldest pubs in the world, the Skirrid Arms which the organisers are encouraging as many riders into for a saturday night re-run of tall stories from the ride.

Ever since I saw this ride I thought that is THE ride you want to say you've done this year - everything else - the relibility season, the Dragon, the UK Etape is merely a sideshow to this one. Sportive riding in its purest form.

Expect excellnet organisation from an experienced team. There is tons of
B & B accomodation, hotels and even cottages to rent in the area and as its on saturday you can get back in time for a sunday afternoon with the missus/kids/cat

So, want to make it the ultimate saturday club run? Then get signed up...

http://www.touroftheblackmountains.com


[img]http://i10.tinypic.com/4p306c7.jpg[/img]

Talybont reservoir - March 2007

[Rob C]

I like the sound of this, I need to check dates.

[Ian A4size]

I love the sound of it, the sight of it, the smell of it- i just aint going no where near it!

[Hal]

Bring it on

last week was such fun, I've entered this one too

H

[Sylv]

Sounds err ... fun, but I'm doing an adventure race that day (canoe/run/mtb). That should be equally fun.

[adrian]

Sounds great, and would love to, but fortunately - I mean, unfortunately, I've got a wedding that day

[Richard (Apples)]

Sounds like fun Huw.....but I think if I enter this one , on top of everything else Mrs A would put my bike in the recycling

[huw williams]

I know its a bit much straight after the Dragon and all..

Maybe next year we should make it the 'official' ACC sportive like the dragon was this year

[Maria David]

Sounds like one to try but I'm already booked for racing that weekend, so will have to wait until next year.

In the mean time there are other equally demanding beasts in Wales to consider - Bike Wales, Wild Wales Challenge, Autumn Epic......etc. I'll check the calendar.

Maria
http://www.2wheelchick.blogspot.com/

[Sylv]

don't know, I've been enroled in a team

http://www.endurancelife.com/HTML/Class ... ussex.html

(lite version)

[Toks]

Hey Huw I'm trying to sign up on line but its not happening. Any Tips?

[huw williams]

I'll check with the organiser and get back to you mate

H

[Hal]

Have you tried making this change to your set up of explorer, I had to do this to get it to work.

H

If you are experiencing difficulties using the Shopping Basket in Internet Explorer 7 this may well be due to your cookie settings. To rectify this problem click on Tools | Internet Options | Privacy then click on the Advanced button and click the box labeled "Override automatic cookie handling" then tick the box "Always allow session cookies" and click on OK and OK again.